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“Soval Raxios,” Anax said softly “That’s Soval Raxios”

“Cryopod number DL2458,” Senna finished

There is no cadaver in cryopod DL2458 The occupant, Soval Raxios, age thirty-four, shows a slightly elevated blood alcohol level Turian brandy She is otherwise in perfect health

Anax, Senna, and Yorrik blinked They looked down at the frozen corpse in its canister Her open mouth in its rictus of death

“Surprised understatement: She’s really not,” the elcor droned

Apologies, Commander Senna’Nir I can only report what system scans show I am not equipped for analysis I understand your objection; however, Soval Raxios looks fine to me

“Soval, I am so sorry,” Anax Therion whispered Her spine suddenly went rigid with a hard punch of memory

“Laughter like emerald bubbles,” she whispered The others stared She hated that they stared She hated that she couldn’t stop the ht before She dances in the tavern, faster, faster Soval, as a poet and a wife Soval, who pours out brandy like light from one vessel to another and whispers her whiskey words: You’ll see, in Andro will be perfect” Anax’sher eyes black and wet She relaxed, shaking The drell put one hand over her mouth so as not to breathe the air of the dead and closed her friend’s eyes with the other “May the goddess Kalahira bear you safe across the sea”

They ant rounded cryopods, but Anax no longer wondered what they would find there The riddle was answered The box remained sealed The feline was dead

Excuse the intrusion, but while you have been speaking, I have detected pentamethylenediamine sublimation in five more cryopods

Anax Therion let out an involuntary cry of frustration

“Five ?”

Incorrect, Analyst Therion Four drell and one hanar

Too bad, thought Anax Therion Hanar can’t get Kepral’s Syndro back around to you, Commander? Not so cozy now

Senna’Nir vas Keelah Si’yah clenched and unclenched a three-fingered fist