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  Natalya touched her tongue to the top of her mouth. “Dah-jartmo.”

  “No dah. Just let the sound come from having your tongue on the roof of your mouth, right near the front.”

  “Djartmo,” Natalya said.

  “You’ve got it now.”

  Natalya tried it out a few more times. “I thought I had it yesterday.”

  “When you can say it without thinking about it, you’ll be fine.”

  Natalya stretched her legs out, settled back on the couch, sipped her coffee, and watched the universe roll by.

  Chapter 5

  Margary System:

  2368, January 30

  Their approach to Big Rock had Natalya sitting on the edge of her couch all the way in. “Who else lives here?” she asked.

  Zoya shook her head. “My grands, some staff to keep the place maintained. Last I knew, they kept a couple of structural engineers to make sure nobody chipped off a bit of rock that was holding the place together. I know there’s at least one closed-ecology environmental specialist and his family. A cook. Housekeeper. Half dozen mechanics. Some security people but all the household staff have security training as well. Place is practically deserted.”

  “Deserted,” Natalya said.

  Zoya shrugged. “If you ever see anybody but my grandparents here, it’s because they want to be seen. They’re a small club and they like it that way. Gram pays well.”

  Zoya spun the ship so Natalya got the grand view of the rocky surface as they skated by.

  “What’s that?” Natalya asked, pointing at a long, glowing patch along the asteroid’s surface.

  “Amphitheater. Armorglass window. They hold the bigger in-person meetings there.” Zoya grinned as they passed it. “It’s usually dark. Either they’re hosting some major do or they turned the lights on for us.”

  As they came around the end of the asteroid, an airlock door big enough to admit four Peregrines swung open. A green strobe flashed along the open edge. Zoya slewed the Peregrine through the door and dropped the ship onto the landing pad inside the rock with barely a nudge. The huge door swung closed behind them.

  “Don’t look so impressed,” Zoya said, securing the ship’s systems while Natalya stared out at the hangar. “The only thing really remarkable about the place is that the metal content was so low, they figured it was better used as a hangar than mining it for ore. The house just kinda developed around it.”

  The red glow outside the armorglass faded out and an airtight door opened up.

  “That’ll be them,” Zoya said, popping the latch on her seat belt.

  A liveried security guard led the way but an older couple in civilian clothes followed on his heels, craning their necks to see into the cockpit. Zoya leaned up to the armorglass at the bow and waved.

  The older man waved back while the woman’s face broke into a broad smile.

  “That’s them,” Zoya said. “Come on. I’ll introduce you.”

  Natalya stood from her couch and brushed a hand down the front of her shipsuit. “Should I have changed?” she asked, stopping to shoulder her duffle.

  Zoya laughed. “Don’t think twice.” She stopped long enough to grab a go-bag from her stateroom, led the way to the lock, and stepped out into a hug-storm.

  Natalya felt a bit of a pang, trying to remember the last time anybody greeted her that warmly. She put on what she hoped was a happy smile, shifted her bag to the other shoulder, and stepped out.

  “Gram. Pop-pop. This is the famous Natalya Regyri,” Zoya said stepping away from her grandparents to wave a hand at Natalya. “She was the roommate I talked about at the academy, and she’s been my wingman ever since.” She looked at Natalya. “Nats, my grandmother, Madoka Usoko, and my grandfather, Konstantin Usoko.”

  Natalya wasn’t sure if she should bow, shake hands, or what. She settled for a short bow from the shoulders. “I’m so pleased to meet you both, Mr. and Mrs. Usoko.”

  Ms. Usoko shook her head and opened her arms. “I’m Maddie, dear. Give us a hug.”

  Natalya found herself engulfed in the woman’s strong arms and had to bite her lip to keep from crying.

  The woman stepped back in time for Mr. Usoko to step up, take Natalya’s hand in both of his, and give her a huge smile that wrinkled most of his face. “I’m finally getting to meet you,” he said. “Thank you for being such a good companion to our little chick.”

  Natalya nodded. “I don’t know how good a companion I’ve been, but thanks. It’s not every day I get to meet a titan of industry.” She winced inwardly.

  “I’m nothing like that,” he said. “Just an old rock-knocker who got lucky in the belts.” He tucked her arm under his and started back to the lock. “I met her.” He nodded at his wife and gave her a cheeky grin. “I’m Kon. Konnie sometimes. And Konstantin Ivanovich Usoko when I’m in trouble.”

  “Don’t you forget it, old man,” Madoka said behind them. “Dinner will be ready in half a stan. We weren’t sure exactly when you might arrive so we planned a bit later than normal. Genevieve has a lovely cassoulet for us.”

  Konstantin released Natalya’s arm and waved her through the lock. Another liveried security officer stood on the other side of the doors and led the way down the passage deep into the rock.

  “Has there been trouble, Gram?” Zoya asked.

  “Oh, you mean Phillip and Francine?” the older woman said. “Nothing, really. Insurance. Lawyers. You know how it is. Sometimes even armed guards aren’t enough to keep them away.”

  Zoya chuckled but Natalya thought it sounded a bit strained.

  “It’s only when we’re outside,” Konstantin said.

  “Outside?” Natalya asked, eyeing the tiled floor and paneled walls. She had trouble thinking of them as decks and bulkheads.

  “This is the outer perimeter,” Konstantin said, leaning over to Natalya. “It’s more accessible than the residence. We had a bit of excitement a stanyer or so ago. The insurance company insisted we take additional precautions or they’d double our rates.” He shrugged and Natalya realized just how broad his shoulders were.

  “Was anybody hurt?” Zoya asked.

  “No, no, my dear,” her grandmother said. “Some nosy newsies managed to get onto the rock and cause a ruckus.”

  Konstantin looked back over his shoulder. “The worrying class decided that if two busybodies with imagers could get in, then nothing stood in the way of an armed boarding party.”

  “Sounds a bit extreme,” Zoya said.

  “You pick your battles,” her grandmother said. “Phillip and Francine came highly recommended and we’re very pleased to have them with us.”

  “Thank you, ma’am,” Phillip said from behind.

  The passageway ended at an airtight door. The lead guard punched an access code and the door swung open. She stepped aside and smiled at Konstantin. “Will there be anything else this evening, sir?”

  He looked back at Madoka.

  She shook her head. “I don’t believe so, Francine. We plan to stay in the residence and catch up with our granddaughter and her friend all evening.”

  “Very well, ma’am. Enjoy your evening.” The guard gave a small bob of the head.

  Konstantin led them through the airtight door. It swung shut behind them and latched with a thump, leaving the security detail outside.

  “Would you like a chance to freshen up?” Madoka asked. “At least stow your bags?”

  “That would be great, Gram,” Zoya said.

  “You’re in your old room,” Madoka said. “I’ve had housekeeping freshen up the guest room across the hall unless ... ” She looked back and forth between the young women.

  “That’s fine, Gram,” Zoya said.

  “Think you can find your way?” Konstantin asked. “You’ve been gone a long time.”

  “I think I can find it,” Zoya said. “Unless you’ve filled in a passage again.” She nodded at Natalya. “Come on, Nats. I’ll give you the two-credit tour.”

  �
�Really nice to meet you both,” Natalya said to the Usokos.

  “Welcome, Natalya,” Madoka said. “We’ll see you in a bit.”

  Natalya scurried after Zoya who led her deeper and deeper into the rock. “Filled in a passage?” Natalya asked.

  Zoya laughed. “Long story, but he likes to do what he calls ‘tinkering’ with the residence. He’s always opening up new passages and blocking off old ones. He got his port and starboard confused once and managed to block both ends of a passage while he was stuck inside.”

  “How’d he get out?”

  “It took him awhile, but he finally managed to knock one of the end caps open. Came out looking like he’d just swamped out the bilges, then crawled through environmental on his stomach.”

  “And you never let him forget it,” Natalya said.

  “Damn right.”

  Chapter 6

  Big Rock:

  2368, January 30

  Natalya marveled at the interior of the rock with its soaring ceilings and burnished stone walls. “This isn’t what I expected.”

  “What?” Zoya asked. “You thought it would be dark and cold?”

  “No, but it’s practically a work of art.”

  Zoya laughed. “Make sure to mention that to Pop-pop. It’s largely his doing. He’s spent decades working and reworking the interior. This was one of the first passageways they ran off the main chamber. It’s had a lot of work done on it.” She stopped in front of a pair of doors facing each other on opposite sides of the corridor. She held her hand over a plate set into the stone wall. The door lifted into the overhead. “Heat and motion sensitive. This is yours.”

  “Fancy.”

  “I did mention that Pop-pop likes to tinker, didn’t I?”

  “Yeah, you did. He installed this?”

  “He designed it, fabricated it, and installed it. Has a shop over in the working wing right next to the company offices.” Zoya gave a short laugh. “This is the second or third generation. First one caused a bit of a stir when you walked down one of the corridors.”

  “A stir?”

  “It was so sensitive, it registered the heat of your body if you went too close to it.” Zoya grinned. “You can imagine the embarrassment that caused.”

  Natalya stepped into the room, Zoya at her heels. She found herself entranced by the space. From the brightly painted overhead panels to the rugs on the decking, from the wainscoted wall panels to the double bed piled with brightly colored pillows. “It’s so ... quiet. It’s like mufflers for my ears.”

  “The overhead and bulkheads are made with a sound absorbing material. It just looks smooth. If you stand very still—sometimes—you can hear the air moving through the duct work, but the blowers themselves are too far away and isolated in the machine spaces. You never notice how noisy everything is until you come in here,” Zoya said. “It’s quieter than being in a suit in space.”

  Natalya drifted around the room observing everything. A small desk set, the large chair. A real dresser with drawers, something she had only seen at the academy. She tossed her bag onto the bed and shook her head, feeling just a bit overwhelmed.

  Zoya stepped fully into the room, crossing to a door nearly hidden in the wall. She pushed against the door and it clicked, then swung inward. “Head. Check out the tub.” She pressed against the wall paneling just to the left of the head. A pair of doors opened outward revealing full length mirrors on their backs and a walk-in closet behind them.

  Natalya grinned and shook her head. “Your grandfather?”

  Zoya shrugged a shoulder and nodded. “This is only one of the guest rooms. There’s a corridor that looks more like a hotel over by the amphitheater. When they have big conferences, the guests stay over there. This one’s just for friends.”

  “Are all the rooms like this one?”

  Zoya laughed. “No. Those are fancy.”

  “Fancier than this?”

  “Gram likes to impress her business associates. Pop-pop just likes the challenge.”

  Natalya stuck her head into the bathroom and realized that the tub and sink looked to be carved out of the native rock. “How did he do that?”

  “Computerized rock mill,” Zoya said looking over her shoulder. “Set up the programming and let it carve the space you want. There’s a maintenance passage under the decking in the corridor for atmosphere, plumbing, power, and data.”

  Natalya shook her head and turned back to the room. “I don’t know if I want to leave this room.”

  Zoya nodded to the door. “Lemme drop my bag and we’ll go see if dinner’s ready.”

  Zoya led the way back into the central spaces and turned a corner into a huge dining room. The ceiling stretched so far up that she wasn’t sure just how high it might have been. A glittering web of pale crystals hung over a long table with chairs arrayed on either side.

  “Twelve meters,” Zoya said.

  “What?” Natalya asked.

  “The ceiling. Twelve meters. Everybody asks. I suggested Pop-pop should put a sign up.”

  “What’s the chandelier?”

  “Quartz. Pop-pop and gram mined it themselves. It’s mostly quartz crystal with a bit of smoky and pale yellow.”

  “Whew,” Natalya said. “For a tick there I thought you were going to say diamond and I’d have been totally overwhelmed.”

  Zoya laughed and led past the table.

  “I take it we’re not going to eat in here?” Natalya asked.

  “Nope. We’ll be eating in the little kitchen, tonight.”

  “How many kitchens do they have?”

  “I’m not sure.” Zoya shrugged. “Last time I was here, they had four. The banquet kitchen for when they put on one of their fancy dinners.” She nodded at the table. “That’s when they use this space. Then there’s the family kitchen where we’ll eat most of the time we’re here. Then there’s the staff kitchen where they feed all the people who work on the rock.”

  “And the fourth?”

  “A backup kitchen so if something happens to the staff or family kitchen, they can regroup there and continue making sure everybody gets fed.”

  Natalya shook her head to try to rattle some of that reality into her brain. “That’s a lot of kitchens.”

  “It’s a big rock and it’s the core office for Usoko Mining. They take security very seriously, if you hadn’t figured that out yet.” Zoya passed through the dining hall and into another corridor beyond.

  “How do you keep from getting lost?” Natalya asked.

  Zoya laughed. “I grew up here when I wasn’t out there.” She gave a nod towards the ceiling. “Not likely I’d forget but the truth is I’m following the breadcrumbs.” She pointed to the floor where narrow stripes ran along parallel to the walls. “Green is kitchen. Red is engineering. Blue is office. Yellow is docks.”

  Natalya eyed the bands. “How do you know which way to go?”

  Zoya flexed her left hand in the air. “Follow the stripe with your left hand and you’re moving toward it.” She pointed to the stripes along the opposite wall. “That’s brown for hydroponics, pink for long term storage, and violet for our wing of bedrooms.”

  “So if I wanted to go back to the room, I’d just keep the violet stripe on my left?”

  “Just like that,” Zoya said. “Things are simpler in the residence. Fewer locations, so fewer stripes and colors needed. Once you get to the airtight doors, there are more outside but none of them point to locations inside the residence.”

  “That seems like it would get pretty complicated,” Natalya said.

  “It might,” Zoya said. “None of the permanent party needs them after the first few days. Just like you don’t need to have arrows to tell you how to get to a compartment on a freighter. It’s also security. When somebody new comes onto the station, they don’t know the code so they don’t know where to go.”

  “Like the nosy reporters?” Natalya asked.

  “Just like the nosy reporters.” Zoya stopped to open a
door, turning the rather common and mundane-looking knob and ushering Natalya in. “The family kitchen.”

  After the sprawling banquet room, Natalya wasn’t sure what to expect. Certainly not this cozy kitchen with steel appliances and roomy counter space. A table big enough for eight took pride of place in the center of the floor and the lower ceiling felt downright intimate after the vaults she’d been walking through since entering the residence. The air carried scents that immediately made her mouth water.

  “Ah, good,” Madoka said, looking up from a pot at the range. “I think this is just about ready. Kon, would you get the bread out of the oven?”

  The two of them moved around the kitchen as if dancing to a tune only they heard.

  In a matter of a couple of ticks—before Natalya could even think to offer to help—they had a huge tureen of some kind of bean and sausage dish on the table alongside a long crusty loaf of bread.

  “Come, come.” Madoka urged them to take seats with waves of her hands. “It’s best hot.”

  They took seats while Konstantin pulled a huge bowl of green salad from the cooler and snagged a bottle of wine off the counter.

  The four of them sat clustered at one end of the table, Natalya and Zoya across from Zoya’s grandparents. Konstantin poured the wine while Madoka tonged mounds of greens onto plates and passed them around. “Dressing is in the boat,” Madoka said, nudging a serving dish toward Natalya. “Eat up. There’s more if you want it.” She grinned.

  Zoya leaned over to Natalya. “I don’t know if you’ve ever had this. I’ve never seen it at anywhere else but on this table. It’s alleged to be an ancient recipe that came from Earth with the earliest settlers from the Core Worlds.”

  Madoka waved a shooing hand across the table. “You hush with your alleged and ancient recipes.” She took a sip from her wine and smiled. “It’s called cassoulet and it really is an old recipe.”

  “It smells divine,” Natalya said leaning over the steaming bowl.

  “It was Zoya’s favorite coming up,” Konstantin said with a fond smile at his granddaughter. “When we heard you were coming, our cook, Genevieve, insisted we serve it for her welcoming.”