## Chapter 1 — The Morning After Morning arrived at the safehouse without asking permission. It slipped through the curtains, spread across the bedroom floor, climbed the edge of the bed, and eventually found Ace. Ace objected. Not verbally. Verbally would have required opening her mouth, and opening her mouth seemed like an unreasonable amount of effort for someone who had been married for less than twenty-four hours. Instead, she pulled the blanket over her head. The sunlight remained unimpressed. Somewhere beside her, Mai made a small, sleepy sound. Ace smiled beneath the blanket. That sound was familiar. So was the warmth against her side, the faint movement of the mattress, and the gentle pressure of a hand resting across her waist. She knew exactly where she was. Home. Married. And, judging by the spectacular unwillingness of her body to move, thoroughly exhausted. A hand found the blanket and tugged. "Morning." Ace tightened her grip. "No." Mai laughed softly. "That wasn't a question." "Still no." "Darling." "I'm retired." "From what?" "Mornings." Another laugh. Then the blanket lifted just enough for Mai to slip underneath. That changed Ace's position on mornings considerably. "Hello, wife," she murmured. "Hello, wife." Ace kissed her. Slowly. Sleepily. Without any particular destination in mind. Mai's fingers found her cheek. For a little while, neither of them said anything. They had said enough yesterday. Promises in front of their family. Rings neither of them had expected. Laughter, tears, music, dancing, and the extraordinary sight of Padre conducting two weddings with all the solemn dignity he could muster. Which, considering the people involved, had been an accomplishment. Ace pulled back just far enough to see Mai's face. "We actually did it." Mai smiled. "We did." "Married." "Yes." "Legally." "Yes, Ace." "With witnesses." "Several." "And Padre." "Especially Padre." Ace considered that. Then her smile grew. "Fuck." Mai burst out laughing. "What?" "I'm happy." The laughter softened. Mai touched her forehead to Ace's. "So am I." A voice came from the other side of the bed. "Some of us are also trying to sleep." Ace froze. Mai closed her eyes. Then both of them started laughing again. Shammy lay on her side, half-buried in a pillow, regarding them through one barely open eye. Her hair was a magnificent disaster. Ace thought it was beautiful. "You're awake," Ace observed. "An unfortunate development." "Good morning, gorgeous." Shammy looked at her. "Is it?" "You're in our bed, everyone survived the ceremonies, and nobody has asked you to design a centerpiece. By my standards, it's excellent." Shammy considered the inventory through one half-open eye. "Then why does my head feel like someone held a reception inside it?" "Because someone did." "A very successful reception," Ace added. Shammy gave this serious consideration. Then nodded once. "Worth it." Ace reached across Mai and offered her hand. Shammy took it. Their fingers intertwined over the blankets. Three hands joined a moment later when Mai placed hers over both. For a while, they stayed like that. No teasing. No need to fill the silence. Just the three of them in their own bed, in their own home, with the strange and wonderful knowledge that yesterday had changed something enormous without changing what mattered most. Ace and Mai had exchanged vows. Shammy had stood with them. And when Padre had asked for the rings, their beloved artist had produced a surprise that neither bride had seen coming. Ace looked at her hand. The ring was still there; Shammy caught its glint, and a few sleep-tangled silver strands lifted off the pillow before settling against Ace's hand. She turned it slightly, catching the morning light. Then she looked toward Shammy. "You sneaky little miracle." Shammy's remaining eye opened. "Excuse me?" "The rings." "Oh." "You absolute menace." Shammy smiled into her pillow. "You liked them." Ace stared at her. "Liked them?" Mai reached over and brushed a stray strand of hair from Shammy's face. "We loved them." That earned them a much softer smile. "Good." Ace leaned across and kissed Shammy's forehead. Then her cheek. Then, because she could, the tip of her nose. Shammy made an indignant sound. "Ace." "What?" "Personal space." "We're sharing a bed." "That doesn't invalidate the concept." Ace kissed her again. Shammy laughed and pulled her closer. "Idiot." "Your idiot." "Our idiot," Mai corrected. Shammy nodded. "Unfortunately." Ace beamed. "Marriage hasn't changed a thing." "No," Shammy said. She squeezed Ace's hand. "It hasn't." And that was exactly how all three of them wanted it. --- The safehouse had settled into the particular peace of a morning when nobody needed a mission briefing. The ventilation still hummed beneath the floorboards, and Night City remained just beyond the armored doors, but neither was being invited into the bedroom. The building never truly became silent. There was always the low presence of ventilation, some distant electrical hum, the occasional muted sound from the street below. But it was the comfortable quiet of a home whose occupants had no immediate obligations. No calls demanding attention. No urgent arrangements. No one waiting for instructions. Ace lay back against the pillows and contemplated this unfamiliar state of affairs. "So." Mai made a questioning sound. "What do married people do the morning after?" Shammy answered without opening her eyes. "Coffee." "That's disappointingly practical." "Breakfast," Mai added. "Also practical." "Possibly a shower." Ace sighed. "Have I married into a committee?" "You founded the committee," Shammy reminded her. "And now you've lost control of it," Mai added. Ace considered that. "Fair." Her stomach made a small, unmistakable noise. Shammy pointed without opening her eyes. "Breakfast." Ace made no move to release her. "Counterproposal: coffee delivered by a grateful republic." "There is no republic," Mai said. "And you're lying on my hair." "Oppressive government." Ace shifted at once, freeing Mai's silver hair from beneath her elbow. "Any other grievances?" Shammy caught Ace's wrist before she could escape. "One. Stop declaring yourself retired while you're still stealing the blanket." Ace pulled it over all three of them. "Consider it collective ownership." Shammy settled against her, and Mai stopped arguing long enough to kiss them both. Breakfast could wait another ten minutes. --- At the other end of the safehouse, Brenda woke to the sensation of someone tracing an absentminded pattern across the back of her hand. She smiled before opening her eyes. "Morning, sweetheart." "Good morning." Iris's voice was close. Very close. Brenda opened one eye. Her wife lay facing her, hair loose, expression warm and a little thoughtful. Brenda studied her. Then smiled wider. "There's my beautiful wife." Iris laughed quietly. "You've said that approximately twenty times." "And I've been right every single time." "An impressive record." "I intend to maintain it." Iris leaned in and kissed her. Brenda returned it without hesitation. When they separated, she kept her forehead against Iris's. "How are you feeling?" Iris thought about that. "Happy." "Good." "A little overwhelmed." "Also good." "Tired." "Darling, after yesterday, I'd be worried if you weren't." Iris laughed. Then her expression changed. Not unhappily. Something deeper. Brenda recognized it immediately. "What is it?" Iris looked at their hands. At the rings. Then back at her. "I keep thinking about my parents." Brenda's smile softened. "Yeah?" "Dad trying not to cry." Brenda snorted affectionately. "Trying?" "He made an effort." "He made about four efforts. None of them worked." "True." "And your mom?" Iris's eyes brightened. "Oh, mom didn't even pretend." "Smart woman." "She held on to me for so long after the ceremony." "She held on to both of us." "I know." Iris fell quiet. Brenda waited. Eventually Iris said, "I don't think I realized how much I needed that." Brenda brought her wife's hand to her lips. "They love you, Iris." "I know." "And now they know exactly how much I love you." "They've known for quite a while." "Yeah, but yesterday I got to make it everybody's problem." Iris laughed again. Brenda looked extremely pleased with herself. "Best day of my life," she said. Iris brushed her thumb along Brenda's cheek. "Mine too." Another kiss. Then Brenda's eyes narrowed. "Hold on." "What?" "We're married." "Yes." "So now I get to introduce you as my wife." "You already have." "But I get to do it again." Iris laughed. "As often as you like." "Oh, sweetheart." Brenda rolled onto her back, looking profoundly satisfied. "You have no idea what you've unleashed." Iris looked at her. "I have a fairly good idea." "That's what I love about you." They lay together for a while longer. Then Iris reached toward the bedside table. Brenda watched her retrieve her holo. "Business?" "Not exactly." Iris glanced at the screen. "I promised Dad and Mom I'd call today." Brenda nodded. "Of course." "Not yet, though." "Good." Iris put it down again. Brenda opened her arms. "Come here, wife." Iris did. --- By the time the Triad finally reached the kitchen, Ace had formed several strong opinions about the morning. The first was that sunlight was tolerable after coffee. The second was that breakfast should be substantial. The third was that being married was excellent. She intended to keep testing that third proposition indefinitely. Mai was already at the counter when Ace came up behind her. "Morning, wife." Mai glanced over her shoulder. "You've said that." "Going to say it again." "I noticed." Ace kissed her neck. Mai smiled and continued preparing breakfast. Shammy appeared a moment later, wearing an oversized shirt and carrying herself with the particular dignity of someone who had slept way too little and refused to apologize for it. Ace looked at her. "Morning, gorgeous." Shammy stopped. Pointed toward the coffee. Ace handed her a cup. "Already made." Shammy accepted it. Took a sip. Closed her eyes. "Now it's morning." Mai laughed. Brenda arrived next, with Iris following close behind. "GOOD MORNING, MARRIED PEOPLE!" Ace turned. "BRENDA!" They embraced with the enthusiasm of two people who had not spent most of the previous day celebrating together. Iris shook her head. Mai smiled. Shammy took another sip of coffee. Brenda stepped back, looked at Ace, and held up her left hand. Ace immediately held up hers. They examined their rings with absurd solemnity. Brenda nodded. "Nice." Ace nodded back. "Very nice." "Think we should keep them?" "Probably." "Good investment?" "Excellent." Mai made a helpless sound. Iris pressed her lips together. Shammy looked at the ceiling. Brenda turned toward Iris. "See? Marriage has made us responsible." Iris lost the battle and laughed. "Of course it has." Ace looked between the two couples. Then at Shammy. Her smile shifted. A little quieter. A little more thoughtful. Everyone she loved was here. Not everyone in the world, of course. Yesterday had been full of people whose presence had made the day unforgettable. But here, in this kitchen, were the four people who shared the daily shape of her life. And nothing was demanding that they be anywhere else. Ace leaned against the counter. "You know something?" Mai looked up. "What?" "We should do absolutely nothing today." Brenda considered that. "Sounds ambitious." "I mean it." "That's unusual," Shammy observed. Ace pointed at her. "Don't ruin my moment." "Wouldn't dream of it." Iris smiled into her coffee. "I actually like that idea." "Thank you!" "Although," Iris added, "I do need to call my parents." Ace nodded immediately. "Of course." "And I suspect we'll end up talking about yesterday for quite a while." "Also acceptable." Mai set a plate in front of Ace. "Then eat." Ace looked down. Smiled. Looked up. "Yes, wife." Mai rolled her eyes. But she was smiling too. --- Breakfast stretched. That was the wonderful thing about having nowhere to be. Nobody watched the clock. Nobody hurried through coffee. Nobody treated an extra helping as an inconvenience. They remembered little pieces of yesterday. Brenda's expression when she'd first seen Iris approaching the ceremony. Iris's parents trying very hard to remain composed. Padre's remarkable patience. Shammy's rings. Rogue's unmistakable satisfaction with certain aspects of the evening. And the cake. Especially the cake. "Four brides," Brenda said, still sounding delighted. "All four of us on one cake." "An engineering achievement," Mai observed. "An artistic one," Shammy corrected. Ace looked at her. "An edible one." Shammy nodded. "Also true." "I think Mom took more pictures of the cake than of the ceremony." Brenda waved a hand. "Your mother took pictures of everything." "Probably." "Henry too." Iris's smile became fond. "Yes." For a moment, she seemed far away. Brenda noticed. So did Ace. Neither interrupted. Then Iris looked up. "Dad said something yesterday." Brenda turned toward her. "When?" "After the ceremony. Just before everyone started moving toward the reception." "What did he say?" Iris smiled. "He told me he was proud of me." The table quieted. "Not because of anything I'd accomplished," Iris continued. "Not because of my career. Just because I looked happy." Brenda reached for her hand. Iris took it. "And he told me I looked more at home than he'd ever seen me." Ace felt something tighten pleasantly in her chest. Shammy smiled. Mai looked at Iris with unmistakable affection. Brenda squeezed her wife's hand. "He was right." Iris looked around the table. At the coffee. The plates. The morning sunlight. Four faces she loved. "Yes," she said quietly. "He was." They let the moment settle. Then Ace, who had an excellent instinct for knowing when a silence had become comfortable enough to disturb, raised her hand. "I'd like it noted that I also looked extremely good yesterday." Mai closed her eyes. Brenda burst out laughing. Iris covered her mouth. Shammy nodded solemnly. "Noted." "Thank you." "In fact," Shammy continued, "you've mentioned it several times." Ace considered. "Because it's important." "Clearly." Mai leaned over and kissed her cheek. "You looked beautiful." Ace's expression softened instantly. "So did you." Shammy reached over and touched both their hands. "You both did." Ace caught her fingers and kissed them. For one brief, lovely moment, all the teasing disappeared. Then Brenda cleared her throat. "Just for the record, Iris looked better than all of you." Ace turned slowly. "Oh, it's ON." Iris laughed so hard she nearly spilled her coffee. --- Later, after breakfast had become an extended conversation and the kitchen had been restored to something resembling order, the five drifted toward the living room. The safehouse balcony stood beyond the glass, bright beneath the morning sky. Ace settled onto the sofa. Mai curled against her. Shammy claimed the other side with a tablet she'd apparently remembered existed. Brenda stretched out comfortably nearby, while Iris stood by the window with her holo in her hand. She looked at the screen. Then toward the others. "I think I'll call them now." "Tell them we love them." "I will." Ace raised a hand. "And thank them again for yesterday." Mai nodded. "From all of us." Shammy looked up. "Especially for being there." Iris's expression warmed. "I will." She looked down at the holo once more. Henry Rourke. Millard. Her parents. Yesterday, her parents had held both brides after the ceremony until Brenda threatened to fetch them a chair. This morning Iris could still feel her father's hand tremble against her shoulder when he'd said he was proud. Brenda came up behind her and rested her chin against her shoulder. "Tell your mother I haven't stopped showing people the ring." "She knows. You've sent her three photographs." "Four. The last one had better lighting." Iris let herself lean back against her wife before pressing **Connect**. ## Chapter 2 — Five Passages Henry Rourke answered on the third ring. His face appeared above Iris's holo, accompanied by the unmistakable background of a well-appointed office and a large window overlooking a city that was decidedly not Night City. He was smiling before the connection had fully stabilized. "There she is!" Iris laughed. "Hello, Dad." "Hello, sweetheart." A pause. Henry leaned slightly closer. "How's my married daughter?" Iris looked down at her ring. Then back at him. "Very happy." Henry's mouth moved as though he had a captain's reply ready. Instead he looked at the ring, and for one unguarded second Iris could see the father who had held her after the vows. "That's what I wanted to hear." "How are you?" "Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. Your mother has been showing me photographs all morning." "She took that many?" "She took enough to document the geological history of the venue." From somewhere beyond the holo's field of view came an indignant voice. "I HEARD THAT, HENRY." Henry closed his eyes. Iris burst out laughing. "Hello, Mom!" There was a shuffle, a muffled complaint about somebody occupying the entire desk, and then Millard appeared beside her husband. "Hello, darling!" Her smile was radiant. Iris felt her heart do something warm and unreasonable. "Hi." Millard studied her face. Then smiled even more. "Oh, look at you." "What?" "Nothing." "Mom!" "You're glowing." Henry nodded solemnly. "She is." "I'm sitting in our living room," Iris said. "Doesn't matter," Millard declared. "Still glowing." Brenda's voice drifted in from nearby. "She's been doing that all morning!" Millard immediately brightened. "Brenda! Come here, darling!" Brenda appeared beside Iris, leaned into the holo's field of view and waved. "Morning!" "How's my other daughter?" Brenda's expression changed. Just a little. The kind of change most people would have missed. Iris didn't. "Pretty damn wonderful," Brenda answered. Millard smiled at her. "Good." Henry leaned back in his chair. "And are the two of you behaving yourselves?" Brenda considered the question. Iris looked at her. Brenda looked back. Then toward Henry. "Define behaving." Henry sighed. Millard laughed. Iris covered her face. "Brenda." "What? It's a reasonable question." Henry shook his head. "Somehow I suspect my daughter's life is not going to become quieter." "Not a chance," Brenda said cheerfully. "Excellent," Millard replied. Henry turned toward his wife. "You're encouraging her." "Of course I am." He looked back at the holo. "I am surrounded." "Welcome to the family," Brenda told him. That made Henry laugh. And for a while, they simply talked. About the wedding. About the ceremonies. About the cake. About the moment Henry had nearly lost his composure when Iris and Brenda exchanged their vows. "I did not nearly lose my composure," he insisted. Millard stared at him. "Henry." "What?" "You cried." "A little." "Darling, you borrowed my handkerchief." "That's what marriage is for." "See, Iris? Educational." Iris smiled at her father. "You know, Dad, I don't think I've ever seen you that happy." Henry's amusement faded into something gentler. "I don't think I've ever seen you that happy either, sweetheart." For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Henry looked directly at Brenda. "Thank you." "For what?" "For loving my daughter the way you do." Brenda's expression softened completely. "Henry..." "I mean it." She slipped her hand into Iris's. "She's pretty easy to love." Iris made a small, emotional sound. Millard reached for Henry's hand. "Oh, you two." And just like that, everyone was smiling again. The conversation might have ended there. It would have been a perfectly lovely call. But Henry Rourke had been thinking about something since the wedding. Something he'd promised his daughter a long time ago. He glanced at Millard. She caught the look. Raised an eyebrow. Henry smiled. Then turned back toward the holo. "Iris." "Yes, Dad?" "Do you remember something I said when you left the Aureate?" Iris tilted her head. "You said quite a few things." "I did." "Some of them repeatedly." Brenda snorted. Henry accepted the accusation with dignity. "One particular thing." Iris thought. And then she remembered. Her expression changed. "You said..." Henry waited. "You said that the next time I came aboard, you'd welcome me as a passenger." Henry smiled. "Exactly." Brenda looked between them. "Oh?" Millard was already smiling knowingly. Henry folded his hands on the desk. "Well, Captain Rourke happens to have a ship preparing for a rather pleasant voyage." Iris stared at him. "Dad." "Night City to Washington, D.C. And back." Brenda straightened. "Wait." Henry continued as though he hadn't heard her. "Approximately three weeks. Excellent accommodations. Several very good restaurants, although I admit to a certain professional bias." "Dad." "Entertainment, promenades, art installations, shopping..." "DAD." Henry stopped. Looked at his daughter. And smiled. "Yes, sweetheart?" Iris was laughing now. "Are you offering us a honeymoon aboard the Aureate?" "Well, technically, aboard the Aureate II." Brenda's eyes widened. "Oh, holy shit." Henry looked extremely pleased. "I had hoped that would be your reaction." Iris shook her head in disbelief. "You can't just—" "I can, actually." "Dad!" "I checked." Millard patted his arm. "He really did." Henry leaned toward the holo. "Iris, I made you a promise. When you left my crew, I told you there would always be a place for you aboard my ship." Iris went still. "This time," Henry continued, "you wouldn't have a watch to stand. No reports. No duty roster. No inspections. No one calling you Lieutenant Rourke because something needs your authorization." Brenda looked at Iris. And Iris looked back at her father. Henry's voice softened. "Just a passenger, sweetheart." Iris swallowed. "A passenger." "Exactly." "And a newlywed one, at that." Brenda squeezed Iris's hand. Iris stared at the holo for another moment. Then laughed softly. "Dad, that's..." Henry waited. "That's an incredible offer." "Good." "But..." Henry raised an eyebrow. "Ah." Brenda looked at Iris. Iris looked toward the sofa. Where three women were making a heroic but utterly unsuccessful attempt to appear uninterested in the conversation. Ace was leaning so far forward that Mai had one hand on the back of her shirt. Shammy was watching with bright, curious eyes. Iris smiled. "Dad, there's something you should probably know." Henry blinked. "What?" "We wouldn't want to go without the others." Henry looked puzzled for approximately half a second. Then his smile widened. "Ah." "Oh, Henry." Iris turned toward the sofa. "Ace? Mai? Shammy?" Three heads appeared. Almost simultaneously. "YES?" Ace answered. "Hello, trouble." Ace put a hand over her heart. "Captain Rourke! I am a married woman now!" "Congratulations." "Thank you!" Mai leaned into view. "Hello, Henry. Millard." "Hello, darling," Millard replied. Shammy waved. "Morning." Henry looked at all five of them. Then at Iris. "Five passengers." Iris nodded. "If that's possible." Henry leaned back. Considered. And then smiled with the satisfaction of a man who had already anticipated the question. "Iris." "Yes?" "How long have you known me?" She narrowed her eyes. "Dad." "Did you honestly think I was going to offer a honeymoon to my daughter and leave half her family behind?" Ace's mouth fell open. Mai smiled. Shammy's expression turned very warm. Henry continued. "Five passages. Proper accommodations. All of you." Ace made a noise. Not a word. A noise. Brenda turned toward her. "You okay?" Ace looked at Henry. "Sir." Henry raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "Are you telling me we're going on a luxury cruise?" Henry smiled. "That appears to be the proposal." "With restaurants?" "Several." "Shopping?" "Quite a lot." "Nightclubs?" "Yes." "Dancing?" "Naturally." Ace's expression became increasingly radiant. Mai covered her mouth. Shammy watched with the resigned affection of someone who could already see the consequences. Ace leaned closer. "And we're not working?" Henry blinked. "No." "No missions?" "No." "No emergencies?" Henry looked at her. "I certainly hope not." Ace sat back. Looked at Mai. Then Shammy. Then Brenda and Iris. And said, with complete sincerity: "Fuck." Millard burst out laughing. Henry sighed. "Ace." "Sorry, sir." "Captain Rourke," Brenda said solemnly, "I think that's her way of expressing gratitude." "I gathered." Ace leaned forward again. "THANK YOU!" Henry laughed. "You're welcome." There was one practical question. Iris, predictably, asked it. "Dad, what about your duties?" Henry looked mildly offended. "Iris." "You'll be commanding the vessel." "Yes." "And we're not going to interfere with—" "Iris." She stopped. Henry gave her a look she knew very well. The look that had once preceded discussions about operational boundaries, crew responsibilities and the importance of not treating a passenger vessel like a private family yacht. "You're a passenger." Iris smiled. "I know." "Do you?" "Yes." "Because you sound remarkably like an officer." Brenda made a delighted noise. "Oh, this is going to be fun." Henry continued. "I have a ship to command. You have a honeymoon to enjoy. We'll spend time together when my schedule permits, and you are absolutely forbidden from attempting to solve any staffing problems." Iris laughed. "Dad!" "No inspections." "Fine." "No reviewing procedures." "I wasn't going to—" "No volunteering for watch duty." Brenda nearly fell sideways laughing. Ace stared at Iris. "Would you actually do that?" Iris looked away. Mai started laughing too. Shammy shook her head. "Oh, Iris." Henry pointed toward the holo. "You see? This is why I'm being specific." Millard was wiping tears from her eyes. Iris sighed theatrically. "All right. I promise." Henry nodded. "Good." Brenda leaned closer. "What about visiting engineering?" Iris turned toward her. "Brenda." "What?" Henry's expression brightened. "Ah. Now that's a different question." Brenda grinned. "Really?" "Arranged visits, certainly. We have some rather interesting machinery aboard." Iris stared at her father. "Dad." He ignored her. "I suspect our engineering staff would enjoy meeting someone genuinely interested in the technical details." Brenda looked delighted. "Oh, we are absolutely doing that." Henry smiled. "Excellent." Iris closed her eyes. Mai leaned toward Ace. "Her honeymoon is going to involve engine rooms." Ace nodded solemnly. "Romance comes in many forms." Shammy added, "Some of them require protective eyewear." Brenda pointed at her. "Exactly!" Iris gave up. And laughed. Millard, who had been observing the entire conversation with increasing amusement, finally raised a hand. "May I ask something?" Henry turned toward her. "Of course." "Have any of you actually discussed dates?" Silence. Five faces looked at one another. Henry looked down at his desk. Then back up. "Oh." Millard stared at him. "Henry." "I may have become slightly enthusiastic." "Astonishing." He cleared his throat. "The voyage departs in a few days. I can send you the itinerary, boarding information and accommodation details." Iris nodded. "That would help." "There will be other passengers," Henry added. "Quite a few of them. It's a scheduled passenger voyage, not a private charter." "Of course," Iris said. Ace looked delighted. "Other people!" Mai gave her a sideways look. "Yes, darling. That's generally how passenger ships work." Ace ignored her. "New people!" Shammy took a very deliberate sip of coffee. Brenda looked at Iris. Iris looked at Brenda. Both smiled. Henry watched the exchange. Then looked at Millard. "Should I be concerned?" Millard considered the five women on the holo. Thought about yesterday's wedding. Thought about the remarkable collection of personalities now planning to spend nearly three weeks aboard her husband's ship. Then smiled sweetly. "Oh, darling." Henry waited. "I think you should make sure the bars are well stocked." Ace burst out laughing. Brenda applauded. Mai covered her face. Shammy's hair rose just slightly. Henry looked toward the ceiling. "Wonderful." The call continued for another twenty minutes. Not because there was anything urgent left to discuss. There wasn't. But Iris wanted to hear her parents' voices. Brenda wanted to tell her Mom about something she'd forgotten from the reception. Ace wanted to know whether Aureate II had boutiques specializing in luxury shoes. Mai wanted to know about the dance venues. Shammy asked about the ship's art spaces. And Henry, who had expected a pleasant conversation with his daughter, found himself conducting what amounted to an informal orientation session for five extremely enthusiastic future passengers. He was enjoying every second of it. Even if he would never admit quite how much. Eventually, Iris glanced toward the others. "I think we'd better let you get back to work." Henry smiled. "Probably." Millard leaned closer. "Call us again before you leave." "We will," Iris promised. "And Iris?" "Yes?" Millard's expression softened. "Enjoy this." Iris smiled. "We will." "No worrying about what you should be doing. No finding responsibilities where there aren't any." Henry nodded emphatically. "Listen to your mother." Iris laughed. "All right." Millard looked at Brenda. "And you, darling." Brenda grinned. "Yes?" "Make sure she remembers." Brenda slipped an arm around Iris. "Oh, don't worry. I've got plans." Iris looked at her. "Should I be concerned?" Brenda kissed her cheek. "Absolutely." Henry groaned. Millard laughed. Ace leaned into the holo one last time. "THANK YOU BOTH!" Mai smiled. "Really. Thank you." Shammy nodded. "It's a wonderful gift." Henry looked at the three of them. His smile softened. "Take good care of each other." Ace's expression changed. Just slightly. "We will." Mai reached for her hand. Shammy reached for the other. Iris looked at them. Then at her father. "Always." Henry nodded. He understood. "Good." One last round of goodbyes. Then the holo disconnected. The connection had gone dark, but Iris kept the holo in her hand, as though putting it down would make the offer less real. Brenda tapped her wedding ring against Iris's, a tiny sound that pulled the promise of the trip into the room with them. Iris stood in the middle of the living room, still holding the device. Brenda looked at her. Ace looked at Mai. Mai looked at Shammy. Shammy looked toward Iris. And then Ace stood up. Very slowly. She looked around the room. "Are we..." Brenda started smiling. "...actually..." Mai was already laughing. "...going..." Shammy closed her eyes. "...ON A FUCKING HONEYMOON CRUISE?!" Ace threw both arms into the air. Brenda whooped. Mai’s laughter joined Brenda’s whoop. Shammy laughed too, unable to resist the sheer contagious force of it. Iris stood watching them. Her family. Her wives-by-found-family, as Brenda had once jokingly called the other three. Her ridiculous, beloved, wonderful people. And somewhere beneath the laughter, she felt something quietly settle into place. Aureate II. Her father's ship. The vessel where she'd spent years of her life being Lieutenant Rourke. Working. Learning. Carrying responsibility. Building the person she'd once believed she had to be. She had left that life behind. Not with regret. Not entirely. There were people she'd miss. Places aboard the ship she still remembered with startling clarity. Familiar corridors, familiar voices, familiar rhythms. But she'd chosen something else. And now she was going back. Not as an officer. Not as a daughter visiting her father's workplace. As a passenger. With Brenda. With Ace, Mai and Shammy. On her honeymoon. Iris laughed. It escaped her before she could stop it. Brenda turned. "What?" Iris shook her head. "Nothing." "Oh, no. Come on." Iris smiled. "It's just..." She looked at the three women who were already discussing restaurants, dancing, art and the entirely theoretical possibility of spending three weeks without getting into trouble. Then back at Brenda. "I think this might be the first time in my life I've actually looked forward to boarding the Aureate without wondering what work was waiting for me." Brenda's expression softened. She crossed the room. Took Iris's hands. "Well, sweetheart." Iris smiled. Brenda kissed her. "There's a first time for everything." Behind them, Ace made a triumphant noise. "I'M BRINGING THE GOOD SHOES!" Mai looked at her. "Which ones?" Ace froze. Considered. Then turned toward Shammy. "We may need another suitcase." Shammy sighed. "Of course we do." Brenda started laughing against Iris's shoulder. Iris closed her eyes. Held her wife. Brenda was already considering the engineering department. Ace had begun counting restaurants. Mai had opened the itinerary; Shammy was asking what kind of exhibition space the ship kept for visiting artists. Iris found herself reaching for the passenger itinerary again. Beside her name, where a duty assignment would once have appeared, the holo displayed **PASSENGER**. She turned the holo so Brenda could see. "Don't look so surprised," Brenda said. "I'm perfectly qualified to be married to a guest." "I know. I just keep waiting for a shift roster." "Then I'll make you one. Nine: kiss your wife. Ten: ignore your father when he tries to give you a clipboard." Iris snorted. "He'll hear that." "Good. Saves me the message." ## Chapter 3 — Packing for Trouble Ace stood in front of her wardrobe. The wardrobe stood in front of Ace. Neither appeared willing to compromise. She folded her arms. Considered the contents. Then looked down at the open suitcase on the floor. "This is ridiculous." Behind her, Mai looked up from a neatly arranged selection of clothes spread across the bed. "What is?" "I can't possibly fit everything." Mai considered the suitcase. Then the wardrobe. Then Ace. "Everything?" "Everything important." "Darling, we're going away for almost three weeks." "Exactly." "And we're going to be on a luxury passenger ship with several boutiques." Ace paused. Looked at her. Then slowly smiled. "You magnificent woman." Mai laughed. "I was trying to make a practical observation." "And you succeeded spectacularly." Ace turned back toward the wardrobe. "Right. So I only need enough to survive until the first shopping opportunity." Shammy's voice came from the doorway. "Which, knowing you, will be approximately eleven minutes after boarding." Ace pointed at her. "Unfair." Shammy leaned against the frame, coffee in hand. "Accurate." "Also accurate," Mai agreed. Ace sighed. "I live with traitors." Shammy took a sip. "Married one of them yesterday." Mai grinned. "And you can't return me." Ace considered that. Then crossed the room and kissed her. "Wouldn't dream of it." Shammy smiled over her cup. "Good. Now pack something." --- Ace owned plenty of suitable clothes. Too many, according to Mai, although Ace had yet to find a persuasive argument for why such a thing should be possible. Amber O'Sullivan had introduced her to the pleasures of expensive fashion, carefully chosen accessories, beautifully made shoes and the quiet satisfaction of wearing something simply because it made her look and feel wonderful. Somewhere along the way, the distinction between Amber's tastes and Ace's tastes had disappeared. Ace had never been particularly interested in restoring it. She loved her clothes. She especially loved her shoes. And if a pair happened to cost more than a modest vehicle, that was hardly the shoes' fault. She lifted a pair of elegant heels from their shelf. Considered them. Put them on the bed. Then selected a second pair. And a third. Mai watched. "Are those all coming?" "Possibly." "Possibly?" "I'm still negotiating." "With whom?" "The shoes." Shammy nodded seriously. "Difficult people, shoes." "Thank you." "Especially the expensive ones." Ace narrowed her eyes. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." Mai laughed and returned to her own packing. Her preparations were rather less theatrical, although not necessarily more restrained. She had already selected several beautiful dresses, comfortable everyday clothes, dance-friendly outfits, elegant shoes and a collection of accessories that would give her plenty of choices aboard Aureate II. Ace glanced over. "Oh, those are gorgeous." Mai looked at the dress in her hands. "You like it?" "Love it. You planning to bring the dance floor home with us?" Mai held the dress to her waist, turned once and watched the hem settle exactly where it should. "If the ship has decent music, I'm going to make sure it earns its reputation." "Taking it, then?" "Ace, it's already coming." Ace nodded approvingly. Then noticed another garment. "And that one?" "Yes." "And those shoes?" "Yes." Ace stared at her. Mai smiled sweetly. "What?" "You're packing almost as much as I am." "Almost." Ace turned toward Shammy. "Did you hear that?" Shammy glanced at the growing collection of luggage. "I heard the sound of two women discovering they have no meaningful storage limitations." Mai laughed. Ace spread her arms. "We're on our honeymoon!" "And therefore," Shammy replied, "apparently need fourteen possible outfits for every conceivable kind of breakfast." Ace opened her mouth. Stopped. Considered. "That's actually not a bad idea." Mai nearly dropped her dress laughing. --- Shammy's own luggage presented a different problem. She had packed most of her ordinary clothes already. Comfortable pieces for daytime wandering. Elegant outfits for dining. Clothes suitable for art spaces, galleries, lounges and the occasional evening that began with a simple drink and developed ideas of its own. But one garment remained hanging separately. The evening gown Lena had designed for her. Lena had made it for Shammy's public life without turning the woman inside the sculptural clothes into somebody else. An exclusively white, extravagantly expensive avant-garde couture piece, scaled precisely to her 195-centimeter frame, that transformed its wearer's silhouette into something almost architectural, with unexpected lines, exquisite materials and details that seemed to shift character depending on the angle and the light. It was unmistakably Sera. And, because Lena knew her clients very well indeed, its elegant construction concealed a remarkably efficient fast-drop mechanism. Ace discovered Shammy standing in front of it. She stopped. Looked at the gown. Then at Shammy. "Fuck, that's beautiful." "Lena outdid herself." "She really did." Mai appeared beside them. "Oh, gorgeous." Shammy looked pleased. "I was thinking of bringing it." Ace turned toward her. "Thinking?" "Considering." "Shammy." "Yes?" Ace put on her gravest expression. "There's a chance you'll meet an attractive artist who wants to see what Lena's clever dress can do." Shammy's hair lifted slightly. "Then Lena has saved us all a great deal of trouble." Mai laughed into her hand. Ace stared for one delighted second, then kissed Shammy's cheek. "That's my girl." "We're going on a luxury cruise." "I noticed." "With formal restaurants." "Yes." "Dancing." "Yes." "Art events." "Yes." "Possibly extremely interesting people." Shammy's smile widened. "Also yes." Ace pointed at the gown. "Bring it." Mai nodded. "Absolutely." Shammy looked at both of them. "You two are very convincing." "We practice," Ace said. She stepped closer and studied the dress again. Then smiled with unmistakable mischief. "And Lena's engineering is rather impressive." Shammy gave her a look. "Ace." "What?" "It's an evening gown." "An exceptionally clever evening gown." Mai began laughing. Shammy shook her head. "I'm packing it." "Excellent decision." "And you are not testing the release mechanism." Ace looked wounded. "I wasn't going to." Neither Mai nor Shammy said anything. Ace sighed. "Fine. I was thinking about it." "Darling," Mai said, "we know." --- The three of them had already worn beautiful Lena creations for their wedding. But those gowns weren't their only pieces from her. Over time, Lena had built them wardrobes that combined remarkable elegance with a very personal understanding of how each woman liked to move, dance and enjoy herself. The fast-drop evening gowns were part of that collection. Some had barely been worn. A cruise seemed like the perfect opportunity to change that. Mai checked the protective garment bags. Ace inspected her shoes again. Shammy carefully secured the couture gown. For a while, they worked in companionable quiet. Then Ace straightened. "Wait." Mai looked up. "What?" "Do we need to bring formal clothes for every evening?" Shammy paused. "Probably not." Ace considered. "But we could." Mai smiled. "We could." "And we could wear something different each time." "Also true." Ace looked between them. Then back at the wardrobe. "I need another suitcase." Shammy moved one of Ace's cases onto the luggage trolley, glanced at the remaining shoes, and said, "I can reserve the entire top shelf of the wardrobe. Would that be enough to end negotiations?" --- Elsewhere in the safehouse, Brenda was approaching the same problem from an entirely different direction. She had packed clothes. That part had been easy. Dresses, shorts, comfortable footwear, evening outfits and everything else she expected to need. The trouble began when she opened a storage case containing a small collection of specialized tools. Iris, who had been arranging her own luggage, looked over. "Brenda." "Yes, sweetheart?" "What are you doing?" "Packing." "I can see that." "Good." "Why are you packing a diagnostic interface?" Brenda looked down. Then up. "Because it's useful." "We're going on our honeymoon." "I know." "Aboard a luxury passenger vessel." "An extremely sophisticated luxury passenger vessel." Iris narrowed her eyes. "Brenda." "I was invited to visit engineering." Iris stared. "Dad said he'd arrange a visit." "Exactly." "He did not invite you to work on the engines." "Of course not." Brenda picked up the interface. "But imagine if somebody wanted to show me something interesting." Iris folded her arms. "Something interesting." "Very interesting." "Something requiring a diagnostic interface." "Potentially." Iris shook her head. "You and my father are going to be unbearable together." Brenda looked delighted. "Oh, sweetheart, I hope so." Iris tried to hide her amusement behind a stern expression. Brenda set the interface on the bed rather than the luggage: a concession, but not a surrender. "You built a functioning theater from scrap once," Iris said. "I'm not questioning your competence." "Only my definition of vacation." "Precisely." Brenda leaned over to kiss her. "And yet you've scheduled a tour of engineering for me. You wicked, supportive woman." "What?" "That smile." "You're ridiculous." "And you married me." "Yes." Brenda put the interface down. Crossed the room. And kissed her. "Best decision you ever made." Iris smiled against her lips. "One of them." Brenda pulled back. "One of them?" Iris nodded solemnly. "Choosing to leave the Aureate was another." Brenda's expression softened. Then she smiled. "Fair." She glanced toward the luggage. "And now you get to go back." Iris followed her gaze. "Yes." "As a passenger." "Yes." "With me." Iris took her hand. "With you." Brenda squeezed it. "And three other women who are currently attempting to pack half the fashion industry." Iris burst out laughing. "Also true." They stood together for another moment. Then Brenda looked back toward the tool case. Iris followed her gaze. "No." Brenda sighed. "Worth a try." --- Iris had a more personal packing problem. Her old service uniform was still stored carefully in a protective case. She had no intention of taking it. None. She knew perfectly well that she was no longer part of Aureate II's crew. She had chosen that. Gladly. And yet, standing in front of the wardrobe, she found herself looking at the case longer than necessary. Brenda noticed. Of course she did. "Hey." Iris turned. "Hmm?" "You okay?" "Yeah." Brenda followed her gaze. "Oh." Iris smiled faintly. "Old habits." Brenda moved beside her. They looked at the uniform together. "You miss it?" Brenda asked. Iris thought. "Some parts." "Yeah?" "The people. Some of the routines. Knowing exactly how everything worked." "And the rest?" Iris smiled. "Not nearly as much." Brenda slipped an arm around her. Iris leaned against her. "I think it's going to feel strange." "Going back?" "Yes." Brenda considered that. Then looked at her wife. "Sweetheart, you spent years on that ship doing a job." "This time you're going to spend nearly three weeks there enjoying yourself." "Yes." "With absolutely no responsibility for keeping it running." "Dad made that rather clear." "And if somebody calls you Lieutenant Rourke?" Iris smiled. "I'll correct them." Brenda's grin widened. "Politely?" "Probably." "Disappointing." Iris laughed. Brenda kissed her cheek. "Leave the uniform here." Iris looked at it once more. Then nodded. "Definitely." She closed the wardrobe. And returned to packing dresses. --- By early afternoon, the safehouse had developed a luggage problem. It wasn't a serious problem. Not yet. But it was a visible one. Ace had assembled a collection of suitcases that suggested she might be relocating permanently. Mai's luggage stood beside hers. Shammy's carefully packed bags occupied another section of the living room. Iris and Brenda arrived with their own cases. Brenda stopped. Looked at the collection. Then at Ace. "Holy shit." Ace smiled proudly. "Thank you." "That wasn't a compliment." "I'm choosing to interpret it as one." Iris counted the suitcases. Then counted again. "Ace." "Yes?" "How many people are we packing for?" "Five." "Are you sure?" Mai shook with laughter. Shammy leaned against the sofa. "She's very sure." Brenda approached one of the cases. "What is in this one?" "Shoes." She pointed at another. "And that?" "Also shoes." Brenda slowly turned toward Ace. Ace smiled. "Different shoes." Iris closed her eyes. "Of course." Mai stepped forward. "Before anyone starts making accusations, I would like to point out that Aureate II has excellent luggage handling." Iris opened her eyes. Looked at her. Then sighed. "Yes. It does." Ace pointed triumphantly. "SEE?" Brenda laughed. "Captain Rourke has no idea what he's unleashed." Iris considered that. Then smiled. "Oh, I think Dad has a fairly good idea." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "Does he?" Iris looked at the luggage. Thought about her father. Thought about the wedding. Thought about Ace's enthusiasm for shoes. Then reconsidered. "Actually, no." That set everyone laughing. --- But there were people to tell before anybody disappeared from Night City for nearly three weeks. Ace remembered Reyes halfway through an argument with a suitcase. Her expression changed so sharply that Mai stopped folding a blouse. "Reyes," Ace said. "A sensible person to remember," Mai replied. "Especially before she discovers our entire household has vanished." "She's going to murder me. Not literally. Probably." Ace called before she could talk herself into a rehearsed explanation. Reyes answered against a backdrop of workroom noise, took one look at Ace's face and said, "What have you done?" "Got married," Ace offered. "I was at the wedding, trouble. Try again." "We're leaving on a honeymoon. Aureate II. Three weeks." There was a beat in which Reyes clearly calculated how many times she'd almost heard about this from somebody else. "When?" "In a few days. Henry offered us passage this morning. I wanted you to hear it from me." Reyes's expression softened before the teasing returned. "Good. Now I won't have to organize a search party when you stop showing up in Watson. You planning to send pictures, or is this a classified operation?" "Depends on whether you promise to behave." "Then you're getting exactly one picture. Of a very uncooperative woman waving at the harbor." Ace grinned. "I'll miss you too." "I know," Reyes said. "Go enjoy your wife. And Shammy. Message when you feel like it—not because you think you're checking in for duty." At the other end of the room, Mai was already calling Kiro. Kiro answered with a laugh that suggested she was in the middle of something much more entertaining than paperwork. "Three weeks?" she repeated when Mai finished. "On the water?" "There will be dance floors," Mai said. "Now that's information you should have led with." "You'll get the interesting photographs." "I'll judge your footwork remotely. Unmercifully. And Mai? I'm glad you told me before you left." "Of course," Mai said, and the warmth in her answer required no further explanation. Marco and Lena were together when the group called that evening, busy with work of their own. Both had been at the weddings. Neither needed to be told what the rings meant. But hearing that all five travelers—four brides and Shammy, inseparable from Ace and Mai were boarding Henry's ship provoked reactions worthy of an audience. "You're all disappearing?" Marco asked. "For three weeks?" "Vacation," Iris corrected. "Not disappearing." "I thought Ace only knew how to disappear professionally." "I have many talents," Ace protested. Lena immediately wanted to know which garments were coming aboard, whether the fast-drop mechanisms had been packed correctly and how quickly Ace could be persuaded not to dismantle one out of curiosity. Brenda promised to protect the engineering; Marco promised not to believe her. Before they disconnected, Lena's joking voice quieted. "Have a beautiful time. We were there when you made those promises. It's good to see you taking time to enjoy them." Only after the call did Shammy step out onto the balcony with her holo. She called Panam from there, away from the happy noise of the living room. Panam had missed the weddings; Shammy refused to let her learn about them as a caption under somebody else's photograph. Panam answered after several attempts, Badlands wind audible behind her. "Shammy? Everything all right?" "Everything's wonderful. And I should have called sooner." Shammy glanced at the wedding photographs on her holo, then caught herself. Those pictures were something to send after she had told Panam herself. "Ace and Mai got married yesterday. Iris and Brenda too." Panam stared. "They *what*? Two weddings? And you waited until now to tell me?" "I know. It happened fast, and you were out there. I'm sorry you weren't with us." The anger was brief; the hurt beneath it lasted longer. Shammy stayed with the conversation instead of filling the silence. Then Panam exhaled. "I would've liked to see them. All of you." "I would have liked that too. I'll send photographs—properly, with the stories attached. And there's something else. Henry has offered us passage on Aureate II. Three weeks away, starting in a few days." Panam gave a disbelieving laugh. "Three weeks. You really do know how to make an announcement." "You won't stop mattering because I'm on a ship," Shammy said simply. "I wasn't worried about that." Panam looked directly at her. "All right, maybe a little. I'll be busy. You'll be busy. But write when you want to. I'll do the same." "I will," Shammy said. She stayed outside after they disconnected, looking at the city until Ace and Mai came to stand at either side of her. No one asked her to hurry through what she'd felt. Then she put her arms around both of them and went back inside. --- There were practical matters to settle. Travel documents. Boarding arrangements. Confirmation of the accommodations Henry had promised. Transportation for the five passengers and their increasingly ambitious collection of luggage. Iris handled the details with the ease of someone who had spent years aboard the vessel. Then she caught herself. Stopped. Looked at the information on her holo. And smiled. Brenda noticed. "What?" "Nothing." "Iris." Iris turned the screen toward her. Aureate II. Passenger itinerary. Five confirmed travelers. Their names. Not crew assignments. Not duty rotations. Passenger reservations. Iris touched the display. "I never thought I'd see my name on one of these." Brenda looked. Then smiled. "Well, there you are." Iris nodded. "There I am." Brenda kissed her temple. "Welcome aboard, passenger." Iris laughed softly. "Thank you." --- Toward evening, the packing had finally reached a stage that everyone was willing to call complete. This was a flexible definition. Ace still had several items under consideration. Mai was debating between two pairs of shoes. Shammy had remembered a sketchbook she wanted to bring. Brenda had somehow negotiated permission to pack one compact technical kit. Iris had decided not to ask too many questions about its contents. They gathered on the balcony with drinks. The city stretched around them. Watson's familiar streets lay below. Night City continued its business without the slightest interest in the fact that five of its residents were preparing to abandon it for a few weeks of luxury. Ace leaned against the railing. "Three weeks." Mai stood beside her. "Three weeks." "On Aureate II." "Yes." "With no work." "That's the idea." Ace looked toward Iris. "Absolutely no work?" Iris laughed. "Yes, Ace." "No surprise missions?" "No." "No somebody-needs-us-immediately calls?" "Not if I can help it." "No secret cargo?" Brenda snorted. "Don't give her ideas." Ace spread her hands. "I'm just checking!" Shammy smiled. "She's making sure the holiday is real." Ace looked at her. And the expression on her face softened. "Yeah." Mai noticed. So did Brenda. Iris leaned back against the railing. "It's real." Ace looked at her. Iris smiled. "Dad offered us a honeymoon. We're going to take it." Brenda raised her glass. "To doing absolutely nothing useful." Mai laughed. "To enjoying ourselves." Shammy lifted hers. "To good company." Ace considered the suggestions. Then raised her own glass. "To all the ways to love." The others looked at her. For a moment, there was no teasing. No laughter. Just five women standing together in the evening light. Then Mai smiled. "To all the ways to love." Their glasses touched. And somewhere in Night City, entirely unaware of the trouble she was about to receive, Aureate II waited for her passengers. --- Later, Ace found Mai sitting cross-legged on the bed, turning one of their new wedding rings through the lamplight. The suitcases stood closed by the door. It had taken all afternoon to make that happen, and Ace had no intention of opening another. "Something wrong with it?" she asked. "Quite the opposite." Mai held out her hand. "Yesterday I was too busy trying not to cry to see how Shammy worked the detail into the setting. Look at the underside." Ace sat beside her and turned the ring gently. There it was: a tiny third line beneath the paired design, visible only when the light caught it from below. "Sneaky giant," Ace murmured. "Our sneaky giant." In the adjoining room Shammy called, "I can hear you." "Then come collect your praise," Ace shouted back. Shammy appeared in the doorway wearing an old shirt and an expression of mild alarm. Ace held out both hands. Shammy crossed the room and took them, allowing Mai to pull her down between them. "You could have told us about the engraving," Mai said. "Then it wouldn't have been a surprise." Ace examined the ring again. "You got the dimensions perfect." Shammy's white hair shifted across the pillows. "I had excellent references." "That sounds worryingly like you've been measuring us in our sleep." "I refuse to answer without counsel." Mai laughed and tucked Shammy's hair away from the ring. Outside the room, the luggage waited to go somewhere extraordinary. For a few minutes none of them cared whether a single case had enough room. ## Chapter 4 — Welcome Back Ace recognized Aureate II before the terminal shuttle had finished its final turn. She leaned forward. Smiled. And said, with considerable satisfaction: "Well, hello again." Mai followed her gaze through the window. The great passenger vessel dominated the waterfront, her layered decks and broad promenades rising above the terminal buildings. Familiar. Beautiful. And, judging by the activity around her boarding facilities, preparing to welcome a considerable number of passengers. Mai smiled. "She hasn't changed much." "Neither have you," Ace replied. Mai looked at her. "That was suspiciously affectionate." "I'm feeling affectionate." "Since when?" "Since approximately forever." Shammy laughed from the seat opposite them. Brenda, meanwhile, was studying the vessel with renewed interest. "God, I remember that upper engineering access." Iris looked at her. "You can barely see it from here." "I know where to look." "Of course you do." Brenda grinned. "Still want another tour." Iris shook her head, smiling. "You've been planning that since Dad mentioned engineering." "Absolutely." Ace leaned back. "Personally, I'm looking forward to revisiting some of the boutiques." "There's a surprise." "And the restaurants." "Naturally." "And the clubs." "Of course." Shammy tilted her head. "And the galleries." Ace pointed at her. "Exactly." Brenda looked toward Iris. "And you, sweetheart?" Iris had been watching the ship in silence. Not unhappily. Her expression held something more complicated than simple anticipation. She smiled. "I'm looking forward to not having to report aboard." Brenda took her hand. "Oh, I am going to enjoy this." "I've noticed." --- The terminal brought back memories. Ace remembered arriving as Amber O'Sullivan. A wealthy woman with exquisite tastes, a carefully constructed identity and a reason for being aboard that had very little to do with the advertised pleasures of a luxury voyage. Mai had been Maeve. Brenda had been Jessie. Shammy had traveled as Sera, an identity that required rather less theatrical adjustment than the others. And Iris had been Lieutenant Rourke. They had walked these corridors together before. But last time, every interaction had carried an additional calculation. Names. Roles. What they could say. What they couldn't. Who might recognize whom. Which conversations belonged to the cover and which belonged to the people underneath. This time, Ace carried a passenger credential bearing her own name. She looked at it. Then smiled. Mai noticed. "What?" Ace turned the credential toward her. "Nothing to remember." Mai smiled back. "Except your cabin number." "Suite number." "Of course." Ace slipped her hand into Mai's. "No Amber. No Maeve." Brenda leaned over. "No Jessie." Shammy raised a finger. "Sera is still available." Ace laughed. "Of course she is." Iris looked at them. "And no Lieutenant Rourke." Brenda's grin became absolutely enormous. "Oh, hun. That last one might take some convincing." Iris narrowed her eyes. "Brenda." "What? You know how these people are." Unfortunately, Iris did. Very well. --- The check-in attendant checked the five tickets against the luggage cart, counted again when the last garment case appeared, and discreetly requested a second porter. Professionalism prevailed. Eventually. "Five passengers?" Iris nodded. "Yes." The attendant began processing the cases. Ace watched with keen interest. She had carefully selected her luggage for the voyage. Several cases contained clothes. Several contained shoes. One contained a collection of accessories that Ace considered entirely necessary and that Shammy had described as an unusually ambitious interpretation of the word necessary. Mai's luggage was hardly modest. Neither was Shammy's, although her carefully protected evening gown required rather more thoughtful handling than most of the other garments. Brenda and Iris had packed plenty of their own finery. Five women. Three weeks. Excellent wardrobes. And absolutely no financial reason to compromise on luggage. The attendant scanned another case. "Fragile contents?" "Yes." "May I ask what kind?" "Some very expensive shoes." The attendant paused. Then nodded. "Understood." Ace smiled. "Thank you." Brenda glanced at Mai. Mai glanced at Shammy. Shammy looked serenely innocent. Iris sighed. "Don't." Brenda blinked. "I didn't say anything." "You were about to." "Sweetheart, I was admiring the professionalism." Ace nodded approvingly. "As you should." --- The difference became real at the boarding checkpoint. Iris knew the procedure. She knew where the crew access routes branched away from passenger circulation. She knew which doors led toward operational areas and which led toward the promenades. Her feet almost carried her toward the familiar staff access out of habit. Then she stopped. Looked at the passenger entrance. And laughed. Brenda noticed immediately. "Oh, that's beautiful." Iris shook her head. "I nearly went the wrong way." "Old habits?" "Very old habits." Ace looked toward the crew access. "Should we follow you?" "No." "Just checking." Iris presented her passenger credential. The officer at the checkpoint scanned it. Then looked up. Stopped. And smiled. "Lieutenant Rourke?" "Not anymore." The officer stared at the credential. Then back at her. "Well, I'll be damned." "Hello." "Welcome back!" "Thank you." His gaze moved toward Brenda. Then to the others. A moment of recognition. Not necessarily of every name, but certainly of the rather memorable visitors who had once accompanied Lieutenant Rourke aboard the vessel. His smile widened. "You're all back." Ace grinned. "We enjoyed the hospitality." "So I recall." Mai laughed softly. Iris caught the amusement in his expression. "Passenger this time." "So I see." "And I'm not reporting for duty." He nodded solemnly. "I'll inform the captain." "Please don't." Then his expression softened. "Seriously, though. Good to see you, Iris." "Good to see you too." He returned her credential. "Enjoy the voyage." Brenda slipped her arm through Iris's. "Oh, we intend to." The officer's smile grew. Iris looked at her wife. "Brenda." "What?" "Nothing." "Exactly." --- Aureate II's main atrium was just as impressive as they remembered. Light fell through the high glass roof onto the broad central promenade. Elevators rose behind transparent walls, terraces overlooked the galleries, and the enormous kinetic sculpture above the central space continued its slow, intricate movement. Ace glanced toward a familiar row of boutiques. "Oh, good." Mai smiled. "Still there?" "Still there." "And?" Ace considered the displays. "Some new collections." "Naturally you noticed." Shammy looked toward the sculpture. She remembered it. Remembered standing beneath it during the previous voyage and studying the relationship between its moving elements. Today she could stop for as long as she wanted. No schedule dictated by an operation. No need to be somewhere else. No additional identity to maintain. Just art. She smiled. "I want to spend more time in the galleries this trip." "There's always something new on exhibition." "Good." Brenda pointed toward one of the upper promenades. "And I remember a bar up there." Ace grinned. "Excellent drinks." Mai glanced at her. "You remember?" "Darling, I remember all the important things." "Shopping, drinks and dancing?" "Precisely." Shammy added, "And the shoes." "Especially the shoes." Iris laughed. It was strange. Wonderful, but strange. She had walked through this atrium more times than she could count. Usually with somewhere to be. Someone to meet. A task to complete. Now she stood among passengers deciding which pleasant thing to do first. She had no idea how to behave. Brenda noticed her expression. "What?" Iris shook her head. "I was just thinking." "Dangerous." "I walked through that doorway for years without seeing the carving above it. I was always reading a duty roster." Brenda followed her gaze to the ornate arch and slipped her fingers between Iris's. "About anything else you've been too busy to notice?" Iris held up her passenger credential, then turned it over as though expecting somebody to have printed a watch assignment on the back. "And now?" Brenda asked. "Now I can admire the architecture without somebody handing me a staffing problem." Brenda laughed. "Babe, I'm going to make sure you get plenty of practice." --- The suites were familiar territory. Not these exact rooms, but the ship's approach to luxury. Generous spaces. Elegant furnishings. Balconies opening toward the water. Thoughtful details designed to make the voyage feel less like transportation and more like a temporary life of extraordinary comfort. Ace entered the Triad's suite and nodded approvingly. "Oh, yes." Mai stepped inside. "Very nice." Shammy looked around. Then toward the balcony. "Beautiful." Ace inspected the dressing room. Paused. And smiled. Mai appeared in the doorway. "Enough room?" Ace considered. "For now." Shammy laughed. "That's ominous." "Not at all." Ace opened one of the wardrobes. "There are boutiques aboard." "We know," Mai replied. "And we'll be stopping in Washington." "Also aware." Ace turned. Her smile was angelic. "I'm simply thinking ahead." Shammy shook her head. "You've been thinking ahead since yesterday." Ace laughed. "Preparation is important." Mai kissed her. "So is enjoying the actual trip." Ace softened. "That too." She took Mai's hand. Then Shammy's. And for a moment they stood together in the middle of their suite. No cover identities. No operational concerns. No one pretending to be anyone else. Just three people who loved one another, with a whole voyage waiting. Ace looked between them. "Happy?" Mai adjusted the collar Ace had been worrying at since they boarded. "I have no intention of requesting a refund on this honeymoon." Shammy squeezed her hand. "Nor on the company." Ace drew them close. "Good." --- Next door, Brenda was already investigating the suite's controls. Iris watched from the bedroom doorway. "Brenda." "Hmm?" "Don't take anything apart." "I'm not taking anything apart." "You're looking at the access panel." "It's interesting." Iris laughed. "Of course it is." Brenda stepped away from the wall. Then looked at Iris. "Hey." Iris turned to face Brenda properly. "What?" "We're here." Iris smiled. "We are." "Your old ship." "Yes." "Our honeymoon." "Yes." Brenda crossed the room. Took her hands. "And you're not in uniform." Iris looked down at her clothes. Then back up. "No." Brenda smiled slowly. "I like that." Iris laughed. "You've mentioned it." "Going to mention it again." "Apparently." Brenda kissed her. Not hurriedly. Not as a distraction. Simply because she wanted to. When they separated, she looked toward the balcony. "Come here." Iris followed. They stepped outside together. The harbor spread beneath them, busy with traffic and departure activity. Iris looked toward the upper superstructure. Somewhere above, her father was preparing his ship to sail. She knew the rhythms of departure. She could almost hear the sequence of reports in her head. Brenda touched her cheek. "No work." Iris laughed. "I know." "No mentally checking the departure sequence." "I wasn't." Brenda gave her a look. Iris sighed. "Fine. A little." "Sweetheart." "I know." Brenda kissed her forehead. "You're allowed to enjoy this." Iris smiled. "I'm planning to." "Excellent." And then Iris's holo chimed. She glanced at it. The sender's name brought an immediate smile to her face. Brenda noticed. Naturally. "Oh?" Iris looked up. "What?" "Who's that?" "An old colleague." Brenda leaned against the balcony railing. "Yeah?" "We worked together for years." "Mm-hmm." Iris narrowed her eyes. "Brenda." "What?" "That expression." "What expression?" "The one that means you've already decided this is interesting." Brenda grinned. "Well, is it?" Iris glanced at the message again. Then laughed softly. "It might be." Brenda's eyebrows rose. "Oh, sweetheart." Iris looked at her. "She wants to meet for a drink." "Then go." "We only just got here." "And?" Iris paused. Brenda stepped closer. "You're not on duty, hun." "I know." "And she's not reporting to you." "No." "And if you both want to spend some time catching up..." Iris looked down at the holo. Then back at her wife. The smile that appeared was quite unlike the professional expression former Lieutenant Rourke had once worn in the corridors of Aureate II. Brenda noticed. And loved it. "Oh, there it is." Iris laughed. "What?" "That smile." Iris shook her head. "You're impossible." "Yes." Brenda kissed her again. "Go enjoy yourself." Iris touched her cheek. "Love you." "Love you too." At the door, Iris paused. "Brenda?" "Yes?" "Don't wait for me." Brenda's grin widened. "Wouldn't dream of it, sweetheart." Iris laughed. Then left. Brenda stood quietly for a moment. Looked at the closed door. Then at the beautiful suite. And started laughing to herself. "Well." She picked up her own holo. "That didn't take long." --- A little later, Brenda joined the Triad in one of Aureate II's familiar observation lounges. They had visited it during the previous voyage. Ace had remembered the drinks. Mai had remembered the music. Shammy had remembered a particularly interesting conversation she'd once had there. All three agreed that returning was an excellent idea. Brenda settled into a comfortable chair. Ace glanced toward the corridor. "Where's Iris?" "Meeting an old colleague." Mai nodded. "Nice." Shammy smiled. "She must have a lot of friends aboard." Brenda considered that. "Oh, absolutely." Ace looked at her. "How many?" Brenda laughed. "She served here for years, what do you think." "Right." Mai studied the drinks menu. Shammy looked toward the windows. Ace leaned back. For a few minutes they talked about the ship. About the differences between this voyage and the last. About how pleasant it felt not to have a mission hidden beneath every social encounter. Then Mai glanced toward the lounge entrance. "Oh, there's Iris." Brenda turned. Iris was walking past with a familiar-looking woman in off-duty clothes. They were laughing together. The woman touched Iris's arm. Iris smiled at her. Then noticed the four women watching from the lounge. She raised a hand. Brenda blew her a kiss. Iris caught it theatrically and returned one. Then continued walking with her companion. Ace smiled. "Good to see her having fun." Mai nodded. "Absolutely." Shammy looked pleased. Brenda took a sip of her drink. "Very good." Ace glanced at her. Something about the smile. The tone. The complete lack of surprise. She narrowed her eyes. "Brenda." "Yes?" "Is there something you're not telling us?" Brenda looked innocent. "About?" "Iris." Brenda considered. Then smiled. "Only that she's having a wonderful honeymoon." Mai started laughing. Shammy looked from Brenda to Ace. Then toward the corridor. Her own smile widened. Ace stared. "Oh." Brenda lifted her glass. "Exactly." --- They reached the upper observation deck before departure. It was already filling with passengers, many returning to a favorite vantage point from earlier voyages. Ace recognized the view. The waterfront. The skyline. The broad sweep of the harbor beyond. Last time she'd stood aboard Aureate II, she'd been Amber O'Sullivan. Now she wore her own name. Her own ring. And the quiet satisfaction of having nothing to prove. Mai joined her at the railing. "Thinking?" Ace smiled. "A little." "About?" "Last time." Mai nodded. "Yeah." "We had some fun." "We did." Ace looked at her. "But this is better." Mai smiled. "Much." Shammy joined them. She glanced back toward the ship. "I wonder how many people remember Sera." Ace laughed. "I suspect quite a few." Shammy considered. Then smiled. "Good." Brenda appeared beside them. Iris followed a few moments later. Ace noticed. Looked at Iris. Then Brenda. Then Iris again. She opened her mouth. Mai put a hand on her arm. "Darling." Ace looked at her. "What?" "Let her enjoy her holiday." Ace grinned. "I wasn't going to say anything." Shammy laughed. Brenda smiled sweetly. Iris looked between them. "What?" "Nothing," all four answered. Iris narrowed her eyes. Then laughed. "Oh, this is going to be a long voyage." Brenda slipped her arm around her waist. "A wonderful one." "That too," Iris said. --- A low vibration traveled through the deck. Aureate II was preparing to leave the harbor. Iris felt the familiar movement beneath her feet. For years, it had meant work. Departure stations. Confirmations. Responsibility. Today she stood at the railing with her wife. She could feel the ship beginning to move. And she had absolutely nothing to do except enjoy it. Brenda watched her expression. "Different?" Iris nodded. "Very." "Good different?" Iris smiled. "The best kind." Henry's ship began moving away from Night City. Ace leaned against Mai. Shammy stood close enough that their shoulders touched. Brenda took Iris's hand. Five women. Two fresh marriages. One unbroken Triad. An entire luxury vessel full of familiar places, new opportunities and people worth getting to know. Ace drew a long breath. Then smiled. "Well, ladies." Mai laughed. "Oh, no." Ace gestured toward the ship. "Shall we see what trouble we can find?" Shammy raised an eyebrow. "We're on our honeymoon." "Exactly." Brenda started laughing. Iris shook her head. "Ace." "What?" "Try to remember that we're here to relax." Ace looked deeply offended. "I'm extremely good at relaxing." Mai leaned toward her. "You're extremely good at finding interesting ways to relax." Ace considered. Then grinned. "Also true." They watched Night City slowly recede. Two off-duty crew members recognized Iris on the promenade. One nearly saluted before spotting her wedding ring. "Don't you dare," Iris warned, laughing. "I gave that uniform back." The younger officer lowered her hand. "Sorry. Congratulations, though." "Thank you. Enjoy your shore leave when it comes." Iris walked on without asking what watch either woman was assigned. Brenda marked the restraint with an appreciative squeeze of her fingers. Ahead of them Ace had stopped at a boutique window so tall it made the display shoes look like an architectural exhibit. Mai intercepted her before she could demand to know whether the shop offered installment plans for the *building*. ## Chapter 5 — The City That Floats By the time Aureate II cleared the harbor, Ace had already made three decisions. First, she was going to enjoy every minute of this voyage. Second, she was going to make excellent use of the ship's restaurants, boutiques, lounges and dance floors. Third, she was absolutely not going to spend the entire afternoon discussing Iris Rourke's surprisingly active social calendar. That third decision lasted approximately nine minutes. They were still on the observation deck when Brenda's holo chimed. She glanced at the message. Smiled. And began typing. Ace noticed. "What?" Brenda looked up. "Nothing, luv." Ace narrowed her eyes. "That's never nothing." "Sweetie, sometimes a message is just a message." Mai laughed. "She's got you there." Ace pointed at her. "You're supposed to be on my side." "I married you, honey. I didn't surrender my critical faculties." Shammy made an appreciative sound. Ace looked wounded. "Unbelievable." Iris, who had been enjoying the view, turned toward them. "What's unbelievable?" "Your wife is conspiring against me." "Which one?" Everyone stopped. Iris smiled. Brenda burst out laughing. Ace stared. Then pressed a hand to her heart. "Oh, you are getting _dangerous_, Mrs. Rourke." Iris took Brenda's hand. "I've had excellent teachers." That earned her a kiss. And, for once, Ace allowed the conversation to end there. After all, there was an entire ship waiting. --- Aureate II offered more than enough ways to spend an afternoon. The five already knew that. What they hadn't previously experienced was the luxury of choosing between those possibilities without checking whether their plans served an operation. This time, the passenger directory wasn't a resource to be studied for access routes, meeting places or useful cover activities. It was simply a list of things they wanted to do. And it was enormous. They began with the central promenade. Ace's holo vibrated twice in quick succession. Reyes had sent a photograph of her desk buried beneath three competing work orders, followed by: *This is what an actual vacation looks like if you're not on one. I expect at least one indecently expensive dessert in retaliation.* Ace photographed the price of a particularly extravagant dessert on a café menu. *Already ahead of you.* The answer arrived before she'd even ordered: *Hate you. Have fun.* Ace laughed, pocketed the holo and didn't check it again. Ace and Mai walked hand in hand, occasionally stopping to examine boutiques they remembered from their earlier visit. Some were familiar. Others had changed their collections completely. Ace lingered before one display of beautiful shoes. Mai joined her. "Those are new." Ace nodded, already estimating whether a heel that fine could survive her particular definition of dancing. "They'd be murder on cobblestones," Mai observed, "but excellent on the ship." Ace turned to her. "You came over here to enable me?" "I came over here because I want a pair in silver. Try yours on; then you can help me choose." Ace stared. "God, you're an expensive woman." "You married me with full access to the evidence." Ace turned toward her. "You're encouraging me." "Of course, luv." Ace kissed her cheek. "You wonderful woman." Shammy, meanwhile, had stopped at the window of a small gallery. An intricate sculpture occupied the center of the display. Its surfaces shifted between metallic reflections and translucent layers, producing an entirely different impression depending on where the viewer stood. Shammy moved slowly from one side to the other. "Oh, that's clever." Brenda stopped beside her. "What am I looking at?" "Depends where you're standing." Brenda moved. Paused. Moved again. "Oh!" Shammy smiled. "Exactly." Iris joined them. Brenda pointed. "Look at the internal structure." Shammy nodded. "The artist is using the geometry as part of the visual effect." Brenda crouched slightly. "There's a mechanical element too." Ace appeared behind them. "Have we found something expensive?" Shammy looked at her. "Possibly." Ace smiled. "Excellent." "Darling, not every beautiful thing needs to come home with us." Ace considered that. Then glanced toward the sculpture. "No, but this one might." Shammy shook her head affectionately. "You're impossible." "Consistently." They stayed for another ten minutes. Not because they needed to. Because they could. --- Lunch was at a restaurant Iris remembered particularly well. It occupied a broad terrace overlooking the sea, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a menu that changed according to the voyage. They'd eaten there during their previous visit. This time, nobody needed to perform a role. The hostess greeted them warmly and led them to a table by the windows. Ace opened the menu. Looked at the first page. Then the second. Then smiled. "Oh, I remember this place." Mai nodded. "So do I." Brenda looked toward the open kitchen. "Excellent food." Iris smiled. "Still one of my favorites." Shammy was studying the wine list. "Excellent selection." Ace glanced at her. "Anything interesting?" "Several things." "Very good." They ordered without discussing prices. That, too, had become an ordinary pleasure. There had been a time when expensive meals required thought. When buying beautiful things meant weighing their cost against other needs. Those days were gone. Now the only questions worth discussing were what sounded delicious and whether someone wanted to share dessert. Ace regarded the menu thoughtfully. "I think I'm having the seafood." Mai glanced over. "Which?" "Possibly several." "That's my girl." Iris smiled. "You're allowed to order more than one dish, Ace." Ace looked delighted. "See? This is why I love traveling with you." Shammy set down her menu. "Because Iris understands how restaurants work?" "Precisely." Mai kissed Ace's cheek. "Hun, we all understand how restaurants work." "But Iris makes it sound official." Iris laughed. "Former lieutenant." "Former Lieutenant Restaurant," Ace corrected. Brenda nearly spilled her water. --- Lunch might have been leisurely if the service trolley hadn't stopped beside Iris and waited for an authorization she no longer possessed. An attendant hurried over. "Apologies, Lieutenant—" He caught himself at her ring. "Ms. Rourke. The system remembers your old access." "It can forget," Iris said, moving her hand away from the terminal. "I'm here for dessert, not a shift." Brenda's attention sharpened. "Did it just ask my wife to approve a pudding?" "Technically, it asked for her old departmental clearance," the attendant said, looking mortified. "Darling," Brenda told Iris, "I knew you were irresistible, but the ship is being embarrassingly obvious." Ace nearly lost her fork. Mai offered the attendant a reassuring smile while he summoned the appropriate authorization. Shammy watched Iris instead. This vessel had been home to her for years; giving up a position in it did not mean the machinery would relinquish her quite so gracefully. The trolley resumed its journey. Iris leaned against Brenda, the back of her hand brushing her wife's knee beneath the table. "No reports," Brenda said quietly. "No reports," Iris agreed. Then, louder: "And I'm having the chocolate thing with the absurd price." "That's my girl," Brenda said. Ace raised a finger. "For the record, *I* discovered the chocolate thing." "Then we owe you a medal," Mai replied. "Or perhaps a second spoon." Ace considered the proposal, then ordered another dessert instead. --- After lunch the five made different plans. Ace and Mai went to the boutiques; Brenda headed to an engineering exhibition; Shammy changed into one of Lena's white sculptural couture pieces before visiting the gallery as Sera. Iris had received a message from somebody she hadn't expected to see quite so soon. **Tamsin Hale** had worked aboard Aureate II in deck operations during Iris's final years of service. She had possessed three qualities Iris remembered vividly: a complete intolerance for poor planning, a laugh audible down a corridor, and a spectacular inability to conceal when she found her lieutenant attractive. Tamsin was waiting by the windows in a quieter passenger lounge. When she saw Iris approaching without a uniform, she put down her drink and started laughing. "Oh, for fuck's sake. They really let you off the bridge." Iris spread her arms. "And somehow the ship's still afloat." "Give it time." Their embrace lasted longer than a professional greeting. Iris didn't mistake that for an accident. She drew back just far enough to look at Tamsin and saw the same delighted challenge in her face that had once made a late shift feel much too short. "You look good," Tamsin said. "You still open with flattery?" "Only when you're making it difficult not to." They ordered drinks and talked about people they'd known, repairs that had gone exactly wrong, and one port call whose timetable Tamsin still considered an act of bureaucratic revenge. She took Iris through the old story from the other side. Halfway through, Iris realized she was not thinking about how she'd have written the incident report. She was laughing instead. "Something's changed," Tamsin said. "Besides the ring?" Tamsin caught sight of it and went still. "You got married?" Iris held up her hand. "Recently. Her name is Brenda. She's wonderful." Tamsin studied her for a beat, then smiled with real warmth. "Congratulations. You look ridiculously happy." "I am." "Good." Tamsin glanced out at the water. "Then can I tell you something without making you regret sitting down?" "That has never stopped you before." "I wanted to ask you out for years." Iris rested an elbow on the table. "I know." "You knew?" "Tamsin, you once offered to inspect the same observation window with me four times in one shift." "It kept needing inspection." "It was a window." Tamsin laughed and covered her face. Iris let the sound finish before she took her hand. "I was interested too," Iris said. "But I was your lieutenant. That mattered." Tamsin stopped laughing. "I know. I respected you for it, even while I was cursing your good judgment." "Well, I'm a passenger now. And you told me you were off duty." Tamsin's gaze sharpened. "Are you suggesting we revisit that inspection schedule?" "I'm suggesting we stop insulting a perfectly functional window." They left the bar together. The corridor to Tamsin's quarters was familiar enough for Iris to recognize turns she'd taken on duty, but this time there was no badge and no list of tasks waiting at the end. At the door Tamsin paused, one hand on the control. "Tell me if I've misunderstood," she said. Iris stepped closer and kissed her. "You haven't." Inside, Tamsin set her access card on the table with an exaggerated sigh of relief. "For once, nobody is going to call me back to the deck." "For once," Iris agreed, "I don't have the authority to make them." That made Tamsin laugh. The laugh changed when Iris came close enough to touch her cheek. Tamsin held still, the old confidence briefly gone; Iris recognized the quiet woman underneath all those years of jokes and waited for her to look up again. Tamsin was the one who closed the distance this time. They kissed beside the window until the conversation about inspections ceased to be useful. When Iris reached for her, Tamsin answered by drawing her close; when Tamsin's hand trembled a little against hers, Iris noticed and stayed with her instead of finding a joke to smooth the moment away. Years ago, they'd made a habit of stopping just short of this. It was an astonishing relief to discover they didn't need to stop now. "Still certain?" Tamsin asked quietly. Iris gave her an incredulous look. "I came all the way down here without a duty roster. Do you think I'd waste that?" Tamsin laughed, but her eyes were shining. Iris kissed her again, and the laughter became a long breath against her shoulder. They moved away from the window together, neither trying to reclaim the old officer's distance. Tamsin paused beside the sofa and touched Iris's cheek again, as though making sure the woman she remembered and the woman standing here really were the same person. "You keep checking," Iris said. "I keep finding you here. I rather like it." Iris kissed her before another careful answer could take shape. Tamsin responded at once, and the last of their professional reserve gave way to a closeness that was chosen, mutual and far more personal than any reunion story either had rehearsed. Iris recognized the moment Tamsin stopped trying to be composed. Instead of commenting on it, she stayed close and let Tamsin see that she was just as moved. Their evening continued without an audience or a timetable. It had its moments of laughter, sudden quiet and the sort of tenderness that made both women reluctant to look away. They had spent years knowing when to stop. Tonight they learned what it felt like not to have to. When the urgency eased, Iris remained close. Tamsin brushed the back of her hand over Iris's wedding ring, not to challenge it, but because she was learning the shape of the person who had returned to her. Iris caught her hand and held it there. They rested together long enough for the old nervousness to dissolve into something fond and ordinary. Only later did they sit shoulder to shoulder near the window, drinking water and watching the horizon. Tamsin looked at Iris's wedding ring once more. "She's all right with this?" "Brenda knows where I am, and she knows I'm enjoying myself. We don't play guessing games with each other." Tamsin nodded. "Then tell her she's made you look lighter than I ever managed." "I'll tell her you said the window's still broken," Iris replied. "You vicious woman." Iris kissed her goodbye, laughing, and sent Brenda a message before returning to the passenger decks. --- Brenda was examining a particularly elegant piece of cybernetic interface technology when her holo chimed. She glanced at the message. It was from Iris. _Having a lovely afternoon. Spending some private time with an old friend. See you at dinner, honey. Love you. ❤️_ Brenda read it. Then read it again. Her smile widened. "Oh, sweetheart." She sent a reply. _Enjoy yourself, gorgeous. Love you too. ❤️_ Then she returned to the exhibition. She was still smiling when the curator approached. "Finding something interesting?" "Oh, absolutely." The curator glanced toward the display. "That interface is one of our newer pieces." "Beautiful design." They began discussing the technology. And Brenda, who was perfectly capable of being fascinated by more than one thing at a time, immediately immersed herself in the conversation. --- Ace and Mai were in a boutique when Iris's message reached the group conversation. Ace glanced at her holo. Then froze. Mai noticed. "What?" Ace looked at the message. Then at Mai. "Huh." Mai stepped closer. Read it. And smiled. "Oh." Ace looked at her. "That was fast." Mai shrugged. "They've known each other for years, luv." "True." "And Iris is on holiday." "Also true." "Good for her." Ace considered. Then grinned. "Good for Brenda too, I suspect." "Very good." Ace slipped her holo away. Then looked back at the shoes she'd been trying on. "So." Mai raised an eyebrow. "So?" "These or the other pair?" Mai studied them. "Both." Ace stared at her. Then smiled with pure delight. "I love being married to you." Mai kissed her. "I know, honey." --- Shammy received the same message while talking with a gallery attendant. She read it. Smiled. And sent Iris a small heart. Then returned her attention to the installation before her. The attendant had been explaining the artist's use of layered light fields. Shammy asked a question. Then another. Soon they were discussing the relationship between physical form and projected space. The conversation became animated. The attendant, discovering that his visitor was not merely knowledgeable but deeply engaged with contemporary art, grew visibly enthusiastic. Eventually he paused. "Forgive me, but..." Shammy smiled. "Yes?" "You're Sera, aren't you?" Her smile widened. "Guilty." "Oh, wow." He laughed. "I thought you looked familiar." "Hopefully for good reasons." "Very good reasons." He gestured toward the installation. "Actually, some of the artists aboard would love to meet you." Shammy's interest sharpened. "Really?" "There's a small gathering tomorrow evening." She smiled. "That sounds excellent." He offered the details. Shammy accepted. Then, as they continued talking, she caught herself smiling. Aureate II was beginning to feel very promising indeed. --- By late afternoon, the five had accumulated a respectable collection of experiences. Ace and Mai had enjoyed themselves in the boutiques. Shammy had made several intriguing artistic connections. Brenda had found an exhibition interesting enough to occupy most of her afternoon. And Iris had spent several thoroughly enjoyable private hours reconnecting with an old colleague. When she returned to the suite, Brenda was waiting on the balcony with a drink. She looked up. Smiled. "Hello, gorgeous." Iris crossed toward her. "Hello, babe." Brenda opened her arms. Iris stepped into them. They kissed. Slowly. Affectionately. When they separated, Brenda studied her wife's face. "Good afternoon?" Iris smiled. "Very satisfying." "Thought so." Iris laughed. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." Brenda brushed a strand of hair behind Iris's ear. "Was it nice seeing her again?" Iris nodded. "Really nice." "Good." A pause. Then Brenda grinned. "So, former Lieutenant Rourke." Iris closed her eyes. "Oh, no." "Apparently you had quite a few admirers aboard." Iris laughed. "Brenda." "What?" "It's not as though I made a list." Brenda's expression became thoughtful. "Hmm." Iris opened her eyes. "Don't." Brenda smiled sweetly. "Would a list help?" Iris burst out laughing. "Absolutely not." Brenda kissed her cheek. "Whatever you say, hun." --- An unexpected set of live percussion drew everyone into the internal garden before they reached the restaurant. Brenda immediately wanted to know how the suspended instruments were tuned; Iris insisted that they could ask after the performers finished. Only then did the five find a table overlooking the musicians. The ship's lighting shifted slowly toward evening. Outside the windows, the sea darkened. Aureate II continued eastward. Ace arrived wearing a beautiful outfit she'd selected specifically for the first night. Mai looked equally stunning. Shammy had chosen something elegant and artistic. Brenda and Iris appeared together, hand in hand. Ace looked at Iris. Then smiled. "Good afternoon?" Iris sat down, still wearing the guilty look of someone who had thoroughly enjoyed being recognized by old colleagues. "Depends. Are you going to interrogate me about the promenade?" Mai tried not to laugh. Shammy lowered her eyes toward the menu. Brenda looked positively radiant. Ace opened her mouth. Iris raised one finger. "Ace." Ace stopped. "What?" "I'm warning you." Ace grinned. "About?" Iris smiled. "You're on your honeymoon too." A beat. Mai burst out laughing. Shammy smiled. Brenda leaned back, delighted. Ace stared at Iris. Then began laughing herself. "Fair point." "Exactly," Iris said. They ordered dinner. And, for a while, the conversation turned to the many pleasures of the vessel. The excellent food. The astonishing variety of shops. The evening entertainment. The art. The atmosphere. The simple luxury of having nothing urgent to do. Shammy told them about the artistic gathering she'd been invited to attend. Ace was delighted. Mai wanted to know whether the event included music. Brenda asked about the installations. Iris listened with a smile. And somewhere between the main course and dessert, they began planning the evening. Not a strict itinerary. Just possibilities. A lounge with live music. A promenade overlooking the sea. Perhaps a little dancing. Perhaps another drink. Perhaps simply wandering through the ship together and seeing where the night took them. Ace raised her glass. "To our first day afloat." Mai smiled. "To a very good beginning." Shammy nodded. "To interesting people." Brenda grinned. "And old friends." Iris looked at her. Brenda smiled innocently. Ace started laughing. Mai shook her head. Shammy's hair rose just slightly. Iris lifted her glass. "To all of it." Their glasses touched. Outside, the ocean stretched into darkness. Inside, Aureate II glowed with light, music and life. They had been aboard before. They knew how much the ship could offer. But this time, every choice was theirs. No mission. No cover. No rush. No obligations beyond the ones they freely accepted. Just five people who loved one another, enjoying a honeymoon that had barely begun. Around them the ship kept moving. A waiter argued fondly with a returning passenger over the merits of the dessert trolley. Two musicians carried their instrument cases toward the lower deck. Somewhere beyond the windows, evening had lowered itself onto a sea that didn't care about itineraries. Ace looked at the four women sharing her table and realized that nobody was checking the time. Iris had taken off her wrist holo entirely. Brenda was tapping an absent rhythm against the stem of her glass. Mai had begun following the music with one shoulder; Shammy was sketching the shape of the ceiling lights on a napkin. Ace set down the programme she hadn't opened. "Well, ladies." Mai laughed. "Here we go." Ace leaned forward. "Shall we go enjoy ourselves?" Brenda raised her glass. "Way ahead of you, luv." Nobody agreed on a plan. Brenda had heard there was a demonstration of historic stage machinery; Mai wanted the musicians she could hear through the open doors; Ace was following the smell of something excellent being cooked. Shammy glanced at the gallery programme and tucked it into her sleeve. Iris watched the four diverging trajectories and decided that, for once, bringing them all back together was not her responsibility. "Meet here when the music stops?" she suggested. "Which music?" Brenda asked. Iris grinned. "Exactly." ## Chapter 6 — Old Colleagues, New Roles Aureate II had always known how to welcome the evening. Ace remembered that much from their previous visit. She remembered the music drifting through the promenades, the beautifully dressed passengers moving between restaurants and lounges, and the delightful difficulty of choosing where to spend the next few hours. Back then, she'd been Amber O'Sullivan. Tonight she was Ace. Newly married. Very comfortably dressed. And entirely free to enjoy herself. She regarded the entertainment directory with deep satisfaction. "Well, ladies." Mai looked over her shoulder. "What have you found, luv?" "Options." "That sounds dangerous." "Wonderful options." Shammy stepped closer. "Such as?" Ace pointed. "Live jazz in the Meridian Lounge. Dancing in the Observatory. A performance-art presentation near the gallery. And a nightclub that I remember being particularly good." Mai smiled. "I remember that one too." Brenda leaned over Iris's shoulder to read the directory. "Oh, this is going to be fun." Iris laughed. "We've barely finished dinner." "Exactly, sweetheart. We've got the whole evening." Ace spread her arms. "And absolutely no reason to behave." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "I can think of several." Ace looked wounded. "Traitor." "Beloved traitor." Ace considered. "Fair." They agreed to begin at the Meridian Lounge. After that, everyone could follow whichever part of the evening interested them. Nobody needed to stay together every minute. They were on their honeymoon, not conducting an operation. And for once, that distinction was gloriously uncomplicated. --- The Meridian Lounge was comfortably familiar. The lighting was warm, the furniture arranged around a generous dance floor, and a small live ensemble was preparing for its evening performance. Ace recognized the bar. Mai remembered the acoustics. Shammy paused before a new piece of artwork near the entrance. Brenda looked around and grinned. "Still a beautiful place." Iris nodded. "One of my favorites." They found a table with a good view of the musicians. Drinks arrived. Conversation settled into the easy rhythm of people who had nowhere else they were required to be. Then someone stopped beside Iris. "Lieutenant Rourke?" Iris turned. Her face brightened. "Oh, hello!" The woman standing beside the table wore elegant civilian clothes. Her hair was gathered loosely at the back of her head, and she carried herself with the easy confidence of someone accustomed to working aboard a vessel this size. "Well, look at you," she said. Iris rose to embrace her. "Good to see you, Tessa." Tessa stepped back. "No uniform. No rank insignia. And I hear you're actually here on vacation." "All true." "Extraordinary." Brenda stood beside them. "Hi. Brenda." Tessa smiled. "Iris told me you were coming aboard together," Tessa said. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Brenda." "Likewise. And yes, this is a much better reason to be on this ship." "I can imagine." Brenda offered her left hand. "Brenda Rourke now." Tessa looked at the ring. Then at Iris. "Oh, congratulations!" "Thank you," Iris said warmly. Tessa smiled at both of them. "That's wonderful." Introductions followed. Iris introduced Ace and Mai. Tessa shook their hands and asked whether they were enjoying the ship. If either face reminded her of passengers called Amber and Maeve from an earlier voyage, she gave no sign; Ace and Mai didn't volunteer the connection. Shammy she recognized at once. "Sera! I loved your last exhibition." Shammy thanked her, asked which piece had stayed with her, and let the conversation follow the art rather than the other names she used with family. Tessa glanced toward Iris. "I have to admit, I was surprised when I heard you were coming back as a passenger." "I surprised myself." "I'd imagine." Her smile became thoughtful. "Have you settled in?" "Very comfortably." "Good." Tessa hesitated. Just briefly. Then said, "Perhaps we could have a drink sometime. Properly catch up." Iris smiled. "I'd like that." Tessa looked pleased. Then added, with a hint of mischief, "You know, it feels rather strange being able to ask you that without checking whether you're on duty." Iris laughed. "It feels strange being asked." Brenda's eyes sparkled. Tessa noticed. Raised an eyebrow. Brenda smiled sweetly. "Don't mind me, hun. I'm enjoying the conversation." Iris shook her head affectionately. Tessa laughed. They exchanged contact details. Then Tessa excused herself, promising to get in touch when her next free evening arrived. Ace watched her go. Then looked at Iris. "So." Iris raised one finger. "No." "I haven't said anything!" "You were about to." Mai laughed. Shammy lifted her glass. Brenda looked entirely delighted. Ace sat back. "Fine. I'll behave." Nobody believed her. --- The music began. Mai's attention shifted immediately. Ace noticed. Of course she did. "Come on, gorgeous." "Dancing?" "Absolutely." They rose together. The opening piece was lively enough to draw several couples onto the floor, and Ace and Mai slipped easily into the rhythm. They had danced together countless times. That familiarity showed. Not in elaborate choreography, but in the ease of their movements and the instinctive way each responded to the other. Ace loved watching Mai dance. The music always seemed to find something bright and unguarded in her. Mai loved the way Ace smiled when she was enjoying herself. And tonight, Ace was enjoying herself enormously. "You look happy," Mai observed. "I married you. That explains at least half of this expression." "Excellent point." "Besides, we're dancing." "Also true." Ace leaned closer. "With no operations." Mai's expression softened. "Just us." "Just us, hun." They kissed. Briefly. Warmly. Then returned to the music. A few moments later, Mai noticed another couple dancing nearby. Two women. One wore a beautifully tailored dark outfit, her short hair framing an expressive face. The other was taller, dressed in a flowing outfit that moved elegantly with the music. They danced well together. Very well. And both had been smiling in Ace and Mai's direction. The shorter woman caught Mai's eye. Smiled. Mai smiled back. Ace noticed. "Well, hello." Mai laughed. "Don't start." "Me?" "Yes, you." Ace glanced toward the couple. "They're good." "They are." "Shall we say hello?" Mai's smile widened. "Why not?" The next piece began before either had moved far. The taller woman approached with a friendly smile. "Mind if we join you?" Ace grinned. "Not at all." "Lea," the woman said. She gestured toward her partner. "And that's Christina." Christina offered a warm smile. "Hello." "Mai," Mai replied. "And Ace," Ace added. Lea's eyes brightened. "It's good to meet you." "Likewise, luv." The four began dancing together. Not as two couples politely occupying the same floor, but as four people who quickly discovered that they enjoyed one another's company. Christina had an infectious laugh and a talent for noticing the funniest possible interpretation of any situation. Lea was a confident dancer whose quiet humor emerged in perfectly timed remarks. Mai took to both of them immediately. Ace wasn't far behind. By the time the music paused, all four were laughing. Christina looked between Ace and Mai. "Have you two been together long?" "Quite a while." Ace held up her ring. "Recently married." Lea's eyes widened. "Oh! Congratulations!" "Thank you!" Christina laughed. "And you're spending your honeymoon dancing with strangers?" Ace looked offended. "You're not strangers anymore." Mai nodded solemnly. "She's right." "Fair enough." Christina glanced at her partner. "We've been together twelve years." Ace raised her eyebrows. "Twelve?" "Yep." "Any advice for newlyweds?" Lea answered immediately. "Never let Christina choose the music." Christina gasped. "You love my music!" Lea smiled sweetly. "I love you, honey. There's a difference." Mai’s composure crumbled. Ace pointed at them. "Oh, I like you two." Christina grinned. "Good. We like you too." --- They returned to the table together. Introductions were made. Drinks ordered. And the conversation continued with the comfortable momentum of a friendship that had begun unusually well. Christina and Lea were traveling aboard Aureate II for the pleasure of the voyage itself. They enjoyed the ship's restaurants, live performances and nightlife, and had already discovered several venues they thought Ace and Mai might appreciate. Ace listened with increasing interest. Mai wanted details about the dancing. Shammy joined the conversation, quickly discovering that Christina had an interest in contemporary art. Lea knew several of the ship's better restaurants. Brenda contributed an enthusiastic account of the day's technology exhibition. Iris supplied a few recommendations from her years aboard. Christina had managed to get herself banned from choosing the music on this trip after insisting that an experimental percussion concert was "romantic, in an industrial way." "It was a man hitting a metal staircase for ninety minutes," Lea explained. "There were subtleties," Christina protested. Shammy set down her glass. "Actually, the acoustic response of an old staircase can be fascinating." "Don't help her," Lea warned. Mai laughed. "I want to hear it now. Not tonight, though. Tonight the band can keep the rhythm." Christina caught Ace's glance. "Your wife always that merciless?" "Only when she likes you," Ace said. "Otherwise she's much more polite." Lea looked toward the dance floor. "In that case, I'd better earn her good opinion." She rose and offered Mai her hand. "Another?" "Gladly." Christina looked at Ace. Ace stood. "Oh, absolutely." Shammy watched the four of them return to the floor. Then smiled into her glass. "They seem good together." "Christina catches Ace's impatience before she runs into anybody, and Lea keeps finding ways to surprise Mai," Shammy said, tracking the four women's steps with unexpected precision. Iris watched another turn. "You make it sound like engineering." "Dancing has tolerances," Shammy replied. "Those four are testing them quite enthusiastically." --- The evening continued. At some point, Shammy's holo chimed. A message from the gallery attendant she'd met that afternoon. The artist gathering scheduled for the following evening had grown. Several visiting sculptors would be attending. An experimental-media designer had joined the program. And one of the ship's resident curators had expressed considerable interest in meeting Sera. Shammy smiled. "Oh, wonderful." Brenda looked over. "Good news, sweetie?" "Very." Shammy showed her the invitation. Brenda read it. Then grinned. "Well, somebody's becoming popular." Shammy laughed. "I haven't even met them yet." "Give it time." "She's right," Iris said. Shammy considered the message again. Then typed a warm acceptance. She looked toward the dance floor. Ace and Mai were laughing with Christina and Lea. Shammy felt a quiet happiness watching them. They were having a marvelous evening. And tomorrow, she had an entirely different group of people to meet. There was something wonderful about that. Not being required to follow anyone else's plans. Not waiting for someone to find a place for her. Just the freedom to enjoy her own interests and see where they led. She lifted her glass. "To interesting people." "I'll drink to that." --- Iris's holo chimed a little later. She glanced at it. Smiled. And placed it beside her glass. Brenda noticed immediately. "Oh?" Iris looked up. "What?" "Old friend?" "Yes." Brenda leaned closer. "Someone interesting?" "Very." Shammy smiled quietly. Brenda studied Iris's expression. Then asked, with cheerful directness: "Are we talking drinks and old stories, or something a little more private?" Iris looked at her wife. For a moment, her smile softened. "Private." Brenda's eyes brightened. "Ah." Iris nodded. "She has the rest of the evening free. We've talked about spending some time together in her quarters." Brenda touched her hand. "Oh, you're going to enjoy yourself," Brenda said, looking unmistakably pleased. "And I intend to hear the highlights that are actually worth sharing." Iris laughed. "I'll have to edit the report." "Please. I married a former lieutenant. I expect professional-quality documentation." "You do realize a great many details will be classified?" "Naturally. I'll accept a convincing smile and an honest answer when I ask if you're happy." Iris touched her cheek. "Then I'll make your job easy." "Good. Now go have fun before I start charging you for administrative delays." Iris leaned closer and kissed her. "Love you." "Love you too, sweetheart." Brenda brushed her thumb across Iris's cheek. "Have a wonderful evening." "I intend to." Iris rose. Then looked toward the dance floor. Ace and Mai were occupied with Christina and Lea. Shammy smiled at her. "Have fun, Iris." Iris smiled back. "Thank you." She left the lounge. Brenda watched her go. Then picked up her drink. A deeply satisfied smile spread across her face. Shammy regarded her with amusement. "You're happy." "Oh, luv." She lifted her glass. "You have no idea." --- Ace and Mai returned to the table nearly twenty minutes later. Christina and Lea had gone to collect another round of drinks. Ace sat down. Looked around. "Where's Iris?" Brenda smiled. "Out." Mai raised an eyebrow. "With?" "Another old colleague." Ace blinked. "Another?" Brenda nodded. "Yep." Ace considered. "Just catching up?" Brenda smiled into her drink. "Not exclusively, hun." Mai began laughing. Ace stared at Brenda. Then toward the lounge entrance. Then back. "Wait." Shammy smiled. Brenda raised her glass. "Apparently the former Lieutenant Rourke had quite an interesting professional network." Ace burst out laughing. "Oh, I LOVE this." Mai shook her head. "Darling." "I know that tone. I am behaving." "Remember what Iris told you." "That I'm on my honeymoon too?" Ace asked. "Exactly." Ace looked toward Christina and Lea, who were approaching the table. Then back at Mai. Her expression became very pleased indeed. "Excellent advice." Brenda laughed. "Glad we could help, sweetie." --- The night settled into a rhythm of its own. Shammy spent time talking with a visiting artist near the lounge bar, someone whose work in light installations she had admired for years. The conversation was animated, occasionally argumentative and thoroughly enjoyable. They exchanged contact details. Shammy returned to the table smiling. Brenda immediately noticed. "Good conversation?" "Excellent." "Interesting person?" "Very." Brenda grinned. "See? This ship is good for everybody." Shammy laughed. "It certainly seems that way." Ace and Mai continued dancing with Christina and Lea. The four had moved well beyond introductory small talk. They discussed music, food, past travels and the kind of tiny personal habits people usually reveal only when they feel comfortable. Christina had an astonishing collection of stories about disastrous restaurant experiences. Lea had an understated way of delivering the final line that made even the most ordinary anecdote hilarious. Ace adored them. Mai was having an equally wonderful time. By the time they finally returned to the table, Christina was laughing so hard she had to wipe her eyes. Ace looked delighted. "I swear that actually happened." Lea shook her head. "I believe you. That's the problem." Mai laughed. "Oh, honey, wait until you hear what she did in Night City." Ace turned. "MAI!" Christina leaned forward eagerly. "Please, do tell us." Lea smiled. "Definitely tell us." Ace closed her eyes. "I'm surrounded." Mai kissed her cheek. "Lovingly surrounded." Ace sighed. "Fine. But I'm telling your story afterward." "Deal." They stayed together until the lounge's live music ended. Then, before parting, the four exchanged contact details. Lea smiled at Mai. "We should do this again." Mai nodded. "Absolutely." Christina looked at Ace. "Maybe somewhere with a slightly wilder dance floor?" Ace's grin widened. "Oh, I know exactly the place." Christina laughed. "Then it's a date." Ace looked at Mai. "Sounds wonderful," Mai said. They exchanged affectionate goodbyes. No promises beyond seeing one another again. No pressure to decide what the chemistry might eventually become. Just four women who had enjoyed themselves enormously and fully intended to repeat the experience. --- Iris returned shortly before the five were ready to leave. Brenda spotted her first. Her smile softened immediately. "Hello, gorgeous." Iris came to her. "Hello, honey." They kissed. Brenda reached up to brush a strand of hair away from Iris's face. "Good evening?" Iris smiled, obviously satisfied. "Very good." Brenda's answering smile was positively radiant. "I'm glad." Iris sat beside her. Ace regarded the pair with considerable interest. Mai noticed. "Ace." "What?" "Don't." Ace held up both hands. "I wasn't going to say anything." Iris looked at her. "Really?" Ace considered. Then smiled. "Well, nothing terribly embarrassing." Iris laughed. "How generous." Shammy covered her mouth. Brenda leaned comfortably against Iris. Ace looked around the table. Then raised her glass. "To a successful first evening." Mai smiled. "To new friends." Shammy nodded. "And old ones." Brenda lifted her glass. "Especially old ones." Iris closed her eyes. Everyone laughed. Iris opened them again, smiling. "You're all terrible." Brenda kissed her cheek. "And you love us." "Unfortunately." Ace looked offended. "Unfortunately?" "Immensely," Iris said. Their glasses touched. --- The corridors were quiet when they returned to the passenger suites. Aureate II moved steadily through the night. The ocean was invisible beyond the windows, except where moonlight caught the surface. At the adjacent suite doors, the five paused. Brenda slipped her arm around Iris. "Good night, everybody." Mai smiled. "Night, luv." Shammy waved. "Sleep well." Ace looked toward Iris. Then smiled. "Busy day tomorrow?" Iris regarded her calmly. "Probably." Ace grinned. "Lots of colleagues?" Brenda started laughing. Iris considered. Then smiled sweetly. "Ace, how many times did you dance with Christina and Lea tonight?" Ace blinked. "What?" "Just curious." Mai burst out laughing. Shammy smiled. Brenda nearly doubled over. Ace stared at Iris. Then laughed. "Oh, you are going to be trouble." Iris kissed Brenda's cheek. "Good night, Ace." "Good night, Iris." They parted at the suite doors. Brenda caught Iris by the sleeve before she could follow the corridor toward their suite. "Not quite ready for bed," she said. Iris glanced at the familiar turn toward the bridge. Understanding arrived before Brenda finished speaking. "That balcony?" "That balcony. First night back. Feels right, doesn't it?" Iris took her hand. "Very." They returned along the permitted passenger corridor, leaving the working bridge and its watch officers undisturbed. --- The balcony near the bridge was quiet. It had been quiet during their earlier visit too. Back then, Iris had still been Lieutenant Rourke. Brenda had still been Jessie O'Sullivan. Neither had known, when they came out to that railing, how much was about to change. They stepped through the doorway. The night air greeted them. The ocean stretched beyond the railings. For a moment, Iris stood still. Brenda moved beside her. "Remember?" Iris laughed softly. "Every second." Brenda slipped her hand into Iris's. "You brought me here." "I did." "And we talked." "We did." Brenda smiled. "Quite a lot, actually." Iris laughed. "Mostly because neither of us knew what to do next." Brenda turned toward her. "I knew what I wanted." Iris smiled. "So did I." They stood together. The ship moved steadily beneath their feet. The night was clear. The stars spread across the sky. Brenda looked toward the place where they'd stood during that earlier voyage. Then back at Iris. "You kissed me here." Iris smiled. "Yes." "Our first kiss." "Yes." Brenda's expression softened. "I've thought about that night so many times." Iris touched her cheek. "So have I." Brenda leaned closer. "And now look at us." Iris glanced at their joined hands. The rings. The quiet certainty between them. Then back at Brenda. "Married." Brenda smiled. "Married." Iris laughed softly. "Who would've thought?" Brenda tilted her head. "I had hopes." Iris's eyes brightened. "Did you?" "Oh, sweetheart." Brenda stepped closer. "I had enormous hopes." Iris kissed her. Slowly. Warmly. With all the familiarity they'd built since that first uncertain moment. When they separated, Brenda rested her forehead against Iris's. "Love you." Iris smiled. "Love you too." They stayed there for a long while. Not talking much. They didn't need to. The balcony had once been the place where something began. Tonight, it was simply one more place they belonged together. --- Meanwhile, the Triad had already stepped into their suite. --- Ace closed the door. Looked around. Then turned toward Mai and Shammy. She had a particular expression. Mai recognized it immediately. "Oh, no." Ace smiled. "What?" "That face." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "What have you decided now?" Ace spread her arms. "Ladies." Mai folded hers. "Yes?" Shammy leaned against the back of the sofa. "We're listening." Ace smiled with extraordinary satisfaction. "I've decided something." Mai sighed theatrically. "Naturally." "We are on our honeymoon." "Yes." "In a beautiful suite." "Yes." "With a magnificent bed." Shammy glanced toward the bedroom. "Also yes." "And absolutely no reason to maintain unnecessary conventions." Mai narrowed her eyes. "Ace." Ace's grin widened. "We're sleeping naked for the entire voyage." Silence. Mai blinked. Shammy tilted her head. Ace waited. Then Mai began laughing. "Oh, honey." Ace looked delighted. "Yes?" "That's your grand declaration?" "Absolutely." Mai considered the proposal. Then smiled. "Actually, I like it." Ace pointed triumphantly. "SEE?" Shammy looked toward the bedroom. Then back at Ace. "Every night?" "Every night." "And your reasoning?" Ace looked at her. "Do I need more reasoning?" Shammy smiled. "Humor me." Ace counted on her fingers. "Luxurious sheets. An enormous bed. No alarm clocks. Two beautiful women I love beyond reason." Mai's expression softened. Shammy smiled. Ace continued. "And we're married." Shammy raised a finger. "You're married." Ace stopped. Looked at her. Then stepped closer. She took Shammy's hand. "We're together." Shammy's smile warmed. "That we are." Ace kissed her. Then glanced at Mai. "And I intend to spend this honeymoon enjoying every possible advantage of that fact." Mai laughed. "Well, I certainly don't object." Shammy considered the matter with exaggerated seriousness. Then nodded. "Motion seconded." Ace raised both arms. "UNANIMOUS!" Mai laughed, entirely unrepentant. Shammy shook her head. "You're ridiculous." "Lovably ridiculous." "Debatable." Ace kissed her cheek. "Not really." Mai stepped closer. "You do realize, sweetie, that we could simply have gone to bed without making a formal announcement?" Ace looked offended. "And miss the opportunity to establish official honeymoon policy?" Shammy laughed. "Of course." Mai smiled. "Then I suppose it's settled." Ace nodded solemnly. "The Great Aureate Pajama Strike begins tonight." Shammy closed her eyes. "Oh, God." Mai lost it. Ace looked immensely pleased with herself. --- A little later, the three women settled into the enormous bed. Ace had been right about the sheets. They were magnificent. Soft, cool and luxurious enough that Shammy immediately made an appreciative sound. "Oh, these are wonderful." Ace smiled triumphantly. "See?" Mai laughed. "Yes, honey. Excellent policy." Ace settled between them. Pulled Mai close. Reached for Shammy. And sighed with complete satisfaction. For a while they talked quietly. About Christina and Lea. About the dancing. About Shammy's invitation to the artist gathering. About the ship. About Iris and Brenda. At one point, Ace began laughing again. Mai looked at her. "What?" "Nothing." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "Ace." Ace grinned. "I was just thinking about Iris." Mai laughed. "Oh, don't." "She was on this ship for years." "Yes." "And apparently at least half the crew had a crush on her." Shammy smiled. "That might be a slight exaggeration." Ace considered. "Maybe. Or not." Mai rested her head against Ace's shoulder. "She's having fun." Ace's expression softened. "She really is." "And so is Brenda," Shammy added. Ace laughed. "Oh, absolutely." A comfortable silence followed. Then Shammy said: "And what about you two?" Ace looked at her. "What about us?" "Christina and Lea." Mai smiled. "Charming women." Ace nodded. "And dangerously good company." "Good dancers," Shammy observed. "Excellent dancers," Mai corrected. "And?" Ace exchanged a glance with Mai. Then grinned. "And I think we're going to enjoy getting to know them bit more closely too." Shammy smiled. Ace reached for her hand beneath the covers. "You're going to enjoy tomorrow too, gorgeous." Shammy's expression brightened. "I hope so." "Artist people," Mai murmured. "Interesting artist people," Shammy corrected. Ace kissed her forehead. "Exactly." They grew quiet. The ship moved gently beneath them. No mission. No cover identities. No reason to hurry. Just a beautiful suite, an enormous bed and three people who loved one another. Ace closed her eyes. Then opened them again. "One more thing." Mai groaned. "Oh, no." Shammy sighed. "What now?" Ace smiled into the darkness. "I love you." Mai softened instantly. "Oh, honey." Shammy reached across her. "We love you too." Ace pulled them both closer. "Good." A pause. Then: "And I really love this bed." Mai burst out laughing. Shammy buried her face in the pillow. "Go to sleep, Ace," Shammy told her. Ace squeezed Shammy's hand beneath the covers. "Fine. Nobody gets to be sensible until breakfast." "That includes you," Mai said. "Especially me." Shammy's hair drifted across Ace's cheek with a faint, familiar charge. Ace nudged closer instead of moving it away. "I can feel you smiling," Shammy murmured. "Unproven allegation." Mai reached over them to switch off the light. "Case dismissed. Both defendants may kiss me goodnight." For once, Ace obeyed without demanding an appeal. ## Chapter 7 — The Artist Aboard The first morning at sea began with the sound of the ocean. Not that Ace could hear much of it through Aureate II's excellent insulation. There was the faintest suggestion of water beyond the balcony, a low vibration somewhere deep within the enormous vessel, and a very soft, extremely satisfied sigh from the woman lying against her left shoulder. Ace smiled without opening her eyes. "Morning, hun." Mai made a sleepy noise. "No." Ace's smile widened. "No?" "Too early." "Don't know what time it is." "Exactly." On Ace's other side, Shammy shifted beneath the sheets. "Somebody should tell the sun." Ace opened one eye. A broad stripe of morning light had found its way through the curtains. She considered the situation. Then pulled the blanket higher. "Problem solved." Mai laughed into her shoulder. "You're ridiculous." "Comfortable, though." Mai tugged the blanket until Ace had to surrender some of it. "Your comfort is occupying my half of the bed." "Community property," Ace protested. From the other side, Shammy's hair lifted the blanket a few inches. "The property is requesting better distribution." Shammy stretched. The enormous bed had proved every bit as wonderful as Ace had hoped. Their first night under the newly established no-pajamas policy had involved a great deal of affectionate teasing, several arguments about which side of the bed belonged to whom, and the eventual discovery that all three were perfectly happy occupying roughly the same portion. Ace considered this a triumph of domestic planning. She kissed Mai's forehead. Then turned toward Shammy. "Morning, gorgeous." Shammy smiled sleepily. "Hello." "Sleep well?" "Wonderfully." "See? Excellent honeymoon policy." Mai opened her eyes. "Honey, are you going to congratulate yourself every morning?" Ace considered. "Probably." Shammy buried her face in the pillow. "Three weeks of this." "Twenty-one glorious days," Ace corrected. "All right, my wife. What's the plan?" Ace looked at her. The words took a moment to settle. _My wife._ Even now, after wedding, after the rings and the vows and the entire spectacular celebration, they could still do that to her. Mai noticed the change in her expression. "Oh, sweetie." "Say it again." Mai touched her cheek. "My wife." Ace kissed her. Shammy watched them with a fond smile. Then cleared her throat. "Very beautiful. Very touching. Coffee?" Ace laughed against Mai's lips. "Absolutely." --- Breakfast arrived forty minutes later. The delay had been entirely voluntary. There was something deeply satisfying about being able to order an extravagant breakfast and then spend the intervening time doing absolutely nothing useful. By the time a discreet chime announced room service, the three women had put on soft robes and moved to the suite's sitting room. Shammy opened the door. Ace inspected the arriving trolley with approval. "Oh, that's gorgeous." Mai looked over. "Breakfast or the attendant?" Ace considered. "Breakfast, this time." The attendant maintained impressive composure. Shammy tipped her head toward the installation, studying the attendant's careful placement of the lighting before answering. "Thank you. You've made the shadows part of the piece." When the door closed, Mai shook her head. "Hopeless." Ace leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Lovably hopeless." "Unfortunately." Breakfast was excellent. Fresh fruit, warm pastries, beautifully prepared eggs, coffee and enough additional dishes that Ace declared they were performing a valuable public service by sampling the ship's culinary standards. Shammy pointed out that public service usually involved doing something for the public. Ace replied that she was prepared to recommend the pastries enthusiastically. Mai surrendered. Outside, the ocean stretched toward the horizon. Aureate II moved through the morning with the effortless confidence of a vessel built to make the sea feel like an inconvenience somebody else had already solved. Shammy sat near the windows with her coffee. She had been unusually thoughtful throughout breakfast. Not unhappy. Quite the opposite. Ace noticed. "Something on your mind, hun?" Shammy looked up. "Art." "Shocking." Shammy laughed. "Specifically, tonight's gathering." "The one you were invited to yesterday?" "Yes." Ace nodded. "Looking forward to it?" "Very much." Shammy glanced toward the sea. "Last time we were aboard, Sera had a reason to be here." Mai understood immediately. "The operation." "Exactly." Shammy traced a finger around the rim of her cup. "I enjoyed parts of it. I really did. But there was always something else behind the conversations." "Something we needed." "Or somewhere we needed to be." Mai reached across the table. "And this time?" Shammy smiled. "This time I can attend because I want to." Ace's expression softened. "That's the whole point, gorgeous." "I know." Shammy looked between them, smiling. "And I'm going to enjoy it." Mai squeezed her hand. "Good." Ace raised her coffee. "To the artist formerly known as somebody with an operational purpose." Shammy stared at her. Then burst out laughing. "That is the worst toast you've ever made." Ace looked offended. "I've made worse." "Considerably worse," Mai agreed. They drank anyway. --- Next door, Brenda was already contemplating the engineering department. This was not entirely her fault. One of the engineers she'd met during their previous visit had sent her an invitation to examine Aureate II's updated stabilization systems. It was exactly the kind of invitation Brenda found difficult to ignore. She sat on the balcony in a soft robe, coffee in one hand, holo in the other. A schematic hovered above her lap. She studied it. Magnified a section. Whistled. "Oh, that's clever." Behind her, Iris stirred. Brenda looked toward the bedroom. A moment later, her wife appeared in the doorway. Sleepy. Barefoot. Hair loose around her shoulders. Brenda's smile became helplessly affectionate. "Morning, beautiful." Iris smiled. "Hello, honey." Brenda held out a hand. Iris took it. Stepped closer. And kissed her. When they separated, Iris glanced toward the schematic. "Engineering?" "Engineering." "Naturally." "They've changed the stabilization controls." "I heard." "Did you?" "Brenda, you explained the previous system to me for almost an hour during our last voyage." Brenda considered. "Oh." "With diagrams." "Good diagrams." "Excellent diagrams." Brenda laughed. Iris leaned against her. For a while, they watched the ocean together. Then Brenda looked at her wife. "Sleep well?" "Very." "Good." Iris touched her cheek. "And you?" "Like a queen, luv." "Excellent." A comfortable silence followed. Then Iris said, almost casually: "I received a message this morning." Brenda turned. "Oh?" "From Anika." Brenda searched her memory. "Old colleague?" Iris smiled. "Yes." "The one from deck operations?" "That's her." Brenda considered. "Didn't you tell me she transferred departments shortly before you left?" "Yes. She's working on passenger coordination now." "Nice." "She wants to meet for coffee." "Sounds lovely." Iris gave her a look. Brenda blinked. "What?" "Nothing." "Sweetheart." Iris smiled. "She's a friend." "Darling, I know some of your old colleagues really are just friends." "Good." "I just haven't worked out which ones yet." Iris burst out laughing. Brenda kissed her. "Go have coffee, hun. I'll be playing with machinery." "You're visiting engineering, not playing with machinery." "Those aren't mutually exclusive." Iris sighed. "Of course they aren't." --- They met the Triad later that morning on one of Aureate II's garden promenades. The space was familiar from their previous voyage, but the current arrangement of seasonal plantings had changed. Flowering vines climbed elegant supports beside the windows, small fountains softened the background noise, and comfortable seats had been tucked among the greenery. Ace arrived carrying a shopping bag. Mai looked at it. Then at her wife. "Honey." Ace smiled. "Yes?" "We've been out for less than an hour." "Correct." "And you've already bought something." "Also correct." Shammy leaned over. "What?" Ace opened the bag. Inside lay a beautiful pair of sunglasses. Brenda examined them. "Oh, those are gorgeous." "Thank you." "Didn't you pack sunglasses?" Ace looked at her. "Of course." "Several pairs?" "Naturally." Iris nodded. "Just establishing the facts." Mai began laughing. Ace looked around the group. "What? Different outfits require different accessories." Brenda nodded solemnly. "She's got a point." Iris turned toward her wife. "Brenda." "What?" "You're encouraging her." "Someone has to." They continued along the promenade. For the first time since leaving Night City, nobody had even a theoretical reason to check what the rest of the group was doing. They could wander. Stop. Change their minds. Spend twenty minutes examining an installation they remembered from the previous voyage. Or simply sit down and enjoy the view. Shammy stopped near a wall-mounted work of experimental art. "Oh." Ace turned. "Something interesting?" "Very." The installation changed its appearance according to where the viewer stood. Layers of delicate metallic structures interacted with projected light, producing patterns that seemed to float beyond the wall. Brenda stepped closer. "That's a clever arrangement." "The artist has made the physical structure part of the illusion." Iris checked the information plaque. Then smiled. "Shammy." "Hmm?" "Look at the name." Shammy read it. Paused. Then laughed. "Oh, wonderful." Mai looked over. "You know the artist?" "Not personally." Ace grinned. "Yet?" "She's attending tonight's gathering." Brenda looked at the installation. Then at Shammy. "Well, sweetie, you certainly won't run out of things to ask her." Shammy tilted her head. "I have several questions already." Ace laughed. "That poor woman." Shammy turned. "Why?" "Because you're going to ask every single one." "Naturally." Mai smiled. "That's why we love you." --- At lunch, Iris made the mistake of setting her holo on the table with the ship's engineering-tour confirmation visible. Brenda saw it before the first course arrived. "They approved the workshop visit." "Yes. As a visitor. Under escort." "I know how an escort works, sweetheart." Ace choked on her water. Mai caught the glass before it tipped; Shammy watched her with the patient curiosity of a woman waiting for the inevitable second meaning. "You could at least wait until after the appetizers," Iris told her wife. "What, to be enthusiastic about marine engineering?" "Exactly that." Brenda looked to Shammy. "Tell her you understand." "I understand the appeal of seeing how something works from inside," Shammy said. "I also understand why Iris doesn't want the captain to find you halfway through a propulsion assembly." "He'll be thrilled," Brenda said. "He'll write a very stern letter," Iris replied, "and you will frame it." "Only if he signs it." Mai passed the bread to Ace before she could raid the neighboring plate. "What are you doing afterward, Iris?" "Having coffee with Anika. As a civilian. With no clipboard." Brenda gave an approving nod. "I'll frisk her for checklists before she goes." "That," Iris said, "I might allow." Ace set down the bread. "Have I mentioned how much I enjoy married people?" Mai looked at her ring. "Only since yesterday." Shammy's hair lifted as Brenda and Iris dissolved into laughter. The afternoon was taking shape without anybody producing a schedule for the whole five. --- Mai chose the boutique, not Ace. That was the first surprise. The second was that she'd gone directly to a rack of extravagant evening dresses and begun pulling out pieces with the ruthless efficiency she usually brought to contracts. Ace leaned against a velvet chair and watched her assemble a selection. "Planning a takeover?" "A dance floor. Much more demanding audience." "I can assist with hostile negotiations." "You can tell me if this one catches on my heels." Mai emerged from the dressing room in a fitted dress with a hem designed to move. She turned once, testing the weight through the skirt. Ace forgot the clever reply she'd prepared. "Well?" Mai asked. "I object." "To the dress?" "To the idea that you're going to walk around in that and expect me to make conversation." Mai laughed and tried a short sequence of dance steps. The hem cleared her shoes perfectly. A shop attendant, who had been hovering with a polite sales smile, stopped pretending this was an ordinary fitting. "It'll do," Mai said. Ace stared. "It'll *do*? Darling, you just threatened the structural integrity of my marriage vows." "They survived yesterday. I'm optimistic." Mai took her wife's hand and led her to a mirror. "Now it's your turn. You keep buying things you could wear anywhere. Find something that belongs to *this* trip." Ace looked at their reflection: violet-eyed and delighted beside silver-haired composure that had never really been composure at all. "You pick," she said. Mai's expression changed, pleased by the trust more than the shopping opportunity. She disappeared among the rails and came back with a dark jacket cut to fit Ace without surrendering an inch of drama. "Oh, you dangerous woman," Ace said, reaching for it. --- Shammy's afternoon belonged to art. The gallery was quieter than it had been the previous day, giving her time to examine several installations without interruption. The curator greeted her enthusiastically. "Sera. Wonderful to see you again." "Likewise." He offered to show her the current exhibition in more detail. She accepted. They wandered among sculptures, interactive works and experimental installations that blended traditional craftsmanship with advanced materials. Shammy asked questions. Challenged a few assumptions. Found several things she admired. And one that she decidedly did not. The curator seemed delighted by her objections. "I was told you'd have opinions." Shammy smiled. "Several." "I can see that." They were standing before a wall-sized installation when another visitor approached. A woman with dark hair threaded with silver, wearing an elegant jacket with asymmetrical detailing. She paused when she recognized Shammy. "Sera?" Shammy turned. "Yes?" The woman smiled. "Nadia Kestrel." Recognition lit Shammy's face. "Oh! I know your work." Nadia laughed. "That's funny. I was about to say the same thing." They shook hands. The curator smiled. "I was hoping you two would meet." Nadia glanced toward the installation. Then back at Shammy. "Have you seen the rest of the exhibition?" "Most of it." "Thoughts?" Shammy considered. "How much time do you have?" Nadia laughed. "Plenty." "Excellent." The curator excused himself a few minutes later. Neither woman particularly noticed. They were already deep into a discussion about spatial design, light and the relationship between an artwork and the person experiencing it. --- Nadia was fascinating. Not merely knowledgeable, although she was certainly that. She had a restless curiosity that moved easily between technical questions and artistic philosophy, and a habit of pausing before answering as though testing several possible responses for accuracy. Shammy liked that. She also liked Nadia's sense of humor. It emerged unexpectedly. Usually in the middle of a serious discussion. At one point, Nadia gestured toward a large suspended sculpture. "I admire the construction." Shammy nodded. "But?" Nadia smiled. "But I think the artist became so delighted with the engineering that she forgot to make me feel anything." Shammy burst out laughing. "Oh, that's cruel." "Am I wrong?" Shammy considered. Then looked at the sculpture again. "No." "Good," Nadia said. They continued. An hour disappeared. Then another. Eventually, they stopped before a smaller installation near the far end of the gallery. Nadia looked at Shammy. "Can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Do you always get this enthusiastic?" Shammy tilted her head. "About art?" "About anything." Shammy smiled. "When something interests me." Nadia nodded. "And does this interest you?" Shammy met her eyes. "The conversation?" "Among other things." Shammy laughed softly. "Yes." "Then I'm glad I asked," Nadia said. A pause. Then Shammy asked: "What about you?" Nadia looked almost surprised. Then pleased. "Very much." For a moment, neither looked toward the installation. --- Elsewhere, Brenda's engineering visit had become exactly the sort of event Iris had predicted. The visit was authorized. The staff were welcoming. And the technical discussion became so enthusiastic that Iris began to suspect it might continue until dinner. Marcus, one of the engineers she remembered particularly well, had been explaining the updated stabilization architecture when Brenda interrupted. "Wait." He stopped. "What?" "You're compensating there rather than earlier in the control loop?" Marcus smiled. "Exactly." Brenda stared at the display. Then grinned. "Oh, that's clever." Iris leaned against a nearby counter. She'd heard that tone before. Many times. She looked at Marcus. Then Brenda. Then the schematic. Finally, she checked the time. "Well." Neither engineer noticed. She waited another moment. "Brenda?" "Hmm?" "I'm going to leave you two to it." Brenda looked up. "Oh! Sorry, sweetheart." Iris laughed. "Don't apologize." Brenda crossed over. Kissed her. "Have fun." "You too, honey." Marcus waved. "See you, Iris." Then immediately turned back to the display. "So the main advantage is..." Iris left smiling. She had no doubt Brenda would enjoy herself enormously. --- Coffee with Anika was entirely ordinary. That was one of the pleasures of it. They met in a quiet café near the upper promenades, where Iris had spent countless breaks during her service years. Anika laughed when she saw her. "Look at you." Iris smiled. "Hello." They embraced. Then sat down and began talking. There were old stories. Mutual friends. News of the crew. A few amusing changes in shipboard procedures. Anika had recently moved into a role that suited her better, and Iris was delighted to hear it. They spent nearly an hour catching up. No hidden invitations. No unresolved romantic tension. Just two friends enjoying the pleasure of seeing one another again. When they parted, Anika embraced her warmly. "It's good to have you back." Iris smiled. "It's good to be back." "Even if you're not one of us anymore." Iris considered. Then shook her head. "I'll always be a little bit one of you." Anika laughed. "Fair." She glanced at Iris's passenger credential. "But this looks good on you." Iris smiled. "It feels good." They said goodbye. And Iris continued along the promenade. Her holo chimed a few minutes later. A message from another former colleague. This invitation was considerably less ambiguous. Iris read it. Smiled slowly. Then sent Brenda a message. A moment later, Brenda's reply arrived. _Have a wonderful afternoon, gorgeous. ❤️_ Iris laughed softly. She loved that woman. Then she headed toward the private passenger suites, where she had arranged to spend the remainder of the afternoon with someone she'd once known only within the boundaries of their professional lives. This time, both had made their intentions perfectly clear. --- By early evening, Shammy returned to the Triad's suite wearing the unmistakable expression of someone who'd had an excellent day. Ace noticed immediately. "Oh, hello." Mai turned. "Good afternoon, gorgeous." Shammy smiled. "Very good afternoon." Ace grinned. "Artist people?" "Artist people." "Good ones?" "Very." Shammy told them about the exhibition. The conversation with the curator. The installation she'd disliked. And Nadia. Particularly Nadia. Mai listened with a growing smile. "She sounds fascinating." "She is." Ace leaned forward. "And interesting?" "Extremely." "Pretty?" Shammy laughed. "Also yes." Ace looked delighted. "Excellent." Shammy shook her head. "You two." Mai crossed the room and kissed her cheek. "I'm glad you're having fun, hun." Shammy smiled. "So am I." She glanced toward the wardrobe. "I think I'll wear Lena's white couture tonight. The one that looks like architecture decided to become clothing." Ace looked up. "The one with the impossible shoulders and the hidden releases?" "Yes." "Oh, gorgeous choice." Mai nodded. "Absolutely." Shammy smiled. "Good." Then she looked at them. "And what are you two doing?" Ace exchanged a glance with Mai. Mai laughed. "Going dancing." "Christina and Lea?" Ace grinned. "Possibly." Shammy raised an eyebrow. Mai sighed fondly. "Yes, sweetie. Christina and Lea." "Have a wonderful time," Shammy said. Ace rose and embraced her. "You too." --- Iris returned to her suite a little later. Brenda was already there. Freshly showered. Comfortably dressed. And still visibly delighted by her afternoon in engineering. She looked up when Iris entered. "Hello, beautiful." Iris smiled. "Hello, honey." They kissed. Brenda studied her face. Then smiled. "Good afternoon?" "Very." "Thought so." Iris laughed. Brenda reached up and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Nice reunion?" Iris nodded. "Wonderful." Brenda's smile widened. "Good." Iris slipped her arms around her. "And yours?" "Oh, sweetheart." Brenda's eyes brightened. "You should've seen the new stabilization controls." "Tell me," Iris said. Brenda did. With enthusiasm. And hand gestures. And a detailed explanation of the elegant solution the engineers had devised. Iris listened. Asked questions. Occasionally laughed. And enjoyed every moment of watching her wife talk about something she loved. Eventually, Brenda stopped. Looked at her. Then grinned. "And what did you get up to after coffee?" Iris raised an eyebrow. "You know what I got up to." "I know the broad outline, luv." Iris laughed. "Brenda." "What?" "You're impossible." Brenda kissed her. "Yes." Iris's expression softened. "Love you." "Love you more." They stayed together for a while. Then began getting ready for the evening. --- The artist gathering occupied a private section of Aureate II's main gallery. Soft music played. Drinks circulated. Artists, curators, collectors and enthusiasts moved between small conversational groups. It was lively without being loud. Elegant without being stiff. And absolutely full of people who had opinions about art. Shammy loved it immediately. She arrived alone, wearing the uncompromising white couture Lena had made for her public life as Sera. The sculptural lines moved with her rather than against her; nothing about it looked like ordinary evening wear. Not because she lacked company. Because this was her evening. Her invitation. Her world. And she wanted to explore it at her own pace. Nadia spotted her from across the room. "Sera!" Shammy turned. Smiled. "Nadia." They greeted one another warmly. Nadia looked at her outfit. "Oh, that's absolutely beautiful." Shammy glanced down. "Thank you." "The construction is fascinating." Shammy laughed. "I thought you might appreciate it." Nadia offered her arm. "Come meet everyone." Shammy took it. And the next several hours became a delightful blur of introductions, arguments, laughter and unexpectedly stimulating conversation. There were sculptors. Digital artists. Architects. Experimental designers. A photographer whose work Shammy had admired for years. A composer who created sound environments for immersive installations. And several people who already knew Sera's work well enough to ask remarkably specific questions. Shammy answered them. Asked questions of her own. Occasionally disagreed strongly enough to attract an interested audience. Nobody minded. Quite the opposite. By the time the gathering was well underway, she had become one of its most sought-after conversationalists. Nadia found her near a wall-sized installation. "Having fun?" Shammy smiled. "Immensely." "Good." They stood together, watching the shifting patterns. Then Nadia said: "I'd like to show you something tomorrow." Shammy glanced at her. "Oh?" "A collection I've been developing. It isn't part of the public exhibition." "Private work?" "Very." Shammy considered. "That sounds intriguing." Nadia looked at her. "Would you like to come see it?" Shammy smiled. "Absolutely." Nadia's answering smile was warm. "Tomorrow afternoon?" "Tomorrow afternoon." A pause. Then Shammy added: "Although I suspect this invitation isn't entirely about the artwork." Nadia laughed softly. "No." Shammy nodded. Their eyes met. Held. And the invitation became something both understood and both wanted. --- Ace and Mai found Christina and Lea in a dance lounge on one of the upper passenger decks. Christina greeted them with a delighted wave. "There you are!" Ace grinned. "Miss us, luv?" Christina laughed. "Terribly." Lea kissed her partner's cheek. "You've been here ten minutes." "An agonizing ten minutes." Mai laughed. "I like her." "So do I, fortunately," Lea said. They began dancing almost immediately. Sometimes with their own partners. Sometimes changing partners. Sometimes all four together. Ace discovered that Christina possessed an almost supernatural talent for saying something ridiculous at precisely the moment Mai was trying to maintain a straight face. Lea's humor was quieter, but no less effective. By the end of the first hour, all four had laughed themselves breathless at least once. At the bar, Ace stood beside Christina while Mai and Lea continued dancing. Christina watched her partner. "She's having fun." Ace nodded. "Very." "So is yours." Ace's smile softened. "Yeah." Christina looked at her. "You two seem very happy." "We are." Ace glanced toward the dance floor. "Very happy." Christina smiled. "Good." They raised their glasses. Then returned to the music. --- The five found themselves at the same lounge table near midnight because Brenda had sent a message saying she'd discovered a scandal. "A scandal?" Ace demanded as soon as she arrived. "You'd better not mean loose wiring." Brenda turned her holo toward the others. On its screen was a photograph of Iris, taken earlier that day, standing beside Anika with one hand raised as if she were giving an officer a very sharp instruction. "That," Brenda said, "is my wife telling a former colleague she is no longer in charge of anything." Iris covered her eyes. "Anika made a joke about a duty roster." "And you immediately told her how you'd fix it." "It was a terrible roster." Mai leaned closer to the photograph. "You have a very convincing off-duty face." "Thank you." "I meant the one on the other side of the camera." Shammy laughed, and her hair lifted high enough for the bartender to look up with professional discretion. "Fine," Iris said, taking the holo from Brenda. "Where's your evidence from engineering?" Brenda's grin turned wary. "You weren't supposed to know about the valve." "What valve?" Ace asked eagerly. "There is no valve," Brenda said. Iris raised an eyebrow. "There is a magnificent valve," Brenda conceded. Shammy took a sip and described Nadia's installation instead of producing the obligatory evening summary. Her attention lingered on the way the artist had asked questions, not just on the work. Mai listened; Ace recognized the small tell in Shammy's hair before she recognized it in the words. "We like her," Ace decided. "You've met her once," Shammy reminded her. "I have excellent instincts. Terrible impulse control, but excellent instincts." Iris returned Brenda's holo and let her hand remain on her wife's wrist. They stayed until the bartender began discreetly turning off the lamps at empty tables. Nobody proposed a toast; the evidence was already on the screen. --- Later, back in the Triad's suite, Mai emerged from the dressing room to find Ace standing beside the bed with a familiar expression. Mai stopped. "Honey." Ace looked up. "Yes?" "No speeches." Ace blinked. "What?" "About the pajama strike." Shammy appeared behind Mai. "Oh, God. Was she planning another?" Ace looked offended. "I was merely appreciating the success of our policy." Mai laughed. "Sweetie, the policy is going very well." "Exactly." "And no one is proposing amendments." "Excellent." Shammy shook her head. "Then perhaps we can simply go to bed?" Ace considered. Then smiled. "Reasonable." The three settled beneath the magnificent sheets. Ace between her two loves. Mai resting comfortably against her shoulder. Shammy close enough to reach for either of them. For a while they talked quietly. About Christina and Lea. About Nadia. About the galleries and the dancing and the simple pleasure of spending a day doing whatever they wanted. Eventually, Ace turned toward Shammy. "You really like her, don't you?" Shammy smiled. "Nadia?" "Mm-hmm." "Yes." Mai touched her hand. "Good." Shammy looked between them. Then smiled a little wider. "I think tomorrow may be interesting." Ace grinned. "Oh, gorgeous. I sincerely hope so." Shammy laughed. "You're impossible." "Consistently." Mai kissed Ace's cheek. Then Shammy's. "Good night, loves." "Night, hun," Ace murmured. Shammy settled closer. "Good night." Shammy’s holo lit once on the nightstand: a photograph from Nadia of an unfinished sculpture, its shadow looking more deliberate than the object itself. Underneath: *I still think your idea about the empty space was better.* Shammy opened her sketchbook to a clean page. She drew Nadia's sculpture as she remembered it, then left an intentional blank where another artist might have supplied a figure. Beneath it she wrote: *What if the visitor is the missing material?* She sent Nadia a photograph before turning off the holo. The reply came almost immediately: *I was hoping you'd say that.* Shammy tucked the sketchbook beneath the bedside table, leaving the question for tomorrow instead of solving it without her. ## Chapter 8 — Private Collections Ace woke to the sound of somebody laughing. Not loudly. Not enough to be annoying. Just a quiet, thoroughly delighted laugh somewhere on the other side of the bed. She opened one eye. Mai was lying on her side, watching Shammy. Shammy was holding a pillow against her chest, trying unsuccessfully to contain another burst of laughter. Ace considered the situation. "Morning." Mai turned. "Morning, my wife." Ace smiled immediately. There it was again. That wonderful little collection of words. She doubted she'd ever get tired of hearing them. "What did I miss?" Shammy shook her head. "Nothing." Ace narrowed her eyes. "That sounds suspicious." "We were discussing your honeymoon policy." "Ah." Ace looked pleased. "Excellent policy." "Very successful," Shammy agreed. "Thank you." "Except," Mai continued, "that Shammy pointed out you haven't actually managed to sleep in the middle all night." "What?" Shammy began laughing again. "You keep moving." "I do not." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Honey." "I was asleep. How was I supposed to know?" "I woke up with you practically on top of me." Ace considered. "Sounds comfortable." "For you." "And then you rolled across and stole my pillow." Ace looked offended. "I would never." Shammy held up the evidence. A pillow. Ace stared at it. Then at Shammy. "Could've been anyone." Mai burst out laughing. Shammy dropped the pillow over Ace's face. "Good morning, darling." Ace pulled it away. Grinned. And kissed her. "Morning, gorgeous." She turned toward Mai. Kissed her too. Then stretched luxuriously beneath the sheets. Outside, the morning sun illuminated another beautiful stretch of open water. Ace glanced toward the windows. Then toward her two loves. "Breakfast?" Mai tucked a loose strand of hair behind Ace's ear. "Eventually. Unless you intend to renegotiate the room-service menu again." Shammy laughed. "That sounds like a plan." --- Breakfast was taken in the suite again. Ace argued that they had found an excellent system and saw no reason to disturb it. Mai pointed out that there were approximately forty other places aboard where breakfast could be obtained. Ace acknowledged this. Then reached for another pastry. "Tomorrow." Shammy smiled. "Perhaps." They ate beside the windows, discussing the day ahead. Mai's holo lit with three messages from Kiro, all arriving so close together they stacked on the display: a recording of a nightclub rehearsal in Night City, a complaint about the band changing tempo without warning, and a final, emphatic *You'd have fixed that in eight bars.* Mai listened twice, found the exact moment the rhythm failed and sent a voice note: *Six bars. You're being generous.* Kiro answered with a single delighted swear. Mai put the device away before Ace could demand a demonstration. Shammy's appointment with Nadia was scheduled for early afternoon. Mai wanted to attend a dance session. Ace had found another boutique worth visiting. Both had received a cheerful message from Christina and Lea suggesting drinks that evening. Ace considered the invitation. Then smiled. "Sounds promising." Mai glanced at her. "Everything sounds promising to you." "Not everything." "Name something." Ace thought. "Early morning meetings." Shammy laughed. "Fair." "And uncomfortable shoes." Mai stared at her. Ace grinned. "Actually, no. I've bought plenty of those." "Exactly." "Beautiful shoes are allowed to be a little unreasonable." Shammy shook her head. Then her holo chimed. She glanced down. A message from Nadia. _Good morning. I hope you're still interested in seeing the collection. I've arranged access to the private exhibition room at two. And I'd love to have lunch with you beforehand, if you're free._ Shammy smiled. Mai noticed immediately. "Nadia?" "Yes." Ace leaned forward. "Well?" Shammy read the message aloud. Ace's smile widened. "Oh, gorgeous." Mai laughed softly. "That's a thoughtful invitation." "It is." Shammy began composing a reply. Then stopped. Looked at Ace. And smiled. "What?" "Nothing." "You're grinning." "So?" "You're particularly pleased with yourself." Ace considered. "Well, my best friend is about to have a very interesting afternoon." Shammy's expression softened. "One of your best friends." Ace reached across the table. "My Shammy." Shammy took her hand. "Your Shammy." Mai placed her hand over both of theirs. "And mine." Ace smiled. "Obviously." Then sent her reply. _Lunch sounds wonderful. See you at one._ --- By midmorning, the three had left the suite and gone their separate ways within the ship. Mai attended a dance workshop that proved much more energetic than advertised. Ace accompanied her, intending only to watch. She lasted eleven minutes. Then joined in. By the end of the session, both were laughing, slightly breathless and thoroughly delighted. The instructor had clearly enjoyed working with them. "You two dance together often?" "Whenever she'll let me." Mai rolled her eyes. "All the time." The instructor laughed. "It shows." Ace looked pleased. Mai smiled. "Thank you." They left the studio arm in arm. Ace glanced toward the shopping promenade. Mai followed her gaze. "Oh, honey." Ace looked innocent. "What?" "You're doing it again." "Doing what?" "Thinking about shoes." Ace smiled. "Can't help it." "Fine. One shop." Ace's expression brightened. "Two?" "One." "One large shop?" Mai kissed her cheek. "You're lucky you're adorable." "I know." --- Shammy took her time getting ready. She chose an extraordinarily tailored white couture piece with a sculptural collar and an asymmetric, flowing hem: unmistakably Sera, neither ordinary white clothing nor a theatrical disguise. She added a small piece of jewelry she'd bought during one of their earlier travels. She considered the mirror. Adjusted the necklace. Then smiled. There was a particular pleasure in dressing for someone she genuinely wanted to see. Not because she needed to make an impression. Not because her appearance served some larger purpose. Simply because the anticipation was enjoyable. She checked the time. Then left the suite. Nadia was waiting near the gallery entrance. She wore a dark tailored outfit with an unusual metallic detail at the collar, and her hair had been gathered loosely behind her head. When she saw Shammy, she smiled. "Sera." "Nadia." They greeted one another warmly. Nadia looked her over. "You look beautiful." Shammy smiled. "Thank you. So do you." Nadia laughed softly. "Excellent. We've established mutual appreciation." "Apparently." "Shall we have lunch?" "I'd love to." Nadia offered her arm. Shammy took it. And they walked together toward one of the smaller restaurants overlooking the ocean. --- The restaurant was quiet. Comfortable. Intimate enough for conversation without requiring anyone to whisper. They chose a table beside the windows. Nadia ordered wine. Shammy selected something light. And the conversation began almost before the menus had been collected. Art, naturally. But not only art. Nadia had spent much of her adult life traveling between major cities and artistic communities, following commissions and exhibitions wherever they led. She had worked in studios so small that two people could barely turn around. And in galleries large enough to make her feel lost. She spoke fondly of the former. With considerable skepticism about some of the latter. Shammy found herself laughing frequently. "And you?" Nadia asked eventually. Shammy looked up. "Me?" "What brought you to Aureate II this time?" "My family." Nadia tilted her head. "Family?" "My two closest people in the world. They're on their honeymoon." Nadia looked surprised. "And you came along?" "Of course." There was no defensiveness in Shammy's answer. No suggestion that the arrangement required explanation. Nadia studied her for a moment. Then smiled. "That sounds rather wonderful." "It is." "Are they enjoying themselves?" "Enormously." Shammy laughed. "They've already met two lovely women and spent half their evenings dancing." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "Christina and Lea." "Ah." Shammy looked at her. "You know them?" "Only in passing. I saw them at the Meridian Lounge two nights ago." "Small ship." Nadia laughed. "Only if you happen to know the same people." Shammy smiled. "Fair." Nadia took a sip of wine. "And you?" "What about me?" "Are you enjoying yourself?" Shammy met her eyes. "Very much." Nadia's smile deepened. "I'm glad." --- The private collection occupied a smaller exhibition room beyond the main gallery. Nadia had obtained access through the curator. The space was beautifully designed: movable walls, carefully controlled lighting and a series of suspended installations that seemed to transform as they walked among them. Shammy stopped just inside the entrance. "Oh." Nadia smiled. "Good oh or bad oh?" "Very good." Nadia laughed. "Excellent." They began exploring. Unlike the works on public display, these pieces were unfinished. Some existed only as experiments. Others were nearly complete. One combined a delicate arrangement of physical threads with shifting patterns of light, creating the impression of a sculpture that extended beyond its actual dimensions. Shammy circled it slowly. Then stopped. "May I?" Nadia gestured. "Please." Shammy stepped closer. Studied the structure. Then asked a question about the light source. Nadia answered. Shammy asked another. The discussion that followed lasted twenty minutes. At one point, Nadia laughed. "I knew inviting you was a good idea." Shammy turned. "Why?" "Because everyone else has been telling me how beautiful it is." "And?" "You asked why it works." Shammy smiled. "Doesn't beauty deserve curiosity?" Nadia looked at her. For a moment, she said nothing. Then smiled slowly. "Yes." --- They spent another hour among the installations. And somewhere during that hour, the conversation changed. Not abruptly. Not through any dramatic declaration. It simply grew more personal. Nadia spoke about the difficulty of building a life around work that constantly demanded travel. Shammy understood more than she expected. They discussed relationships. Independence. The pleasure of belonging somewhere without needing to stay physically in one place. At one point, Nadia leaned against a wall and regarded her thoughtfully. "You have a very unusual way of talking about love." Shammy smiled. "Do I?" "You make it sound less like something you hold on to and more like something you live inside." Shammy considered. Then nodded. "That's not a bad description." Nadia smiled. "Is it complicated?" "Sometimes." "Most worthwhile things are." Shammy laughed softly. "True." She looked around the gallery. Then back at Nadia. "What about you?" "Me?" "Love." Nadia considered. "I've had some wonderful relationships." "And?" "Some disastrous ones." Shammy smiled sympathetically. Nadia laughed. "Usually because I was convinced I could solve emotional problems through careful design." Shammy burst out laughing. "Oh, that's dangerous." "Worse: I was proud of how efficiently I'd designed the whole thing." Shammy glanced at the sketch in front of them. "And when did you realize the plan was wrong?" "When my closest friend told me I'd asked everyone for feedback except the people who would have to live with it." Nadia shook her head. "It turns out people don't respond particularly well to being treated as installations." Shammy laughed harder. "I can imagine." Nadia smiled. Then became quiet. "I've learned a few things since." "Such as?" "To enjoy people while they're actually standing in front of me." Shammy met her eyes. "That sounds wise." "I'm trying." A pause. Then Nadia asked: "May I kiss you?" Shammy's smile softened. "Yes." Nadia stepped closer. Their kiss was gentle. Unhurried. And wonderfully uncomplicated. When they separated, Shammy was smiling. "So." Nadia laughed softly. "So." "I think this collection is becoming one of my favorites." Nadia shook her head. "That is a terrible line." Shammy grinned. "I learned from Ace." "Who's Ace?" "A very bad influence." Nadia laughed. "Clearly." She kissed Shammy again. --- Elsewhere aboard, Iris found Brenda in the middle of a spirited conversation with a fellow passenger. They were standing near a display of historical maritime engineering. Brenda was explaining something involving propulsion efficiency. The man listening to her looked thoroughly fascinated. Iris approached quietly. Brenda noticed. Her expression brightened. "Sweetheart!" Iris smiled. "Hello, honey." Brenda introduced the man as Daniel. Daniel greeted Iris warmly. Then looked back at Brenda. "Your wife knows an astonishing amount about ship systems." Iris smiled. "Oh, I'm aware." Brenda laughed. "Don't." "What?" "That tone." Iris looked innocent. "What tone?" "The one you use when you're about to tell people I've been talking about machinery for hours." Daniel laughed. "Actually, I asked." Iris turned toward him. "Then you're a brave man." Brenda nudged her. "Sweetheart." Iris kissed her cheek. "Love you." Daniel looked between them. Then smiled. "You two are wonderful." Brenda grinned. "We like to think so." They talked a little longer. Daniel mentioned that he and his wife were aboard for their own honeymoon. Iris's expression brightened. "Oh! Congratulations." "Thank you." Brenda smiled. "That's wonderful." Daniel laughed. "We're still getting used to it." "So are we," Iris said. Daniel blinked. "You're newly married too?" "Day before yesterday," Brenda said proudly. Daniel's smile widened. "Then congratulations to both of you." "Thank you." He glanced toward the promenade. "My wife should be around here somewhere. You ought to meet her." Iris smiled. "We'd love to." They exchanged contact details. Then Daniel excused himself. Brenda watched him go. "Nice man." Iris nodded. "Very." Brenda slipped an arm around her waist. "Come on, gorgeous." "Where?" "Coffee." Iris smiled. "Excellent plan." --- The afternoon passed pleasantly. Ace and Mai enjoyed a leisurely lunch, followed by a visit to one of Aureate II's observation decks. They watched the ocean. Talked about Christina and Lea. And spent a long while simply enjoying one another's company. At one point, Mai leaned against the railing. "You know what I like about this?" Ace looked at her. "What?" "We can just be happy." Ace smiled. "We're very good at that." Mai laughed. "When we remember to." Ace considered. Then reached for her hand. "I remember." Mai smiled. They stood together. The sea stretched endlessly before them. After a while, Ace asked: "Think Christina and Lea will be at the lounge tonight?" Mai laughed. "Honey." "What?" "Yes." Ace grinned. "Good." Mai kissed her. "Very good." --- By evening, Shammy returned to the suite wearing an expression Ace recognized immediately. Ace looked up from the sofa. "Oh." Mai turned. "Oh?" Shammy closed the door. Set down her bag. And smiled. Ace leaned forward. "Well?" Shammy laughed. "What?" Mai folded her arms. "Sweetie." Shammy smiled wider. Ace pointed. "That's a very particular smile." "Is it?" "Oh, absolutely." Shammy considered. Then sat beside them. "Nadia kissed me." Ace's face lit up. "OH!" Mai smiled warmly. "Darling!" Shammy laughed. "And I kissed her." "Excellent!" Ace said. Mai reached for her hand. "How was it?" Shammy's expression softened. "Beautiful." Ace leaned back. Looked toward the ceiling. Then smiled with extraordinary satisfaction. "I love this ship." Shammy burst out laughing. Mai shook her head. "Honey." "What?" "Not everything is about the ship." Ace considered. "True." She leaned over and kissed Shammy's cheek. "Some things are about a gorgeous artist having a wonderful afternoon." Shammy smiled. "That too." They sat together for a while. Shammy told them about the collection. About Nadia's work. About the conversation. And about the kiss. Ace listened with genuine pleasure. Mai smiled throughout. Nobody demanded details Shammy didn't volunteer. Nobody treated her happiness as something requiring permission. It was simply another lovely thing that had happened to someone they adored. Eventually, Ace asked: "Seeing her again?" Shammy nodded. "Tomorrow." --- Brenda arrived at dinner carrying a folded diagram she had no intention of unfolding. Iris took one look at its corners and pulled a clean napkin across the table. "Protective measures?" Brenda asked. "For the tablecloth. You promised me you weren't bringing the entire exhibition to dinner." "This is one component. It has a distinguished career." Ace leaned forward. "Does it have a name?" "Daniel," Brenda said, then caught Iris's expression. "The man. The man is called Daniel. He and Amara are on their honeymoon too." "What a remarkable coincidence," Mai said, examining the perfectly folded napkin. "Almost as though we're on a honeymoon voyage." "Don't start," Brenda told her. Shammy took the diagram, considered its neat mechanical annotations and passed it back to Brenda. "If you need to explain that shape to somebody, take them to the exhibit. It deserves three dimensions." Brenda pointed at her. "Exactly. Someone in this family understands me." "I understand you," Iris said. "I also understand gravity and red wine." Ace ordered another plate of something fried. She had an appointment with Christina and Lea later; Mai had chosen the evening's dance music. Shammy's holo flashed with Nadia's name, and she turned it over with a small smile rather than interrupt the conversation. By dessert, the table had scattered into three conversations that kept colliding in the middle. Iris learned the essential details about Amara from Brenda. Ace tried to persuade Shammy that a sculptural gallery installation would be improved by a hidden dance floor. Mai gave an alarming, quite serious assessment of which materials might support one. "I'm sitting next to very dangerous people," Iris said. Brenda slipped her hand beneath the table and caught hers. "Darling, you married the worst of us." "Debatable," Ace said. "No," Mai and Shammy answered together. Brenda almost spilled her drink. When they parted after dinner, everyone already knew where the others intended to go. Nobody required a ceremonial farewell to make it a good night. --- Christina and Lea were waiting in the Meridian Lounge. Christina waved enthusiastically. "There you are!" Ace grinned. "Miss us?" "Terribly." Lea kissed Christina's cheek. "You saw them yesterday." "An entire day ago." Mai laughed. "Tragic." "Absolutely." The four settled together. Drinks arrived. Conversation began. And before long, they were dancing again. The music was lively. The company excellent. And the chemistry between them had become comfortable enough that nobody needed to pretend it wasn't there. Ace danced with Christina. Mai with Lea. Then they exchanged partners. Then all four danced together. At one point, Christina leaned closer to Ace. "You're trouble." Ace smiled. "Only the enjoyable kind." Christina laughed. "That remains to be seen." Ace grinned. "Then you'll have to keep seeing me." Christina's smile widened. "Maybe I will." Across the floor, Lea was laughing at something Mai had said. Christina glanced toward them. Then back at Ace. "They're getting along." Ace nodded. "Beautifully." "So are we," Christina said. Ace met her eyes. "Yeah." They continued dancing. --- Later, Shammy found Nadia in a quiet lounge near the gallery. They sat beside the windows with drinks. Talked about art. About music. About the curious pleasure of finding someone whose company felt immediately easy. At one point, Nadia reached for her hand. Shammy took it. Neither made a speech. They simply sat together. Eventually, Nadia smiled. "May I ask you something?" Shammy looked at her. "Of course." "Would you like to spend more time together tomorrow?" Shammy smiled. "Very much." Nadia nodded. "Good." A pause. Then Shammy asked: "Is this another artistic invitation?" Nadia laughed. "Partly." "Ah." "And partly because I like you." Shammy's expression softened. "I like you too." Nadia kissed her. This time, Shammy didn't need to wonder whether the invitation was about art. --- Much later, the Triad returned to their suite. Ace was still smiling from the evening. Mai looked thoroughly pleased. Shammy was quiet in the contented way she became when something meaningful had happened and she was still enjoying the feeling of it. Ace closed the door. Looked at the bedroom. Then turned toward them. "Well, ladies." Mai pointed. "No speeches." Ace sighed. "You never let me enjoy my administrative achievements." Shammy laughed. "Your pajama strike is safe." "Good." "And still unanimously supported," Mai added. Ace brightened. "Excellent." They prepared for bed. Then settled beneath the magnificent sheets, laughing softly as Ace once again attempted to claim the middle. For a while, nobody spoke. The ship moved gently beneath them. The ocean stretched into darkness. And somewhere aboard, Christina and Lea were probably still dancing. Nadia was likely thinking about tomorrow. Brenda and Iris were enjoying whatever part of the ship had captured Brenda's attention. Ace smiled. Then pulled Mai and Shammy close. "Love you." Mai kissed her shoulder. "Love you too, my wife." Shammy touched Ace's cheek. "Love you both." Ace stretched with the confidence of a woman occupying far more mattress than her height justified. Mai caught the edge of the blanket before it escaped. "There are three of us, darling." "Democracy has failed me." "Democracy was never consulted," Shammy said, retrieving her corner. Mai kissed Ace's shoulder. "Sleep. You can argue about constitutional reform after coffee." Ace was the last to stop talking. By then Mai had stolen the pillow she claimed not to need, and Shammy had caught Ace’s wrist before an ill-advised attempt to steal it back. "I saw that," Shammy murmured. "You were asleep." "Apparently not." Ace gave up the pillow and kept the hand. ## Chapter 9 — A Different Kind of Honeymoon Mai had been awake for twenty minutes before Ace realized the room was missing its usual morning argument. She found her wife on the balcony, barefoot, listening to a recording through one earbud. Mai was counting under her breath, marking a pattern of steps so quietly that even the cabin's excellent soundproofing couldn't explain how Ace had slept through it. "Are you dancing without me?" Ace demanded. "At this hour? You'd file a complaint." "I'd file several. One about the music, one about being excluded from the view." Mai removed the earbud and offered it to her. The recording wasn't ballroom music. It had an uneven percussion line, the kind that refused to let a dancer settle into familiar steps. "Interesting," Ace admitted. "I found a workshop on the programme. I want to try it." "When did you start booking things without consulting your adorable wife?" "When my adorable wife decided that an empty morning was a contractual obligation to remain in bed." Shammy appeared in the doorway, her hair still making the sleepy, uncoordinated movements of someone whose body had not entirely caught up with consciousness. She listened for half a minute. "The rhythm resolves every seventh measure," she said. Mai looked delighted. "That's what I thought." Ace glanced from one partner to the other. "Well, fuck. Now I've married into a conspiracy with excellent timing." "You married one conspirator," Shammy reminded her. "You chose to keep the other." Ace caught her hand and drew her onto the balcony. "Best two decisions I ever made. Are we eating before this musical ambush?" "Yes," Mai said. "At a restaurant, rather than in a fortress of stolen pillows." "Fine. But I'm choosing the pastries." --- The breakfast restaurant overlooked the ship's forward gardens. Large windows filled the room with light, and several tables occupied a sheltered terrace where passengers could enjoy the ocean air. The three chose a table outside. Ace wore one of her new outfits. Mai had selected something light and elegant. Shammy looked effortlessly beautiful in a flowing dress and understated jewelry. Their waiter brought coffee. Ace examined the breakfast menu. Then looked up. "Well." Mai smiled. "What?" "They've improved the pastries." "You haven't tasted them yet." "I can tell." "How?" "Experience." Mai shook her head. "Hopeless." "Lovably hopeless." They ordered. And for nearly an hour, they simply enjoyed breakfast. No plans were urgent. No destinations required their immediate attention. Aureate II had enough restaurants, galleries, shops, lounges and quiet corners to keep them entertained for weeks. They had every intention of discovering as many as possible. Shammy checked her holo. A message from Nadia. She smiled. Ace noticed. "Morning greetings?" "Yes." Mai smiled. "Seeing her today?" "This evening. She wants to introduce me to another artist whose work I've been interested in for years." Ace grinned. "Very respectable." Shammy looked at her. "Mostly." Mai gave up on keeping a straight face. Ace lifted her coffee. "To artistic development." Shammy raised her own cup. "And terrible influences." Ace smiled. "That's us." --- Brenda turned Iris's wedding ring gently with her thumb, studying the setting for a moment before kissing her hand. She was smiling in that distracted way that usually meant a machine had presented an interesting challenge. "Something to fix?" Iris asked. "Not a thing." Brenda caught her wife's hand and kissed the ring. "I'm still getting used to the fact that I can spend a morning wanting you without waiting for the next emergency call." Iris drew her into the shelter of the balcony doors. The sea was full of light, but neither looked at it. They stayed kissing long enough for Brenda to forget whatever clever answer she'd been preparing. When she finally spoke, it was with her forehead resting against Iris's. "A whole honeymoon," Brenda murmured. "What an obscene luxury." "I intend to make use of it," Iris said, closing the doors behind them. They returned to breakfast, still holding hands and smiling at a private joke neither felt obliged to share. Elsewhere aboard, Iris and Brenda were enjoying a remarkably quiet breakfast. It was remarkable because Brenda had spent the previous evening discussing engineering with a fellow passenger until Iris had gently reminded her that dinner existed. Today, however, Brenda appeared entirely focused on her wife. Iris regarded her over a cup of coffee. "What?" Brenda smiled. "Nothing." "Sweetheart." "What?" "You're looking at me." "I like looking at you." Iris laughed softly. "Fair." Brenda leaned across the table. "You're beautiful, you know." "So are you." "Excellent. Then we've established that." They kissed. A woman passing their table smiled. "Newlyweds?" Brenda looked up. "That obvious?" The woman laughed. "A little." She had warm brown eyes, dark hair falling just below her shoulders, and an elegant simplicity to her clothes that Iris immediately appreciated. Brenda smiled. "We got married just before sailing." "Congratulations!" "Thank you." The woman hesitated. Then looked more closely at Brenda. "Wait. Are you Brenda?" Brenda blinked. "Yes?" Her expression changed. "Oh!" The woman laughed. "Daniel told me about you!" Brenda stood. "Oh, you're his wife!" "Amara." "Brenda. And this is Iris." Iris rose to greet her. "It's good to meet you." "You too." Amara smiled. "Daniel said he'd met the most fascinating woman in the maritime engineering exhibition. I believe his exact words were, 'She understood everything I was talking about, and then explained three things I'd never considered.'" Brenda burst out laughing. "Oh, I like him." Amara grinned. "So do I. Fortunately." Iris laughed. "Would you like to join us?" Amara glanced toward the entrance. "Daniel's getting coffee. He'll be here in a moment." "Then please." They rearranged the chairs. And when Daniel arrived, carrying two cups and looking slightly confused to discover his wife already seated with the women he'd met the previous day, the introductions became considerably more cheerful. --- Amara and Daniel had married six weeks earlier. They had spent much of that time trying to arrange a proper honeymoon around work commitments, family obligations and a series of inconvenient scheduling problems. Finally, they'd decided to stop postponing things. Aureate II had offered an excellent solution. "We booked the voyage," Amara explained, "and told everyone we'd be unavailable." Daniel nodded. "Best decision we've made since getting married." Brenda smiled. "Sounds familiar." Iris caught her sleeve. "You are absolutely not telling him about the time you rewired the rehearsal rig during a performance." "Then stop looking so pleased with yourself," Brenda whispered. Their conversation moved easily. Daniel was fascinated by engineering. Amara worked in hospitality design and had a particular interest in how environments shaped people's moods and interactions. It made her a surprisingly engaging conversationalist for Iris. They discussed the ship's public spaces. The deliberate progression from lively promenades to quieter lounges. The subtle ways lighting, music and seating arrangements encouraged different kinds of conversations. Brenda looked delighted. "Oh, you and Shammy are going to get along." Amara tilted her head. "Shammy?" "A very dear member of our family," Iris explained. "She's an artist," Brenda added. Amara smiled. "Oh, I'd love to meet her." Daniel looked toward Brenda. "And you mentioned an engineering visit?" Brenda grinned. "Yesterday." "How was it?" "Oh, fantastic." They were immediately lost in a discussion about stabilization controls. Amara watched them. Then looked at Iris. "Do they do this often?" Iris smiled. "Apparently." Amara laughed. "Daniel once spent forty minutes explaining a water-recycling system to me during dinner." Iris looked genuinely impressed. "Only forty?" "Oh, you should hear him when he's excited." Iris glanced toward Brenda. "Believe me. I understand." They shared a laugh. And somewhere between the second round of coffee and a particularly amusing story about wedding arrangements, four strangers began becoming fast friends. --- Later that morning, the conversation found its way to marriage. Not through any deliberate philosophical debate. Amara had noticed Iris's rings. Then Brenda's. And asked about the wedding. Brenda happily described the two ceremonies at the Collector's house. Amara looked delighted. "Two weddings?" "Same day," Iris said. "And one enormous reception," Brenda added. Daniel laughed. "That sounds spectacular." "It was," Iris said softly. Amara regarded her. "Your family must be very close." Iris smiled. "Very." Brenda nodded. "Closer than most people expect." Amara considered. Then asked: "Was it difficult arranging two weddings together?" Brenda laughed. "Not nearly as difficult as you'd think." Iris shook her head. "That depends on who you ask." "Hey!" "Sweetheart, there were moments." Daniel grinned. "Every wedding has moments." Amara nodded solemnly. "Ours involved a missing cake." Brenda stared. "What?" "An entire cake." Iris began laughing. Daniel sighed. "It wasn't missing." Amara turned. "Darling, nobody knew where it was." "The delivery company had the wrong entrance." "At a completely different building." Daniel considered. "Yes." Amara smiled triumphantly. "Missing." Brenda nearly doubled over. The story occupied the next fifteen minutes. By the time they'd finished, Iris was wiping tears from her eyes. And Amara had firmly decided she liked these women. --- The four agreed to meet again. Perhaps for dinner. Perhaps a show. Perhaps one of the ship's quieter lounges. Nothing needed to be decided immediately. As they parted, Amara touched Iris's arm. "I'm glad we met." Iris smiled. "Likewise." Amara glanced toward Brenda. "You two seem very happy." Brenda slipped an arm around her wife's waist. "We are." Iris smiled. "Very." Amara looked pleased. "Good." Daniel shook Brenda's hand. "Engineering exhibition tomorrow?" Brenda's eyes lit up. "Oh, absolutely." Amara sighed theatrically. "I've lost him." Iris laughed. "Come have coffee with me." Amara smiled. "Now that's an excellent idea." They exchanged contact details. Then went their separate ways. Iris watched Amara and Daniel disappear into the promenade. Brenda glanced toward her. "A delightful couple." Iris nodded. "Very." Brenda kissed her cheek. "Think we'll see them again?" "I'm certain of it." --- By early afternoon, Ace and Mai had found their way into a boutique specializing in eveningwear. Ace stood before a display of beautifully tailored jackets. Mai regarded her with amusement. "You've been staring at that one for five minutes." Ace smiled. "It's gorgeous." "Then try it on." Ace turned. "Really?" Mai laughed. "Honey, when have I ever stopped you?" Ace considered. "Fair." She disappeared into the dressing room. Mai wandered toward another display. Then paused. A familiar voice spoke behind her. "Well, hello." Mai turned. Lea stood near the entrance, smiling. "Lea!" They embraced warmly. Lea stepped back. "Shopping?" "Apparently." Lea laughed. "Christina's somewhere in here too." As if summoned, Christina appeared from behind a display of accessories. "Oh! Mai!" She crossed the room. They greeted one another enthusiastically. Then Ace emerged from the dressing room. Wearing the jacket. She stopped. Looked at the three women. And grinned. "Well, this is convenient." Christina laughed. "Hello, gorgeous." Ace glanced down at the jacket. "That good?" "Very," Lea said. Mai folded her arms. "See? I told you." Ace looked delighted. "Unanimous approval." Christina stepped closer to examine the fabric. "Oh, that's beautifully made." Ace nodded. "Exactly." Lea looked toward Mai. "You're going to have trouble getting her out of here." Mai sighed. "I know." Ace smiled sweetly. "Only because everything is going so suspiciously well." Christina laughed. "Honestly, I'm on your side." Mai looked betrayed. "Oh, no." Lea shook her head. "Don't encourage her, honey." Christina grinned. "Too late." --- They ended up having lunch together. It hadn't been planned. But nobody objected. They chose a small restaurant beside one of the ship's quieter observation terraces. The conversation began with clothes. Moved to music. Then travel. Then the unexpected ways people found themselves building lives together. Christina and Lea had met at a dance event years earlier. Christina told the story. Lea interrupted frequently. Usually to correct details. "She stepped on my foot," Lea explained. Christina looked offended. "Once." "Three times." "Twice." Lea raised an eyebrow. Christina considered. "Fine. Three." Ace burst out laughing. Mai grinned. "And you still agreed to dance with her again?" Lea smiled. "She was charming." Christina looked pleased. "Thank you." "And persistent." Christina laughed. "Also true." Ace leaned toward Mai. "Sounds familiar." Mai smiled sweetly. "Very." Lea looked between them. "How did you meet?" Ace and Mai exchanged a glance. There were several possible answers. Some considerably more complicated than others. Mai smiled. "Through work, originally." Ace nodded. "Things developed." Christina laughed. "That sounds like an understatement." "Oh, luv. You have no idea," Ace said. They stayed for dessert. Then coffee. And by the time they parted, Christina had invited them to a late-night performance the following evening. Ace accepted before anyone else could speak. Mai shook her head affectionately. Lea laughed. "Wonderful. We'll send you the details." --- The afternoon belonged to Shammy and Nadia. They met in the gallery again, this time to explore an installation that had been added to the public exhibition overnight. Nadia brought sketches. Shammy brought questions. Both brought considerable enthusiasm. They spent two hours discussing the work. Then moved to a small café. And eventually to a quiet observation lounge where the ocean filled nearly the entire view. The conversation wandered away from art. Nadia asked about Shammy's travels. Shammy spoke about the places she'd visited with Ace and Mai. About the importance of having people who understood her. About laughter. Shared memories. The extraordinary comfort of belonging. Nadia listened. Then smiled. "You love them very much." Shammy nodded. "More than I could explain." Nadia considered. "And they love you." "Very much." There was no uncertainty in the answer. "That's beautiful," Nadia said. Shammy looked at her. "Thank you." They sat quietly for a while. Then Nadia reached for her hand. Shammy took it. Nadia studied their joined fingers. "I've been thinking." Shammy smiled. "Dangerous." Nadia laughed. "Possibly." She looked up. "I'd like to spend an evening with you. Just us." Shammy's expression softened. "I'd like that too." "Tomorrow?" "Tomorrow." Nadia smiled. "Good." They kissed. Gently. Then again, with a little more confidence. When they separated, Nadia rested her forehead briefly against Shammy's. "You're rather wonderful, Sera." Shammy laughed softly. "So are you." --- The five reunited at an early dinner, but there was no chance of a tidy debrief. Brenda arrived carrying a handwritten card Daniel had given her: the name of a specialist who restored ancient mechanical navigators. "Did you fall in love with a machine again?" Ace asked. Brenda set the card on the table. "Unlike you, I can admire beautiful engineering without needing to purchase it." Mai looked at the shopping bags beside Ace's chair. "I wouldn't go quite that far." "Et tu?" Ace demanded. Shammy considered. "That is the correct question when your own witnesses turn against you." Ace pointed across the table. "You are not helping." "I wasn't trying to." Iris laughed as she sat beside Brenda. She'd enjoyed meeting Amara and Daniel; what surprised her most was how easily the conversation had moved beyond two couples exchanging honeymoon stories. Amara was curious about design choices, Daniel about machines, and both wanted to know what life looked like for people whose work didn't pause neatly at five. "They've invited us to an engineering display tomorrow," Brenda said. "Daniel might be even worse than me." "Impossible," Iris replied. "Cruel woman." "Deliberately married one." Ace raised her glass. "My condolences to Daniel." "You haven't met Amara yet," Iris said. "I suspect she could give him a very effective run for his money." Mai turned to Shammy. "You'd like her. She makes spaces for people and notices what those spaces encourage them to do." Shammy's attention sharpened. "That's an unusually interesting way to describe somebody." "I meant it as a compliment," Iris said. "Then I should meet her." Their food arrived. Ace had ordered something elaborate and was examining it with the same concentration she normally reserved for a beautifully balanced knife. Brenda leaned toward Iris, caught her expression, and whispered something unfit for a dinner table. Iris set down her fork and looked at her wife with delighted disbelief. "You are a menace." "Your menace." "Don't use marriage as a legal defense." "I'm using it as an alibi." Ace caught the last two words. "From what?" Iris answered before Brenda could. "An incident that hasn't happened yet." Mai covered her smile with her napkin. Shammy lowered her head toward her plate, shoulders shaking, while Ace leaned back and announced that this was exactly why she liked traveling with her family: nobody ever bothered pretending to be respectable for long. --- After dinner, the five chose to spend the evening together. No separate engagements. No disappearing into different lounges. No obligations beyond enjoying one another's company. They wandered through the ship's illuminated promenades. Stopped for drinks. Listened to live music. And eventually found themselves near an observation terrace overlooking the dark ocean. The air was warm. The sea stretched endlessly beyond the railings. Aureate II moved through the night, her lights reflected in the water. Ace stood beside Mai and Shammy. Brenda leaned against Iris. For a while, nobody spoke. Then Iris smiled. "This is nice." Brenda kissed her cheek. "Very." Shammy looked toward the sea. "I'd forgotten how beautiful this ship is at night." Ace nodded. "Different when you're actually allowed to enjoy it." Mai slipped an arm around her waist. "Much." They watched the ocean. Eventually Brenda looked toward Iris. "Do you remember the balcony near the bridge?" Iris turned. Her expression changed. Softened. "Oh." Brenda smiled. "That one." Ace glanced toward them. "What about it?" Iris looked at Brenda. Then smiled. "Nothing terrible." Brenda laughed. "Quite the opposite." Shammy raised an eyebrow. Mai smiled. "Story?" Iris glanced toward the upper decks. "Perhaps." Brenda took her hand. "Come on, sweetheart." "Now?" Iris asked. "Why not?" Iris looked toward the others. "We'll meet you later." Ace grinned. "Have fun." Brenda laughed. "Oh, we will." And the two women walked away together. --- The balcony near the bridge was familiar by now. They had already returned on their first night aboard, stood where they'd first kissed years ago, and let the wedding rings catch the deck lights. Tonight Brenda noticed something else: Iris had stopped checking the adjoining corridor for officers who might need her. "You're doing it," Brenda said. Iris turned. "Doing what?" "Being on holiday. Properly. No little twitch every time a door opens." "I still have the twitch. I'm just refusing to give it the evening." "Filthy disregard for procedure. I approve." Iris laughed and leaned against the rail beside her. Beyond the ship, a distant cargo vessel passed through a strip of reflected moonlight, its running lights briefly visible before the darkness swallowed them. "When we kissed here the first time," Iris said, "I was already thinking about what it might cost us." "I remember." "And that first night back? I was trying to convince myself I was allowed to enjoy this without earning it." Brenda moved closer. "Any progress?" Iris turned, deliberately let the sound of a passing crew announcement go unanswered, and drew her wife into a kiss. "Substantial," she said when they parted. "Excellent. I recommend regular maintenance." "I married a menace." "With a very competitive service plan." They stayed until Brenda's hands had grown cool in the evening air. Iris tucked them between her own, and the two went inside together—no obligation calling either away. --- Much later, the Triad returned to their suite. Ace kicked off her shoes. Stretched. Then looked toward the bedroom. "Well." Mai smiled. "Here we go." Shammy laughed. Ace turned. "What?" "The speech," Mai said. Ace looked innocent. "I wasn't going to make a speech." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "Really?" Ace considered. Then grinned. "I was going to announce that our honeymoon sleeping arrangements continue to be an overwhelming success." Mai laughed. "That's a speech." "A very short speech." Shammy shook her head. "Come on." They removed clothes and went to bed. The magnificent sheets welcomed them. Ace settled between Mai and Shammy. For a while, they talked quietly. About the day. About Christina and Lea. About Nadia. About Amara and Daniel. About Iris and Brenda. Then Shammy sighed contentedly. "That was a good day." Mai nodded. "Very." Ace smiled. "And tomorrow?" Shammy laughed. "More of the same?" Ace considered. "With better shoes." Mai groaned. "Oh, honey." Shammy burst out laughing. Ace drew Mai toward her and caught Shammy’s hand on the way. The motion was so familiar none of them had to make room deliberately. "You know," Mai murmured, "you don't have to narrate your own honeymoon." Ace held her tongue with visible effort. Thirty seconds passed. Shammy reached across her for the bedside light. "Do you want darkness," Shammy asked, "or are you planning a closing address?" Ace covered both women's hands with hers. "Darkness. Unless either of you wants another kiss." Mai's reply was immediate. So was Shammy's. The room finally fell quiet for reasons Ace found entirely persuasive. ## Chapter 10 — An Invitation to Enjoy Yourself At ten seventeen, a discreet knock announced a box so beautiful Ace briefly considered displaying it instead of opening it. "Those are the red shoes," Mai said from the sofa without looking up. "You haven't even seen the label." "I watched you spend twenty minutes persuading the saleswoman that the shade of red existed." "It does exist." Ace slit the wrapping with elaborate care. "And now I own it." Mai looked up in time to see her wife lift one shoe from its tissue paper. The leather matched the jacket from yesterday almost perfectly. "Damn," Mai conceded. "You were right." Ace pressed a hand to her heart. "Say it again. I want Shammy to hear." Now the beautifully wrapped box rested on the sitting-room table, and Ace was examining its contents with the reverence some people reserved for religious artifacts. "Oh, gorgeous." Mai glanced over from the balcony. "Talking to me or the shoes, honey?" Ace considered. "Both." Shammy laughed from the sofa. "Good recovery." Ace lifted one shoe. The leather was exquisite. The construction delicate without looking fragile, the heel beautifully balanced. Mai approached. "Oh." "See?" "Those are absolutely gorgeous." "Thank you." Shammy leaned forward. "Try them." Ace needed no further encouragement. A moment later, she stood before the mirror, inspecting the shoes from several angles. Mai looked her over. Then smiled. "Perfect." Ace glanced toward her wife. "The shoes?" Mai stepped closer. "You." Ace laughed softly. "Oh, luv." Mai kissed her. Shammy watched with a smile. Then looked at the discarded box. "At this rate, we're going to need another cabin for your purchases." Ace considered. "Could arrange that." Mai burst out laughing. "No." "Just saying." "Ace." "I sense a proposal." "We have an enormous suite." "And?" "And enough wardrobe space for a small theatrical production." "Which is fortunate, because I intend to dress for one." Shammy laughed. "Apparently." Ace looked at herself in the mirror once more. Then turned toward her two loves. "So. What's everyone doing today?" --- Breakfast was taken together. This time in one of Aureate II's quieter restaurants, where the windows overlooked the ocean and the tables were spaced far enough apart to allow conversation without half the room participating. Shammy was meeting Nadia later. Mai had found another dance workshop. Ace was considering a visit to the wellness deck. And all three had received a message from Iris and Brenda inviting them to lunch with Amara and Daniel. Ace read the invitation. Then smiled. "Oh, wonderful." Mai glanced over. "What?" "Newlywed gathering." Shammy set down her cup, took one appraising look at the invitation, and asked, "Are we collecting them now? We'll need a better filing system." Ace considered. "Apparently." Mai smiled. "I like the sound of it." "So do I." Ace looked toward Shammy. "Nadia joining us?" "Not for lunch. She's working with the curator this morning." "Ah." Shammy took a sip of coffee. "But we're meeting later." "Of course you are." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "Something to say?" "Nothing whatsoever." "That would be a first." Ace looked wounded. "I'm a model of discretion." Both women stared at her. Ace considered. Then sighed. "Fine. I'm an enthusiast." "That I can accept." --- Amara and Daniel were waiting in a garden restaurant when the five arrived. Iris greeted them warmly. Brenda immediately introduced the Triad. Ace shook Daniel's hand. Mai embraced Amara after a cheerful greeting. Shammy smiled when Amara mentioned she'd been hoping to meet the artist Brenda had spoken about. "Sera, right?" Shammy nodded. "That's me." Amara's expression brightened. "Oh, I've seen some of your work." "Have you?" "At an exhibition in Night City, a few years ago." Shammy looked delighted. "Really?" Amara nodded. "There was an installation involving suspended glass elements and projected shadows." Recognition lit Shammy's face. "Oh! Yes." "I loved it," Amara said. Shammy laughed softly. "Thank you." They were still talking about the exhibition when the waiter arrived. Ace glanced toward Mai. Then Iris. Then Brenda. Then the two newcomers. She smiled. "Well, this is an excellent surprise." Daniel laughed. "Quite a group." "You have no idea." Iris squeezed her hand. "Behave, honey." Brenda looked innocent. "I'm being charming." Ace nodded. "She's very good at it." "Unfortunately, so are you." "Thank you, my wife." Mai smiled. --- Lunch unfolded pleasantly. Daniel and Brenda soon became absorbed in a discussion about Aureate II's propulsion systems. Amara and Shammy talked about design. Mai asked about the couple's travels. Ace contributed several enthusiastically detailed recommendations for the ship's restaurants and boutiques. Iris, familiar with the vessel in ways the others could never quite match, occasionally added a useful observation. Eventually Amara looked around the table. Then smiled. "Can I ask something?" Ace grinned. "Absolutely." Amara looked toward the Triad. "I hope this isn't intrusive." "Go ahead," Mai said. Amara hesitated. Then asked, "How does your family work?" There was no judgment in her voice. Only genuine curiosity. Ace glanced toward Mai and Shammy. Then smiled. "Beautifully." Shammy laughed. Mai shook her head affectionately. "That's the short version." Amara smiled. "I gathered." Ace considered. Then gestured toward her two loves. "Mai is my wife. Shammy is our Shammy." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "Possessive much?" "Affectionately." Mai smiled. "The three of us are together. That's the important part." Amara nodded. "Okay." Daniel looked interested. "And you all live together?" "Yes," Shammy replied. "Have for quite a while." Amara considered. "Was it difficult figuring out what worked?" Mai smiled thoughtfully. "Sometimes." Shammy nodded. "Like any relationship, really." Ace leaned back. "The advantage is that we know each other extremely well." "That does help," Shammy agreed. Amara smiled. "And nobody feels left out?" Shammy met her eyes. "No." The answer was simple. Certain. Amara considered. Then nodded. "Good." Ace glanced toward Shammy. Shammy smiled. And the conversation continued. --- It was Daniel who changed the subject. "So you're all on your honeymoon?" Iris smiled. "Yes." "Together?" Brenda nodded. "All five of us." Daniel looked impressed. "That's wonderful." Amara laughed softly. "Daniel, we nearly argued about whether to invite your sister on ours." Daniel grinned. "She'd have enjoyed it." "She'd have reorganized the entire itinerary." "Efficiently." "Darling." He laughed. Ace looked delighted. "Oh, I like your sister already." Amara shook her head. "You haven't met her." "Still." Mai smiled. "Family can be complicated." Amara nodded. "Absolutely." Iris looked toward the ocean. Then back at the table. "Sometimes the best thing is simply finding people you can be yourself with." Amara considered that. Then smiled. "Yes." Brenda leaned against Iris. "Exactly." The conversation drifted toward other things. Nobody attempted to settle the meaning of marriage over lunch. They were all rather too busy enjoying it. --- After lunch, the group separated. Iris and Brenda had been invited to see a smaller passenger exhibition near the upper decks. Amara and Daniel decided to accompany them. Ace and Mai wanted to visit the wellness deck. Shammy had an appointment with Nadia. They exchanged cheerful goodbyes. Before leaving, Amara embraced Shammy. "I'm glad we met." "Likewise." "We should talk about art again." Shammy smiled. "I'd love that." Daniel shook hands with Ace. "Enjoy the afternoon." Ace grinned. "Planning to." Brenda glanced toward her. "Oh, I bet." Ace looked innocent. "What?" Brenda laughed. "Nothing, sweetie." Iris shook her head. "Come on, babe." They disappeared toward the lifts. Ace watched them go. Then looked at Mai. "Well." Mai smiled. "Well?" "Wellness deck?" Mai took her hand. "Absolutely." --- The wellness deck was one of Aureate II's most luxurious attractions. Ace remembered it from their earlier voyage. But she'd had considerably less opportunity to enjoy it then. Today, there were no schedules. No operational concerns. And no reason to refuse an afternoon of indulgence. They selected a private treatment suite. Warm water. Soft lighting. A beautiful view of the ocean. And a pair of massages performed by professionals who seemed to understand exactly how much tension even relaxed people could carry without noticing. By the end, Ace was practically melting. Mai laughed when she saw her expression. "Honey?" Ace opened one eye. "Hmm?" "Still alive?" "Technically." Mai grinned. "Good." Ace reached for her hand. "Don't make me move." "We have to leave eventually." "Why?" "Because other people booked the room." Ace considered. "Unreasonable." Mai laughed. They lingered a little longer. Then changed into comfortable clothes and wandered toward one of the wellness deck's lounges. Ace ordered fresh juice. Mai selected tea. They settled beside the windows. For a while, neither spoke. Eventually Ace smiled. "This is nice." Mai slid the plate of untouched pastries closer to Ace. "It's nicer when you're not worrying whether somebody will summon us halfway through breakfast." Ace glanced at the plate, then deliberately left the last pastry for her. "Look at me. Domestic virtue." "An astonishing development," Mai said, taking it. Ace looked toward her. "You know what?" "What, luv?" "I could get used to this." Mai laughed. "Honey, you've always been good at luxury." Ace considered. "True." She took Mai's hand. "But it's better with you." Mai's smile softened. Ace leaned over and kissed her. For a while, the ocean was the only thing worth looking at. --- Nadia was waiting in a small private gallery when Shammy arrived. She greeted her with a warm smile. "Sera." "Nadia." They embraced. Then kissed. Gently. Naturally. As though they'd already established that this was something they both wanted. Nadia stepped back. "Good afternoon." Shammy smiled. "Very good." Nadia laughed. "I was hoping you'd say that." They spent the first part of the afternoon examining a new installation. Nadia was experimenting with a combination of responsive materials and projected light. Shammy found the results fascinating. They discussed the work. Made suggestions. Argued pleasantly about one design decision. Then laughed when they realized they were both describing essentially the same solution from different directions. Eventually Nadia stepped back. "You're wonderful to work with." Shammy smiled. "So are you." Nadia considered. "Would you ever collaborate on something?" Shammy looked surprised. Then interested. "Perhaps." "I'd love that." Shammy smiled. "So would I." The idea remained between them. Not a formal commitment. Just an intriguing possibility. Then Nadia reached for her hand. "Come with me." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "Where?" "Somewhere quieter." Shammy smiled. "Lead the way." --- They went to Nadia's suite. It was a beautiful space. Comfortable rather than ostentatious. Several small sculptures occupied shelves near the windows. A collection of sketches rested on a side table. And the ocean filled the view beyond the balcony. Shammy stepped inside. Looked around. Then smiled. "This feels like you." Nadia laughed. "Which part? The impossible geometry or the fact that I started building it before I knew how it would stand up?" Shammy considered. "Both. Especially the part where you refused to make it smaller." Nadia set down her bag. "That's an alarmingly accurate description." She moved closer. "May I get you something?" "Water, please. Thank you." Nadia brought two glasses. They sat beside the windows. Talked for a while. Then Nadia looked toward Shammy. Her expression softened. "I've been wanting to kiss you again all afternoon." Shammy smiled. "You could have." Nadia laughed. "I know." "Then why didn't you?" Nadia considered. "Because I was enjoying watching you talk about my work." Shammy laughed softly. "That's a very good reason." Nadia leaned closer. "Can I remedy the situation now?" Shammy smiled. "Please." Their kiss was warm. Unhurried. And quickly followed by another. Nadia touched Shammy's cheek. Shammy rested a hand against her shoulder. For a while, the discussion about artistic collaboration seemed considerably less urgent. Eventually Nadia smiled. "Would you like to stay a while?" Shammy met her eyes. "Yes." Nadia's expression softened. "Good." Shammy didn't move away after the kiss. She watched Nadia look up at her with the expression of somebody still surprised that a woman she'd first admired across a gallery could be sitting so close. "What?" Shammy asked. "Nothing. You keep looking at me as though the conversation is the interesting part." "It is," Shammy said. "But I would also very much like to kiss you again." Nadia answered by coming closer. Shammy made room, then drew her into an embrace that felt more certain with every returning kiss. When Nadia's fingertips touched the silver hair at Shammy's shoulder, she stopped and asked; Shammy guided her hand there herself. The hair lifted, trembled, and settled around them both, a small betrayal of happiness that made Nadia laugh softly. They left the sofa together. Shammy set her holo facedown next to the scattered sketches, deliberately choosing the woman before the work; Nadia watched her do it and grew quiet. Nadia put a hand over Shammy's where it rested on the back of the sofa. "You can leave the drawings there," she murmured. "I wasn't planning to ask you about composition." "Neither was I." Shammy leaned in again. Nadia's answering kiss carried none of the nervous laughter of their first one. Shammy felt her own breath catch, to her considerable surprise, and Nadia noticed. She stayed still long enough to look at her, then drew her close with a smile that made Shammy's hair lift all over again. They chose the rest of their privacy with the same unhurried attention. Their affection was no longer only an intriguing possibility discussed over art; it was something they were sharing, learning and taking pleasure in together. When a shy laugh broke through, it belonged to Nadia this time. Shammy kissed her forehead and waited for her to speak instead of trying to guess. Afterward, they stayed together in the room's gentle light. Nadia traced a line along Shammy's palm and asked whether she always knew so quickly when she wanted someone near. Shammy considered the question instead of inventing an easy answer. "No," she admitted. "But I know this." Nadia rested against her again. The unfinished work remained on the table, waiting without complaint. For once, neither woman had to ask an artwork to explain what their bodies and their silence already understood. --- Elsewhere, Amara and Daniel were becoming increasingly fond of Iris and Brenda. The exhibition had proved surprisingly entertaining. Brenda was delighted by the technical elements. Daniel enjoyed discussing them with her. Amara and Iris spent much of the visit talking about the artistic choices behind the displays. Eventually the four found themselves in a quiet café. Amara regarded Iris with curiosity. "You worked aboard for years?" Iris nodded. "Yes." "Did you enjoy it?" "Very much." Amara smiled. "That must make coming back rather strange." Iris considered. "A little." "Because you're a passenger now?" "Partly." Iris glanced toward Brenda. "And partly because I'm here with my wife." Brenda smiled. Amara looked between them. "That sounds excellent." "It is." Daniel leaned back. "Do you miss the work?" Iris thought for a moment. "Some parts." "Such as?" "The people. The rhythm. Knowing the ship so well." She smiled. "But I don't miss having to think about everything that might go wrong." Brenda laughed softly. "Especially when nothing is going wrong." Iris nodded. "Exactly." Amara considered. "Then perhaps this is the perfect way to come back." Iris smiled. "Perhaps." --- The conversation turned toward relationships again. This time, Amara brought up the subject. "Can I ask you something personal?" "Of course," Iris said. Amara glanced toward Brenda. "You two seem very comfortable with each other." Brenda laughed. "We are." "I don't mean just affectionate. I mean... comfortable." Iris nodded. "We know each other." Amara considered. "Daniel and I are still learning how to be married." Daniel smiled. "We're getting there." Amara reached for his hand. "I know, darling." She looked back at Iris. "Sometimes I worry that we're supposed to have everything figured out already." Brenda shook her head. "Oh, honey." Iris smiled gently. "You're six weeks in." Amara laughed. "I know." Daniel squeezed her hand. "We've got time." Amara looked at him. Then smiled. "Yes." Iris watched them. There was something lovely about their uncertainty. Not insecurity. Just two people discovering the shape of a life they were building together. Brenda leaned toward her. "Remember our first few weeks?" Iris laughed. "Oh, yes." Brenda grinned. "We were terribly sensible." Iris tilted her head, visibly unconvinced. "Were we?" "Absolutely not." All four laughed. --- By evening, Shammy returned to the Triad's suite. She found Ace and Mai sitting together on the balcony. Both looked relaxed. Very relaxed. Ace glanced up. "Oh, hello, gorgeous." Shammy smiled. "Hello." Mai turned. "Good afternoon, sweetie." Shammy stepped closer. They embraced. Ace kissed her cheek. Then looked at her face. "Oh." Shammy laughed. "What?" Ace grinned. "That was a very good afternoon." Shammy smiled. "Yes." Mai's expression warmed. Shammy sat beside them. For a while, they talked. About the art. The collaboration idea. Nadia's suite. And the simple pleasure of spending private time with someone she liked. Ace listened with obvious happiness. Mai smiled. Eventually Shammy sighed contentedly. "She's wonderful." Ace nodded. "Sounds like it." Mai touched her hand. "I'm glad, darling." Shammy looked at them. Then smiled. "So am I." --- The dining room had barely taken their order when Brenda produced the question she'd been saving all afternoon. "How do you know whether you're actually good at marriage?" Ace lowered her menu. "Are we being graded?" "No," Iris said. "Brenda met two other newlyweds and has decided this requires engineering standards." "Amara and Daniel," Brenda explained. "Lovely people. Also trying to figure out whether anything changes once the ceremony is over." "Everything changes," Mai said, examining the bracelet at her wrist. "And most of it doesn't." "That sounds like a contract written by a very expensive lawyer," Ace replied. "You married the lawyer in question." "Best hostile acquisition I've ever made." Shammy looked up. "I believe you were acquired mutually." "Please don't put the wedding on a balance sheet," Iris said. Brenda considered that. "Too late. My wife is an asset." "A depreciating one if you keep stealing my pillows," Iris said. Mai took a forkful of dinner and watched Brenda's grin widen. "Perhaps a better question is what you want your marriage to make possible." "Apparently," Brenda said, "extended access to expensive pillows." "And someone who will go with you to look at old engines," Iris added. That softened Brenda's face more effectively than any speech. She brushed her thumb over Iris's ring, just once, before returning her attention to the food. Later Ace would insist the conversation had been Mai's attempt to sneak financial planning into romance. Mai would insist she had no need to sneak. Neither had to ask Shammy which of them she believed; her hair gave her away. --- After dinner, Ace received a message. She glanced at it. Then grinned. Mai noticed immediately. "Christina?" Ace nodded. "And Lea." Shammy smiled. "Plans?" Ace read the message. Then laughed. "Oh, they have plans." Brenda leaned forward. "What kind?" Ace's grin widened. "Apparently there's a private late-night dance event." Mai's eyes brightened. "Oh?" Ace nodded. "Small venue. Excellent music. Invitations only." Iris smiled. "That sounds wonderful." Ace looked toward Mai. "What do you think, my love?" Mai considered. Then smiled. "I think we should go." Ace grinned. "Excellent." Shammy laughed softly. "And I think I'll spend a quiet evening with Nadia." "Sounds very much right," Brenda said. Iris looked toward her wife. "And us?" Brenda smiled. "How about something romantic?" Iris leaned closer. "Such as?" Brenda leaned closer. "A quiet walk. A good drink. And perhaps finding somewhere aboard we've never kissed before." Iris burst out laughing. "Oh, sweetheart." Brenda smiled innocently. "What?" Iris kissed her. "Excellent plan." --- The private dance event occupied an intimate lounge near the upper observation decks. The lighting was low. The music sophisticated. The dance floor large enough for several couples without feeling crowded. Christina and Lea were waiting when Ace and Mai arrived. Christina smiled broadly. "There you are!" Ace grinned. "Miss us?" "Terribly." Lea laughed. "You say that every time." "Because it's true." Mai embraced her. "It's good to see you." "You too." They settled together for drinks. The atmosphere was relaxed. Warm. And pleasantly intimate. Eventually Christina glanced toward the dance floor. "Shall we?" Ace grinned. "Absolutely." They danced. Sometimes as couples. Sometimes changing partners. Sometimes all four together. The music moved between lively rhythms and slower pieces. And as the evening continued, the attraction among them became increasingly difficult to ignore. At one point, Lea stood beside Mai at the edge of the floor. "Can I ask you something?" Mai smiled. "Of course." Lea glanced toward Ace and Christina. Then back at Mai. "Are you two enjoying this as much as we are?" Mai's expression warmed. "Yes. Absolutely." Lea smiled. "Good." Mai reached for her hand. Lea squeezed it. Across the floor, Christina was laughing at something Ace had said. Then she leaned closer. Ace smiled. Christina kissed her cheek. Ace looked delighted. And when Christina glanced toward Lea, Lea simply smiled back. There was no confusion. No pressure. Just four women enjoying one another's company and discovering how pleasantly natural the evening felt. --- Later, Ace and Mai returned to the suite. Shammy was already there, reading beside the balcony windows. One silver-white strand lifted from her page before she looked up; the quiet static in the room had told her they were home. "Good evening." "Very good evening," Ace said. Mai laughed. "Hello, gorgeous." Shammy set the book aside. "Good dancing?" "Excellent," Mai replied. Ace nodded. "Wonderful company." Shammy smiled. "Glad to hear it." They settled together. Talked about their evenings. And eventually began preparing for bed. Ace glanced toward the enormous bed. Then toward Mai and Shammy. She smiled. "Well, ladies." Mai laughed. "No speeches." Ace sighed theatrically. "You're no fun." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "We've been having quite a lot of fun." Ace considered. Then grinned. "Excellent point." They joined one another beneath the sheets, again naked. The ocean whispered beyond the balcony. Aureate II moved steadily through the night. The new shoes waited beside the wardrobe. Ace had placed them in full view of the bed as though they required an audience. Mai studied the price label that she had found inside the box. "If you’re expecting me to admire those every morning, darling, you should have bought something that makes coffee." "They do something better." "What?" "Make you look at my legs." Shammy leaned over Mai to inspect the shoes. "She has a point." Mai groaned, then reached for both of them. The shoes received no further attention. ## Chapter 11 — The Things We Choose Christina's message arrived while Ace was brushing her hair. _We have a proposition._ Ace stopped. Read the message again. Then smiled. Across the bedroom, Mai was fastening a bracelet. "That expression usually means trouble." Ace turned. "Christina." Mai looked up. "Oh?" "She has a proposition." Mai considered. "That sounds promising." "That's what I thought." A second message arrived. _Before you get too excited, it's about dinner._ Ace laughed. Mai approached. "What?" Ace showed her. Mai grinned. "She knows you already." "Apparently." Another message followed. _There's a small chef's table experience tonight. Four guests, private dining room, wonderful food. Lea and I thought you two might enjoy it._ Ace read it aloud. Mai's smile widened. "Oh, that sounds perfect." Ace typed a response. _Absolutely. Although I'm reserving the right to get excited anyway._ Christina replied almost immediately. _Wouldn't dream of stopping you._ Ace looked delighted. "Love her." Mai laughed. "I've noticed." Ace turned toward her wife. "Interested?" "They asked us both. And Lea remembered I prefer quiet music when we actually want to talk." Mai examined the invitation again. "Yes, darling. I'd like to go." Ace started typing before she'd finished. "Four beautiful women, then," Mai said, looking over Ace's shoulder. "And excellent food," Ace added. Mai kissed her. "You do have your priorities." Ace slipped an arm around her waist. "All of them, obviously." --- Shammy was already awake when they reached the sitting room. She sat beside the windows with coffee and a sketchpad, studying a design she'd begun the previous evening. Ace glanced over her shoulder. "Oh." Shammy looked up. "Good morning." Mai kissed her cheek. "Morning, gorgeous." Ace studied the drawing. "New project?" "Possibly." "With Nadia?" Shammy smiled. "Partly." Mai sat beside her. "Tell us." Shammy considered. "Nadia and I were discussing how an installation might respond to the way people move through it. Not simply to their location, but to the relationships between them." Ace tilted her head. "How close they are?" "Among other things." Shammy turned the sketchpad. Several overlapping shapes occupied the page, connected by delicate lines. "The piece changes depending on whether people approach together, separate, return, or simply remain near one another." Mai studied it. "That's beautiful." "It's still very early." Ace pointed toward three overlapping shapes. "Is that us?" Shammy looked at her. Then smiled. "Maybe." Ace's expression softened. "Oh, hun." Shammy reached for her hand. "It's only a starting point." "A very nice one." Mai leaned against her, then pointed toward the open edge of the drawing. "Leave that space. If you fill every corner, nobody gets to bring themselves into it." For a moment they sat together, looking at the drawing. Then Ace glanced toward the clock. "Breakfast?" "I was wondering when you'd ask." --- The five met at a restaurant near the forward observation deck. Iris and Brenda had arrived first. Brenda was examining the breakfast menu with considerable concentration. Iris watched her affectionately. "Babe, it's breakfast." "I know." "You've been reading that for ten minutes." "Eight." Iris laughed. Brenda looked up. "Oh! There they are." Greetings followed. Ace kissed Iris's cheek. Mai embraced Brenda. Shammy settled beside them. The waiter arrived. Orders were placed. And the morning began properly. For a while, they discussed the previous evening. Then Ace announced the dinner invitation. "Christina and Lea have booked a private chef's table." "Oh, that sounds very interesting." Mai nodded. "Should be a treat." Iris looked toward Ace. "Just dinner?" Ace grinned. "That's what they claim." Brenda burst out laughing. Shammy shook her head. Ace leaned back. "What?" "Nothing." "That smile means something." "It means I'm enjoying my breakfast." Ace narrowed her eyes. Brenda laughed harder. Eventually Ace surrendered. "Fine." She took a sip of coffee. "What's everybody else doing?" Shammy had plans with Nadia. Brenda and Iris were meeting Amara and Daniel for an afternoon excursion through the ship's quieter passenger spaces. They had also been invited to dinner later in the week. Ace looked pleased. "Everybody's getting social." "Apparently." Brenda reached for her wife's hand. "Good company is one of the best things about traveling." "Especially when you have time to enjoy it." Mai smiled. "Exactly." --- The morning belonged to small pleasures. Ace and Mai visited one of Aureate II's fashion exhibitions, where a collection of historical eveningwear had been arranged alongside contemporary interpretations. Ace was fascinated. Mai was amused by the intensity of her fascination. At one point, Ace stood before a beautifully constructed gown. "Look at that." Mai stepped beside her. "Oh, that's gorgeous." "The tailoring." "Mmm." "The way the fabric moves." "Beautiful." Ace glanced toward her. "Lena would love this." Mai smiled. "She would." They spent several minutes discussing the design. Then Ace looked toward another display. "Actually, I wonder whether—" Mai took her hand. "No." Ace blinked. "What?" "You're thinking about commissioning something." Ace looked wounded. "I wasn't." Mai raised an eyebrow. Ace considered. "Not yet." Mai laughed. "Honey." Ace kissed her. "Fine. I'll just admire it." "For now." "You're cruel." "Terribly." They continued through the exhibition together. --- Shammy met Nadia near the gallery entrance. Nadia greeted her with a warm kiss. Shammy smiled. "Hello." "Hello, beautiful." They walked together through the exhibition. Nadia had arranged to meet a visiting sculptor whose work interested them both. The sculptor, a lively woman named Yvette Armand, greeted Nadia warmly. Then turned toward Shammy. "Sera!" "Yvette." "I've been hoping to meet you." "Likewise." They spent the next hour discussing materials, movement and the surprising difficulty of creating work that encouraged people to interact without telling them exactly how. Yvette was enthusiastic. Opinionated. And entirely unafraid of disagreeing with either of them. Shammy liked her immediately. Nadia clearly did too. At one point, Yvette looked between them. Then smiled. "Have you two been working together long?" Nadia laughed. "Not officially." "We've been discussing possibilities." Yvette raised an eyebrow. "Artistic possibilities?" "Among others." Shammy laughed. Yvette nodded solemnly. "Excellent." They continued. By the time they parted, Shammy had agreed to attend a small informal discussion with several artists the following day. Nadia seemed delighted. "So?" Shammy looked at her. "So?" "Enjoying the voyage?" Shammy smiled. "Immensely." Nadia reached for her hand. "Good." --- Iris and Brenda met Amara and Daniel near the central promenade. Amara greeted them warmly. Daniel shook Brenda's hand. Then immediately asked whether she'd seen the updated engineering exhibit. Brenda grinned. "Of course." Amara sighed. "Oh, dear." Iris laughed. "Already?" Daniel smiled. "Just asking." Brenda nodded. "Very reasonable." Amara looked toward Iris. "We're doomed." "Completely." They walked together. The ship's passenger decks offered more than enough to keep them entertained. Small exhibitions. Quiet lounges. Observation spaces. Beautifully designed gardens. And occasional views of the ocean so spectacular that conversation simply stopped for a while. At one point, Amara paused beside a large panoramic window. "Beautiful." Iris nodded. "Very." Amara looked toward her. "Did you ever get tired of it?" "The ocean?" "Yes." Iris considered. "Never." Amara smiled. "Good answer." They stood quietly. Behind them, Daniel and Brenda were discussing something involving shipboard energy distribution. Amara glanced back. Then laughed. "I think we've lost them." "Temporarily," Iris said. "Should we rescue them?" Iris considered. "Eventually." They shared a laugh. And continued toward the next observation lounge. --- The conversation became more personal over coffee. Amara had been watching Iris and Brenda with curiosity. Eventually she smiled. "Can I ask something?" Iris nodded. "Of course." Amara looked toward Brenda. "You two seem very comfortable with... well, everything." Brenda laughed. "Not everything." "We have our moments," Iris said. Amara considered. "Daniel and I were talking about your family after lunch yesterday." Daniel nodded. "We were." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Amara smiled. "Mostly because the three of them seem to have found something that works beautifully." Iris nodded. "They have." Amara hesitated. Then continued. "I think I grew up believing marriage was supposed to mean choosing one person and then closing every other door." Daniel looked toward her. His expression was thoughtful. "We both did." Brenda listened. Amara glanced toward Iris. "And then we meet people who clearly love one another just as deeply, but whose lives look different." Iris smiled. "Different doesn't necessarily mean better." Amara nodded. "I know." Daniel leaned forward. "I think that's what we're trying to understand." Brenda considered. "That sounds reasonable." Amara looked at her. "Doesn't it ever get complicated?" Brenda laughed softly. "Of course." Iris nodded. "People are complicated." Daniel smiled. "That sounds familiar." Amara reached for his hand. Then looked back at Iris. "I suppose what I'm really wondering is whether commitment has to mean exclusivity." Iris considered. Then answered carefully. "For some people, exclusivity is part of what commitment means. And that can be beautiful." Brenda nodded. "For others, commitment is about honesty, trust and knowing where home is." Amara listened. Daniel looked thoughtful. Iris continued. "I wouldn't tell anyone what their marriage should look like." Amara smiled. "Neither would I." Brenda reached for Iris's hand. "The important thing is that the people in it actually want the same arrangement." Daniel nodded slowly. "That makes sense." Amara glanced toward him. Then smiled. "It does." The conversation moved on. No conclusions were required. But something had been opened. And all four seemed pleased by it. --- Late afternoon found Shammy and Nadia in a quiet corner of the gallery. They had spent several hours discussing art. Now they sat close together, sharing a drink and watching the light change beyond the windows. Nadia rested a hand over Shammy's. "I've enjoyed today." Shammy smiled. "So have I." Nadia looked thoughtful. "Can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Do you ever worry about getting attached to someone you meet while traveling?" Shammy considered. "Sometimes." Nadia nodded. "I do." Shammy turned toward her. "Because of the distance?" "Partly." Nadia smiled faintly. "And partly because it's easy to pretend a holiday exists outside the rest of your life." Shammy listened. Nadia continued. "I've met people who were wonderful for a week. Then we went home and discovered we didn't actually know one another." Shammy nodded. "That happens." Nadia looked at her. "I don't want to do that with you." Shammy's expression softened. "Neither do I." Nadia smiled. "Good." They sat quietly. Then Shammy said: "We don't have to decide everything today." Nadia laughed softly. "No. But I would like to know whether the mysterious artist with the outrageous wardrobe will answer my messages when the ship docks." "If you're writing to Sera, she'll answer when she's finished being interviewed. If you're writing to me, I'll answer much sooner." Nadia smiled. "And who am I writing to now?" Shammy regarded her, her silver-white hair moving with a faint, involuntary lift. "The woman who would very much like you to kiss her again." Nadia grinned. "That is an unusually clear artist's statement." "I'm branching out." They laughed, then Shammy leaned close enough to make the invitation unmistakable. When Nadia answered it, neither hurried on to the next conversation. They enjoyed the quiet that followed, choosing what to reveal about themselves without turning the tenderness into a promise neither could yet keep. "We can enjoy this. And be honest about what it means as we go." Nadia nodded. "I'd like that." Shammy leaned closer. "So would I." They kissed. And for a little while, neither had anything more to say. --- The chef's table occupied a private dining room near Aureate II's upper restaurant district. Christina and Lea were waiting when Ace and Mai arrived. Both looked beautiful. Christina wore an elegant dark outfit. Lea had chosen a flowing dress that moved gracefully when she turned. Ace stopped just inside the doorway. Then smiled broadly. "Oh, ladies." Christina laughed. "Good evening." Mai smiled. "You both look gorgeous." Lea stepped closer. "So do you." They greeted one another warmly. Then settled around the beautifully set table. The chef appeared a moment later. Introductions were made. The evening's menu explained. And the first course arrived. Ace was delighted. Mai was equally pleased. Christina and Lea seemed to have chosen the experience perfectly. The food was extraordinary. Small courses. Beautiful presentation. Inventive combinations. Excellent wine. And enough time between dishes for conversation. Ace tasted one preparation. Stopped. Then looked toward the chef. "Oh, that's magnificent." Christina laughed. "I knew you'd like it." Ace turned. "You planned this?" Lea smiled. "We had a suspicion." Mai raised an eyebrow. "That we enjoy good food?" Christina grinned. "Among other things." Ace smiled. "Well, your suspicion was correct." --- The evening developed slowly. Conversation moved from food to travel. From travel to music. From music to the strange ways people found themselves drawn to one another. Christina and Lea had been together for twelve years. They knew each other's habits. Finishing one another's thoughts came naturally. So did teasing. At one point, Lea described Christina's habit of making elaborate plans and then ignoring them entirely. Christina looked offended. "I don't ignore them." Lea smiled. "You improve them spontaneously." "Exactly." Ace laughed. "Oh, I like that." Mai shook her head. "Of course you do." Christina leaned forward. "See? She understands." Ace raised her glass. "Completely." Lea looked toward Mai. "We may have made a mistake." Mai smiled. "Possibly." Then she kissed Ace's cheek. "But a very enjoyable one." Christina laughed. "Agreed." They continued eating. And talking. And discovering that the ease between them extended well beyond the dance floor. --- After dessert, the chef left them with coffee and the comfortable privacy of the dining room. For a while, nobody hurried. Christina sat back. Then smiled. "Can I say something?" Ace grinned. "Absolutely." Christina looked toward Lea. Lea nodded. Then Christina turned back. "We've really enjoyed getting to know you two." Mai smiled. "So have we." Lea leaned forward. "And we were wondering..." She paused. Not uncertain. Simply choosing her words. "...whether you'd like to spend a little more time together." Ace's smile softened. "We'd love that." Christina laughed. "We thought you might." Mai glanced toward Lea. "Tonight?" Lea smiled. "If you'd like." Ace exchanged a glance with Mai. Mai's expression was warm. Interested. Entirely at ease. Ace nodded. "Yes." "Wonderful," Christina said. Lea reached for Mai's hand. Mai took it. Ace looked toward Christina. Then grinned. "Well." Christina raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "This has been an excellent dinner." Christina laughed. "I'm glad." Ace smiled. "And I have a feeling the evening isn't finished." Lea smiled. "No." They stayed together a little longer. Then left the dining room, four women comfortably aware that their friendship had become something warmer. --- They wandered through Aureate II's quieter evening promenades. The ship was beautiful at night. Warm lighting. Soft music. The occasional sound of laughter drifting from nearby lounges. They stopped on a balcony overlooking the ocean. Christina stood beside Ace. Lea beside Mai. For a while, they watched the sea. Then Christina turned. "May I?" Ace smiled. "Please." Christina kissed her. Warmly. Without hurry. Ace leaned into it, one hand resting lightly against Christina's waist. A few steps away, Lea reached for Mai. Mai smiled. And kissed her. When they separated, Christina laughed softly. "Well." Ace grinned. "Well." Lea looked toward Mai. "Still enjoying the evening?" "Very much," Mai said. Lea's expression warmed. "Good." They remained on the balcony for a while. Talking quietly. Occasionally kissing. Enjoying the surprising ease of finding affection in unexpected company. Eventually Christina looked toward Lea. Then back at Ace. "We have a suite nearby." Ace's smile widened. "Oh?" Lea nodded. "Would you like to come for a drink?" Mai looked at Ace. Ace looked at Mai. Neither needed much discussion. Mai smiled. "That sounds perfect." Christina reached for Ace's hand. "Come on, then." And the four left the balcony together. --- Christina and Lea's suite was beautifully appointed. Warm lighting. Comfortable furniture. A generous sitting area overlooking the ocean. And several small personal touches that made it clear the women had settled in happily. Ace glanced around. "Beautiful place." Christina smiled. "Thank you." Lea offered drinks. Mai accepted. They settled together on the sofa. Conversation resumed. But the distance between them had changed. Christina sat close to Ace. Lea beside Mai. Hands touched. Smiles lingered. And eventually, the talking became less important than the pleasure of simply being together. Ace turned toward Christina. "Can I kiss you again?" Christina smiled. "I was hoping you'd ask." They kissed. Nearby, Lea rested her hand against Mai's cheek. Mai leaned closer. Their kiss was slow and affectionate. For a while, the four enjoyed one another's company without any need to hurry. Then Christina looked toward Ace. Her expression was warm. "Would you like to stay a while?" Ace glanced toward Mai. Mai smiled. "Very much." Lea reached for her hand. "Good." Christina closed the suite door with one hand, still holding Ace's with the other. Lea had crossed to the record player, but Mai stopped her with a soft laugh. "You can choose the music after you tell me whether that last dance was a challenge or an invitation." "Both," Lea said, and turned to take Mai's offered hand. At the window, Christina drew Ace closer. Ace had another smart remark ready; it dissolved when Christina kissed her, and she caught her breath at the simple pleasure of being wanted without an audience. Christina noticed, smiled against her cheek and waited instead of rushing to the next joke. Christina had been teasing Ace about her formidable confidence since dinner. Now, with the record playing quietly behind them, she discovered what happened when Ace stopped treating everything like a competition. Ace rested a hand against Christina’s cheek and waited until the other woman came closer of her own accord. Their next kiss was quieter. Christina noticed the change at once. "There you are," she murmured. "Was I hiding?" "Behind the mouth, a little." Ace laughed into her shoulder. "Rude. Accurate, but rude." At the other end of the sofa, Lea was telling Mai that her beautiful, planned evening had very nearly been spoiled by her wife's determination to improvise. Mai listened with mock gravity, then reached across to tuck a loose strand of hair behind Lea's ear. "Christina improvises," Mai said. "Ace detonates the plan before breakfast. You and I have married into a hazardous profession." "I suppose we have." Christina drew Ace toward the sofa, but Ace stayed standing until she had caught Mai's eye across the room. Mai was beside Lea, their hands linked; she answered with the smallest nod and a look Ace knew by heart. No permission ritual, no performance: just four women choosing how to spend an evening. "You have been threatening to make me lose my composure all night," Ace told Christina. "And you have spent all night providing expert commentary." "Occupational hazard." "Then take the night off." Ace opened her mouth for a retort and found that Christina had already taken her hand. She sat beside her. Across the room, Mai and Lea were still discussing the record player as though music could be settled by committee. "You are stalling," Mai observed. "I'm selecting a record." "You've held the same one for three minutes." Lea laughed, put it down and kissed her. The reply came before the next argument; Mai made a surprised sound, then slipped her hand behind Lea's neck and kept her close until the surprise became delight. Christina heard it and glanced toward them. Ace followed her gaze, smiling. "Still think we're the dangerous ones?" Christina asked. "Oh, sweetheart. We're all terrible company." The record kept playing, but nobody argued about its quality any longer. Christina took Ace's hand and drew her a little closer. Ace answered with a kiss that surprised them both by becoming unexpectedly tender. Across the room, Lea rested her head against Mai's shoulder, then turned to kiss her; Mai's response was so immediate that Lea laughed softly against her cheek. The four were still sharing the same evening, though not every moment needed the same arrangement. Ace glanced toward Mai and caught her smile. There was no competition in it, only the easy happiness of watching somebody she loved enjoy being wanted. Then Christina drew Ace's attention back with a fingertip against her wrist, and Ace gave it willingly. Their conversation faded and returned in smaller pieces, shaped by familiar jokes and new discoveries. When Christina's teasing finally deserted her, Ace touched her cheek and waited for her to meet her eyes. The two held still, foreheads together, while Mai and Lea remained close by the window. Nobody hurried to replace that shared quiet with another joke. Much later, when the room had settled and the record had reached its final silent turn, Christina lay with her head against Ace's shoulder. Lea found Mai's bracelet beneath a cushion and held it up like evidence in a criminal inquiry. "Aha. The missing artifact." Mai accepted it, fastened it and kissed her. "You've saved an international incident." "Does that earn me another evening?" "It earns you the right to make the invitation," Mai answered. The smile on Lea's face was worth waiting for. --- Shammy found a message Panam had sent the previous night, time-stamped hours after the last of their conversations. It was a photograph from the Badlands: a bruised sunset, a vehicle parked crookedly beneath it, and *You would have liked the light.* Shammy sent back the sketch she'd made from her cabin window. *You would have liked the wind.* Nothing arrived in answer that evening, and Shammy didn't need one. Elsewhere aboard, Shammy and Nadia had settled into a quiet lounge. They were discussing plans for a possible collaborative installation. But the conversation kept wandering. To travel. To music. To favorite cities. And eventually to the simple pleasure of spending time together. Nadia looked toward Shammy. "Would you like to come back to my suite?" Shammy smiled. "Yes." Nadia reached for her hand. They stood together. Nadia waited while Shammy collected her sketchpad, then offered her hand instead of taking it for granted. Shammy accepted with a quiet, delighted certainty; the silver-white strands above her shoulder rose before she could pretend to be composed. "You're not obliged to spend the whole night discussing pressure-sensitive sculpture," Nadia said. "Thank goodness. I was afraid you'd never ask about anything else." Nadia laughed and led her toward the passage. The argument about pressure fields continued until Shammy stopped at the suite door and looked down at their joined hands. "I should tell you something," Shammy said. "That your hair is about to take the ceiling off?" "That is a possibility. I was going to say I like you for reasons entirely unrelated to your exhibition proposal." Nadia's expression changed. She opened the door, but didn't step through it. "I had rather hoped so." Shammy bent to kiss her. Nadia's answering hand settled at her waist, and for a long moment neither looked toward the unfinished drawings inside. When the kiss ended, Shammy leaned her forehead against Nadia's and allowed herself to laugh at the small silver arc her hair had made above them. "Should I be afraid?" Nadia asked. "Only of the static." "I can live with that." Inside, Nadia picked up one of the unfinished sketches, turned it over and laid it facedown. "I am not inviting you here to review my work," she said. "Good. Because I was about to give it an excellent review and then ask whether I might kiss the artist instead." "I'd prefer the second part." Shammy reached for her. Nadia came close without waiting for a second invitation, and the small startled sound she made at Shammy's first kiss stayed with them both. Shammy drew back just enough to meet her eyes. Nadia smiled, took her hand and led her away from the worktable. A drawing slipped to the floor; neither turned to retrieve it. They spoke more quietly as the night went on. When Nadia finally leaned against her, Shammy's hair moved in a soft, uncertain wave and settled across them both. Nadia caught one strand against her palm but did not pull it. Shammy smiled at that care, closed her eyes and held her a little closer. There were plenty of things they would need to ask one another tomorrow. Tonight neither was in a hurry. --- Iris and Brenda spent the evening alone. They had enjoyed their time with Amara and Daniel. Now they wanted a few hours entirely to themselves. They found a small restaurant. Shared a wonderful meal. Then returned to the balcony near the bridge. The same place where they'd first kissed. Brenda leaned against Iris and traced the seam where the railing met the wall. "Right here," she said. "You had both hands on this thing because you thought that would make you look composed." "I was composed." "You asked me the same question twice." Iris looked down at her. "You talked for five uninterrupted minutes about a loose screw." "Perfectly fascinating screw." Brenda's smile turned quieter. "I didn't know whether I could kiss you." "I did," Iris said. "I was trying to work out how to ask without sounding like your commanding officer." Brenda laughed once. "You managed." Iris kissed her now, without rehearsing a single word. When she drew back, Brenda's fingers remained curled around the same rail. Neither needed the old excuse anymore. --- The Triad’s suite was empty that night. On the sofa, three abandoned coffee cups remained in the places their owners had left them; Shammy’s sketchbook lay open at a drawing whose overlapping shapes met, separated and met again. Ace and Mai were with Christina and Lea. Shammy was with Nadia. Nobody needed to send a reassuring report. Earlier they had traded plans, kissed goodbye, and made sure everyone had a way home. The suite would be there when they returned, and so would the people who knew exactly how they liked their coffee. ## Chapter 12 — The Morning After the Night Before Ace woke to unfamiliar curtains. That was the first thing she noticed. The second was the warm weight of an arm resting across her waist. The third was laughter. Very quiet laughter. She opened her eyes. Christina was watching her from the other pillow, looking far too pleased with herself. "Good morning." "Morning, gorgeous." "Sleep well?" "Wonderfully." "Good." Ace glanced around the bedroom, taking in the carefully folded jacket on a nearby chair, the soft morning light and the unmistakable signs of a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Then she looked back at Christina. "Your hospitality is excellent." "I'll tell Lea." "Please do." "Although I suspect she knows." "Fair." A moment later, the bedroom door opened. Lea appeared carrying two cups of coffee. Mai followed her, wearing a borrowed robe and an expression of extraordinary contentment. Ace sat up. "Oh, look. My wife." "Good morning, honey." Ace held out a hand. Mai took it and leaned down for a kiss. "Sleep well?" Ace pulled Christina's borrowed blanket higher over her shoulder. "Like a criminal with an excellent alibi." Mai's smile became mischievous. "Eventually." Christina burst out laughing. Lea closed her eyes. "Oh, you two." Ace looked delighted. "That was an excellent evening." "Yes," Lea said dryly. "We've established that." She handed Christina her coffee. Then settled on the edge of the bed beside Mai. For a while, the four women simply enjoyed the morning. Coffee. Laughter. The kind of unhurried conversation that follows an evening nobody regrets. Eventually Christina looked toward the clock. "Oh." Ace glanced over. "What?" "We booked breakfast." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Here?" "No. One of the upper restaurants." "We thought you might like to join us." Ace considered. Then grinned. "Does it have pastries?" "Excellent ones." Ace looked toward Mai. "Honey, I think we've found our people." --- Shammy's morning began in a much quieter fashion. Nadia's suite was filled with soft light. The ocean spread beyond the balcony windows, calm and almost impossibly blue. Shammy lay comfortably beside Nadia, listening to the distant murmur of the ship. Nadia was still asleep. Her dark hair had escaped its careful arrangement sometime during the night, and one hand rested lightly against Shammy's arm. Shammy smiled. There was something wonderfully peaceful about waking beside someone new without feeling that anything needed to be decided immediately. She liked Nadia. Very much. She liked her curiosity. Her humor. Her willingness to disagree. The way she became almost childishly delighted when an artistic problem finally revealed a solution. And she liked the gentleness that appeared when their conversations became personal. Nadia stirred. Opened her eyes. Then smiled. "Morning." "Good morning." Nadia looked toward the windows. Then back at Shammy. "Well, that's a sight worth keeping." Shammy glanced toward the ocean. "It is." Nadia laughed softly. "I wasn't talking about the ocean." Shammy smiled. "Oh." Nadia moved closer. Kissed her. Then rested her forehead against Shammy's. "Sleep well?" "You stole most of the blanket," Shammy said. "And?" "I decided I preferred you to the blanket. An expensive decision, considering the room rate." Nadia laughed and kissed her again. When she drew back, Shammy was still watching her, the usual calculations quietly absent from her face. For a while, they remained together beneath the sheets. Eventually Nadia sighed. "Coffee?" Shammy laughed. "That would be wonderful." Nadia considered. "Breakfast too?" "Please." "Excellent." She reached for the room-service controls. Then paused. "Sera?" "Hmm?" "Would you like to stay for breakfast?" Shammy smiled. "I'd love to." Nadia's expression warmed. "Good." --- Breakfast was delivered to Nadia's suite. They ate beside the windows, discussing everything from the previous evening to the day's art program. Nadia had arranged a small working session with Yvette Armand and several other artists. Shammy was interested. But she was also aware that her own family would probably be wondering when she'd reappear. She checked her holo. A message from Mai. _Good morning, sweetie. Hope you had a wonderful evening. We're having breakfast with Christina and Lea. See you later. ❤️_ Shammy smiled. Nadia noticed. "Good news?" "A message from people I love who are perfectly happy to make terrible jokes about one another while I'm not in the room." Shammy showed her the message. Nadia laughed. "Everyone seems to be having a good honeymoon." Shammy nodded. "Yes." Nadia considered. "Can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Does it ever feel strange, being so close to two people who are married to each other?" Shammy thought for a moment. "Not really." Nadia listened. Shammy continued. "Marriage changed something for Ace and Mai. Something important. But it didn't change what we are to one another." Nadia nodded slowly. "And what is that?" Shammy smiled. "Home." Nadia's expression softened. "That's beautiful." Shammy looked toward the ocean. Then back at her. "It is." Nadia reached for her hand. "I'm glad they have you." Shammy laughed softly. "I'm glad I have them." They finished breakfast. Then Nadia offered to accompany Shammy back toward the central promenades. Shammy accepted. Neither seemed particularly eager to end the morning. --- By eleven, the Triad had reunited in a café overlooking one of Aureate II's garden terraces. Ace arrived first. Mai was beside her. Both looked remarkably pleased with life. Shammy appeared several minutes later. Ace saw her approaching. Grinned. And stood. "Well, well, well." Shammy stopped. Raised an eyebrow. "Ace." Ace spread her arms. "Welcome home, gorgeous." Then stepped into the embrace. Ace hugged her tightly. Mai joined them. For a moment, all three stood together, smiling. Then Shammy looked at Ace. "Enjoy your evening?" Ace's grin widened. "Immensely." Mai laughed. "Honey." "What?" "You're doing that face." "What face?" "The one where you're about to tell everyone how wonderful everything was." Ace considered. "Wasn't I supposed to?" Shammy smiled. "You're welcome to." Ace looked pleased. "Excellent." They sat down. Coffee arrived. And the morning rapidly became a cheerful exchange of impressions. Ace and Mai told Shammy about Christina and Lea. About the private dinner. The balcony. The evening in their suite. Shammy listened with warm amusement. Then told them about Nadia. The artistic discussions. The growing closeness. And the pleasure of spending the night together. Ace smiled. "Well, gorgeous." Shammy looked at her. "What?" "I think we're all doing very well." Mai nodded. "Very." Shammy laughed. "Apparently." Ace leaned back. Then looked around. "Although I do have one concern." Mai sighed. "Oh, no." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "What?" Ace looked solemn. "The pajama strike." Mai closed her eyes. Shammy stared at her. Ace continued. "Technically, last night's attendance was zero." A beat. Then Mai laughed so hard that her shoulders shook. Shammy covered her mouth. Ace spread her hands. "An unprecedented development." Mai shook her head. "Honey, we were sleeping elsewhere." "Exactly." Shammy laughed. "Would you like to file an incident report?" Ace considered. "Possibly." Mai reached across the table and took her hand. "My wife." Ace smiled immediately. "Yes?" "Drink your coffee." Ace grinned. "Yes, luv." --- The invitation came from the culinary studio rather than a restaurant. A visiting chef had advertised a small tasting workshop: guests would work in pairs to build a dish from a limited selection of ingredients, and nobody would receive the recipe until afterward. Ace read the description on her holo. "They let us near the food?" Mai looked over her shoulder. "Within reason." "What an insulting qualification." Shammy leaned closer. "You tried to steal the garnish at breakfast." "An allegation." "I watched you do it." Ace looked at her. "Our relationship used to be built on discretion." "You married Mai. Your relationship is now built on witnesses." Mai laughed hard enough to put down her cup. They found Brenda and Iris at the studio, already examining the unfamiliar ingredients. Christina and Lea arrived from the opposite side, holding hands and looking cheerful. The chef, a tall woman named Ren, explained the rules: each group would prepare a plate using three selected elements, describe what they had been trying to achieve, and taste one another's work. No prizes. No scorekeeping. "No scorekeeping?" Ace repeated. Ren regarded her. "Are you competitive?" "Only when conscious." "Then today will be a learning opportunity." Brenda made a delighted noise. Iris took one look at Ren and decided she liked her. Ren divided the room into stations. Brenda immediately wanted to know how one of the warming surfaces distributed heat; Iris stopped her from dismantling it by placing a knife, a cutting board and a perfectly legitimate job in front of her. "Chop those," Iris said. Brenda looked down at the vegetables. "You make domestic tyranny look gorgeous." "Practice." At the neighboring station, Lea persuaded Mai to try a sharp, fermented dressing. Mai tasted it, considered the balance, and reached for something fragrant and cooling to cut through the heat. Christina, watching Ace attempt to arrange three small pieces of fish with the deadly seriousness of a tactical briefing, burst out laughing. "What?" Ace demanded. "You look like you're planning an ambush." "I am. On your palate." "Promises, promises." Shammy had spent the first five minutes smelling different herbs rather than handling them. Ren watched with growing curiosity as the very tall woman selected one sprig, rejected two others and moved a tiny dish away from the warming plate. "Why there?" Ren asked. "The heat carries that aroma across the others. You'd lose the softer one." Ren tried it. Her brows lifted. "That's a rather good nose." Shammy's hair stirred around her shoulders. "Thank you." Ace leaned toward Mai. "Do not tell her to develop a perfume. We'll never see her again." "Too late," Mai said, amused. "She has an artist to meet this afternoon." They worked for forty minutes. The plates were not identical. Brenda's had an ingenious little arrangement that refused to remain upright until Iris quietly steadied the base; Ace's was unexpectedly precise; Mai's balanced brightness and heat; Shammy's was delicate enough to make Ren stop and take another bite before speaking. Ren lifted Brenda's plate, saw how Iris had quietly stabilized its delicate construction, and gave both a look of respect. She studied Ace's precise arrangement without commenting on the suspiciously missing garnish. Mai's dressing made her reach for a second bite; Shammy's made her pause before reaching for the next dish. No one had needed a prize to reveal who they were. When Ren asked what each plate meant, Ace answered, "Lunch." Ren stared at her. Then laughed so hard she had to lean against the counter. "That," Christina said, "is the most Ace answer possible." "Thank you. I work hard at being myself." "You really don't," Mai said. "Even more impressive, then." --- Afterward, Lea drifted beside Shammy while the others returned their aprons and argued cheerfully about whose plate had looked the most expensive. "Nadia mentioned a work of yours to me," Lea said. "Or at least a work by Sera." Shammy glanced at her. She was dressed as herself today, not in the white sculptural couture she wore when receiving people as Sera, and she appreciated that Lea wasn't turning a casual afternoon into a public appearance. "Which one?" Lea described an installation with suspended surfaces that shifted in barely perceptible currents. She had noticed it during a previous voyage and remembered being irritated when she left: she couldn't decide whether the room had changed or she had. Shammy's expression brightened. "That's a very good response." "I was annoyed with the artist." "Also a good response." Lea laughed. "Now I understand why Nadia likes talking to you." Shammy smiled without pretending to misunderstand. "I like talking to her too." At the door, Ace was attempting to persuade Ren to surrender the recipe for the dressing. Ren was holding firm. Mai watched, openly entertained, while Christina counted the offers Ace made before finally conceding defeat. "Six," Christina announced. "Five and a half," Ace said. "The last was negotiation." "That was a threat to come back tomorrow." "An offer of repeat business." Lea shook her head. "I suspect the chef will remember us." Shammy regarded Ace, whose stubbornness had suddenly turned toward securing a recipe because Mai had loved the dish. Her hair shifted with a private warmth. "So do I." --- That evening, Nadia joined the group for drinks. Shammy had invited her. Nadia arrived with a warm smile and a slightly curious expression. Ace greeted her enthusiastically. "So you're Nadia." Nadia laughed. "And you're Ace." "Apparently." Mai smiled. "It's good to meet you." "Likewise." Introductions followed. Nadia seemed entirely comfortable meeting the people Shammy had spoken about so fondly. She and Mai quickly found common ground in music. Ace asked several questions about her installations. Brenda was fascinated by the technical aspects. Iris listened with interest. Christina and Lea recognized Nadia from the ship's art program. The conversation became lively almost immediately. At one point, Nadia glanced toward Shammy. Then toward Ace and Mai. She smiled. "I think I understand." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Understand what?" "Why Sera speaks about you the way she does." Mai's expression softened. Shammy smiled. Ace looked pleased. "Oh?" Nadia nodded. "You're wonderful together." Ace reached for Shammy's hand. Then Mai's. "We try." "I can see," Nadia said. The moment passed naturally. Conversation resumed. And Nadia found herself welcomed into the group without ceremony. --- Later, when the evening began winding down, the eight exchanged goodbyes. Christina and Lea departed together. Nadia kissed Shammy warmly before leaving for her own suite. Brenda and Iris returned to theirs. And the Triad, for the first time in two nights, headed home together. Ace opened the suite door. Stepped inside. Then turned toward Mai and Shammy. She was smiling. Mai recognized the expression. "Oh, no." Ace looked innocent. "What?" "Don't." Shammy laughed. "Ace." Ace spread her arms. "Ladies." Mai closed her eyes. "The speech." Ace grinned. "After a temporary disruption, normal operations have resumed." Shammy burst out laughing. Mai shook her head. "Honey." Ace pointed toward the bedroom. "The Great Aureate Pajama Strike continues." Mai laughed. "Apparently." "Unanimously?" Shammy asked. Ace nodded. "Unanimously." They went to bed. The enormous sheets welcomed them. Ace settled between Mai and Shammy. For a while, they talked quietly. About Christina and Lea. About Nadia. About the lovely afternoon. And the pleasure of being together again. Shammy rested her head against Ace's shoulder and tugged Mai's blanket over the exposed edge of Ace's ankle. "Missed this," she admitted. Ace glanced down. "Being used as furniture?" "Knowing neither of you will complain if I do." Mai reached across Ace to touch Shammy's face. "You know we can miss you and love where you've been." "I know." Shammy drew Mai's hand nearer. "I just missed the three of us." Ace tightened her hold. "Then stop discussing it and get in here properly." Then Ace kissed Mai. Slowly. Mai smiled against her lips. Shammy reached for Ace's hand. Ace turned toward her. Kissed her too. Mai rested a hand against Ace’s ribs and tapped twice, their private signal for *move over*. Ace obeyed with exaggerated reluctance. Shammy tucked the blanket over all three without anybody asking. "We’re getting soft," Ace whispered. "Speak for yourself," Mai answered. "You’re lying on my arm." Ace shifted at once. Shammy waited until both were comfortable before letting her hair settle across the pillow. ## Chapter 13 — An Evening Worth Remembering Captain Henry Rourke had commanded Aureate II through storms, equipment failures, inconvenient schedules, political complications, and one spectacularly ill-advised attempt by a wealthy passenger to persuade him to alter the ship's route for a birthday celebration. None of those experiences had adequately prepared him for having his daughter aboard as a passenger. It wasn't that Iris was causing trouble. Quite the opposite. According to everything he'd heard, she was enjoying herself. Enthusiastically. Which was precisely what he'd wanted. The difficulty was that he kept noticing things. He'd pass a familiar corridor and remember Iris standing there in uniform, discussing a maintenance schedule. He'd hear a lieutenant report on passenger operations and instinctively expect her voice to answer. He'd glance toward her former station on the bridge and feel the absence of someone who'd once belonged there so naturally. Then he'd remember her delighted expression when she'd boarded with Brenda. And smile. This was better. Much better. Even if it required some adjustment. His communications officer approached. "Captain?" Henry looked up. "Yes?" "Your daughter sent a message." Henry raised an eyebrow. "Professional or personal?" "Personal, sir." "Excellent." He accepted it. _Morning, Dad. Hope you're behaving yourself. Brenda wants to know whether she can visit engineering again. I told her I wasn't authorized to issue an unlimited-access pass just because I'm married to her. Love you. — Iris_ Then typed a response. _Tell Brenda she may arrange another escorted visit through the usual channels. And tell my daughter that I am behaving perfectly, which is more than I expect from her. Love you both._ He sent it. Then considered. Added another message. _Dinner with your father sometime before Washington?_ The answer arrived almost immediately. _Absolutely. I'll bring my wife. ❤️_ Henry smiled. For a moment, he simply held the holo. Then he returned to work. --- Iris read her father's reply over breakfast. Brenda noticed the smile. "Good news?" "Dad." "Oh?" "He says you can have another engineering visit." Brenda brightened. "Excellent!" "Escorted." "Naturally." "Through the proper channels." "Of course." Iris raised an eyebrow. "No wandering into restricted compartments because someone mentions an interesting reactor-control system." Brenda looked affronted. "Sweetheart." "Brenda." "I would never." "That is an extraordinarily optimistic statement." Brenda laughed. Then Iris showed her the second message. Brenda's expression softened. "Dinner?" "With Dad." "Oh, I'd love that." "Me too." Brenda reached across the table and took her hand. "You're happy he's here, aren't you?" Iris glanced toward the passenger corridor where she had once hurried between shifts. "Very. He is not my captain in this conversation. He is my father, and he actually has an hour to sit down with us." A pause. Then she laughed softly. "It's strange. I've spent so much of my life knowing exactly where he was aboard this ship. And now I have to arrange dinner like an ordinary passenger." "Terrible inconvenience." "Tragic." "Should I write a complaint?" Iris leaned across and kissed her. "Please don't." Brenda laughed. --- The morning entertainment program included a behind-the-scenes presentation about Aureate II's theater complex. This had caught Shammy's attention. The ship's main performance venue was a technological achievement in its own right, combining physical stage machinery, adaptive projection systems, sound design, and a configurable auditorium capable of accommodating productions ranging from intimate chamber concerts to elaborate theatrical performances. Shammy wanted to see how it worked. Brenda wanted to see how it worked. These were not necessarily the same question. Ace agreed to accompany them because the presentation sounded interesting. Mai wanted to see the dance facilities. Iris had spent years aboard and knew the theater well enough to anticipate several questions. Consequently, all five arrived at the scheduled tour. They were greeted by a cheerful production technician named Lucien, who looked pleased to discover such an interested group. "Welcome. We're going to begin backstage." Brenda's eyes lit up. Shammy smiled. Ace glanced toward Mai. "Oh, this is going to be good." Mai squeezed her hand. "Absolutely." --- The backstage area was enormous. Aureate II's theater occupied several interconnected decks, with a central stage that could be reconfigured using modular platforms. Lighting arrays hung overhead. Automated scenic elements occupied carefully organized storage bays. Projection systems were integrated throughout the structure. Lucien explained the engineering. Brenda asked a question. He answered. She asked another. Within three minutes, they were discussing mechanical tolerances. Iris closed her eyes. Ace started laughing. Lucien looked delighted. "You're familiar with this technology?" "A little." Iris muttered, "That's one way to describe it." Shammy, meanwhile, had become fascinated by a demonstration of adaptive lighting. She stood beside a projection console, watching how a virtual environment changed according to the movement of a performer. "That's beautiful." Lucien smiled. "One of our newer systems." Nadia, who had joined the tour with Yvette Armand, approached. "Imagine what we could do with that." Shammy turned. Her eyes brightened. "Oh, I have several ideas." Nadia laughed. "I thought you might." Yvette joined them. "And I have objections already." Shammy grinned. "Wonderful." The three began discussing the artistic possibilities. Ace watched them. Then leaned toward Mai. "We've lost Shammy." "No, hun. She's exactly where she wants to be." Ace looked toward the three artists. Their animated expressions. Their gestures. Their complete absorption in the problem before them. She smiled. "Yeah." Then she kissed Mai's cheek. "She is." --- The dance demonstration took place on the main stage. Several performers showed how the adaptable floor and lighting systems could transform the same physical space into very different environments. Mai watched with obvious delight. Ace stood beside her. At one point, the performers invited volunteers to try a short sequence. Mai looked toward Ace. Ace grinned. "Oh, absolutely." They stepped onto the stage. The instructor explained the movement. Mai followed easily. Ace followed Mai. Then improved matters by adding a flourish nobody had requested. The instructor laughed. "Well, that's one interpretation." Ace smiled. "I like improvisation." Mai shook her head affectionately. "She does." They completed the sequence. The small tour group applauded. Ace bowed extravagantly. Mai covered her face. "Oh, honey." Ace struck a pose that was definitely not part of the choreography. "Did I miss my cue?" "You were supposed to follow the choreography." "I did." "Until the last eight counts." "Creative interpretation." Mai laughed. Then kissed her. "Hopeless." "Lovably." "Infuriatingly." Ace leaned closer. "Still married to me." "Very happily." --- They were leaving the theater when Iris heard someone call her name. "Rourke!" She turned immediately. A woman in a dark crew jacket was approaching from the direction of the technical offices. Iris's face lit up. "Elise!" They embraced. The woman stepped back, smiling broadly. "Well, I'll be damned. You really are here!" "Apparently." "And wearing civilian clothes!" "Everyone keeps mentioning that." "Because it's unnatural." "Hello." Elise turned. "I don’t believe we’ve actually met," Elise said, glancing at Iris’s companion. "Brenda," she said, extending a hand. "Iris’s wife, as of very recently." Elise looked at Iris. Then Brenda. Then their rings. Her eyes widened. "Oh, you two!" Iris smiled. "We got married." Elise laughed. "Of course you did. Congratulations!" She shook Brenda’s hand with delighted warmth. Then she embraced Iris again. Introductions followed. Ace and Mai recognized her vaguely from their earlier visit, though none had worked closely together. Elise was a senior theater systems engineer, off duty for the afternoon after overseeing a particularly demanding technical rehearsal. She chatted enthusiastically about the new equipment, which caught Brenda's attention immediately. But her eyes kept returning to Iris. Eventually she smiled. "Are you free later?" Iris considered. "Possibly." Elise glanced toward Brenda. Brenda's expression was entirely welcoming. Elise laughed softly. "I've got a few hours before my next shift. We could catch up properly." Iris smiled. "I'd like that." Elise hesitated. Then lowered her voice. "Privately?" Iris met her eyes. The meaning was perfectly clear. Her answering smile widened. "Fine by me." Brenda watched the exchange with open delight. Elise laughed. "Wonderful. I'll message you." They said goodbye. Elise disappeared down the corridor. Iris turned toward the others. Ace stared at her. Then at Brenda. Then back at Iris. "Wait." "What?" Ace pointed in the direction Elise had gone. "Another one?" Brenda started laughing. Mai covered her mouth. Shammy looked thoroughly amused. Iris folded her arms, openly delighted. "Another what, Ace?" Ace spread her hands. "Old colleague!" "Yes." "Who wants to catch up privately." "Yes." Ace paused. Then grinned. "Oh, you are magnificent." Iris laughed. "Thank you." Brenda slipped an arm around her wife's waist. "Isn't she?" Ace shook her head. "I need to revise my understanding of shipboard operations." Mai burst out laughing. Iris smiled sweetly. "Good luck with that." --- They had lunch in a restaurant overlooking the central promenade. Nadia and Yvette joined them briefly before returning to the gallery. Lucien stopped by to thank them for participating in the theater tour. Brenda enthusiastically praised the technical presentation. Ace recommended the dance demonstration to anyone who would listen. Iris was enjoying a glass of wine when another familiar face appeared. "Iris?" She looked up. Then smiled. "Oh, hello, Camille." Camille was a tall woman with dark curls, dressed in an elegant casual outfit and carrying a shopping bag. She laughed when she saw Iris. "I heard you were aboard. Didn't believe it." "Apparently nobody does." Camille smiled. "And you're actually on vacation?" "Yes." "Miracles happen." Brenda waved. "Hello!" Camille turned. Then grinned. "And you must be Brenda!" "Guilty," Brenda answered, offering her hand. "Camille. Iris used to tell stories about you." "No worries." Iris showed her the ring. Camille's eyes widened. "You're married?" "Recently enough that Brenda keeps finding excuses to introduce me to people as her wife." Across the corridor Brenda waved a hand without looking up from the technical display. "It's a public service!" Camille laughed. "Congratulations!" She leaned down to embrace Iris. They talked for several minutes. About old friends. About changes aboard. About Camille's new responsibilities in passenger services. Then Camille glanced toward her watch. "Oh, I'd better go. I'm meeting someone." Iris smiled. "I'm glad we caught up." "You too." Camille kissed her cheek. "Let's have coffee before you leave." "Absolutely." Camille departed. Ace watched her go. Then turned slowly toward Brenda. Brenda was smiling into her wineglass. Ace narrowed her eyes. "That one?" Brenda looked innocent. "What about her?" Ace leaned closer. "Just coffee?" Iris laughed. "Just coffee." Ace studied her. Iris smiled. "Honestly." "All right." A pause. Then Brenda murmured, almost to herself: "Camille always was a good friend." Ace looked toward her. Brenda sipped her wine. Nothing more. Mai started laughing. "You're enjoying this far too much, hun." "Oh, sweetie. You have no idea," Brenda said. --- By midafternoon, the group had separated. Shammy went to the gallery with Nadia and Yvette. Ace and Mai headed toward a performance rehearsal they'd been invited to observe. Brenda settled into a quiet lounge with a technical journal she'd downloaded after the morning's tour. Iris left to meet Elise. The meeting began with drinks. Elise had reserved a quiet table in a small bar near the crew accommodation area, a place authorized for guests and familiar to Iris from her years aboard. They laughed over old stories. Reminisced about impossible schedules and the occasional absurdity of keeping an enormous passenger ship running smoothly. Then Elise looked at her. "You know, I always wondered." Iris waited for the rest. "About?" "Whether you'd ever come back." Iris smiled. "I wasn't sure myself." Elise studied her. "You're different." "Am I?" "Relaxed." Iris laughed. "That obvious?" "Very." Elise reached across the table. Touched her hand. "I like it." Iris's expression softened. "Thank you." Elise smiled. "And I'm glad we finally get to do this without pretending it's a professional conversation." Iris laughed softly. "So am I." Elise squeezed her hand. "My quarters are nearby." Iris looked at her. "Are they?" "Very." Iris smiled. "Then perhaps we should stop pretending this is just about old schedules." Elise laughed. "Excellent idea." They rose together. And left the bar hand in hand, heading toward Elise's private quarters for an intimate reunion that neither had wanted to pursue while Iris was serving aboard. Elise's quarters were only a few turns away, but Iris noticed the difference immediately: on duty she would have stopped outside and asked whether an equipment fault justified visiting the theater staff after hours. This time Elise opened the door, stepped aside and looked at her with an expression entirely unrelated to work orders. "No more maintenance reports?" Elise asked. "Not unless your quarters are on fire." "They aren't." "Excellent." Elise laughed and took her hand. Iris was still close enough to hear her laugh turn into a short, surprised breath when Iris leaned in and kissed her. The response made Iris stop, not to pull away, but to look at her properly. "We should've done that ages ago," Elise murmured. "It would have made our next shift spectacularly awkward." "Probably." "And I rather liked having a career." "Your career was an infuriatingly good excuse." "It was also a good career." Elise brushed a stray lock of hazelnut-brown hair away from Iris's face, then stopped with her hand at Iris's cheek. "Are you still going to correct the way I run the theater?" "Only if you insist on running it badly." "God, I missed you." Iris answered with a kiss that left Elise leaning against the door, laughing under her breath. Their old arguments had always come easily. The familiar warmth underneath them was harder to admit, and neither woman tried to make another joke until she'd had a moment to enjoy being close. Iris took Elise's hand and drew her toward the sofa. There were years of unfinished conversations between them, but Iris was no longer obligated to keep the best part of this one outside a closed door. Elise sat beside her, close enough that their shoulders touched. "You've become terribly confident away from the bridge." "I was confident on the bridge." "You were *correct* on the bridge. Very different condition." "I can demonstrate the difference." "Please do." Iris kissed her. Elise answered with the impatience of someone who had waited far longer than she intended to admit, then stopped abruptly and touched Iris's wedding ring. Iris left her hand there. "Brenda knows I'm here," she said. "That wasn't what I was about to ask." "What were you going to ask?" "Whether you'd stay a little longer. Not as Lieutenant Rourke doing a courtesy visit. As yourself." Iris's expression changed. She looked toward the closed door, not because there was anyone to hide from, but because she could finally recognize how much duty used to occupy the space between them. "I would like that," she said. "Very much." Elise drew her closer, but Iris didn't immediately turn it into another joke. She rested her hand at Elise's jaw and looked at her properly. So much of their old friendship had been spent with one of them on the wrong side of a professional boundary. Elise seemed almost unguarded now, and that was harder to resist than any of her outrageous teasing. "You can still change your mind," Iris told her. "I know. I'd rather change the subject." "To what?" Elise kissed her answer. Iris laughed once and then forgot the retort she'd prepared. She let the laugh finish against Elise's cheek; Elise noticed the sudden stillness, asked with her eyes instead of words, and waited until Iris drew her nearer again. Their closeness developed without the old burden of rank, unhurried but unmistakably intimate, grounded in the easy recognition of two women who had once known each other across workbenches and shift handovers. As the room quieted, Elise laid her head against Iris's shoulder. Iris stroked her hair, content to stay even after neither had anything clever left to say. The music from the neighboring cabin had changed twice before Elise found her voice. "You always made leaving difficult," she said. "I used to have a reason to leave." "And now?" "Now I can stay long enough to remember this properly." Elise smiled without lifting her head. Their fingers remained linked; the sense of arrival mattered more than anything either could have reported about the evening. "What?" Elise asked when Iris began laughing softly. "My wife is going to demand the entire story. In excruciating detail." "Then you'd better make sure she has a comfortable chair." "God, you'd get on alarmingly well." Only then did Elise rise to fetch water. She brought two glasses, sat beside Iris again, and asked about Watson and the woman who could turn obsolete components into something magnificent. Iris spoke of Brenda without treating the marriage as an apology for being here, and Elise listened without pretending her old friend had to choose between affection and history. "She sounds like trouble," Elise said. "The finest sort." "And you?" Iris considered. "I've become considerably better at choosing it." Elise laughed. Iris stayed a little longer, exchanged a warm goodbye at the door, and returned to the passenger lounges with the sort of private smile Brenda would recognize instantly. --- Brenda was halfway through an article on advanced stabilization systems when Ace and Mai found her in the lounge. Ace sat beside her. Mai took the opposite chair. Brenda looked up. "Oh, hello!" Ace smiled. "Hello, gorgeous." "Enjoy the rehearsal?" "Very." Mai nodded. "Wonderful." Brenda set down her holo. "Good." Ace looked around. Then back at Brenda. "Where's Iris?" Brenda smiled. "With Elise." Ace nodded. Then stopped. "Wait." Mai closed her eyes. Brenda took a sip of her drink. Ace leaned forward. "Privately?" Brenda smiled. "Very." Ace stared. Then began laughing. "Oh, for—" "Ace," Mai said. "What?" Brenda looked delighted. Ace shook her head. "I swear, every time I turn around..." Brenda considered. "Actually, that's not quite true." Ace blinked. "What?" "Sometimes she comes back before you turn around." Mai had to set down her drink before laughing. Ace stared at Brenda. Then laughed so hard she had to lean back in her chair. "Oh, I love you." Brenda grinned. "Love you too, sweetie." They ordered drinks. Conversation moved toward the evening's performance. For a while, Iris's whereabouts became an ordinary fact rather than a topic requiring discussion. Then Brenda glanced toward the entrance. A familiar crew member had just passed. She smiled. Ace followed her gaze. "Don't." Brenda blinked. "What?" Ace pointed. "Don't tell me." Brenda looked innocent. "I wasn't going to." Mai laughed. Ace shook her head. "This ship." Brenda smiled sweetly. "Beautiful place, isn't it?" --- Iris returned in time for dinner. She appeared beside Brenda's chair, rested a hand on her shoulder, and leaned down for a kiss. Brenda smiled immediately. "Hello, beautiful." "Hello, honey." "Good afternoon?" Iris's answering smile was warm. "Wonderful." Brenda touched her cheek. "I'm glad." Ace watched the exchange. Then narrowed her eyes. Iris looked at her. "Ace." "What?" "Not a word." Ace grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it." Mai laughed. Shammy arrived a moment later with Nadia. Yvette followed, still talking animatedly about a design problem. The conversation shifted toward dinner. And for several minutes, Ace actually behaved herself. Then, as they were preparing to leave the lounge, a passing officer noticed Iris. "Lieutenant!" Iris turned. The officer stopped. Then laughed. "Oh, sorry. Habit." "No apology needed," Iris said. They exchanged a few words. Nothing more. The officer continued down the corridor. Ace looked toward the ceiling. Brenda began laughing. Mai touched Ace's arm. "Honey?" Ace shook her head. "No. I'm not asking." Shammy smiled. "Very wise." Iris grinned. "You're learning." --- Dinner that evening was held in one of Aureate II's larger restaurants. Amara and Daniel joined the group. So did Christina and Lea. The gathering had become large enough that the restaurant staff arranged a longer table. Ace surveyed the company with considerable satisfaction. "This is getting ridiculous." Mai smiled. "In a good way?" "An excellent way." Christina laughed. "Careful. We might start inviting people too." Ace grinned. "Please do." Lea shook her head. "You'll regret that." "Unlikely." Nadia was telling Amara about her latest installation. Shammy contributed enthusiastically. Brenda and Daniel had already begun discussing the theater's stage machinery. Iris was enjoying a quiet conversation with Christina. Mai looked around the table. Then smiled. There was something wonderful about how naturally the group had grown. Nobody had planned it. Nobody had organized a social program. They had simply met people they liked. And those people had met one another. Now here they were. Sharing dinner aboard a beautiful ship in the middle of the ocean. Ace leaned toward her. "Happy?" Mai smiled. "Very." Ace kissed her cheek. "Good." --- The evening's performance took place in Aureate II's main theater. The production combined live dancers, musicians, adaptive lighting, and elaborate projected environments. It was extraordinary. The stage transformed from a city at night to an abstract landscape of shifting color. Performers moved through environments that seemed to react to them. Music flowed between orchestral passages and contemporary electronic arrangements. Mai was captivated. Ace watched with open delight. Shammy leaned toward Nadia several times to whisper observations about the visual design. Nadia occasionally nodded. Occasionally disagreed. Both were smiling. Brenda watched the stage machinery with the expression of someone resisting the urge to explain how it worked. Iris squeezed her hand. "Just enjoy it, honey." Brenda laughed softly. "I am." Amara and Daniel sat nearby, thoroughly absorbed. Christina and Lea were holding hands. At the end, the audience rose in a standing ovation. Ace applauded enthusiastically. Mai looked almost breathless. Shammy smiled. Nadia leaned toward her. "Well?" Shammy considered. Then laughed. "I have opinions." Nadia grinned. "Of course you do." --- After the performance, the group gathered in a lounge overlooking the ocean. Conversation was lively. Everyone had favorite moments. Brenda finally got to explain one of the theater's most impressive technical effects. Daniel listened with delight. Amara laughed. Iris smiled. Christina and Lea debated which dance sequence had been best. Mai joined enthusiastically. Ace contributed several opinions of her own. Shammy and Nadia discussed the installation possibilities they'd noticed during the performance. For a while, it was simply a wonderful evening. Then Iris's holo chimed. She glanced down. Smiled. And typed a reply. Ace noticed. Of course she did. Mai saw Ace notice. Brenda noticed both of them. She took a sip of her drink. Then smiled. Iris set down her holo. "Someone I used to work with is free tomorrow afternoon." Ace closed her eyes. "Oh, no." Iris raised an eyebrow. "What?" Ace looked toward her. "Nothing." Brenda laughed softly. Iris continued. "We thought we'd spend some time together." Ace leaned forward. "Coffee?" Iris considered. Then smiled. "Not this time." Brenda burst out laughing. Mai covered her mouth. Shammy shook her head with amusement. Christina looked between them. Then toward Lea. Lea raised an eyebrow. Amara and Daniel exchanged a curious glance. Ace stared at Iris. Then slowly turned toward Brenda. "How many?" Brenda blinked. "How many what, sweetie?" Ace spread her hands. "Old colleagues!" Brenda considered. Then smiled. "Oh, honey." She leaned back. "Are we counting the ones who only want coffee?" Ace stared. Iris began laughing. Christina covered her mouth. Lea looked delighted. Amara raised an eyebrow. Daniel looked entirely lost. Ace shook her head. "No. No, I refuse." Brenda smiled sweetly. "Then you'll never know." Mai laughed at Brenda’s audacity. Iris leaned across and kissed her wife. "You're terrible." Brenda smiled. "And you love me." "Very much." Ace looked around the table. Then sighed. "I need another drink." Christina laughed. "That can be arranged." --- Later, Amara found herself sitting beside Iris while the rest of the group discussed the performance. She glanced toward Brenda. Then back at Iris. "Can I ask you something?" "Of course," Iris said. Amara hesitated. "Does Brenda really not mind?" Iris followed her gaze. Brenda was laughing at something Daniel had said. Then Iris looked back. "No." Amara considered. "Really?" Iris smiled gently. "Really." Amara nodded slowly. "I think I understand the idea. But emotionally..." She paused. "I'd worry." Iris listened. Amara continued. "Not because I don't trust Daniel. I do. But because I'd be afraid of losing something." Iris looked at her. "That's understandable." Amara smiled faintly. "I suppose." Iris considered. "Brenda and I know what we want from each other. We talk about it. We know where our boundaries are." Amara nodded. "And if something changes?" "Then we talk again." Amara smiled. "That sounds almost annoyingly sensible." Iris laughed. "Sometimes it is." A pause. Then Iris added: "But you don't have to want what we want." Amara looked at her. Iris smiled. "Your marriage belongs to you and Daniel." Amara's expression softened. "Thank you." They sat quietly for a moment. Then Amara laughed. "Although I do think Brenda is having the time of her life." Iris burst out laughing. "Oh, she absolutely is." They both looked toward Brenda. Who, noticing their attention, raised her glass. Iris smiled. And Amara began laughing again. --- Much later, the gathering finally dispersed. Christina and Lea left together. Nadia kissed Shammy goodnight. Amara and Daniel departed arm in arm, still discussing the evening. Brenda and Iris headed toward their suite. The Triad remained in the lounge a little longer. Ace sat back. Looked toward Mai. Then Shammy. And sighed contentedly. "Well." Mai smiled. "Well?" "That was excellent." Shammy nodded. "Very." Ace looked toward the entrance where Iris and Brenda had disappeared. Then shook her head. Mai raised an eyebrow. "Still thinking about Iris?" Ace grinned. "I'm beginning to think she knows every woman aboard." Shammy laughed. "Not only every woman." Ace considered. "Most?" Mai kissed her cheek. "Come on, honey." Ace smiled. "Home?" "Home." They returned to their suite. And this time, when the enormous bed welcomed them, Ace had no speech prepared. She simply drew Mai close. Reached for Shammy. And kissed them both. The night was quiet. The ocean stretched beyond the balcony. And the three of them had no reason to hurry toward sleep. Aureate II sailed steadily through the darkness. Somewhere aboard, Captain Henry Rourke was finishing his evening duties. Henry checked the bridge duty handover, found it satisfactory and resisted the entirely paternal temptation to ask the passenger desk whether Iris had returned to her suite. She was off duty; he had insisted on that himself. He sent her one message instead: *Dinner was lovely. Give Brenda a hug from us.* Iris’s reply arrived before he put the holo away. *Already did. She says you still owe her that second engineering tour.* Henry laughed once and closed the private holo before the next watch officer arrived. When the handover began, he gave the crew his full attention. Iris didn't need the captain monitoring her honeymoon. She needed her father to keep the promise he'd made: let her be a passenger, and be glad when she came home. ## Chapter 14 — Familiar Waters Brenda was halfway through breakfast when the invitation arrived. She read it once. Then again. Her fork remained suspended above her plate. Iris noticed. "Honey?" Brenda didn't answer immediately. Instead, she turned the holo toward her wife. Iris read the message. Then began smiling. "Oh, that's lovely." Brenda stared at her. "Lovely?" "Yes." "Sweetheart, do you know what they're offering?" "An engineering demonstration?" "An engineering demonstration." "I gathered." Brenda leaned closer. "Not a passenger exhibition. An actual demonstration of the new stabilization architecture, with the engineers who designed the bloody thing." "Sounds wonderful." "And they've invited me." "Yes." "Personally." "Apparently." Brenda sat back. Looked toward the ceiling. Then laughed. "Oh, I love this ship." Iris reached across the table. Touched her hand. "I'm beginning to suspect you married me for access to the engineering department." Brenda looked scandalized. "Sweetheart!" Iris gave Brenda a measured look. Brenda considered. Then grinned. "Not _entirely_." Iris burst out laughing. "How reassuring." Brenda leaned forward. Kissed her. "Mostly because you're gorgeous." "Mostly?" "And brilliant." "Better." "And you make excellent coffee." Iris shook her head. "Hopeless." Brenda kissed her again. "Lovably." --- The engineering demonstration wasn't scheduled until the afternoon. That left the morning free. Iris had arranged to meet an old friend for coffee, while Brenda wanted to visit the ship's technical-history exhibition before lunch. They walked together through the central promenade. Aureate II was lively that morning. Passengers browsed boutiques, gathered around small art installations and stopped at cafés overlooking the ocean. The ship's vast public spaces were familiar to Iris, but the experience of moving through them without a destination imposed by duty still felt wonderfully strange. Brenda noticed her looking around. "What?" Iris smiled. "Nothing." "Sweetheart." "I was just thinking." "About?" "How many times I've walked through here in a hurry." Brenda glanced around. Then reached for her hand. "Not today." Iris smiled. "No." They slowed. Stopped beside a panoramic window. And watched the ocean for a while. Eventually Brenda leaned against her. "Do you miss it?" Iris watched a uniformed officer step aside for a group of passengers. "The crew. Knowing whose work I could rely on. Not the endless urge to check everyone else's shift reports." "The work?" "Sometimes." "The people?" "Definitely." Brenda smiled. "Well, you seem to be catching up with quite a few of them." Iris turned. Brenda looked innocent. "What?" "You're terrible." Brenda kissed her cheek. "Very happily married, though." "That you are." --- They parted near the upper cafés. Iris's coffee appointment was with Helena, a former navigation officer who'd recently returned from an extended assignment elsewhere. Helena greeted her with delighted surprise. "Iris!" They embraced. "Look at you!" "Everyone says that." "Because I haven't seen you in civilian clothes in years." "Fair." They settled at a table. Ordered coffee. And spent an hour catching up. Helena had transferred to a different operational role and was enjoying the change. Iris told her about leaving the ship, about Night City, and about her marriage. Helena was delighted. "That's wonderful." "Thank you." "And you're happy?" Iris looked toward Brenda, who had somehow persuaded an engineer to explain a component that wasn't even on the scheduled tour. "She makes an argument with a machine sound like a love letter. I never knew I needed that." Helena followed her gaze. "You've always liked competent trouble." "I married the finest example I could find." They exchanged stories about old colleagues and mutual friends. At one point, Helena leaned back. "Do you know what I miss?" Iris smiled. "What?" "Working with you." Iris's expression softened. "That's sweet." "You were demanding." "I've heard." "But you knew what you were doing." "Most of the time." Helena shook her head. "All the time, as far as I could tell." Iris smiled. "Thank you." They finished their coffee. Then walked together toward the promenade. Helena embraced her once more. "Let's do this again before you leave." "I'd like that." They parted. A genuinely lovely reunion. Nothing more. --- Brenda, meanwhile, was in heaven. The technical-history exhibition had been expanded since their previous visit. Several original components from older passenger vessels were displayed alongside modern equivalents. She spent nearly twenty minutes examining a propulsion-control assembly. Then another fifteen studying a historical navigation interface. A passing attendant asked whether she wanted an explanation. Brenda smiled. "Actually, I have a question." The attendant listened. Then blinked. "Oh." "Sorry." "No, no. That's interesting." Within minutes, they'd summoned a technical specialist. Brenda looked delighted. The specialist appeared. Listened. Then grinned. "Oh, that's a good question." The ensuing discussion lasted nearly half an hour. When Brenda finally checked the time, she realized she was going to be late for lunch. She sent Iris a message. _Running a little behind, gorgeous. Found a very interesting old control system. ❤️_ Iris replied immediately. _Of course you did, honey. Take your time._ Brenda smiled. Then returned to the discussion. --- Ace and Mai had spent their morning with Christina and Lea. The four had arranged to meet for a leisurely walk through Aureate II's upper observation decks. It was one of the quieter pleasures of the voyage. No music. No elaborate event. Just the ocean, beautiful weather and good company. Christina walked beside Ace. Lea and Mai followed a little behind. They'd settled into an easy familiarity. Comfortable silences no longer required filling. A hand could rest on another's arm without prompting surprise. And their conversations increasingly wandered into the ordinary details of their lives. Christina glanced toward Ace. "So." "So?" "What do you do when you're not traveling on enormous luxury ships?" Ace considered. "Quite a lot." Christina laughed. "Helpful." Ace grinned. "Depends on the day." "Work?" "Sometimes." "Shopping?" "Frequently." "Dancing?" "As often as possible." Christina shook her head. "You're impossible." Ace smiled. "Occasionally useful, though." Christina studied her. "I believe that." Ace looked toward her. For a moment, her expression softened. "Do you?" "Yes." Christina nodded toward Mai. "The way she looks at you." Ace glanced back. Mai was laughing at something Lea had said. Christina smiled. "People don't look at someone like that by accident." Ace's expression warmed. "No." They walked quietly for a while. Then Christina reached for her hand. Ace took it. --- Behind them, Lea was learning something about Mai. She was a remarkably attentive listener. Not merely polite. Attentive. She noticed when someone avoided a subject. When a joke carried a little more meaning than its delivery suggested. When a person was about to say something important and needed a moment to find the words. Lea appreciated that. A lot. They were discussing travel when Lea mentioned that she and Christina had once considered moving to another city. "Why didn't you?" Mai asked. Lea smiled. "We couldn't agree on where." "Ah." "Christina wanted somewhere exciting." "And you?" "Somewhere quiet." Mai considered. "Did you find a compromise?" Lea laughed. "We stayed where we were and started traveling more." Mai smiled. "That sounds like a good solution." "It was." Lea looked toward Christina. "She needs new things. New people. New experiences." Mai nodded. "And you?" "I like coming back to familiar things." "There's room for both," Mai said. Lea looked at her. Then smiled. "Exactly." They continued walking. Eventually Lea took Mai's hand. Mai squeezed it. Neither made anything of the gesture. They simply kept walking. --- Shammy met Nadia after lunch. The two had arranged to examine several technical possibilities for their developing installation concept. Nadia had secured access to a private design studio aboard Aureate II. When Shammy arrived, she found the room occupied by several projected models. Nadia stood beside one of them, studying its behavior. She looked up. "Sera." Shammy smiled. "Hello, gorgeous." Nadia laughed. "Now that is a welcome I could get used to." Shammy kissed her. "Good afternoon." "It certainly improved," Nadia replied, tugging the tall woman toward the working model. They spent the next two hours experimenting. The project had begun as a simple idea about relationships between people moving through space. Now it was becoming something more ambitious. Nadia wanted to explore whether an installation could represent connection without dictating what that connection meant. Shammy was particularly interested in the idea. "People might stand together," she said, "but that doesn't tell you how they feel." Nadia nodded. "Exactly." "And two people standing apart might be deeply connected." "Yes." Shammy studied the projected model. "Then we need to avoid making distance look like absence." Nadia smiled. "That's the problem I've been trying to solve." Shammy considered. Then moved two of the projected elements. The pattern changed. Nadia leaned forward. "Oh." Shammy adjusted another parameter. A faint line of light appeared between the elements. Then shifted according to their movement. Nadia stared. "Oh, that's beautiful." Shammy smiled. "Maybe." Nadia looked at her. "Maybe?" "We haven't tested it properly." Nadia laughed. "You're impossible." "Apparently." They continued. By the time they stopped, the basic concept had become substantially more interesting. Nadia sat back. Then looked at Shammy. "I think we might actually make something wonderful." Shammy smiled. "So do I." --- The engineering demonstration began at two. Brenda arrived early. Naturally. She had dressed comfortably, tied her hair back and brought a holo filled with notes. Marcus greeted her enthusiastically. "Brenda!" She grinned. "Hello!" He introduced her to two engineers who'd worked on the updated stabilization architecture. One was a tall woman named Sabine, whose specialty was control systems. The other, Tomas, worked primarily on structural integration. Brenda shook their hands. Then immediately began asking questions. Within ten minutes, all four were standing around a technical display. Sabine explained the main design changes. Brenda listened. Asked for clarification. Then pointed toward a section of the model. "Wait." Sabine stopped. "Yes?" "You're compensating for that variation before it reaches the central control loop?" Sabine smiled. "Exactly." Brenda stared. Then began laughing. "Oh, that's gorgeous." Tomas grinned. "That was our reaction too." They continued. The demonstration lasted nearly two hours. Brenda enjoyed every minute. At one point, Marcus looked toward her. "Ever thought about working on a vessel like this?" Brenda laughed. "Oh, honey." Marcus raised an eyebrow. "What?" She smiled. "I have a very comfortable life in Night City." "Fair." "And quite enough machinery of my own." Sabine laughed. "That's an answer I understand." Brenda nodded. "Besides, I like visiting." Marcus grinned. "Then come back any time." "Careful. I might." --- Iris spent part of the afternoon alone. She wandered through familiar corridors. Stopped for a drink. And visited a small observation lounge she'd once used during rare quiet moments between duties. It was nearly empty. She sat beside the windows. Watched the ocean. And thought about how strange it was to return to a place that had once shaped nearly every hour of her life. She didn't regret leaving. Not for a moment. But she was glad to be here again. Her holo chimed. A message from a former colleague named Corinne. _Heard you're aboard. Free tonight?_ Iris smiled. She knew Corinne well. They'd worked together for years. And had once spent a memorable off-duty evening talking until sunrise, neither willing to acknowledge the attraction between them while Iris's professional responsibilities remained what they were. Now those responsibilities were gone. Iris typed a reply. _Yes. I'd love to see you._ Corinne answered quickly. _Private lounge first? Then perhaps my suite?_ Iris's smile widened. _That sounds like fun._ She sent Brenda a message. _Seeing Corinne tonight, honey. We're planning some private time together. ❤️_ Brenda's response arrived almost immediately. _Enjoy yourself, gorgeous. I'll be at the gallery with the others. Love you._ Iris smiled. _Love you too._ Then she put away her holo. And returned to watching the ocean. --- By late afternoon, Brenda had joined the others in a lounge near the central promenade. Ace and Mai were already there. Shammy arrived shortly afterward. Christina and Lea had gone to prepare for dinner. Nadia was finishing something in the studio. Brenda settled into a comfortable chair. Ordered a drink. And sighed happily. Ace looked at her. "Good day?" Brenda grinned. "Fantastic." Mai laughed. "Engineering?" "Engineering." Shammy smiled. "Of course." Brenda began describing the demonstration. Ace listened with surprising interest. Mai asked several questions. Shammy contributed an observation about the visual models. They talked for nearly half an hour. Then Iris appeared near the lounge entrance. She was walking beside a woman with short auburn hair and a relaxed, confident manner. The woman said something. Iris laughed. They stopped near the corridor leading toward the private passenger lifts. Iris glanced toward the lounge. Spotted Brenda. And smiled. Brenda raised her glass. Iris blew her a kiss. Then took Corinne's hand and continued toward the lifts. Ace watched them disappear. A beat. Then she turned toward Brenda. Brenda was sipping her drink. Ace stared. "Really?" Brenda looked up. "What?" Ace pointed toward the corridor. "Another one?" Brenda smiled. "Corinne." Ace blinked. "You know her?" "By name." Mai began laughing. Shammy covered her mouth. Ace leaned forward. "That's the third one today." Brenda considered. "No, sweetie." Ace frowned. "Second?" Brenda smiled. "You're forgetting Helena." Ace blinked. "Helena?" "Coffee this morning." Ace stared. Then shook her head. "That was coffee." "Yes." "So she doesn't count." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Depends what you're counting, luv." Mai burst out laughing. Shammy leaned back, smiling. Ace looked toward the ceiling. "This is impossible." Brenda grinned. "You're the one who started counting." Ace considered. Then laughed. "Oh, I walked into that." "Beautifully," Brenda agreed. --- Corinne's suite was quiet. Comfortable. With a view of the ocean and a collection of personal photographs arranged along one wall. Iris stepped inside. Looked around. Then smiled. "Beautiful." Corinne laughed. "Thank you." She set down her bag. Turned toward Iris. And for a moment, simply looked at her. "It's good to see you." Iris's expression softened. "You too." Corinne stepped closer. "You know, I thought about that night a lot." Iris smiled. "So did I." "We were both very careful." "We had reasons." Corinne nodded. "Yes." She reached for Iris's hand. "But those reasons aren't here anymore." Iris squeezed her fingers. "No." Corinne smiled. "Then perhaps we can finally stop being quite so careful." Iris laughed softly. "I'd like that." Corinne kissed her. And Iris returned the kiss, closing the distance between them with the certainty of someone who had already made her choice. Corinne rested her forehead against Iris's, studying her with a question that no longer needed the camouflage of duty rosters. "Tell me if you want to stop," she said. "I want you to stop treating me like a supervisor," Iris answered, drawing her closer. "And I would very much like you to kiss me again." "Christ. You were terrifying when you signed off my work." "I'm told I've improved." "Not remotely." Corinne kissed her, and Iris laughed against her mouth. The room became quieter by degrees. Iris shrugged out of the stiff jacket she'd worn for dinner and set it over a chair; Corinne stayed near, giving her the choice to close the distance again. Iris did. Their familiar argument continued in shorter sentences, then in smiles and long silences, each woman checking the other's eyes before following the next impulse. When they finally sat together, Corinne kept Iris's hand but gave her room to decide what happened next. Iris was the one who leaned in. Their kiss went on long enough for Corinne's practiced composure to desert her; Iris felt the answering smile against her cheek and drew back to enjoy it. "You used to terrify me," Corinne confessed. "I signed off your reports." "Exactly. You couldn't possibly have known how distracting you were." "Oh, I knew," Iris said. "I simply had better judgment at work." Corinne stared, then laughed so suddenly that Iris had to hold on to her. The laughter eased. Iris touched her face, and Corinne's expression shifted toward an openness neither would once have risked. They kissed again, and the old attraction finally became the intimate evening both had chosen rather than another conversation about what might have happened. When Iris's confident answer turned unexpectedly quiet, Corinne noticed. She stopped just long enough to be sure it was happiness, not uncertainty, and Iris answered by drawing her close. They stayed with that moment instead of hurrying past it. The evening acquired its own private rhythm; the affection underneath their old professional sparring was not something either wanted to treat as an afterthought. Later, resting together with the ocean beyond the windows, Iris traced the edge of Corinne's hand and laughed softly. "What?" Corinne asked. "Just remembering how long we've been making excuses." "Then let's stop wasting the time we actually have." Corinne kissed her temple, and Iris stayed beside her until the last of the laughter had settled. "That was worth waiting for." "Yes," Iris said, looking up at her. "And I wish we'd trusted ourselves sooner." A little later they ordered coffee, and Corinne made the mistake of asking whether Iris was going to critique the machine. Iris inspected it solemnly. "Only if you insist on operating it incorrectly." Corinne laughed so hard she nearly spilled her cup. --- The rest of the group gathered for dinner. Amara and Daniel joined them. So did Christina and Lea. Nadia arrived with Shammy. The restaurant staff once again arranged a larger table. Ace regarded it with approval. "We're going to need a banquet hall." "Give it time," Christina said. Lea looked toward Mai. "I think she's serious." Mai smiled. "Usually." Brenda took her seat. Amara glanced around. "Where's Iris?" Brenda smiled. "With an old friend." Ace closed her eyes. Christina noticed. "Oh?" Brenda looked toward her. "Corinne." Ace raised one finger. "No." Mai laughed. "What?" "We are not doing this over dinner." Brenda smiled sweetly. "Doing what?" Ace pointed at her. "That." Shammy burst out laughing. Daniel looked confused. Amara smiled. "I think I'm beginning to understand." Brenda leaned back. "Good." The waiter arrived. Orders were placed. And dinner proceeded with much laughter and excellent food. --- Later that evening, Iris returned. She found Brenda and the others in a lounge near the observation deck. Brenda spotted her immediately. "Hello, beautiful." Iris smiled. "Hello, honey." They kissed. Brenda touched her cheek. "Good evening?" "Wonderful. Something that should've happened long time ago." "Glad to hear it." Ace watched them. Then leaned toward Mai. "She's unstoppable." Mai smiled. "Apparently." Shammy laughed softly. Iris looked toward Ace. "Something to say, short stack?" Ace considered. Then shook her head. "No." Iris eyed Ace with amused suspicion. "Really?" Ace grinned. "I'm saving it." Brenda burst out laughing. "Oh, sweetie." "Good luck," Iris said. They settled together. Conversation moved toward the following day's plans. Henry's invitation was confirmed for the next evening. The ship's art program had announced a new presentation. And Christina and Lea had discovered another dance event they thought Ace and Mai would enjoy. Aureate II continued steadily toward Washington. There were still days of beautiful ocean ahead. And more than enough opportunities for everyone aboard to enjoy themselves. --- Much later, the Triad returned to their suite. Ace closed the suite door and began emptying her pockets onto the table: a gallery ticket, two sweets, an unclaimed coat-check token and a pastry in a paper sleeve. Mai surveyed the evidence. "You have been acquiring things again." "Memories." "Sticky memories," Shammy observed. Ace offered the sweets to both of them. Mai refused on principle; Shammy accepted one and unwrapped it with great ceremony. "Traitor," Ace whispered. "Beloved traitor," Shammy replied. Mai caught Ace by the hand. "Come on. You can make your case somewhere with fewer crumbs." Ace followed, the pastry still forgotten in her hand. Mai caught Ace halfway to the bedroom. "You’re not bringing the pastry in there." Ace looked down at the contraband in her hand. "Evidence?" "Crumbs." Shammy leaned down and plucked it from Ace’s fingers. "I’ll put it somewhere safe." "Traitor." "Beloved traitor," Shammy corrected, taking a bite. Mai closed the bedroom door on Ace’s outraged protest and kissed her before she could invent a formal complaint. ## Chapter 15 — A Little Less Polite Ace's first mistake was assuming Mai was asleep. Her second was attempting to slip out of bed without waking anyone. The third was believing Shammy wasn't involved. She had managed to free one leg from the sheets when Mai caught her wrist. "And where," Mai asked pleasantly, "do you think you're going?" Ace stopped. Looked back. Mai was smiling. Not sleepily. Not innocently. Ace knew that smile. "Coffee?" "Really?" "Possibly breakfast." "Interesting." On Ace's other side, Shammy opened her eyes. "She's escaping." Ace looked offended. "I am not escaping." "You were halfway out of bed," Shammy observed. "An exploratory maneuver." Mai tugged gently on her wrist. Ace surrendered her carefully acquired progress and settled back against the pillows. "There. Happy?" "Getting there." Ace regarded her wife. "Oh?" Mai moved closer. "You know, honey, you've spent several mornings congratulating yourself on your wonderful honeymoon policy." "Because it's wonderful." "Mm-hmm." Shammy smiled. "It does have advantages." Ace looked pleased. "Thank you." Mai kissed the corner of her mouth. "Perhaps you should stop talking about those advantages quite so much." Ace raised an eyebrow. "And?" Mai kissed her again. "Enjoy them." For once, Ace had no immediate answer. Shammy laughed softly. "Oh, I like this approach." Ace glanced between them. "You're conspiring." Mai smiled. "Entirely." Shammy reached for her hand. "Any objections?" Ace's grin appeared slowly. "Not one." Mai leaned in to kiss her again. Ace caught her around the waist, drawing her closer, while Shammy slipped comfortably against Ace's other side. Mai kissed Ace until the argument about breakfast finally died. Shammy, who had been enjoying Ace's increasingly hopeless attempt to retain the last word, touched Mai's cheek and drew her into a kiss of her own. Ace watched the two women for a moment, openly delighted. "You know I was trying to escape a perfectly innocent morning." "You were trying to sneak away," Shammy corrected. Her hair rose along the pillows, framing both women like a private weather system. "There's a difference." "And what," Ace asked, "would persuade you to forgive me?" Mai answered by kissing her again. Ace drew her close, then reached for Shammy instead of leaving her an admiring spectator. Shammy came willingly, settling where she could hold both of them. The old, familiar knowledge of one another was everywhere: in the way Ace went quiet when Mai touched her face, in Mai's unguarded smile when Shammy pulled her nearer, in the way Shammy stopped monitoring everyone else's happiness long enough to admit her own. They had begun the morning as three people teasing one reluctant escapee. They chose to spend it as lovers, not merely companions who shared a bed. Their kisses grew more deliberate, their closeness less interested in words. Whenever one of them slowed or changed direction, the others noticed and followed the invitation rather than a script. There was nothing tentative about their affection; years of trusting one another had made desire more fluent, not less alive. Ace finally laughed against Mai's shoulder, her usual swagger temporarily misplaced. "I thought I was supposed to be the dangerous one." "There are three of us," Mai reminded her. Shammy kissed Ace's forehead. "And you married the one who plans ahead." The playfulness returned only after they had allowed themselves the quiet. They stayed close, breathing evenly again, with the ocean moving beyond the windows and all three of them unmistakably at home in one another's arms. When Ace finally reached toward the bedside controls again, Mai caught her wrist a second time. Ace laughed. "Coffee?" "Eventually, my wife," Mai said. Shammy settled against them both. "Definitely eventually." Outside, the ocean glittered beneath the morning sun. It could manage without their attention for a little longer. --- By the time room service arrived, the sun was considerably higher. Ace stood in the sitting room wearing a robe and an expression of immense satisfaction. Shammy was arranging breakfast near the balcony windows. Mai examined the coffee pot. "Strong." Ace nodded solemnly. "Very strong." "You two are dramatic." Ace looked at her. "Says the woman who stole my pillow again." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "It was on my side." "Temporary custody." Mai nearly spilled the coffee. "Oh, honey." They settled beside the windows. The ocean was magnificent. Breakfast smelled wonderful. And Ace's enthusiasm for her own honeymoon arrangements had, for the moment, been thoroughly redirected. She lifted her cup. "To initiative." Mai tilted her glass just enough to catch Ace's reflection in it. "Whose? Yours, or the person you're about to persuade?" Ace looked at her. "Yours, apparently." Shammy raised her cup. "An excellent precedent." "I'll drink to that." They ate slowly. Shammy had an afternoon session with Nadia in the gallery's private design studio. Ace and Mai had been invited to meet Christina and Lea that evening. And Iris had sent a cheerful message confirming that she and Brenda were dining privately with Henry. Ace read it. Then smiled. "Captain's dinner." "Iris will enjoy that." Shammy agreed. "Especially getting him to herself for a while." Ace looked toward the sea. "Wonder if he ever gets used to seeing her without a uniform." Mai smiled. "Probably not." "Fair." Then Shammy's holo chimed. She glanced at the message. Her expression brightened. "Nadia?" "Yes." "What does our favorite artist want?" Shammy read the message. "She's found a way to make the installation respond to movement without tracking individual people." Mai looked interested. "How?" "That's what she wants to show me." Ace grinned. "Well, gorgeous, you know what that means." Shammy looked at her. "Do I look that predictable?" "You're going to disappear into a studio and argue about light for six hours." Shammy considered. "Possibly." "Sounds fun." "It is." --- Captain Henry Rourke was already looking forward to dinner. The invitation had been spontaneous, sent between two meetings after he'd realized he had a rare evening with no ceremonial obligations. He'd arranged a private dining room near the captain's reception suite. Nothing excessively formal. Just excellent food, a little privacy and time with his daughter and her wife. He was still adjusting to those last three words. _Her wife._ It pleased him every time. When his aide confirmed the reservation, Henry smiled. "Thank you." "Anything else, Captain?" "No." Then he considered. "Actually, yes. Would you ask the kitchen whether they can prepare the dessert Iris used to order when she was still serving aboard?" The aide smiled. "Of course, sir." "Thank you, much appriciated." He returned to his schedule. And found himself looking forward to the evening far more than the paperwork currently occupying his desk. --- Late morning found Ace and Mai in one of Aureate II's fashion exhibitions. The current collection explored the relationship between historical eveningwear and contemporary design. Ace was fascinated. Mai was amused by just how fascinated. Ace stood before a beautifully constructed gown, studying the arrangement of fabric around its waist. "Look at that." Mai stepped beside her. "Oh, that's gorgeous." "The tailoring." "Mmm." "The way the fabric moves." "Beautiful." Ace glanced toward her wife. "Lena would love this." "She would." They stood quietly for a while. Then Ace looked toward another display. "Actually, I wonder whether—" Mai caught her hand. "No." Ace blinked. "What?" "You're thinking about commissioning something." Ace looked wounded. "I wasn't." Mai raised an eyebrow. Ace considered. "Not yet." Mai laughed. "Honey." Ace kissed her. "Fine. I'll admire it." "For now." "You're cruel." "Terribly." They moved on. A few minutes later, Mai paused in front of a different garment. Ace watched her expression change. "Oh?" Mai smiled. "I like that." Ace stepped closer. Studied the piece. Then looked toward her wife. "Now who's commissioning something?" "Maybe I should." Ace grinned. "Excellent." "I thought we weren't buying anything." Ace spread her hands. "I never said that." Mai shook her head. "Of course you didn't." --- At lunchtime, Shammy met Ace and Mai in the small café beside the gallery entrance. She'd chosen it deliberately. The private design studio was only a few corridors away, and Nadia had arranged to meet her there immediately after lunch. Ace arrived carrying a shopping bag. Shammy looked at it. Then at Mai. Mai sighed. "Don't." Shammy laughed. "New shoes?" Ace looked offended. "Not everything I buy is shoes." Mai raised an eyebrow. Ace considered. "Although these happen to be." Shammy burst out laughing. They found a table. Ordered lunch. And spent a pleasant hour discussing the exhibition. Shammy was particularly interested in Ace's description of the gown. Mai suggested that Lena might enjoy seeing photographs of the construction. Ace had taken several. Naturally. By the time they finished eating, Shammy's holo chimed. Nadia. _I'm in the studio whenever you're ready. No rush._ Shammy smiled. Ace noticed. "Time to go?" "Yes." Mai rose and embraced her. "Have fun, gorgeous." "I intend to." Ace hugged her next. "And give Nadia a kiss from us." "I'll consider it." Ace grinned. "Thoughtful of you." Shammy kissed them both goodbye. Then left the café and walked toward the gallery studios. Ace watched her go. Mai slipped her arm through Ace's. "Now, my wife." Ace turned. "Yes?" "We have a few hours before Christina and Lea expect us." Ace's expression brightened. "Oh?" Mai smiled. "I thought we might visit the wellness deck again." "An excellent idea." "And after that, we'll get ready for tonight." "Very sensible." Mai leaned closer. "Don't sound so disappointed, honey." "I'm not." "Good." She kissed Ace. "Because I have plans for your outfit." Ace's grin widened considerably. "Oh, now we're talking." --- Nadia was standing beside a projected model when Shammy entered the private design studio. The room was quiet. Its lighting had been dimmed to make the installation easier to see. Several translucent shapes floated above the central workspace, responding to changes in the projected environment. Nadia looked up. "Sera." Shammy smiled. "Hello, gorgeous." Nadia laughed. "That's an excellent way to begin a working session." Shammy crossed the room. Kissed her. Then stepped back to examine the installation. "Oh." Nadia smiled. "Good oh?" "Very good." "Come look." They spent the next two hours experimenting. The project had begun as an idea about relationships between people moving through space. Now it was becoming something more subtle. Nadia wanted the installation to suggest connection without dictating what that connection meant. Shammy had become fascinated by the challenge. "People might stand together," she said, "but that doesn't tell you how they feel." Nadia nodded. "Exactly." "And two people standing apart might be deeply connected." "Yes." Shammy studied the projected model. "Then we need to avoid making distance look like absence." Nadia smiled. "That's the problem I've been trying to solve." Shammy moved two of the projected elements. The pattern shifted. She changed another parameter. A faint line of light appeared between the forms. It altered as they moved, but never disappeared entirely. Nadia leaned forward. "Oh." Shammy adjusted the response curve. The light became subtler. Less literal. Nadia stared. Then smiled slowly. "That's beautiful." Shammy looked toward her. "Maybe." Nadia laughed. "Maybe?" "We haven't tested it properly." "You're impossible." "Apparently." They spent another hour discussing how the installation might behave with multiple viewers. Eventually Nadia stepped back. Looked at the model. Then at Shammy. "I think we might actually make something wonderful." Shammy smiled. "So do I." Nadia moved closer. "You know what I like about working with you?" Shammy raised an eyebrow. "What?" "You don't try to win." Shammy laughed. "Of course I do." Nadia looked amused. "Oh?" "When I'm right." Nadia burst out laughing. "There she is." Shammy grinned. Nadia reached for her hand. "Come here." Shammy stepped closer. Their kiss was warm, familiar enough now to feel natural, and still new enough to carry a little thrill of anticipation. When they separated, Nadia smiled. "You're distracting." Shammy glanced toward the abandoned installation. "You're the one who stopped working." Nadia laughed. "True." They remained close for a moment. Then Nadia glanced toward the clock. "Oh." Shammy followed her gaze. "Time?" "Nearly six." Shammy smiled. "We've been at this for hours." "Apparently." Nadia considered. "Would you like to get something to eat?" "I'd love to." Nadia began closing down the active projections. Shammy collected her notes. Together, they left the studio, stopped briefly at the gallery reception to confirm their next reservation, and headed toward one of the nearby restaurants. --- Dinner with Nadia was relaxed. They chose a small table overlooking the ocean and spent the meal talking about everything except their project. Nadia described an exhibition she'd once installed under spectacularly difficult conditions. Shammy told her about a commission that had changed direction so many times she'd eventually wondered whether the client remembered what they'd originally ordered. Nadia laughed until she had to put down her glass. Then the conversation became quieter. Nadia looked toward Shammy. "Can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Do you ever worry about getting attached to someone you meet while traveling?" Shammy considered. "Sometimes." Nadia nodded. "I do." "Because of the distance?" "Partly." Nadia smiled faintly. "And partly because it's easy to pretend a holiday exists outside the rest of your life." Shammy listened. Nadia continued. "I've met people who were wonderful for a week. Then we went home and discovered we didn't actually know one another." Shammy nodded. "That happens." Nadia looked at her. "I don't want to do that with you." Shammy's expression softened. "Neither do I." Nadia smiled. "Good." They sat quietly for a moment. Then Shammy said: "We don't have to decide everything today." "No." "But I'd like you to know me beyond this ship." Nadia reached across the table. Took her hand. "I'd like that too." Shammy smiled. "Good." Nadia glanced toward their joined fingers. Then back at her. "And tonight?" Shammy raised an eyebrow. "Tonight?" Nadia smiled. "I was wondering whether you'd like to come back to my suite." Shammy considered for approximately half a second. "Very much." Nadia laughed softly. "Excellent." They finished dinner. Then walked together through the evening promenades toward Nadia's accommodation. At the suite door, Nadia turned. "One thing." Shammy smiled. "What?" "I'm very glad I met you." Shammy touched her cheek. "So am I." They kissed. Then Nadia opened the door, and Shammy followed her inside. --- Meanwhile, Ace was standing in front of a mirror. Wearing shorts. Expensive shorts. Very expensive shorts. Mai stood behind her, examining the result with considerable satisfaction. Ace glanced over her shoulder. "Well?" Mai smiled. "Perfect." Ace turned. "The shorts?" "You." Ace laughed softly. "Oh." Mai stepped closer. Adjusted the collar of Ace's fitted top. Then looked into her eyes. "Christina is going to love this." Ace grinned. "Think so?" "I know so." "And Lea?" "She'll probably agree," Mai said. Ace considered. "Excellent." Mai kissed her. Then stepped back. "Ready?" Ace checked the fastening at Mai's shoulder, the one that always tried to turn itself inside out after dancing. "Now I am. You'd have bullied it into submission by midnight otherwise." "I'd have called Lena," Mai said. "She'd have bullied it professionally." Ace glanced briefly at her holo. Shammy had sent a message. _Dinner with Nadia. Staying at her suite tonight. Have a wonderful time, loves. ❤️_ She typed a reply. _Enjoy yourself, gorgeous. Love you._ Mai added her own message. _Have a beautiful evening, sweetie. ❤️_ Then Ace slipped the holo into her bag. "Shammy's staying with Nadia. She sent us a photograph from the gallery; her hair had apparently decided to give its own enthusiastic review." Mai smiled. "Good." Ace reached for her hand. "Shall we?" Mai nodded. "Absolutely." They left the suite together. --- Christina and Lea were waiting outside a small late-night lounge on one of Aureate II's upper entertainment decks. Christina saw them approaching. Stopped speaking. Then smiled. "Oh." Lea followed her gaze. Her own smile widened. "Well, well, well." Ace grinned. "Good evening, ladies." Christina looked her over. "That outfit." Ace smiled innocently. "What about it?" Christina shook her head. "You're impossible." "I chose it," Mai said. Lea turned toward her. "Did you?" "Absolutely." Christina looked delighted. "Then I owe you a drink." Ace grinned. "Make it two." Lea stepped closer to Mai. "You look beautiful." Mai smiled. "So do you, hun." They greeted one another with affectionate kisses. Then entered the lounge. The space was intimate. Warm lighting. Deep seating. A dance floor large enough for perhaps thirty people. Music with a slow, irresistible rhythm. Christina guided them toward a booth near the floor. Drinks arrived. Conversation began. But nobody had come merely to sit. Before long, Christina looked toward Ace. "Come dance with me." Ace smiled. "Thought you'd never ask." Lea offered Mai her hand. Mai took it. And the four moved onto the floor. --- The music was slower than at their previous dance evenings. More intimate. Less concerned with elaborate movement. Ace enjoyed it immediately. Christina stepped closer. Ace rested a hand against her waist. They moved together easily. Christina smiled. "You're enjoying yourself." Ace grinned. "You haven't seen me when I'm really having fun. I become a public nuisance." "I had gathered as much." She leaned closer. Kissed Ace. Ace returned it warmly. Across the floor, Lea and Mai had found a rhythm of their own. Mai smiled against Lea's cheek. Lea laughed softly. "Something funny?" "Nothing." "Mai." Mai looked at her. Then smiled. "I was just thinking how lucky we are." Lea's expression softened. "All of us?" "All of us." Lea kissed her. They continued dancing. A little later, the four returned to their booth. Christina settled beside Ace. Lea beside Mai. They talked. Laughed. Enjoyed drinks and the warm atmosphere. Eventually Christina looked toward Ace. "Can I ask you something?" Ace smiled. "Anything." "Are you always this comfortable with people?" Ace considered. "No." Christina looked surprised. "Really?" Ace nodded. "I like people. But I don't necessarily trust them." Christina listened. "Trust takes longer," Ace said. Christina regarded her thoughtfully. "And us?" Ace looked toward Mai. Then Lea. Then back at Christina. "I like you." Christina smiled. "That much is obvious." Ace laughed. "And I trust you enough to enjoy finding out more." Christina's smile softened. "Good answer." Ace leaned closer. "Your turn." Christina raised an eyebrow. "What?" "Are you always this charming?" Christina laughed. "Only when I'm trying." Ace grinned. "Then don't stop." --- Much later, the four left the lounge together. The corridors were quieter now. Christina slipped her hand into Ace's. Lea walked beside Mai. They stopped near a panoramic window overlooking the dark ocean. For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Lea looked toward Mai. "Would you like to come back to our suite?" Mai smiled. "Yes." Christina glanced toward Ace. Ace looked delighted. "Absolutely." They continued toward Christina and Lea's accommodation. Once inside, jackets and shoes were set aside, drinks were offered, and the four settled comfortably together. They'd spent enough time in one another's company now that the evening required very little ceremony. Christina took Ace's hand and drew her close for a kiss. Across the room, Lea brushed Mai's hair away from her face. Mai smiled and kissed her. The conversation grew quieter. Their affectionate teasing continued, interrupted occasionally by laughter and the pleasure of being close. Eventually Christina glanced toward the bedroom. Then back at Ace. "Stay tonight?" Ace looked toward Mai. Mai met her eyes and smiled. "Yes, honey." Ace turned back to Christina. "With pleasure." Lea reached for Mai's hand. "Then come on, gorgeous." The four went together. In the bedroom, Ace looked around with a theatrical solemnity that made Christina laugh before she'd said a word. "Are you taking inventory?" Christina asked. "I was about to compliment the accommodations." "That's a first," Mai said. Ace turned. "You married me for my compliments." "I married you despite them." Lea laughed, pulling Mai close enough to kiss her. "I believe her." It was the ease of the evening that mattered. Christina knew the difference between Ace's deliberate provocation and the moments when she wanted a little quiet. Mai and Lea had no interest in pretending that their rapport had begun an hour earlier on the dance floor. They remembered the conversations, the laughter and the small, perfectly timed invitations that had brought them here. When Christina drew Ace into an embrace, Ace stopped talking long enough to answer with genuine warmth. Across the room, Mai caught Lea's eye and smiled before reaching for her. They moved toward one another without waiting for the whole room to grant permission to something each had already chosen. The bedroom door had closed behind them, but Christina was still trying to make Ace laugh. The difference was that Ace had finally stopped reaching for a sharper reply. She reached for Christina instead and let her see the change. "There," Christina said, softer than before. "That's the woman I wanted to spend the night with." "Dangerous admission," Ace murmured. "I might believe you." Across the room, Lea held Mai close enough to ask a question she could have hidden inside another dance invitation. "Can we stop pretending the music is the reason I want you here?" Mai answered by kissing her. Lea went still for a heartbeat, then smiled in open relief; Mai noticed and stayed with her until the feeling had room to settle. Christina watched that exchange, smiling, then returned her attention to Ace. The four let the evening become genuinely intimate, their choices distinct and their affection reciprocal rather than a list of interchangeable reactions. Ace's confidence returned in a quieter form when Christina lost her composure and laughed into her shoulder. Mai and Lea found their own easy rhythm nearby, their long history of trading challenges now something gentler. Nobody needed to be dragged toward the next beat. They were there because they wanted to be, and stayed long enough for each answer to matter. Only after the private intensity had eased did the four gather close again. Water was passed around, somebody reclaimed a blanket, and the old teasing crept back one voice at a time. They allowed themselves the stillness before inviting the world back in. Ace eventually rested her head against Christina and sighed with enormous satisfaction. "Well?" Christina asked. "Your invitation was an excellent decision." "High praise." "Don't get used to it." Lea laughed from beside Mai. "Too late. We've heard quite enough of your opinions to know that was practically a love poem." Mai kissed her cheek. "She's improving." They stayed awake talking about everything from travel to the worst cocktails they'd ever been served, and when sleep finally arrived it found them still close together. The night had been theirs, and the morning would have room for the consequences. --- At roughly the same time, Iris and Brenda arrived for dinner with Henry. He greeted them at the entrance to the private dining room. Iris embraced him. "Dad." Henry smiled. "Hello, darling." He held her for a moment. Then stepped back. "And Brenda." Brenda smiled. "Hello, Henry." He embraced her warmly. "Wonderful to see you." "You too." Henry looked between them. Then smiled. "Well." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "Look at you two." Brenda laughed. "Married?" "Exactly." Iris smiled. "You attended the wedding, Dad." "I did." "And?" Henry shook his head. "Still getting used to it." Brenda's expression softened. "So are we." They sat down. Drinks arrived. And for a while, the conversation moved through the comfortable territory of family. Millard. The wedding. The voyage. Night City. The delight of having time together without a schedule dictating every minute. Henry listened with obvious pleasure. Eventually he looked toward Iris. "Enjoying your time aboard?" Iris smiled. "Enormously." "Good." "Very different as a passenger." "I imagine." Brenda leaned toward her. "She's learning." Iris laughed. "Dad, she's terrible." Henry looked toward Brenda. "Oh?" Brenda smiled sweetly. "Only when necessary." Henry laughed. "Then you're perfectly suited to this family." --- Dinner was excellent. Henry had chosen the menu personally. Iris recognized several dishes she'd loved during her years aboard, alongside newer preparations introduced since her departure. Brenda was delighted. At one point, Henry watched his daughter laughing at something her wife had said. His expression softened. Iris noticed. "What?" "Nothing," Henry said. "Dad." He considered. Then set down his glass. "I spent years watching you grow into an extraordinary officer." Iris's smile became quieter. "And I was proud of you." Brenda reached for Iris's hand. Henry continued. "But I think I've been even happier watching you become someone who doesn't need to be on duty all the time." Iris looked at him. For a moment, she said nothing. Then smiled. "I didn't know how to do that for a long time." Henry nodded. "I know." Brenda squeezed her hand. Iris looked toward her wife. Then back at her father. "I had some very good help." Henry smiled. "Clearly." He raised his glass. "To my daughter." Iris's eyes brightened. "And her wife." Brenda smiled. They touched glasses. Then Henry added: "And to never again seeing you volunteer for a bridge shift during your vacation." Iris burst out laughing. "Oh, Dad." "I'm serious." Brenda grinned. "I'll keep an eye on her." "Excellent." Iris shook her head. "Conspiracy." Henry smiled. "Family tradition." A little later, dessert arrived. Iris stared at the plate. Then looked toward her father. "Oh." Henry smiled. "Recognize it?" "Of course." Brenda looked interested. "What is it?" Iris laughed softly. "My favorite dessert from when I worked aboard." Henry nodded. "I thought you might enjoy it." Iris's expression softened. "Dad." He smiled. "You're welcome, darling." She reached across the table. Took his hand. And for a moment, neither needed to say anything more. --- When dinner ended, Henry walked them to the reception-suite entrance. He embraced Brenda. Then Iris. "Thank you for coming." Iris smiled. "Thank you for inviting us." Brenda nodded. "It was wonderful." Henry looked toward his daughter. "Enjoy the rest of your voyage." Iris laughed. "We intend to." "Good." He smiled. "And stay away from my bridge." Brenda burst out laughing. "I'll do my best." Iris shook her head. "Good night, Dad." "Good night, darling." They departed together. Henry watched them disappear down the corridor. Then returned to his duties with a smile. --- Iris and Brenda walked slowly toward their suite. For a while, neither spoke. Then Brenda squeezed her wife's hand. "I needed that." Iris nodded. "Very." "Your father's wonderful." "I know." Brenda glanced toward her. "And he's very proud of you." Iris's expression softened. "Yes." "So am I." Iris turned. "Oh, honey." Brenda kissed her. They stopped for a moment beside a quiet observation window. The ocean stretched into darkness. Iris rested her forehead against Brenda's. "Love you." Brenda smiled. "Love you too, gorgeous." A little later, they reached their suite. Brenda closed the door. Turned toward Iris. And smiled. "So." Iris raised an eyebrow. "So?" "Any plans for the rest of the evening?" Iris laughed softly. "Not particularly." Brenda's grin became mischievous. "Excellent." Iris tilted her head. "Oh?" Brenda stepped closer. "Come here, beautiful." Iris followed her toward the bedroom. Brenda caught Iris's hand and brought it to her lips. "You know what I like about being married?" "You have a list." "A filthy long one. But tonight it's that you know when I'm trying to be funny because I'm nervous." Iris stopped near the bedroom doorway. "Are you nervous?" "Not about you. About how fucking much I love this life." Iris's reply was to draw her close and kiss her until Brenda forgot the sentence she'd meant to finish. Brenda laughed at herself; Iris did not rush her. There was no stranger's uncertainty here, only the pleasure of finding that familiarity could still interrupt both their thoughts. They stayed close through the quieter part of the night, sometimes talking, sometimes content simply to hold on. At one point Brenda looked up and found Iris watching her, completely unguarded. "What?" Brenda asked. "Just taking my time." "With me?" "Always." Only then did Brenda stop reaching for the next joke. In the stillness that followed, she let herself be loved without having to earn the moment by making somebody laugh. Much later, they were still awake, sharing the last of a glass of water and arguing about which one had first made the other blush. Iris refused to concede. Brenda informed her that the evidence was devastating. They fell asleep mid-argument. --- The following morning, Ace woke beside Christina. Mai was curled comfortably against Lea. Morning sunlight spilled through the suite's curtains. Ace opened her eyes. Looked around. Then smiled. Christina stirred. "Morning." "Morning, gorgeous." "Sleep well?" Ace considered. "Eventually." Christina burst out laughing. "Oh, you." Ace grinned. "Excellent hospitality." Lea opened one eye. "She's going to keep saying that, isn't she?" Mai laughed. "Probably." Ace stole a corner of Christina's pillow. "Absolutely." "Do you know," Christina said, "this was my pillow before you arrived?" "And now it has a better story." Christina tugged it back. Ace accepted defeat long enough to kiss her, then reached for the discarded blanket instead. A little later, Mai sat up. Looked toward Ace. And smiled. "Well, my wife." Ace turned. "Yes?" "Breakfast?" Ace considered. Then grinned. "Absolutely." By the time Ace reached the breakfast room, Shammy had sent a photograph of an unfinished gallery model from Nadia’s table and Brenda had forwarded a technical drawing annotated with three alarmingly enthusiastic exclamation marks. Iris’s reply to Brenda was a single line: *Please eat something before dismantling it.* Ace showed Mai the group thread. "Everyone’s behaving." Mai read it. "That is quite an interpretation." ## Chapter 16 — What We Take With Us By the time Ace and Mai returned to their own suite, Shammy had already claimed the balcony. She was sitting barefoot in an armchair, a cup of coffee beside her and a sketchbook balanced on her knees. Ace stopped in the doorway. "Well, look who's home." Shammy glanced up. Her expression brightened. "Good morning, loves." Mai crossed the room and kissed her. "Morning, gorgeous." Ace followed, leaning down to embrace her. "Sleep well?" "Nadia and I stayed up arguing about whether an empty room can remember a visitor. I won the right to make coffee, so I consider it a successful night." "That does sound like you," Mai said, taking the chair beside her. Shammy studied them both. "And how was your evening?" Ace and Mai exchanged one look. Ace reached for her coffee instead of answering. Shammy laughed. "Right. I'll take that as a detailed report." Ace dropped into the opposite chair. "Wonderful hospitality." Mai sighed. "She's going to keep saying that." "Because it's true." Shammy shook her head. "Poor Christina and Lea." Ace looked offended. "Poor?" "They have no idea how many times they'll hear about their excellent hospitality." Mai let out a helpless laugh. Ace considered. Then grinned. "Fair." She leaned forward to inspect Shammy's sketchbook. "Oh." Shammy turned it slightly. "Something Nadia and I worked on yesterday." The page contained a series of interlocking shapes, connected by delicate branching lines. Unlike her earlier drawings, these arrangements suggested motion. Not simply shapes moving through space, but connections changing as they moved. Mai studied them. "That's beautiful." "Thank you." Ace traced one of the lines without touching the page. "What's that?" "A relationship between two elements." "And that?" "A second relationship." Ace pointed toward the center. "And all three together?" Shammy traced the three intersecting shapes in the open sketchbook without touching the graphite. "That's what we're trying to figure out. If the third disappears, the movement stops making sense." Ace looked at her. Then at the drawing. Then smiled slowly. "Oh, gorgeous." Shammy laughed. "What?" "I like where this is going." "So do I." --- Ace was in the middle of an enthusiastic account of the previous evening when Mai stopped her with one kiss. Ace blinked; Shammy laughed softly. "What?" Ace asked. "I missed you," Mai said. "Not the report. You." The answer made Ace fall quiet in a way no clever argument could have managed. She reached for Mai, then for Shammy, refusing to pretend her happiness with other people reduced the desire to be held by the people who knew her best. Shammy came close, kissed them both and let herself be drawn into the shared warmth. Their reunion was neither a performance nor a scheduled obligation. It belonged to the three of them, and for a while no holo, new acquaintance or evening itinerary was more interesting. They spent the morning together. No elaborate plans. No fixed destination. Just the pleasure of being reunited after a night spent in different company. Eventually Mai suggested walking through the upper gardens. Ace agreed. Shammy packed her sketchbook. They left the suite together. Aureate II's garden promenades were pleasantly quiet at that hour. Sunlight filtered through the enormous windows. The sea stretched beyond the terraces. Passengers moved between cafés and observation spaces without urgency. The Triad wandered slowly. Stopping occasionally. Talking about nothing particularly important. At one point, Ace slipped an arm around Shammy. "You know what?" Shammy looked at her. "What?" "I'm really glad you're having such a good time." Shammy smiled. "Me too." Ace glanced toward Mai. "And I think Nadia's wonderful." Mai nodded. "She is." Shammy's expression softened. "Thank you." Ace grinned. "Although I still think she's going to discover you've got very strong opinions about almost everything." "She already knows." "Oh?" "We had an argument yesterday." Mai raised an eyebrow. "About?" "Whether an artwork should respond differently to two people standing apart than to two people standing together." Ace considered. "And?" Shammy smiled. "We were both wrong." "That sounds healthy." Ace grinned. "Terribly." They continued walking. Eventually Shammy glanced toward her holo. "Nadia's at the gallery this afternoon." Mai smiled. "Going to join her?" "Later." "Good," Ace said. Shammy slipped her arm through Ace's. "But first, I want lunch with my favorite people." Ace looked delighted. "Excellent priorities." --- Lunch brought all five together. Iris and Brenda had chosen a restaurant near the ship's central observation promenade. They were already seated when the Triad arrived. Brenda was laughing. Iris looked suspiciously pleased with herself. Ace noticed immediately. "Oh, no." Iris turned. "What?" Ace sat down. "That face." Iris met Ace’s stare without blinking. "What face?" "The one you get when something interesting has happened." Brenda started laughing again. Mai looked toward her. "Something funny?" Brenda grinned. "Oh, honey." "Do tell." Iris looked innocent. "Nothing particularly remarkable." Ace narrowed her eyes. "That is not reassuring." Brenda leaned forward. "She ran into someone this morning." Ace closed her eyes. "Oh, for—" Iris laughed. "An old colleague." Ace pointed. "Of course." "Her name is Vivian." Mai smiled. "Nice reunion?" Iris glanced toward Brenda. "I've never been so thoroughly reminded why I liked that crew. Or why I was relieved to stop supervising them." Brenda took a sip of her drink. Then added, far too casually: "And apparently they have plans tomorrow." Ace looked toward her. "What kind?" "Private ones." Ace stared. Then began laughing. "Oh, this is getting ridiculous." Iris narrowed her eyes in amusement. "Really?" Ace spread her hands. "How many people did you work with aboard this ship?" Iris considered. "Quite a lot." Brenda nodded solemnly. "Enormous vessel." Shammy covered her mouth. Mai laughed with the others. Ace looked toward the ceiling. "I'm beginning to understand why you never wanted to leave." Iris smiled sweetly. "Actually, Ace, I did leave." Ace blinked. Iris leaned toward Brenda. "And I'm very happy I did." Brenda's expression softened immediately. She kissed her wife. Ace watched them. Then sighed. "That's unfair." Mai laughed. "What is?" "She keeps being adorable." Shammy smiled. "Terrible problem." --- Lunch continued. Brenda had more stories from engineering. Shammy showed Iris and Brenda her newest sketches. Ace and Mai described their previous evening with Christina and Lea. Brenda listened with considerable interest. "So you spent the night with them?" Ace smiled. "We did." "Wonderful company." Iris looked amused. "That seems to be a recurring theme." Ace pointed at her. "Don't." Iris smiled. "Don't what?" "Start." Brenda burst out laughing. Mai shook her head. "Honey, you really should stop teasing Iris." Ace looked offended. "I haven't been teasing her." Shammy smiled. "Not successfully, anyway." Ace stared. Then laughed. "Oh, betrayal." Iris raised her glass. "To excellent company." Brenda joined her. "Wherever we find it." Ace shook her head. But she was smiling. Their glasses touched. --- After lunch, the five separated. Brenda had another invitation to engineering. Iris planned to accompany her for part of the visit before spending some time in the ship's gardens. Ace and Mai wanted to explore the upper boutiques. Shammy was meeting Nadia in the gallery. They exchanged affectionate goodbyes. Then went their own ways. Shammy found Nadia standing before their latest projected model. Nadia looked up. "Sera." Shammy smiled. "Hello, gorgeous." They kissed. Then Nadia stepped back. "I've been thinking." Shammy laughed. "That sounds dangerous." "Very." Nadia gestured toward the projection. "I think we've been approaching this from the wrong direction." Shammy studied the model. "Oh?" "We keep trying to show relationships." "And?" "Perhaps we should show what remains when people move." Shammy's expression changed. She stepped closer. "Go on." Nadia adjusted the projection. Several shapes moved apart. The connections between them did not simply vanish. They transformed. Some became faint. Others shifted direction. And one remained, changing its form without disappearing. Shammy stared. Then smiled slowly. "Oh." Nadia looked at her. "Good?" "Very." She approached the console. Changed a parameter. The pattern responded. Shammy laughed softly. "That's it." Nadia grinned. "Exactly." They began working. And the afternoon disappeared. --- At one point, Nadia stepped away from the display. She watched Shammy making adjustments. Then smiled. "Sera." "Hmm?" "Can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Why this?" Shammy looked up. "The project?" "Why does it interest you so much?" Shammy considered. Then turned toward the projection. "Because people change." Nadia listened. "And relationships change with them." She moved one of the projected elements. The light between them shifted. "But change doesn't always mean loss." Nadia smiled. "No." Shammy looked toward her. "Sometimes it means discovering another way to remain connected." For a moment, Nadia said nothing. Then she crossed the room. Stopped beside Shammy. And took her hand. "That's beautiful." Shammy smiled. "It's something I've learned." Nadia studied her. "From your family?" "Among other people." Nadia nodded. "I think I'd like to meet more of them someday." Shammy's expression softened. "I'd like that too." They stood together. Watching the projection. Then Nadia laughed softly. "Well." Shammy turned. "What?" "I think we've just found the heart of the piece." Shammy smiled. "Yes." Nadia kissed her. "And possibly something else." Shammy returned the kiss. "Possibly." --- Elsewhere aboard, Ace had found a boutique specializing in limited-edition footwear. Mai stood beside her. Arms folded. Expression amused. Ace examined a beautiful pair of shoes. Then another. Then a third. Mai sighed. "Honey." Ace looked up. "What?" "How many pairs have you bought this voyage?" Ace considered. "Define bought." Mai laughed. "Ace." "What?" "Purchased." Ace thought. Then smiled. "Several." Mai shook her head. "Hopeless." Ace held up one shoe. "Look at this." Mai studied it. Then smiled. "Oh." "See?" Ace asked. "That is gorgeous." "Exactly." Mai stepped closer. "And completely unnecessary." Ace considered. "That's part of the appeal." Mai burst out laughing. "Oh, you." Ace kissed her. "Come on. Let me have a little fun." Mai smiled. "Honey, you've been having fun since we boarded." Ace grinned. "And I see no reason to stop." They left the boutique a little later. Ace carrying another bag. Mai shaking her head affectionately. --- By early evening, the ship was preparing for another night of entertainment. Several live performances were scheduled. The main theater had announced an encore presentation of its latest production. The nightclubs were preparing their evening programs. And a particularly beautiful sunset was beginning to spread across the ocean. The five gathered in a quiet lounge to decide what to do. Ace had already received a message from Christina. Shammy had plans with Nadia. Brenda and Iris were considering dinner with Amara and Daniel. Everyone seemed pleased. Then Iris's holo chimed. She glanced at it. Smiled. And typed a reply. Ace noticed. Of course she did. Mai noticed Ace noticing. Shammy looked toward Brenda. Brenda raised her glass. Ace sighed. "Oh, no." Iris looked up. "What?" Ace pointed at her holo. "Another one?" Iris smiled. "Possibly." Brenda laughed softly. Ace leaned forward. "Coffee?" Iris considered. "Tomorrow afternoon." Ace nodded. "Okay." A pause. Then Iris added: "Then dinner." Ace raised an eyebrow. "And?" Iris smiled sweetly. "We'll see." Brenda burst out laughing. Mai covered her mouth. Shammy smiled into her drink. Ace leaned back. "Unbelievable." Brenda looked toward her. "Oh, honey." Ace sighed. "What?" "You're going to exhaust yourself trying to keep track." Ace considered. Then laughed. "Probably." Iris leaned toward her wife. Kissed her. Then looked back at Ace. "Enjoy your evening, darling." Ace grinned. "Oh, I intend to." --- The evening took the five in different directions, but none of them left the lounge quite as briskly as intended. Brenda had been checking a table reservation with Amara when Daniel called to ask whether anyone preferred a quieter venue. The first restaurant had music loud enough to make conversation a competitive sport. Iris, reading the message over Brenda's shoulder, replied herself: *Somewhere Daniel can hear his own wife would be ideal.* "Rude," Brenda said approvingly. "Helpful," Iris corrected. Ace's holo chimed with a photograph from Christina: a ridiculous pair of dancing shoes in a boutique window and the caption *For you?* Ace took one look and began laughing. "She wants a fight." Mai glanced at the shoes. "Christina's trying to distract you from the fact you lost the argument about sandals." "My sandals are defensible." "Then they'll survive a debate without you threatening litigation." Across the table, Shammy watched a message from Nadia appear: *I'm tired of talking about the installation in restaurants. Can we leave the diagrams behind tonight?* Shammy answered at once. *Yes. With pleasure.* A silver-white lock lifted near her cheek, then settled when she put the holo away. "Nadia?" Mai asked. "Yes. We're going to listen to music and not discuss work." Ace raised her glass. "The rarest artistic achievement of all." The five exchanged kisses, sharp advice and several threats of sending embarrassing photographs. Then they went to have three different evenings rather than pretending they needed the same one. --- Christina met Ace and Mai beneath a string of lights near the smaller dance floor. Lea was already there, testing the music with one foot, her expression reserved until she spotted Mai. "You're late," Lea said. Ace pointed at Christina. "Tell your wife to stop sending me pictures of crimes against footwear." "Those were gorgeous." "They had six separate buckles." "So?" "So I couldn't decide whether to wear them or disarm them." Christina burst out laughing. Lea took Mai's hand and steered her straight onto the floor, abandoning the debate to its natural fate. Mai loved dancing too much to waste the first good track. She and Lea moved together with easy confidence, changing pace when the percussion changed, trusting one another without needing to negotiate every step. When Ace finally joined them, Christina caught her by the hand and spun her into the music. "Careful," Ace said. "My shoes are worth more than your argument." "Then I'll be terribly gentle with the shoes." "And me?" Christina smiled. "No guarantees." The four stayed through three songs and a fourth because Mai refused to let Lea leave when the DJ finally played something worth waiting for. Afterward, flushed and thirsty, they found a quieter rail overlooking the sea. Christina rested her chin on Ace's head for one audacious second; Ace objected with a threat so inventive that even Mai forgot to drink her water. Lea kissed Mai's cheek and announced she was keeping the image for future blackmail. "You'd better," Mai said. "She's been intolerable about those ridiculous sandals." "They were excellent sandals," Ace protested. "They were covered in buckles," Lea replied. "That's not how walking works." Ace regarded all three women. "I'm going to need smarter accomplices." Mai kissed her. "You couldn't afford them." --- Nadia kept her promise: there were no drawings at the little music lounge near the gallery, only a pianist, a low golden light and a single empty table beside a window. Shammy arrived to find Nadia waiting with two glasses and a look that made the day of work seem suddenly very far away. "What happened to the artist?" Shammy asked, glancing at Nadia's empty hands. "I sent her home." "Will she return?" "Tomorrow. Reluctantly." Shammy lowered herself into the chair with careful attention to its narrow arms. "Then we should enjoy her absence." Nadia laughed, but her expression changed when the pianist began a slower piece. "You know what I like about this? Nobody's asking either of us to explain what it means." Shammy listened. The piano carried a phrase almost to completion, then withheld the final note long enough to make the room wait. Around her shoulders the loose silver-white strands stirred, responding to the tension she felt rather than the movement of air. "A little frustrating," she murmured. "The music?" "Beautifully so." Nadia slid her fingers across the tabletop. Shammy met them halfway. They stayed for the rest of the set, talking less, noticing more. When Nadia finally asked whether Shammy wanted to come upstairs, the question received a direct answer and a kiss that made the pianist's last chord a rather poor competitor for Shammy's attention. --- At another table, in a restaurant several decks away, Daniel was making Brenda laugh hard enough to frighten a glass of water. He'd admitted he had once bought Amara an antique astronomical chart without realizing it was a reproduction printed backward. "That's romantic," Brenda said, wiping her eyes. "Completely useless, but romantic." "I had it framed," Amara said. Iris considered. "So when you look at it, the constellations are wrong?" "When I look at it, I remember how hard he tried. The stars can cope." Daniel stared at her with open affection. Brenda noticed, and briefly stopped laughing. "Oh, you bastards," she said. "Now you've made it sweet." Amara raised her glass. "We're professionals." They argued over the dessert menu and traded stories about their respective honeymoons. This time Amara asked Brenda something practical rather than making the conversation into a lesson about relationships: "What do you do when Iris starts inspecting the ship?" "I give her something much more interesting to inspect," Brenda answered. Iris's composure cracked. Daniel made a choking noise. Amara threw her head back laughing. "Christ, Brenda," Iris said, still laughing. "You asked for a method. I delivered a method." When they parted, Amara and Daniel had plans for a theater matinee rather than another group dinner. Iris and Brenda walked the long way home, still trading jokes. At their suite door Iris caught Brenda's hand, tugged her back from the lock and kissed her until the last of her laughter became a quieter smile. "Still pleased with your method?" she asked. Brenda held up her wrist as if checking a nonexistent instrument. "Remarkably high success rate." Iris opened the door and followed her inside. --- Ace and Mai came home to find the suite quiet. Shammy had already sent her message: *With Nadia tonight. Love you both.* Ace read it, rested a finger on the screen and sent back a heart. Mai came alongside her. "Missing her?" Mai asked. Ace glanced at the quiet half of the sofa. "She normally steals the warmest spot before I can." "That’s not an answer." "Yes, I miss her," Ace said. "I also hope Nadia keeps her awake arguing about art. Shammy always gets that outrageous pleased look afterward." Mai brushed a thumb over Ace's cheek. "Then send her something that'll make the argument worse." Ace considered the suggestion, then opened Christina's latest photographs. "Oh, this is going to make her laugh." Ace showed her the photograph Christina had taken: Lea and Mai half-hidden in the turning lights, laughing, while Ace stood in the foreground apparently preparing to challenge the entire dance floor. Mai studied it. "She's going to use that against you forever." "I know. It's a fantastic picture." She made it their holo's background for the remainder of the voyage. Mai noticed, took Ace's hand and guided her toward the bedroom. Their bed would feel different with Shammy away; the difference neither frightened nor diminished them. They had already agreed on what mattered, and tonight it was enough to hear each other's laughter fade into sleepy conversation beneath the sheets. ## Chapter 17 — The Company We Keep The empty place on the far side of the bed was warm only in memory. Shammy had spent the night with Nadia again, and the short message she'd sent before midnight was still on Ace's holo: *The drawings are getting interesting. So is she. Love you both.* Ace had replied with a photograph of Mai asleep, one hand curled around her wedding ring. Mai had been considerably less asleep than the photograph suggested. "You sent Shammy that picture," she said now, without opening her eyes. "It's a flattering picture." "My hair looks like I've been dragged through a maintenance duct." "A very glamorous maintenance duct." Mai opened one eye. "Get back here." Ace settled beside her and kissed the back of her hand. Mai didn't release her; she drew their joined hands between the pillows and looked at the third space, vacant for the moment but not gone from either of them. "Miss her?" Mai asked. "Yes. Glad she's having fun? Also yes." "Good. Because if you ask her to hurry home, she'll try." Ace made a face. "I know. I wasn't going to." "I know you weren't." Mai kissed her forehead. "She'll bring half a sketchbook of ideas home, and she'll tell us the other half while she's making coffee." "Then I ought to prepare questions." "You ought to prepare breakfast." Mai caught Ace's wrist as she began to rise. "Later." Ace looked down at her. "Much later?" Mai's smile promised negotiation without any hint of surrender. She pulled Ace back against the pillows. "The coffee can wait ten minutes," she said. "Only ten?" "We're starting with a conservative estimate." Ace decided this was one of the rare occasions when the responsible answer was to stay exactly where she was. --- By the time they reached the breakfast restaurant, the morning had become considerably brighter. Ace wore a loose silk shirt, tailored shorts and sandals that had cost an entirely unreasonable amount of money. Mai had chosen a light dress and comfortable shoes. They settled beside the windows. Ordered coffee. And began discussing the day. Christina and Lea had suggested an afternoon at Aureate II's recreational terraces. Not the formal wellness deck. Something more playful. Swimming. Water gardens. A sun terrace. And apparently an excellent little bar. Ace looked interested. "Swimming?" Mai nodded. "That's what the message says." Ace considered. "Well." Mai smiled. "Well?" "I did bring swimwear." "Several." "Naturally." Mai laughed. "Then we should go." Ace glanced at her. "Christina and Lea joining us?" "Yes." "Excellent." She reached across the table and took Mai's hand. "You know something?" "What, luv?" "I'm beginning to like mornings." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Beginning?" "Well, mornings with you." Mai's expression softened. "Better answer." They kissed. Then their coffee arrived. --- Shammy's morning began with an argument about a sculpture. Nadia was standing in front of a small projected model, wearing a robe and holding a cup of coffee. Shammy sat comfortably on the sofa, watching her. "It's too literal," Shammy said. Nadia looked over her shoulder. "You're telling me that now?" "I told you yesterday." "You said it needed adjustment." "That's a polite way of saying it's too literal." "Oh, you're impossible." Shammy smiled. "Apparently." Nadia turned back toward the model. Three luminous structures moved through a projected space. Their movement changed the patterns connecting them. It was beautiful. But Nadia had been trying to make one part of the installation communicate separation through darkness. Shammy disliked that choice. "Why must distance always look sad?" she asked. Nadia studied the model. "It doesn't have to." "Then why make it so?" Nadia considered. A moment later, she changed a parameter. The darkness became a different kind of light. Quieter. More delicate. But not diminished. Shammy leaned forward. "Oh." Nadia smiled. "Better?" "Much." Nadia looked pleased. Then turned toward her. "You're very difficult to impress." "You impressed me yesterday." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "Several times." Nadia's smile became distinctly mischievous. "Well, that's encouraging." Shammy rose. Crossed the room. And kissed her. The projected sculpture continued moving unattended. Eventually Nadia rested her forehead against Shammy's. "I like having you here." "I like being here." Nadia's expression softened. Then she glanced toward the model. "Unfortunately, we do have work to finish." Shammy laughed. "Do we?" Nadia considered. "Not immediately." "Good." They left the model running and returned to the sofa. --- By late morning, Brenda had discovered something alarming. Not technically alarming. Socially alarming. She was sitting beside Iris in a café when a crew member approached their table. "Rourke?" Iris looked up. Her face brightened. "Adrienne!" The woman laughed. "Oh, wonderful. It really is you." They embraced warmly. Adrienne was off duty, wearing a loose summer outfit and carrying a book. She'd worked with Iris during her final years aboard. The reunion was immediate and cheerful. They spoke about old colleagues. Recent changes aboard. A particularly memorable maintenance incident involving a malfunctioning passenger lift. Brenda listened with interest. Then Adrienne glanced toward Iris's ring. "Oh!" "Yes." Adrienne's expression brightened. "Congratulations!" "Thank you." Iris turned toward Brenda. "This is my wife, Brenda." Adrienne greeted her warmly. "It's good to meet you." "Likewise." They talked for several more minutes. Then Adrienne checked the time. "Oh, I have to run." Iris smiled. "Of course." Adrienne hesitated. Then looked back at her. "I've got tomorrow evening free." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Have you?" Adrienne smiled. "Entirely." Brenda took a sip of her coffee. Iris laughed softly. "I'll message you." Adrienne's smile widened. "Please do." She departed. Brenda watched her go. Then turned toward her wife. Iris was smiling into her coffee. Brenda considered. "Sweetheart." Iris looked up. "Yes?" "Did you actually have time to work when you served aboard this ship?" Iris burst out laughing. "Brenda!" "I'm beginning to wonder." Iris leaned across the table. Kissed her. "Plenty of time." Brenda smiled. "Apparently you also had an excellent social life." Iris considered. "Some of it was rather restrained." Brenda's grin widened. "And now?" Iris smiled sweetly. "I'm on vacation." Brenda laughed so hard that two passengers at the next table turned to look. --- Lunch brought the five together. Shammy arrived directly from Nadia's suite, having stopped at the gallery reception on the way. Ace greeted her with an enthusiastic embrace. Mai kissed her cheek. Brenda waved from the table. Iris smiled. "Good morning, gorgeous." "It's nearly afternoon." Ace shrugged. "Details." They ordered lunch. Shammy told them about the morning's work. Mai listened with particular interest to the way the installation represented distance. Ace studied the sketches. Then smiled. "I like this." Shammy looked at her. "Which part?" "The way things change without disappearing." "That's the idea." Ace glanced toward Mai. Then back at Shammy. "Feels familiar." Shammy's expression softened. "Yes." For a moment, the three shared a quiet smile. Then Brenda leaned forward. "Can I see the model sometime?" Shammy brightened. "Of course." "I'd love to look at the sensing architecture." Ace laughed. "Of course you would." Brenda grinned. "Someone has to." Iris shook her head affectionately. They continued eating. Then Iris's holo chimed. She glanced at it. Smiled. And typed a brief reply. Ace noticed. Mai noticed Ace noticing. Brenda noticed both of them. Shammy calmly continued eating. Ace sighed. "No." Iris looked up. "What?" "Nothing." Iris smiled. "Good." Brenda laughed softly. Ace stared at her. "Oh, don't you start." Brenda blinked innocently. "Start what, sweetie?" Mai tried to suppress a laugh and failed. Ace leaned back. "I give up." Iris raised her glass. "Excellent decision." --- The recreational terraces occupied several connected sections near Aureate II's upper decks. There were swimming pools. Warm-water gardens. Shaded seating areas. A large open terrace looking directly over the ocean. And enough space that guests could enjoy themselves without feeling crowded. Ace and Mai arrived shortly after two. Christina and Lea were waiting beside one of the pools. Christina saw them. Her expression brightened. "There you are!" Ace grinned. "Miss us?" Christina laughed. "Terribly." Lea looked toward Mai. "Ready for an afternoon of doing absolutely nothing productive?" Mai smiled. "Completely." Ace considered. "Swimming is productive." Christina raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "Excellent exercise." Lea laughed. "And lounging?" "Excellent recovery," Ace said. Mai shook her head. "She's got an answer for everything." Christina grinned. "I'm beginning to notice." They settled into a shaded seating area. Drinks arrived. Ace inspected the pool. Then looked toward Christina. "Race you." Christina blinked. "What?" "To the other side." Lea laughed. "Oh, you shouldn't have done that." Mai looked amused. "Why?" Christina stood. "Because I'm going to win." Ace's grin widened. "Oh, luv." She rose. "Now it's serious." --- Christina won. Not by much. But decisively. Ace emerged from the water, brushed her hair away from her face and stared at her. Christina was laughing. "Oh, that was wonderful." Ace pointed at her. "Again." Mai burst out laughing from the poolside. Lea shook her head. "Christina." "What?" "Don't encourage her." Christina grinned. "Too late." Ace turned toward Mai. "Honey, tell her." "Tell her what?" Mai asked. "That I demand a rematch." Mai considered. Then looked toward Lea. "Should we let them?" Lea sighed theatrically. "They'll be doing this all afternoon." Mai laughed. "Probably." Ace grinned. "Correct." They raced again. This time Ace won. Christina immediately demanded a third race. Lea put her face in her hands. Mai laughed so hard she nearly slipped from her chair. Eventually the four abandoned competition in favor of swimming together. They spent the next hour moving between the pool, the warm-water terrace and a shaded lounge overlooking the sea. It was gloriously frivolous. Ace loved every minute. --- At one point, Lea and Mai settled beside the pool while Ace and Christina went to order drinks. Lea glanced toward Mai. "You two seem very happy." Mai smiled. "We are." Lea considered. "Can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Does it ever feel strange?" Mai tilted her head. "What?" "Having so many people you care about." Mai thought for a moment. "Sometimes it's complicated." Lea nodded. "I imagine." "But strange?" Mai smiled. "Not anymore." Lea looked toward the pool. Then back at her. "Christina and I have always been good at making room for things we enjoy." Mai nodded. "I can see that." Lea laughed softly. "But this is a little different." "It is," Mai said. Lea studied her. "Does that worry you?" Mai shook her head. "No." "Not at all?" Mai considered. "I take people seriously. That's different from worrying." Lea's expression softened. "I like that." Mai smiled. "Good." They sat quietly. Then Lea reached for her hand. Mai took it. Across the terrace, Ace and Christina were returning with drinks. Christina was laughing at something Ace had said. Lea watched them. Then shook her head affectionately. "Those two." Mai smiled. "Yes." A pause. Then they both began laughing. --- Elsewhere aboard, Shammy and Nadia had joined Yvette Armand in one of the gallery's larger working spaces. Their installation project had attracted interest. Not formal sponsorship. Not yet. But enough curiosity that the curator had offered them a larger demonstration area. Yvette stood before the projected model, arms folded. She studied it for nearly a minute. Then nodded. "Better." Nadia smiled. "Thank you." Yvette glanced toward Shammy. "Still too polite." Shammy laughed. "Oh?" "The response." Yvette gestured toward the moving structures. "It's beautiful, yes. But people aren't always beautiful." Nadia considered. "They aren't always ugly either." "Of course not." Yvette moved one projected element sharply. The light between the shapes shifted. Then recovered. Yvette smiled. "There." Shammy leaned forward. "Interesting." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "You're suggesting the piece should respond to abrupt changes?" "Exactly." Shammy studied the model. Then smiled slowly. "She's right." Nadia looked toward her. "Traitor." Shammy laughed. "Beloved traitor." Yvette grinned. "Excellent. We agree." They spent another hour experimenting. By the end, the installation had become noticeably more dynamic. Not merely elegant. Alive. Shammy looked toward Nadia. Nadia smiled. "Well." Shammy nodded. "Well." Yvette folded her arms. "Now we're getting somewhere." --- By evening, Aureate II had dimmed part of her upper observation deck for a scheduled skywatching session. The ship had chosen a stretch of sea with relatively little traffic, and the astronomy lecturer had promised a view of the stars that Night City's glare almost never allowed. Ace arrived with Mai, still accusing Christina of tampering with the pool's concept of fairness. Christina was not present to defend herself, which did nothing to slow the prosecution. "If you're finished prosecuting the water," Mai said, "look up." Ace did. For a moment she forgot her next remark. Above the deck, away from the brilliant lights of the passenger spaces, the stars were extraordinarily sharp. Not the tidy decorative sky of a projection. A deep, irregular scatter that seemed too wide for one person to take in. Shammy was standing near the rail with Nadia. Her silver-white hair moved gently around her shoulders. Tonight she had kept it braided loosely back, but a few strands had escaped and drifted above the darker line of her outfit. Nadia leaned against her arm without turning the moment into a performance. "I could watch this for hours," Nadia whispered. "I know," Shammy said. "Your feet have been planted for nine minutes already." Nadia laughed softly and elbowed her. Brenda arrived with Iris and immediately began searching the sky for familiar navigation references. Iris pointed out a set of stars and explained, in crisp practical terms, how those patterns had once helped people return to a place they couldn't see. "In other words," Brenda said, "the universe has been running a navigation service for centuries without billing anyone." "Careful," Iris replied. "Somebody in Night City will hear you and put it behind a subscription." Ace laughed. "Too late. They'll charge by constellation." The lecturer encouraged the passengers to put away their holos for five minutes and look for themselves. For once, almost everyone obeyed. The five spread out along the rail. Nobody had assigned them a formation; their hands simply found the people nearest them. --- Iris was tracing a slow line across the sky for Brenda when her holo vibrated against her wrist. She glanced down, read the name, and almost laughed. "Adrienne?" Brenda guessed. Iris nodded. "She's got tomorrow evening free after all." "And?" "She's asking whether I'd like to see the old viewing gallery. Apparently they've refurbished it." Brenda looked toward the deck below. "That old gallery?" "Yes." "The one where you said the crew used to hide when they needed five minutes away from the passengers?" Iris raised an eyebrow. "I don't recall using the word hide." "Evade responsibility in a romantically atmospheric location, then." "Better." Brenda laughed and tucked herself under Iris's arm. The answer Iris sent was her own, without asking anyone else to compose it. Then she showed her wife the reply: *I'd love to. Tell me when you're free.* Across the deck, Ace had caught half the exchange. "Do I need to reserve a queue number to speak to you?" Iris didn't even turn. "You're welcome to try." "How many old colleagues are there on this boat?" "Enough to keep the ship moving," Iris said. "I used to work here, remember?" Brenda added, "And she's now exceptionally good at enjoying her time off." Ace leaned against Mai. "That is the most terrifying answer either of you could have given." Mai kissed her hair. "You asked a terrible question." Shammy, from the far end of the rail, said very calmly, "A census might be easier, Ace." The laughter rolled along their little section of deck. No outsider needed to know what started it. --- After the lecturer finished, Iris stayed at the rail with Brenda. The crowd drained toward the brightly lit lounges, leaving only a few pairs of passengers beneath the night sky. "You knew all of those stars already," Brenda said. "Some. Not all." "You sounded like you did." Iris turned. "You sounded like you knew every mechanism in the ship's old bulkhead display before we ever got there." "Fair." Brenda tucked a dark-brown strand behind her ear. "Do you ever feel weird about enjoying the ship from this side?" Iris looked toward the dim bridge windows and the lights below them. She knew there would be someone on watch now, someone doing precisely what she once did so that thousands of people could sleep without giving the sea another thought. "Sometimes," she said. "I still catch myself listening for somebody calling my station." She laid her fingertips along the rail, remembering the cool edge of her old bridge console. "Then I remember I don’t have a station anymore. I get to decide where to go next." Brenda didn't rush to reassure her. She stood beside her and watched the water until Iris went on. "The strange part isn't that I miss it. It's that I'm allowed to miss it and still want my life with you more." Brenda gave the old bridge windows a measuring glance. "If you ever miss filling out duty sheets that badly, I have three crates of unlabelled parts at home." "That's not helpful." "It's a genuine offer. I'll even let you color-code them." Iris turned toward her wife. "You'd last twelve minutes." "Eleven, if you're especially gorgeous while shouting." Iris laughed, and the sound surprised her. Brenda had made room for the old ache without trying to erase it. Iris laughed. She drew Brenda into her arms, took a moment to look at her, and kissed her before the light from the passageway reached them again. Elsewhere on the ship, Shammy left with Nadia to talk about the stars as possible material for their installation; Ace and Mai vanished toward a dance floor whose music had finally improved. Brenda stayed at the rail until Iris pointed out one last star. Neither was ready to surrender the dark to the ship's interior lights. ## Chapter 18 — The Pleasure of Being Known The room-service menu had committed an offense Ace considered personal: the cinnamon pastries were gone. She held the holo up to the light as if a different viewing angle might reveal them hidden between breakfast options. "This is unreasonable." Mai looked up from the balcony sofa. "What is, honey?" Ace pointed toward the holo. "They've removed the cinnamon pastries." Shammy, sitting cross-legged beside Mai, glanced over. "From the menu?" "From the breakfast menu." "Tragic." Ace nodded solemnly. "Exactly." Mai set down her coffee. "Darling, there are six other kinds of pastries." Ace looked at her. "That's not the point." "What is the point?" "I wanted cinnamon." "Then ask whether they have any." Ace considered. "Oh." Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, honey." Ace opened the room-service communications channel. Two minutes later, she looked triumphant. "They have cinnamon pastries." Shammy burst out laughing. Mai shook her head. "Wonderful." "Crisis averted." She came over to the sofa, leaned down and kissed Mai. Then Shammy. "Excellent teamwork." Mai grinned. "We're very proud." --- Breakfast arrived twenty minutes later. The pastries were excellent. Ace made certain everyone knew. Mai listened with patient amusement. Shammy quietly took a second one. Ace noticed. "See?" "You're right. They're beautiful." Ace looked delighted. "Thank you." For a while, they ate in comfortable silence. Then Shammy checked her holo. A message from Nadia. She read it. Paused. Then read it again. Mai noticed. "Something interesting?" Shammy turned the holo so Mai could read Nadia's message for herself. Her hair had already begun to lift. Ace leaned forward. "You look like somebody's just handed you the keys to a gallery." "Not the keys," Shammy said. "Something considerably more terrifying: the chance to explain why this should exist. Nadia wants to show our concept to the gallery director." "That's wonderful." Shammy nodded. "Apparently Yvette thinks it's ready for a proper presentation." "Well, gorgeous." Shammy laughed softly. "It's only a preliminary discussion." "Still." Mai reached for her hand. "You two have made something special together." Shammy's expression softened. "Yes." Ace smiled. "And now people are noticing." Shammy considered. "That part is rather exciting." "Good." They discussed the presentation. Nadia wanted Shammy involved. Not merely as a consultant. As a genuine collaborator. Shammy appreciated the distinction. She'd spent enough time working under the Sera identity to know the difference between being invited because someone admired her name and being invited because they actually wanted her ideas. Nadia wanted her ideas. And increasingly, Shammy suspected Nadia wanted considerably more than that. The thought made her smile. --- By late morning, the five had gathered in one of Aureate II's smaller observation cafés. Iris and Brenda were already there. Brenda was examining a dessert menu. Iris looked suspiciously entertained. Ace noticed immediately. "Oh, no." Iris turned. "I haven't said a word." Ace sat down. "That expression." Iris raised an eyebrow. "What expression?" "The one you get when you've been having fun." Brenda started laughing. Mai smiled. "Good morning, loves." Greetings followed. Shammy settled beside Ace. Coffee was ordered. Then Brenda looked toward Iris. "Tell them." Iris sighed theatrically. "Brenda." "What?" "You're impossible." "Completely." Ace leaned forward. "Oh, this is going to be good." Iris considered. Then smiled. "I ran into a former colleague." Ace closed her eyes. "Of course you did." Brenda laughed harder. Iris continued. "Adrienne." Ace opened one eye. "The one who wanted to see you?" "Yes." "And?" "We're meeting this evening." Ace nodded. "Right." A pause. Then she narrowed her eyes. "Meeting?" "That's the word, honey." Ace looked toward her. "You're not helping." "Not trying to." Mai burst out laughing. Shammy smiled into her coffee. Iris leaned back. "Actually, Adrienne suggested we have dinner first." Ace considered. "Dinner." "Yes." "And afterward?" "Her suite." Ace stared. Then began laughing. "Oh, for heaven's sake." Brenda raised her glass. "She's very popular." Iris looked at her wife. "Sweetheart." "What?" Iris laughed. "You're enjoying this far too much." Brenda kissed her cheek. "Not remotely enough." Ace shook her head. "I give up." "Again?" Ace looked toward her. "Don't." --- The morning's entertainment included a small exhibition about Aureate II's design history. Brenda wanted to see it. Daniel had expressed interest as well. Amara was delighted by the opportunity to examine the ship's interiors from a professional perspective. Consequently, Iris and Brenda met the other couple near the exhibition entrance. Amara greeted them warmly. "Good morning!" Brenda smiled. "Morning, gorgeous." Daniel shook hands with Iris. "Looking forward to this." "Me too." The exhibition traced the ship's design from its original concept through later renovations and technological upgrades. Large projected models showed how the vessel's internal spaces had evolved. Amara was fascinated by the architectural decisions. Daniel enjoyed the engineering. Brenda had opinions about nearly everything. Iris listened. Occasionally contributed a detail from her years aboard. And found herself enjoying the unusual perspective of seeing the ship explained to people who hadn't lived inside its workings. At one point, Amara stopped before a projected model of an older lounge arrangement. "Oh, that's interesting." Iris looked over. "What?" "The original seating." Amara gestured toward the model. "It's much more formal." Iris nodded. "It was." "And they changed it?" "During one of the renovations." Amara smiled. "Good decision." Brenda glanced over. "Why?" Amara explained how the revised arrangement encouraged people to form smaller, more flexible groups. Brenda listened. Then grinned. "You're thinking about people the way I think about machinery." Amara laughed. "Hopefully with fewer moving parts." Iris studied Amara for a beat. "Have you met our family?" All four burst out laughing. --- Later, over coffee, Amara found herself talking privately with Iris while Daniel and Brenda examined a technical display. Amara looked thoughtful. "Can I ask you something?" "Of course," Iris said. "About what we discussed the other day." "Marriage?" "Yes." Iris nodded. Amara considered. "Daniel and I talked afterward." "How did it go?" "Well." She smiled. "Better than I expected." Iris listened. Amara continued. "I think we both realized we'd been assuming certain things without ever actually discussing them." Iris nodded. "That happens." "Apparently." Amara laughed softly. "And I think we've decided something." "Oh?" "We don't need to change our marriage just because we've met people who live differently." "That sounds sensible," Iris said. Amara nodded. "But we do want to be more honest about what we actually want." Iris's expression warmed. "That's wonderful." Amara smiled. "Thank you." A pause. Then she added: "And I think we'd both like to spend more time with you and Brenda." Iris's smile widened. "We'd love that." Amara looked pleased. "Good." They finished their coffee. And returned to their spouses. --- Meanwhile, Ace and Mai had gone to meet Christina and Lea near one of the ship's quieter dance studios. Lea had suggested something different. Not a nightclub. Not a performance. A private afternoon of dancing. Christina greeted them with an enthusiastic embrace. Ace grinned. "Hello, trouble." Christina laughed. "That's my line." Lea smiled at Mai. "Ready?" Mai looked interested. "For what?" Lea opened the studio door. "Something I wanted to show you." Inside, the space was quiet. Mirrored walls. A polished floor. Soft lighting. And a music system programmed with a carefully selected playlist. Mai stepped inside. Looked around. Then smiled. "Oh." Lea laughed. "Good?" "If you expect me to leave without learning that sequence, you've seriously misjudged me," Mai said. Christina glanced toward Ace. "She spent half the morning arranging this." Ace smiled. "Excellent taste." Lea looked toward Mai. "I thought you might enjoy learning something new." Mai's expression brightened. "Absolutely." Lea offered her hand. "Then come here." --- The music began gently. Lea demonstrated the first sequence. Mai watched. Then followed. It was a style she hadn't practiced much. More restrained than the dancing she usually preferred. Built around small changes of balance, pauses and deliberate control. She found it fascinating. Lea smiled. "You're quick." Mai laughed. "Not always." "You're doing beautifully." "Thank you." They continued. At the other end of the studio, Christina and Ace were attempting the same sequence. With considerably less discipline. Ace improvised. Christina laughed. They lost the rhythm. Found it again. Then lost it completely when Ace tried to demonstrate a move nobody had requested. Mai glanced over. Shook her head. Lea followed her gaze. "Oh, dear." Mai laughed. "They're having fun." "Apparently." Lea turned back. "Shall we?" Mai smiled. "Absolutely." They continued practicing. Eventually, the movements began to feel natural. Lea stepped closer. Adjusted their position slightly. Mai followed. The music slowed. And for a few moments, they moved together almost without conscious effort. When the piece ended, Lea smiled. "Beautiful." Mai's expression softened. "You're a wonderful teacher." Lea laughed. "Only when the student is this good." Mai stepped closer. Then kissed her. Lea returned it warmly. A few steps away, Ace noticed. She smiled. Christina followed her gaze. Then leaned toward Ace. "Look at those two." Ace nodded. "Yeah." Christina kissed her cheek. "And so are we." Ace grinned. "Absolutely." --- By afternoon, Shammy and Nadia were preparing their presentation. The private design studio had been rearranged to accommodate the gallery director and two members of the curatorial team. Yvette stood near the central console, looking unusually serious. Shammy noticed. "Nervous?" Yvette looked at her. "About the director? No." Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Then what?" Yvette gestured toward the installation. "About whether the thing behaves." Shammy laughed. "Fair." They completed the final checks. Nadia looked toward Shammy. "Ready?" Shammy smiled. "Very." The gallery director arrived shortly afterward. A woman named Estelle Marceau. She greeted Nadia warmly. Then turned toward Shammy. "Sera. I've heard wonderful things." Shammy smiled. "Hopefully accurate ones." Estelle laughed. "We'll see." The presentation began. Nadia explained the original concept. Shammy demonstrated how the installation responded to changes in movement and proximity. Yvette discussed the physical design possibilities. The projected forms moved across the space. Connections appeared. Changed. Disappeared. Returned. Sometimes stronger. Sometimes subtler. But never according to a simple rule that equated physical distance with emotional loss. Estelle watched closely. Asked questions. Then asked several more. By the end, she was smiling. "This is fascinating." Nadia looked pleased. Shammy nodded. "Thank you." Estelle considered. "Have you thought about developing this into a full-scale installation?" Nadia glanced toward Shammy. Shammy looked back. Then smiled. "Yes." Estelle nodded. "Good." She looked toward the curator beside her. "Let's discuss possibilities." --- After the presentation, Nadia stood beside Shammy near the gallery windows. For a while, neither spoke. Then Nadia laughed softly. "Well." "Well," Shammy said. "I think that went rather well." "Very." Nadia turned toward her. "And I think we might have a project." Shammy nodded. "Possibly a very interesting one." Nadia studied her. "Would you want to continue working together after the voyage?" Shammy looked at her. The question was straightforward. But its meaning extended far beyond the installation. "Yes." Nadia's expression softened. "Really?" "Of course." Shammy smiled. "I don't think this should end just because Aureate II reaches Night City." Nadia laughed softly. "Neither do I." They stood close together. Then Nadia reached for her hand. "Good." Shammy kissed her. And for the first time, the possibility of continuing their work beyond the voyage felt less like an appealing idea and more like something they were genuinely beginning to plan. --- That evening, Iris prepared for her dinner with Adrienne. Brenda watched from the bedroom doorway. Her wife had chosen a beautiful outfit. Elegant. Comfortable. Perfectly suited to an evening out. Brenda smiled. "Oh, gorgeous." Iris turned. "Too much?" Brenda laughed. "Not remotely." Iris approached. Brenda adjusted a small detail near her collar. Then kissed her. "You're beautiful." "Thank you, honey." Brenda smiled. "Have a wonderful time." Iris touched her cheek. "I will." A pause. Then she laughed softly. "You really are enjoying this." Brenda grinned. "Immensely." Iris kissed her again. "Love you." "Love you too." Iris collected her bag. Then left the suite. Brenda watched the door close. Smiled. And reached for her holo. Ace had asked her to send a message if anything interesting happened. Brenda considered. Then typed: _Iris has left for dinner with Adrienne. And yes, sweetie, they're planning to spend the evening together afterward. ❤️_ The reply arrived almost immediately. _BRENDA._ Brenda burst out laughing. A second message followed. _I WASN'T READY._ Brenda laughed harder. Then typed: _You'll survive, honey._ --- Dinner with Adrienne was delightful. They chose a small restaurant near the upper passenger decks. Quiet. Elegant. With an excellent view of the ocean. Adrienne was warm, funny and easy to talk to. They shared stories from their years aboard. Discussed mutual friends. Laughed about old incidents. And gradually allowed the conversation to become more personal. At one point, Adrienne rested her hand near Iris's. "I always liked you." Iris smiled. "I know." Adrienne laughed. "Do you?" "Yes." "Then you were very good at pretending not to notice." Iris's expression softened. "I had reasons." Adrienne nodded. "I know." They sat quietly for a moment. Then Adrienne smiled. "And now?" Iris reached for her hand. "Now I'm on my honeymoon." Adrienne raised an eyebrow. "That sounds promising." Iris laughed softly. "It is." They finished dinner. Then walked together through the quiet evening promenades. Adrienne's suite was nearby. At the door, she turned toward Iris. "Would you like to come in?" "Very much," Iris said, smiling. They entered together. Adrienne set her bag beside the sofa and turned, still holding Iris's hand. "Well, then," she said. "Are we going to spend another decade pretending we're merely having an interesting conversation?" Iris laughed. "God, no. We were dreadful at that the first time." Adrienne's answering kiss ended the argument. The years between their last parting and this evening did not vanish; they became something to laugh about as the two women found the familiar ease beneath them. When Iris hesitated, it was because she wanted to look at Adrienne properly. Adrienne recognized the pause, smiled, and waited. "Still here?" she asked. "Exactly where I want to be." Adrienne drew Iris closer. The first kiss had been recognition; the next made it impossible to mistake why she'd invited Iris inside. Iris answered with a confidence that surprised even her, and Adrienne laughed softly when she noticed it. "You used to make me wait until the last person left the bridge," Adrienne murmured. "I used to have a reason." "And now?" Iris held her gaze. "Now I have a choice. I'm making it." Adrienne kissed her again. Iris caught the change in her breathing and stayed instead of turning the moment into another story about their years aboard. There was affection in their remembered familiarity, but also the pleasure of learning who they'd become. Adrienne took Iris's hand and kissed her knuckles, then laughed at her own sudden nervousness. "I'm usually better with words." "So am I," Iris said. "It's becoming inconvenient." She kept Adrienne near, returning to her with a steadiness that felt very different from their years of stolen glances. Their intimate evening was not a reenactment of some lost opportunity; each new touch was an answer to the woman actually present. The trust between them made room for both laughter and a deeper quiet, and neither tried to hurry through either. Later, when they rested together, Adrienne let her head fall against Iris's shoulder. Iris drew a blanket around them and stayed until Adrienne's silence became comfortable rather than uncertain. "That was worth being brave for," Adrienne said. "We were both brave," Iris answered. "Just on different schedules." Only then, still together on the sofa, did Adrienne run her thumb over Iris's wedding ring. "Your wife knows I've been monopolizing you." "She encouraged it. Brenda has rather impeccable taste in women." Adrienne snorted. "And I used to think you were the disciplined one." "I was," Iris answered. "I got better." They dissolved into helpless laughter and stayed until Iris was ready to go, making their farewell an actual part of the evening rather than a missing page. --- Elsewhere aboard, Ace and Mai were enjoying dinner with Christina and Lea. The afternoon's dancing had left everyone pleasantly tired. They'd chosen a relaxed restaurant near the observation decks. Ace was still talking about the studio. Christina laughed. "Honey, you were improvising." Ace looked offended. "Creatively." Lea shook her head. "Very creatively." Mai smiled. "Spectacularly." Ace grinned. "Thank you." Christina looked toward Mai. "She really doesn't know when to stop." Mai laughed. "Oh, she knows." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Do I?" Mai leaned closer. "When I tell you." Christina burst out laughing. Lea smiled. Ace considered. Then grinned. "Fair." They continued eating. Conversation turned toward Washington. Christina and Lea were planning to spend several days ashore before reboarding for the return voyage. Ace's expression brightened. "Oh, wonderful." Maismiled. "We'll be there too." Lea looked pleased. "Then perhaps we can meet." Christina grinned. "Absolutely." Ace raised her glass. "To excellent timing." Their glasses touched. --- Later, Shammy met Ace and Mai briefly in their suite. She'd returned from the gallery to change before meeting Nadia for dinner. Ace looked up when she entered. "Well, gorgeous?" Shammy smiled. "It went wonderfully." Mai rose. "Oh, sweetie!" They embraced. Ace joined them. Shammy told them about the presentation. The director. The possibility of a full-scale installation. And the discussion about continuing the project after the voyage. Ace listened with obvious happiness. "That's fantastic." Mai nodded. "Absolutely." Shammy smiled. "Thank you." Ace tilted her head. "And Nadia?" Shammy's expression softened. "Wonderful." Ace grinned. "Good." Shammy glanced toward the time. "I should get ready." "Going back out?" Mai asked. "Yes. Dinner with Nadia." Ace nodded. "Have fun, gorgeous." Shammy kissed them both. Then went to change. A little later, she emerged wearing an elegant outfit that made Ace whistle appreciatively. "Oh, absolutely gorgeous." Mai smiled. "Beautiful." Shammy laughed. "Thank you." She collected her bag. Kissed them goodbye once more. And left for the restaurant where Nadia was waiting. --- Much later, Brenda sat with Amara and Daniel in a quiet lounge. They'd spent the evening discussing travel plans and the places they hoped to visit in Washington. Eventually Amara glanced toward the entrance. "Where's Iris?" Brenda smiled. "With an old colleague." Amara nodded. "Ah." Daniel looked up. "Working?" Brenda burst out laughing. "Oh, honey." Amara covered her mouth. Daniel blinked. "What?" Brenda grinned. "Very much not working." Daniel stared. Then looked toward Amara. Amara began laughing. "Oh, darling." Brenda took a sip of her drink. Then smiled. "She's having a wonderful evening." Amara looked at her. For a moment, she seemed thoughtful. Then smiled. "And so are you." Brenda nodded. "Very." Daniel considered. Then raised his glass. "Well. To enjoying your honeymoon." Brenda laughed. "I'll drink to that." Their glasses touched. --- Iris returned to her suite late. Brenda was already there, reading beside the balcony windows. She looked up when the door opened. Her expression brightened. "Hello, beautiful." Iris smiled. "Hello, babe." Brenda set down her book. Rose. And crossed the room. They kissed. Brenda touched her cheek. "Wonderful evening?" Iris nodded. "Very." "Good." Iris looked at her. Then laughed softly. "What?" Brenda smiled. "Nothing." "Sweetheart." Brenda leaned closer. "I was just thinking how lucky I am." Iris smiled. "Because?" Brenda kissed her. "Because I married you." Iris's expression softened. "Oh, honey." They stayed together for a while. Then Iris rested her forehead against Brenda's. "Love you." "Love you too, gorgeous." --- The Triad reunited much later. Shammy returned from dinner with Nadia shortly before midnight. Ace and Mai were already in the suite, relaxing after their evening with Christina and Lea. Shammy stepped inside. Ace looked up. "Hello, gorgeous." Mai smiled. "Welcome home." Shammy crossed the room. They embraced. Kissed. And settled together beside the balcony windows. For a while, they talked. About the day. About the dance studio. About the gallery presentation. About Washington. Then Shammy smiled. "I think Nadia and I are going to keep working together." Ace's expression softened. "Good." Mai nodded. "Very good." Shammy looked between them. "And I want to keep seeing her. Not as Sera's next contact. As me." Ace put down her cup. "Good. I'd rather meet the woman who makes your hair perform acrobatics than another artist asking me to pose." "You posed beautifully," Shammy said. "For twelve seconds. Then I got hungry." Mai took Shammy's hand. "Does Nadia know what you want?" "Yes. I told her." Mai's answering look was proud, not permissive. "Then I hope you both get to enjoy finding out where it goes." They remained together for a while. Then eventually went to bed. The magnificent sheets welcomed them. Ace settled between Mai and Shammy. For a while, nobody spoke. Then Mai kissed Ace's shoulder. Shammy reached for her hand. Ace smiled. "Love you." Mai leaned closer. "Love you too, my wife." Shammy smiled. "Love you both." Aureate II continued toward Washington. At the foot of the bed, Shammy's holo blinked with a new sketch from Nadia: the installation's pressure field rendered as a map of overlapping footprints. Shammy reached for it, studied the pattern, then looked at the two women beside her. "She remembered the part about not making anyone disappear," she said. "There are three distinct tracks. If one person moves away, the shape changes; their line doesn’t vanish." Mai leaned forward to see it. Ace narrowed her eyes at the drawing, then pointed to one bright, stubborn mark near the edge. "That one's you. Refusing to stay inside the lines." Shammy's hair curled toward Ace's hand. "That is a remarkably accurate portrait." They argued over which mark belonged to whom until the screen dimmed. Then Mai laid it on the nightstand, and the three settled close together with a new thought to bring into tomorrow. ## Chapter 19 — The Things That Stay Brenda was in love. Admittedly, that was not news. The slightly more interesting detail was that she was currently in love with a door. Iris stood three steps behind her in an Aureate II engineering demonstration gallery, watching her wife examine the mechanism of a beautifully restored mechanical bulkhead. "Brenda." "One second." "You said that four minutes ago." "Because I've been getting more information." "From a door." "A very sophisticated door." Iris folded her arms. Brenda crouched, studying the broad mechanical linkages displayed behind a transparent safety panel. "Oh, you magnificent bastard." A passing passenger gave her a startled look. Iris closed her eyes. "Sweetheart." "What?" "You're flirting with maritime hardware." Brenda looked over her shoulder. "Are you jealous?" "Devastated." "Good. Means you still care." Iris stepped closer, crouched beside her and pointed to one of the assemblies. "Look at the lower connection." Brenda followed her finger. Stopped. Then leaned closer. "Oh." "Yes." "That's clever." "The load transfers through the lower hinge," Iris said. "You don't need the motor to fight the entire door every time." Brenda ran her eyes over the assembly once more. "Oh, that's filthy. Somebody put actual thought into the thing." "Try not to propose to it," Iris advised. Brenda looked at her wife with an expression of almost religious appreciation. "Why didn't you tell me?" "You were busy proposing marriage to the upper hinge." Brenda burst out laughing. "Fair." The demonstration was part of a historical exhibition devoted to Aureate II's construction and the evolution of her mechanical safety systems. A retired engineer had helped design the display, preserving several working examples of earlier equipment alongside modern replacements. Brenda found the entire room intoxicating. Not because it was dangerous. Because it wasn't. Every component had a reason for existing. Every movement had a consequence. Every safeguard represented somebody, somewhere, thinking seriously about the worst moment of another person's life. That mattered to Brenda now in ways it hadn't once. She stood and looked along the enormous mechanical assembly. "You know what I love?" Iris leaned forward, curious. "Do I get three guesses?" "Nobody applauds this." Iris's expression shifted. Brenda gestured toward the mechanism. "This thing works perfectly for years, nobody notices it, and that's considered success." "Yes." Brenda studied it. "That's almost offensive." Iris laughed. "To your former professional philosophy?" "Absolutely." A pause. Then Brenda smiled. "But it's beautiful." Iris reached for her hand. "Yes, honey. It is." They stood together, watching the mechanism complete another slow demonstration cycle. After a moment, Brenda leaned against her wife. "Think I've changed?" Iris considered her. "You've always understood how things work." "That's not what I asked." "I know." Iris kissed her temple. "You've started caring more about what happens afterward." Brenda was quiet. Then she smiled. "Yeah." Iris squeezed her hand. "That's not a bad thing." "No." Brenda looked back toward the mechanical display. "Suppose not." A beat. "Can we see it run again?" "Of course." --- On an upper passenger deck, Ace was losing an argument with a display cabinet. Specifically, a display cabinet containing a remarkably beautiful pair of antique shoes. The cabinet was substantially taller than she was. That wasn't unusual. What annoyed her was the placement of the informational panel. Mai had been reading it comfortably for nearly a minute. Ace could see approximately the bottom third. "Who designed this?" Mai glanced down. "Designed what?" "This." Ace pointed. "The information." Mai looked toward the panel. Then toward Ace. Her expression became suspiciously neutral. "Oh." Ace narrowed her violet eyes. "Don't." "I haven't said anything." "You're thinking it." Mai pressed her lips together. Ace sighed. "Go ahead." Mai leaned down and kissed her. "Would you like me to read it?" Ace considered. "Yes." "Certainly, my wife." Ace looked up at her. Then smiled despite herself. "Damn you." Mai laughed. The exhibition focused on luxury craftsmanship: shoes, jewelry, textiles and accessories from several historical periods, accompanied by contemporary reinterpretations. Ace had been enchanted for half an hour. Mai was enjoying herself almost as much. Perhaps more, given the increasingly inventive things Ace had begun saying about the price tags. "Look at this one," Ace said. Mai stepped closer. A beautifully constructed evening shoe rested inside a glass display. Its design was simple. Its materials were extraordinary. Ace studied the stitching. Then the proportions. Then the heel. "Oh, that's clever." Mai leaned in to inspect the fastening Ace had noticed. "How? Show me where the seam carries the weight." Ace explained. Not with vague admiration, but with the precision of someone who had learned that expensive fashion could involve genuine engineering. Mai listened. "You're right." "Obviously." "Don't ruin it." Ace grinned. They moved toward the next display. A small group of passengers had gathered around a fashion historian giving an informal talk. Ace listened for a while. Then raised her hand. The historian looked toward her. "Yes?" "Why did they abandon the original construction method?" The woman smiled. "Cost, mostly." Ace considered. "Shame." "Quite." "It's better." The historian looked interested. "You think so?" Ace nodded. "Less material. More control over the shape." The historian's smile widened. "Exactly." Mai watched her wife with unmistakable amusement. Ace noticed. "What?" "Nothing." "Mai." "I just like seeing you enjoy yourself." Ace's expression softened. Then she slipped her hand into Mai's. "Good." --- The message arrived while Shammy was getting dressed. _Gallery director has proposed a formal development meeting. Can you come at eleven? — Nadia_ Shammy read it twice. Her silver-white hair lifted slightly from her shoulders. Then rose another few centimeters. Ace, sitting on the bedroom sofa, looked up. "Oh?" Shammy turned. "What?" Ace pointed. "Your hair." Shammy glanced toward the mirror. "Oh." A faint halo was forming. Mai looked over from the wardrobe. "Good news?" Shammy read the message once more, her hair beginning to lift. "The gallery director wants a formal development meeting. Nadia thinks they might actually let us build the full thing." She showed them Nadia's message. Ace grinned. "Well, gorgeous." Mai embraced her. "That's wonderful." Shammy's hair rose another fraction. Ace burst out laughing. "Oh, you're pleased." Shammy looked at her. "I'm allowed." "Absolutely." Ace reached up toward the faintly charged strands. One drifted toward her fingers before she'd quite touched it. She grinned. "Very pleased." Shammy caught her hand. "And you are enjoying yourself far too much." "Correct." Mai laughed. Then glanced toward the long garment bag hanging beside the wardrobe. "Which one?" Shammy followed her gaze. The bag contained a sculptural white couture creation designed specifically for her public appearances as Sera. She smiled. "The second." "Good choice," Mai said. Ace looked toward the bag. "Is that the one with the impossible shoulders?" "Yes." "Excellent." "Why?" "Because the gallery director deserves to be intimidated properly." Mai closed her eyes. "Ace." "What?" Shammy's hair expanded into a soft, amused halo. "She's not entirely wrong." Ace pointed triumphantly. "See?" --- At eleven, Sera entered the gallery's private meeting room. Nadia had been waiting beside Yvette. Both turned when the door opened. Nadia smiled immediately. Then stopped. "Oh." Sera's white couture was architectural rather than traditionally flowing. The garment rose in sculptural folds around one shoulder and fell in long, carefully balanced lines down her 195-centimeter frame. The fabric caught the gallery lighting with a pale, almost porcelain luminosity. It looked expensive. Not merely luxurious. Unreasonably expensive. A small movement of air passed through the room as she entered. Several strands of silver-white hair lifted gently around her face. Nadia stared. Sera smiled. "Too much?" Nadia shook her head. "No." Yvette gave a quiet laugh. "Absolutely not." Nadia approached. Looked her over. Then smiled slowly. "You're spectacular." Sera's hair rose. Not dramatically. Just enough. Nadia noticed. Her smile widened. "And apparently I've embarrassed you." Sera looked toward the nearest reflective surface. "Oh, dear." "I love that." Sera considered. Then said with perfect composure: "My hair has dreadful professional discipline." Yvette burst out laughing. "Wonderful. Shall we begin before it starts negotiating the contract?" Sera's halo expanded. Nadia took her hand. And together, they approached the table. --- The meeting lasted almost two hours. Estelle Marceau had brought preliminary exhibition plans, technical questions and a surprisingly ambitious proposal. She wanted the installation developed beyond its original small-scale concept. A full gallery. Multiple spatial zones. A work that visitors could move through rather than merely observe. Nadia studied the projected plans. Sera listened. Yvette discussed practical requirements. Eventually Estelle looked toward them. "The central problem," she said, "is that we need the responses to feel organic." Sera tilted her head. "Organic?" "Human. Unpredictable." Sera considered. Then shook her head. "Unpredictability isn't the same as humanity." Estelle looked interested. "Go on." Sera approached the projected model. She adjusted one of the visual relationships. Two forms moved apart. A thin connection remained. "People don't always know what they feel when they enter a room." Nadia nodded. Sera continued. "And they don't always leave a connection behind simply because they've walked away." She moved another form. The light changed. "Sometimes distance is relief. Sometimes it's longing. Sometimes it's just distance." Estelle studied the model. "How do you show the difference?" Sera smiled. "You don't decide it for them." Nadia stepped beside her. "The visitor completes the meaning." Sera nodded. Estelle considered. Then smiled. "That's a very interesting answer." Yvette looked delighted. The discussion continued. By the time the meeting ended, a genuine working proposal had begun taking shape. The gallery was interested in supporting development. Nadia and Sera would retain creative control. Further arrangements would need to be discussed after the voyage. Nothing had been signed. But the possibility was real. --- Afterward, Nadia and Sera remained alone in the studio. Nadia stood looking at the proposed gallery layout. Then turned. "Well." Sera smiled. "Well." Nadia laughed. "Can you believe that?" "Yes." "Really?" Sera nodded. "It's a good idea." Nadia burst out laughing. "Oh, you." She crossed the room. Caught Sera's hand. Then kissed her. Sera's hair rose immediately. Not into a small halo this time. A magnificent silver-white corona lifted around them, faintly luminous in the gallery's subdued light. Nadia opened her eyes. Looked upward. And laughed softly. "Oh, Sera." Sera closed her eyes. "Please don't." "Don't what?" "Comment." "I wasn't going to." Sera opened one eye. "Liar." Nadia kissed her again. The halo widened. For a moment, Nadia simply watched it. Then her expression changed. Became softer. More thoughtful. "I think," she said quietly, "that I like this version of you." Sera looked at her. "What version?" "The one who doesn't always keep everything perfectly composed." Sera's smile faded into something more vulnerable. Her hair shifted. Some strands settled. Others remained floating gently around her shoulders. Nadia touched her cheek. "You don't need to perform for me." Sera was quiet. Then she smiled. "I know." Nadia nodded. "Good." A pause. Then Sera added: "But I do rather enjoy dressing for you." "Oh, darling," Nadia said. She kissed her again. And the halo returned with absolutely no concern for professional dignity. --- By afternoon, the ship's position displays were showing the approaching American coastline. Ace noticed Reyes had finally replied to the ridiculous photo she'd sent two days earlier. *That much dessert should require a permit.* A second message followed immediately: *Seriously. Glad you look happy.* Ace looked at the sea for another moment before answering. *I am. Miss you.* Then she joined the others without waiting for a reply. Washington was no longer an abstract destination. The final approach would take place after another night at sea. Aureate II's passengers were beginning to discuss shore plans. Restaurants. Museums. Shopping. Sightseeing. Ace had already constructed an alarmingly ambitious list of boutiques. Mai had reviewed it. Then quietly reduced the number of shops they could plausibly visit in one afternoon. Ace was outraged. "That's censorship." Mai looked at her. "It's scheduling." "Same thing." "No." Ace considered. Then grinned. "Oppression." Mai sighed. "Honey." "What?" "We have several days." Ace blinked. "Oh." Mai smiled. "Exactly." Ace looked toward her shopping list. Then back at Mai. "You're very good at this." "I know." Ace kissed her. "Love you." "Love you too, my wife." They were sitting in a small café near the observation deck when Christina and Lea arrived. Christina greeted them with warm embraces. Lea settled beside Mai. "Planning Washington?" Ace nodded. "Very seriously." Christina smiled. "Should we be worried?" Mai looked at her. "Financially? Probably not." Ace grinned. "Logistically?" "Absolutely." Lea laughed. Christina leaned toward Ace. "We found something you might enjoy." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "A small private fashion exhibition ashore." Ace's expression changed instantly. Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, no." Christina looked delighted. "Interested?" Ace grinned. "Very." Lea laughed softly. "I think we've made a mistake." Mai shook her head. "Possibly." Ace leaned forward. "Tell me everything." --- Iris and Brenda spent the late afternoon on an open observation deck. The wind was mild. The sea calm. Brenda leaned against the railing, watching the horizon. Iris stood beside her. They'd spent much of the day exploring the ship's technical history. Now Brenda was unusually quiet. Iris noticed. "Thinking?" Brenda nodded. "Yeah." "About?" Brenda considered. "How ridiculous this thing is." Iris looked toward the vessel stretching away behind them. "Aureate?" "Yeah." Brenda smiled. "She's enormous." "She is." "And complicated." "Very." Brenda shook her head. "Thousands of systems. Thousands of people. All moving together." Iris nodded. Brenda looked toward her. "And your father runs the whole thing." Iris smiled. "With a great deal of help." "Still." Brenda considered. "That's a hell of a responsibility." Iris studied her wife. Then smiled. "Yes." Brenda reached for her hand. "I think I understand a little better now." "Understand what?" "Why you were the way you were when we first met." Iris laughed softly. "Oh?" Brenda nodded. "Everything had consequences." Iris looked toward the ocean. "Everything still does." "I know," Brenda said. For a while, they stood quietly. Then Brenda turned toward her. "And I love you." Iris's expression softened. "Oh, honey." Brenda kissed her. Then smiled. "Even if you did threaten to have me removed from an engineering demonstration." Iris laughed. "You were trying to climb inside it." "I was examining the access geometry." "You had one leg over the barrier." "Technical distinction." Iris shook her head. "Sweetheart." Brenda grinned. "Yes?" "Don't." Brenda laughed. "Yes, Lieutenant." Iris raised an eyebrow. Brenda's grin widened. "Oh, that's a good look." Iris caught her around the waist. "You're trouble." Brenda kissed her. "Married trouble." Iris smiled. "Mine." Brenda's expression softened. "Yours." --- Millard intercepted the five before dinner with the unmistakable air of someone who had decided to improve their evening. "Don't look at me like that," she told Iris. "I'm not stealing your father from the bridge. I'm stealing all of you from your schedules." Brenda glanced at Ace. "We have schedules?" "Ace's shoe list has eighteen entries," Mai replied. "I checked." "Preliminary research," Ace insisted. Millard marched them toward a small passenger lounge that had been set aside for a family gathering. Instead of dinner, she had arranged an assortment of maps, photographs from earlier Washington visits and a frankly unreasonable amount of dessert. One of the images showed a younger Iris standing beside her father outside a museum, looking as though someone had asked her to smile for an incident report. Brenda picked it up. "Oh, gorgeous. You were born with that face." Iris took it from her. "That was my highly trained professional expression." "You were eleven." "Early development." Ace inspected the photograph. "I respect the commitment." The next picture showed Henry and Millard laughing together near the river, Iris squeezed between them and looking slightly less severe. Iris held that one a moment longer. Millard noticed but didn't interrupt. "Dad still hasn't forgiven you for buying a ridiculous souvenir that year," Iris said at last. Millard looked pleased. "He kept it. I've seen it in his office." Shammy held up a photograph showing a sculpture installed in a public square. "This one?" Millard nodded. "I thought you'd like the materials. It's beautiful in the evening, when the light moves across the surface." The conversation spread naturally. Mai asked about dance venues. Brenda marked a shop dealing in old precision instruments. Ace made a number of entirely unreasonable proposals regarding shopping hours. Nobody prevented her from making them; Mai simply rearranged the day so nobody would lose half the afternoon inside one boutique. When Henry finally appeared, still in his working jacket, he stopped at the doorway and watched his wife pointing out a favorite neighborhood to the newlyweds. "Am I allowed to join this planning committee?" he asked. Iris grinned. "Only if you promise not to put me on the bridge tomorrow." "Never even crossed my mind." Millard looked at him. Henry sighed. "All right. Once." Brenda roared with laughter. Iris caught her father's hand and drew him toward the photographs. He stayed only a few minutes before the next call arrived, but long enough to point out a restaurant he thought Ace would love. Then he kissed both Iris and Brenda goodbye and returned to command his ship. --- Afterward, the five carried their notes back through the passenger decks. The windows reflected an enormous ship changing her posture toward landfall: luggage moving quietly toward collection points, directions appearing on corridor displays, familiar crew members beginning their arrival routines. Iris paused beside a window and watched a service team check a passage without drawing attention to themselves. Once, she would have been responsible for that tiny piece of somebody else's evening. She could remember the exact checklists; she did not miss needing to complete them. Brenda slipped her arm around her. "Going to offer them a hand?" "No." "Not even a small one?" "Brenda, I'd rather kiss my wife." "Excellent professional development." Iris kissed her, thoroughly enough to make Brenda forget whatever she had been about to say. When they separated, Brenda glanced back toward the service team. "You know, I’ve never seen you ignore a checklist with such dedication." "I’m learning." Ahead of them Ace was talking to Shammy about whether a monument could possibly be worth getting up early for. Mai, holding her wife's hand, was pointing out that the timetable contained museums as well as shoe shops. Shammy offered to carry the map, which Ace immediately interpreted as an endorsement of her entire plan. At the junction between the suites, Brenda asked whether tomorrow's tour contained any establishments willing to let a woman admire excellent engineering in peace. Ace recommended a shoe store. Mai recommended a museum. Iris looked at all three of them. "I've booked the transport," she said. "I have not booked your behavior." "Coward," Brenda accused affectionately. Shammy slipped an arm through Mai's. "Let's keep it that way." Ace turned back once before following them. "If anyone asks, I was never here." "You've said that under much worse circumstances," Iris called after her. Ace's laughter carried to the far end of the corridor. Washington could wait until morning. ## Chapter 20 — A Capital Idea Ace had been awake for forty minutes before Mai finally asked the obvious question. "Are you planning to wear a hole in the carpet?" Ace stopped pacing. Looked down. Then back at her wife. "No." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Wonderful. Because the carpet is innocent." From the bed came a low, delighted laugh. Shammy had been awake for some time herself, enjoying the spectacle of Ace attempting to remain patient. It was not going well. Her silver-white hair had spread across the pillow and was beginning to rise in a soft halo. Ace pointed at her. "Don't start." Shammy smiled. "I haven't said anything." "Your hair has." A few more strands rose. Mai laughed and sat up. Outside their balcony windows, Aureate II was completing the final stages of her approach to Washington. The city was visible beyond the harbor infrastructure. Their destination. After days of ocean, restaurants, new friendships, unexpected romances and enough laughter to fill a small novel, they had finally arrived. Ace looked toward the window. Then toward Mai. "Can we go yet?" Mai considered. "Have they docked?" "Almost." "Has the captain cleared disembarkation?" "Not yet." "Have we had breakfast?" Ace sighed. "No." Mai smiled. "Then no." Shammy burst out laughing. Her halo expanded dramatically. Ace stared at both of them. "Mutiny." Mai rose, crossed the room and kissed her. "Marriage, my wife, marriage." Ace considered. Then grinned. "Ah. Right." Shammy stretched, her long arms reaching toward the headboard. "Coffee first?" Ace turned immediately. "Finally. Someone reasonable." Mai shook her head. "That's what I've been saying for the last ten minutes." "Yes, but Shammy said it nicely." The air acquired a faint static charge. Mai narrowed her eyes. Ace laughed. And Washington's first morning began exactly as it should. With three women in love, one spectacular view and a completely unnecessary argument about breakfast. --- Brenda woke to the gentle vibration of docking machinery somewhere deep inside Aureate II. Not an alarm. Not a malfunction. Just the unmistakable rhythm of a very large vessel allowing itself to become temporarily stationary. She opened her eyes. Listened. Then smiled. "Beautiful." Beside her, Iris stirred. "Good morning to you too." Brenda turned. Her wife was watching her with sleepy amusement. "Sorry." "No, you're not." "Absolutely not." Iris laughed softly. Brenda leaned closer and kissed her. "Morning, gorgeous." "Morning, sweetheart." They remained together for a while, listening to the ship. Then Brenda lifted her head. "Did that sound different to you?" Iris closed her eyes. "Brenda." "What?" "We're on our honeymoon." "I know." "The ship is docking." "I know." "You are not required to identify every sound made by its machinery." Brenda pressed one hand to the floor to feel the remaining docking vibration. "Required? No. But tell that to this excellent piece of engineering." Iris opened one eye. Brenda grinned. "Interested? Deeply." Iris caught her around the waist and drew her closer. "Then perhaps I can interest you in something else." Brenda's grin softened. "Oh?" "Something that doesn't involve a gearbox." Brenda kissed her. "You're making an excellent argument, Lieutenant." Iris smiled against her mouth. "Former lieutenant." "Still very persuasive." For a while, the machinery continued working without their supervision. Neither woman complained. --- By the time the five assembled for breakfast, Captain Henry Rourke had already sent them a message. Their accommodations aboard Aureate II would remain available throughout the Washington stopover. Naturally. They were his guests. And, in the case of two of them, his recently married daughters and daughter-in-law. Ace read the message. Then looked toward Iris. "Your father is wonderful." Iris smiled. "He has his moments." Brenda glanced at the message. Then grinned. "Also, apparently we're allowed to come and go as we please." "Within the passenger-access arrangements," Iris corrected. Brenda sighed theatrically. "There she is." Iris raised an eyebrow. "What?" "My wife. Ruining perfectly good reckless interpretations with facts." Ace laughed. Mai looked toward Shammy. "At least Iris understands." "Someone has to." Her hair lifted gently. Brenda pointed at the group. "I feel outnumbered." Iris kissed her cheek. "You married into this voluntarily." Brenda considered. "Best bad decision of my life." "Only bad?" Brenda leaned over. Kissed her properly. "Best decision. Full stop." Ace lifted her coffee. "To Washington." Five cups met above the table. Then Ace looked toward Mai. "Shopping?" Mai sighed. "We haven't even left the ship." "Planning ahead." --- They disembarked shortly before ten. Aureate II remained behind them, enormous and reassuringly familiar, as they passed through the passenger terminal and into Washington's morning. Ace paused outside. Looked back at the vessel. Then toward Mai. "We really get to come back whenever we like?" "Yes." "Same suite?" "Yes." "Same bed?" Shammy's hair rose. Mai smiled. "Yes, honey." Ace considered. "Excellent." Brenda laughed. "Planning something?" Ace glanced at her. "Several things." Mai raised an eyebrow. Ace smiled innocently. "Tourism." Iris shook her head. "Of course." They continued toward the waiting transport. Shammy walked alongside Ace, the considerable difference in their heights making passing tourists look twice. Her silver-white hair moved softly in the morning air. Then, when Ace took her hand, several strands lifted against the breeze. Shammy looked down at her. Ace grinned. "Happy?" Shammy watched a strand of hair wind around their joined hands. "We're all off the ship, and nobody's waiting for me to answer as Sera. I like that." Ace squeezed her fingers. "You're still the tallest thing in the street." "That's an unfortunate limitation of my disguise." Mai caught Ace's other hand. "Now, about this shopping list—" Ace groaned. "Don't." "We have today, two more full days, and departure morning," Mai reminded her. "Exactly." "You've scheduled enough shopping for six." Ace considered. "Efficient?" Mai laughed. "Ambitious." "Optimistic." Ace nodded. "I prefer optimistic." --- Their first destination was an elegant shopping district filled with boutiques, specialist designers and fashion houses. Ace was enchanted almost immediately. Not by every shop. She was surprisingly selective. She passed several impressive storefronts with barely a glance. Stopped at one smaller window. Studied a jacket. Then turned toward Mai. "That." Mai followed her gaze. A beautifully tailored piece rested on a display mannequin. Deep charcoal fabric. Subtle violet detailing. A cut designed around movement rather than purely decorative form. Mai smiled. "Oh, yes." Ace looked delighted. "You see it?" "I do." Shammy leaned closer. Her hair lifted with curiosity. "Beautiful construction." Ace nodded. "Exactly." Iris studied the display. "Very you." Brenda grinned. "Does it come in your size?" Ace gave her a flat look. Brenda immediately raised both hands. "Not an insult. Genuine question." Ace considered. "Acceptable." They entered. The consultant who greeted them took one look at Ace's 145-centimeter frame and asked whether she preferred a fitted or slightly relaxed silhouette. Ace stared. Then smiled slowly. "Oh, you're good." The woman laughed. "We try." Within fifteen minutes, Ace was standing before a mirror wearing a jacket that fitted so beautifully even Mai stopped talking. Ace noticed. Turned. "Well?" Mai approached. Adjusted the collar with two careful fingers. Then stepped back. "You're buying that." "I thought you were supposed to restrain me." "From foolish purchases." "And this?" "Isn't one." Her silver-white hair rose into a faint halo of approval. Brenda watched. Then leaned toward Iris. "Do you think the hair is voting?" Iris smiled. "Probably." Ace caught the reflection of their expressions. "You're all terrible." Mai kissed her cheek. "Yes, my wife." Ace immediately lost interest in arguing. --- For a moment they let the shopping crowd flow around them. Brenda stepped close, tilted Iris's face toward her and kissed her with none of the careful discretion she'd once thought she owed the world. "What was that for?" Iris asked when she could speak. "My wife is here. I'm exercising my rights as a hopeless romantic." Iris's answering smile was private, more eloquent than any monument they had seen that day. She took Brenda's hand and kept it for the rest of the walk. While Ace completed her purchase, Iris and Brenda wandered toward a neighboring designer. Brenda had noticed something in the window. Not a dress. Not shoes. A beautifully constructed leather jacket. Iris followed her gaze. "Like it?" Brenda nodded. "It's clever." "That usually means trouble." "No, look." Brenda pointed toward the seams. "The panel arrangement. It lets the jacket move without pulling against the shoulders." Iris studied it. Then glanced toward her wife. "Try it." "What?" "Go on." "It's expensive." Iris let the silence stretch. "We're on our honeymoon." "That doesn't make it less expensive." "No." "But it does mean you're allowed to buy something beautiful simply because you want it." Brenda was quiet for a moment. Then she grinned. "You're a dangerous influence." "Apparently." Inside, Brenda tried the jacket. It fitted perfectly. Dark brown. Beautifully finished. Practical enough for everyday wear. Elegant enough to make Iris forget her intended comment. Brenda noticed. "Oh?" Iris smiled. "Buy it." "Yes, Lieutenant." "Brenda." "What?" "Buy the jacket." Brenda kissed her. "Gladly." --- By lunchtime, the five had acquired enough purchases to make Mai suggest arranging delivery directly to Aureate II. Ace stared. "You're sending our shopping back to the ship?" "Yes." "Without us?" "Yes." Ace considered. Then smiled. "Oh, that's brilliant." Mai folded her arms. "I know." Her hair lifted. "More room to shop." Mai turned slowly. "Shammy." "What?" "Don't encourage her." Shammy smiled. "But she's happy." Ace pointed triumphantly. "Exactly." Brenda leaned toward Iris. "I think we've identified the real problem." "Mai has two accomplices." "Three," Brenda corrected. Iris looked at her. Brenda grinned. "I'm enjoying this far too much to stop." --- Lunch took place in a quiet courtyard restaurant shaded by trees. They ordered generously. Ace spent several minutes describing the craftsmanship of her new jacket. Brenda compared it to the construction of her own. Mai listened. Then made the mistake of asking how much either had cost. Ace and Brenda exchanged a look. Iris started laughing. Shammy's hair rose. Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, wonderful." Ace smiled sweetly. "Honey." "No." "It's our honeymoon." "I know." "Then surely—" Mai reached across the table. Took Ace's hand. And kissed her. Ace stopped talking. Brenda stared. Then whispered to Iris: "That's terrifyingly effective." Iris grinned. "Take notes." Brenda looked at her. "Oh, gorgeous." They kissed. Shammy watched the exchange with delighted amusement. The hair around her shoulders began to spread. Ace looked toward her. "Oh, you're enjoying this." "Immensely." The waiter arrived with their food. Everyone settled. Conversation turned toward the afternoon. Ace had more boutiques in mind. Iris wanted to explore a few smaller shops. Brenda was interested in anything involving mechanical craftsmanship. And Shammy had mentioned a particularly unusual perfumery she'd noticed while researching the city. Mai looked up. "Perfume?" Shammy nodded. "Custom work." Ace considered. "Oh." Brenda smiled. "What?" Ace leaned forward. "That sounds interesting." Shammy's hair lifted gently. "I thought it might." --- The perfumery was unlike anything they had visited that morning. Its entrance was almost discreet. No enormous advertisements. No flashing projections. Only a carefully engraved sign and a narrow doorway opening into a beautifully lit interior. Glass bottles lined the walls. Some tiny. Some elaborate. Some containing liquids that caught the light in unexpected ways. The air was astonishingly delicate. Not overwhelmed by competing scents. Balanced. Layered. Almost musical. A woman approached them. "Welcome." She introduced herself as Sabine Arnaud. The proprietor. Ace looked around. "Oh, this is exactly what I wanted." Sabine smiled. "Thank you." Shammy stepped closer to a display containing several unusual fragrance compositions. Her hair moved softly. Sabine noticed. Her eyes widened almost imperceptibly. Then she smiled. "Interesting." Shammy tilted her head, considering the display of scent samples. "You aren't grouping these by ingredient. Are you organizing them by the memories they suggest?" "That's exactly the idea," Sabine said, gesturing toward a private consultation area. "Are you looking for something particular?" Mai glanced toward Ace. Then toward Shammy. "Perhaps." Ace grinned. "We're on our honeymoon." Sabine's expression brightened. "Congratulations." Iris smiled. "Thank you." Brenda looked toward the display. "We're actually two couples and a…" She paused. Ace raised an eyebrow. Shammy smiled. Mai rescued her. "A family with a slightly unusual structure." Sabine considered. Then nodded. "Wonderful." She gestured toward the consultation room. "That may make this especially interesting." --- The room contained five comfortable chairs arranged around a low table. Sabine brought out a selection of scent samples. Then explained her specialty. Individually composed fragrances. Designed around the wearer's skin chemistry, preferences and existing emotional associations. Some used subtle synthetic pheromonal components, carefully calibrated to enhance an atmosphere of attraction already present between consenting partners. She was very clear about the limits. "No perfume can manufacture affection," she said. Ace nodded. "Good." "Nor should it." Mai smiled. "Agreed." Sabine continued. "What we can do is create compositions that feel particularly compelling to people who already enjoy one another's company." Shammy tilted her head. "Like a familiar voice in a crowded room?" Sabine smiled. "Exactly." The comparison pleased her. "So," she continued, "tell me about yourselves." Ace looked toward Mai. Then Shammy. A mischievous smile appeared. "Oh, this is going to be fun." --- They began with Iris and Brenda. Sabine asked them separately about their favorite scents. Iris preferred clean, understated notes. Wood. Fresh air after rain. A hint of citrus. Something composed rather than sweet. Brenda surprised everyone. She liked warmth. Amber. Soft spices. The faint metallic suggestion of old machinery, although Sabine gently explained that making a person smell like a workshop was probably not the desired result. Brenda laughed. "Fair." Iris smiled. "Very fair." Sabine considered their preferences. Then prepared two preliminary compositions. One for Iris. One for Brenda. Different. But designed to complement each other when worn together. Brenda sampled hers. Closed her eyes. Then smiled. "Oh." Iris tried her own. Her expression changed. Brenda noticed. "What?" Iris looked toward her. Then stepped closer. "Come here." Brenda did. Iris rested one hand against her waist. Leaned near her neck. And smiled slowly. "Oh, sweetheart." Brenda's grin widened. "Good?" "Very." Brenda leaned toward Iris in turn. Inhaled gently. Then laughed softly. "Oh, gorgeous." Sabine watched with professional satisfaction. "I think we're close." Brenda considered. Then looked toward Iris. "Are we buying these?" Iris smiled. "Absolutely." --- The Triad required a little more thought. Sabine listened carefully as Mai explained that they weren't looking for three matching fragrances. They wanted three individual compositions that complemented one another. Shammy added something important. "None of us should disappear inside the combination." Sabine looked at her. Then smiled. "Precisely." Ace leaned forward. "And they should still work separately." Mai nodded. "Yes." Sabine studied the three women. Then began asking questions. Ace liked sharper scents. Dark woods. Subtle spice. Something clean beneath the warmth. Not too sweet. Mai preferred elegance and balance. Cool florals. Delicate citrus. A richer base that emerged gradually rather than announcing itself immediately. Shammy had a more unusual answer. She liked scents that changed. Not merely faded. Something with an airy, almost mineral opening that settled into warmth. Sabine looked fascinated. Then she began working. The first attempts were promising. The second round was better. By the third, the three women had begun leaning toward one another without quite noticing. Ace caught the scent of Mai's wrist. Paused. Then looked up. "Oh." Mai smiled. "Yes?" Ace leaned closer. "That's dangerous." Sabine laughed softly. Mai raised an eyebrow. "Dangerous?" Ace kissed her wrist. "Extremely." Shammy's hair lifted. Ace looked toward her. Then leaned close enough to catch her fragrance. Her expression changed again. "Oh, for—" Mai started laughing. "What?" Ace looked between them. "You're both impossible." Shammy smiled. Her halo expanded. "Apparently." Mai stepped closer to Shammy. Sampled the scent. Then looked at her. For a moment, neither spoke. A faint electrical charge stirred the air. Mai smiled slowly. "Oh, sweetie." Shammy's hair rose another fraction. Ace looked delighted. "That's the one." Sabine considered. Then nodded. "Yes." She studied the three compositions together. "Individually complete. Better together." Mai looked toward Ace. Then Shammy. "That sounds familiar." Ace grinned. "Very." Shammy took their hands. Her silver-white hair softened and settled around her shoulders. "Perfect." --- The fragrances would need final adjustment and bottling. Sabine promised delivery to Aureate II before the ship departed Washington. Three individual perfumes for the Triad. Two complementary ones for Iris and Brenda. Five distinct compositions. No magical promises. No manufactured desire. Just another way for people who already loved one another to enjoy being close. Ace was delighted. Brenda was fascinated by the chemistry. Iris admired the craftsmanship. Mai appreciated the precision. And Shammy looked unexpectedly thoughtful. As they left, Mai noticed. "Something on your mind?" Shammy nodded. "Yes." Ace glanced up. "Oh?" Shammy smiled. "I think Nadia would enjoy meeting Sabine." Mai considered. "Because of the art?" "Because she understands that something can change when another person enters the room." Ace grinned. "Sounds familiar." Shammy's hair lifted. "Yes." She looked back at the shop. Then smiled. "Very familiar." --- They separated briefly during the late afternoon. Ace, Mai and Shammy continued exploring the fashion district. Iris and Brenda chose a quieter route through several smaller stores. Brenda discovered an antiques shop containing beautiful mechanical instruments. She spent twenty minutes studying a restored clock mechanism. Then another ten discussing its construction with the proprietor. Iris watched with affection. Eventually Brenda looked toward her. "You're very patient." Iris smiled. "I've had practice." Brenda laughed. "With me?" "Among other things." Brenda stepped closer. Then kissed her. "Love you." Iris's expression softened. "Love you too." They wandered on. A little later, Brenda noticed a small shop selling handcrafted accessories. She stopped outside. Iris followed her gaze. Inside was a beautifully made leather watch strap. Simple. Elegant. Practical. Brenda looked toward Iris's watch. Then back at the display. "Wait here." Iris did not budge. "Why?" "Because." "Brenda." "Trust me." Iris considered. Then smiled. "All right." Ten minutes later, Brenda returned carrying a small parcel. She offered it to her wife. Iris opened it. Looked inside. Then smiled. "Oh, honey." Brenda looked suddenly shy. "Thought it might suit you." Iris studied the strap. Then looked toward Brenda. "It's beautiful." Brenda smiled. "Good." Iris drew her close. Kissed her. And for a while, neither cared particularly about the people walking past. --- Meanwhile, Ace had found another pair of shoes. Mai knew because her wife had stopped speaking. That was the first warning. The second was the look of reverence. The third was the tiny, almost inaudible: "Oh." Mai followed her gaze. Then closed her eyes. "Ace." Ace looked up. "Honey." "No." Ace smiled. "You haven't seen them." "I can see them." "But—" Mai reached down. Caught her hand. Then leaned close enough to whisper something. Ace went very still. Shammy looked between them. Her hair lifted with interest. Ace's cheeks colored faintly. Then she grinned. "Oh, that's unfair." Mai smiled. "I thought it might be persuasive." Ace considered. Looked toward the shoes. Then back at her wife. "Can I buy them afterward?" Mai laughed. Shammy's hair spread into a delighted halo. "Oh, she's hopeless." Ace pointed at her. "You're supposed to be on my side." "I am." "Then help." "Buy the shoes," Shammy said. Mai stared. Shammy laughed. Ace looked triumphant. "See?" Mai shook her head. "Fine." Ace kissed her. "Love you." "I know." --- They returned to Aureate II shortly before sunset. Not to check into another building. Not to unpack again. Not to exchange their familiar rooms for hotel suites. Simply to come home to the ship. The terminal staff greeted them. Their purchases had already been delivered. Ace was delighted. Mai was relieved. Shammy was amused. Brenda announced that she intended to spend several minutes doing absolutely nothing before dinner. Iris looked at her. "Several minutes?" "At least five." "Ambitious." Brenda grinned. "Trying something new." They went their separate ways along familiar corridors. Iris and Brenda toward their suite. The Triad toward theirs. For Ace, Mai and Shammy, the return felt immediately comfortable. The room smelled faintly of familiar linens and sea air. Their belongings were exactly where they'd left them. Ace dropped onto the sofa. "Oh, that's good." Mai smiled. "Tired?" "No." Shammy raised an eyebrow. Ace considered. "A little." Mai laughed. Shammy sat beside her. Her long legs stretched comfortably across the floor. Ace immediately leaned against her. "Good day." Shammy smiled. "Wonderful day." Mai joined them. Then reached for Ace's hand. "Ready for dinner?" Ace looked up. Her expression brightened. "Absolutely." --- They had reservations at a Japanese restaurant ashore. Ace had chosen it carefully. Not because it was fashionable. Not because it had the most extravagant menu. She wanted somewhere that took its cooking seriously. A place where skill mattered more than spectacle. She found exactly that. The restaurant was intimate and beautifully composed. The three were seated at a counter where they could watch part of the preparation. Ace grew quiet during the first course. Mai noticed. Shammy noticed. Neither interrupted. Ace tasted a carefully prepared dish. Closed her eyes briefly. Then looked toward the chef. "That's beautiful." The chef smiled. "Thank you." Ace asked a question about the preparation. A thoughtful conversation followed. Mai watched her wife with affection. There was something wonderfully recognizable about Ace when she encountered true craftsmanship. She became attentive. Focused. Almost reverent. Not unlike the way she approached a beautifully balanced blade. Or a perfect pair of shoes. Shammy leaned toward Mai. "She's happy." Mai smiled. "Very." The faint static around Shammy settled. Ace turned toward them. "What?" Mai reached for her hand. "Nothing, honey." Ace narrowed her eyes. "Suspicious." Shammy laughed. "Extremely." Ace smiled. Then looked toward the next course. "Oh." Mai laughed. "Lost her again." "Entirely," Shammy agreed. --- Iris and Brenda had chosen a different restaurant for the evening. A small, warmly lit place that served contemporary American cuisine. Brenda wore her new jacket. Iris had fitted the new watch strap. Both had noticed. Neither had commented immediately. Eventually Brenda glanced toward Iris's wrist. "You like it?" "Very," Iris said. "Good." A pause. Then Iris looked toward her. "You look beautiful." Brenda glanced down at her jacket. Then back up. "Oh, gorgeous." Iris reached across the table. Caught her hand. "I'm serious." Brenda smiled. "I know." For a moment, her usual rapid-fire humor disappeared. Not because she had run out of things to say. Because she didn't need it. She squeezed Iris's hand. "I like being here with you." Iris's expression softened. "Me too." Brenda glanced toward the restaurant windows. Washington glowed beyond them. "Different kind of vacation." Iris smiled. "From what?" "From everything." Iris considered. Then nodded. "Yes." They sat together. No urgent calls. No engineering emergencies. No obligations except the ones they'd chosen. Eventually Brenda smiled again. "Although tomorrow I fully intend to become insufferable at the museum." Iris burst out laughing. "Oh, sweetheart." "You're warned." "I appreciate the notice." "And if we find an old electronics shop—" Iris sighed. "Then I'll bring a book." Brenda laughed. "Love you." "Love you too." --- The Triad returned to Aureate II later that night. Ace was carrying a small parcel from the Japanese restaurant. A thoughtful gift from the chef after their conversation. Mai had insisted she could not possibly buy any more shoes that evening. Ace had accepted the ruling. Graciously. More or less. Shammy's hair was still gently lifted from the laughter they'd shared on the way back. As they entered their suite, Ace turned toward Mai. "Good day?" Mai smiled. "Wonderful." Ace looked toward Shammy. "And you?" Shammy's expression softened. "Very." Ace nodded. Then grinned. "Excellent." Mai raised an eyebrow. "What?" Ace stepped closer. Wrapped her arms around her wife. "Nothing." "Ace," Mai said. "Just appreciating my marriage." Shammy laughed. Her hair lifted another fraction. Mai kissed Ace. "That sounds suspicious." Ace grinned. "Only a little." Shammy approached. Ace turned and reached for her too. Soon all three were standing together in the middle of their suite. A familiar arrangement. A familiar warmth. The kind that needed no introduction. Eventually Mai laughed softly. "We should get ready for bed." Ace considered. Then looked toward Shammy. "Agreed?" "Completely," Shammy said. The last of their clothing disappeared into the wardrobe and the three slipped beneath the sheets, following the comfortable honeymoon habit they'd established at sea. Ace settled between them. One hand found Mai. The other found Shammy. The faint static around Shammy softened until the air was completely still. For a while, they simply enjoyed being together. Then Ace spoke. "Honey?" Mai smiled in the darkness. "Yes?" "Did you enjoy the perfume shop?" Mai considered. "Very much." "Good." A pause. Then Ace added: "I have plans for those perfumes." Mai turned her head. "Oh?" Shammy's hair rose immediately. Ace grinned. "Later." Mai laughed softly. "Of course you do." Ace kissed her. Then Shammy. And refused to elaborate. --- Down the corridor, Iris and Brenda were enjoying a considerably less mysterious conversation. Brenda was sitting on the edge of the bed, examining the little gift she'd bought earlier. Iris stood beside her, watching. "You're pleased with yourself." Brenda nodded. "Very." Iris smiled. "Good." Brenda set the parcel aside. Then looked up. "Come here." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Brenda grinned. "I'd like some time with my wife." Iris crossed the room. "That can be arranged." Brenda caught her hand. Drew her closer. And kissed her. For a while, Washington ceased to be relevant. Eventually Iris rested her forehead against Brenda's. "Happy?" Brenda smiled. "Ridiculously." Iris kissed her again. "Good." Brenda's grin returned. "Although I'm beginning to think we could have stayed ashore a little longer." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Why?" Brenda smiled innocently. "Options." Iris laughed. "Oh, sweetheart." Brenda kissed her. "Another night, perhaps." Iris considered. Then smiled slowly. "Perhaps." --- The ship rested at her Washington berth while the last city shuttles returned passengers to the gangway. In Iris and Brenda’s suite, a museum map lay beneath the perfume samples; Brenda had circled the Air and Space exhibits so heavily that the paper threatened to surrender. "I’m not saying we need four hours," Brenda told Iris. Iris looked at the map. "You wrote *minimum four hours*." "That’s completely different." Iris kissed the back of her neck. "Take five. I want to see what you’ll notice." Iris folded the museum map and tucked it inside Brenda's guidebook before her wife could annotate another exhibit. "Tomorrow," she said. Brenda caught her wrist. "That's a promise, former lieutenant." "It's a threat to the museum's opening hours." "And I intend to be there when you carry it out." Outside their balcony the city lights reflected off the river; Aureate II remained securely at her Washington berth. ## Chapter 21 — How Far We've Come The Washington Monument was considerably larger than Ace had expected. She stood at its base, tilted her head back and followed the pale stone upward until the point disappeared against a bright blue sky. Then she looked at Brenda. Brenda looked at her. Neither spoke. Iris noticed. "Oh, no." Mai followed her gaze. "What's wrong?" Iris closed her eyes. "Those two." Ace's mouth twitched. Brenda was visibly struggling. Shammy looked from one woman to the other. A faint charge stirred the air around her silver-white hair. Then Ace said, perfectly calmly: "Subtle." Brenda made a strangled noise. Mai raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?" Ace gestured toward the monument. "Architecture." Brenda doubled over laughing. Iris put a hand over her face. "Oh, for heaven's sake." Shammy's hair lifted into a magnificent silver-white halo. Mai looked at the monument. Then at Ace. Then slowly shook her head. "The entire history of this country, and that's your contribution?" Ace considered. "Compensating for something." Brenda nearly collapsed. Iris caught her by the arm. "Brenda!" "I didn't say anything!" "You didn't have to!" Ace folded her arms with immense satisfaction. Shammy was laughing now, her electric-blue eyes bright and her hair doing absolutely nothing to conceal her delight. Mai regarded her wife. "You're twenty-five years old." "Yeah." "Married." "I am." "Capable of extraordinary professional judgment." "Sometimes." "And this is what you choose to say." "On vacation." Mai stared at her for another moment. Then laughed. "Hopeless." Ace reached for her hand. "Your hopeless." Mai kissed her. "Unfortunately." --- The monument's observation level offered a sweeping view across Washington. From above, the city's geometry became startlingly clear. Broad avenues. Green spaces. Water. Buildings arranged around history, power and the human conviction that placing things in straight lines might somehow make the world more manageable. Mai studied the view with appreciation. Ace stood beside her, looking out toward the city. "Different from Night City." "A little," Mai replied. "Less neon." "Considerably." "More monuments." "Yes." Ace considered. "Still plenty of people making bad decisions." "Universally human." A little farther away, Brenda was studying the structure itself. She'd been examining the interior stonework and modern preservation systems with growing fascination. Iris approached. "Enjoying yourself?" Brenda nodded. "More than I expected." "Good." Brenda glanced toward her. "Do you know what impresses me?" Iris smiled. "The fact that it's still standing?" "Well, yes." Brenda gestured toward the structure. "But mostly that generations of people have kept maintaining something that doesn't actually _do_ anything." Iris looked toward her. Brenda continued. "It's not a power station. Not a bridge. Doesn't keep anyone warm or get anyone home." "No." "But people decided it mattered." Iris looked from the old stone to Brenda's ring, then back again. "Some things are worth maintaining for what they mean. Even when nobody asks for a report." Brenda smiled. "Yeah." She looked out across the city. Then down at the wedding ring on her hand. Iris followed her gaze. Her expression softened. "Oh, honey." Brenda slipped her fingers into Iris's. "Just thinking." "About?" Brenda looked up. "Maintenance." Iris burst out laughing. "Of course you are." "Marriage is probably going to involve quite a bit." Iris leaned closer. "With you? An extraordinary amount." Brenda laughed. Then kissed her. "I'll make it worth the trouble." Iris smiled. "You already do." --- Shammy had drifted toward another window. Not because the view was more impressive. Because something about the height pleased her. The air was quiet inside the observation space, but she could feel the changing pressures beyond the glass. Wind moving around the monument. Visitors breathing. The distant movement of the city. She rested her fingers lightly against the window frame. Her hair stirred. Then settled. Ace joined her. "Hey, gorgeous." Shammy looked down. "Hello." Ace followed her gaze. "Something wrong?" "No." Shammy smiled. "It's beautifully balanced." Ace considered. "The building?" "The wind around it." Ace looked upward. Then back at her. "Right." Shammy laughed softly. "You don't have to understand." "I understand enough." "Oh?" Ace took her hand. "You like it." Shammy's expression softened. "Yes." Ace nodded. "Then I like it too." Shammy's hair lifted gently. She bent down and kissed Ace's forehead. "You're being very sweet." Ace looked offended. "Don't tell anyone." "Never." A pause. Then Shammy smiled. "Although your shadow disagrees." Ace glanced toward the floor. A dark edge had curled around Shammy's feet, faintly out of alignment with the overhead lighting. Ace sighed. "Traitor." Shammy laughed. And the shadow quietly returned to where it belonged. --- By late morning, Brenda had discovered Hollis & Hollis. It was a narrow storefront on a quieter street, tucked between a specialist bookseller and a shop selling restored musical instruments. The window contained several antique radios, a collection of mechanical instruments and a beautifully preserved electronic test unit. Brenda stopped so abruptly that Iris nearly walked into her. "Oh." Iris recognized the tone. She looked toward the window. Then back at her wife. "Oh, sweetheart." Brenda was already examining the display. "Look at that." Iris stepped closer. "The instrument or the workmanship?" "That instrument." Brenda pointed. "Someone restored it properly." Iris studied it. "How can you tell?" Brenda began explaining. Halfway through her second sentence, she stopped. Looked at Iris. Then grinned. "Can we?" "Of course." Brenda kissed her cheek. "Love you." "I know." They entered. A small bell rang overhead. Behind the counter, a gray-haired man was working on an antique circuit assembly. He looked up. "Good morning." Brenda stared at the bench. Then at the instrument beside it. Then at the man. "Is that original?" His eyebrows rose. "You recognize it?" Brenda's entire face lit up. "Oh, absolutely." The man smiled. "Well, now." And Iris knew she had lost her wife for the foreseeable future. --- Martin Hollis was an extraordinary conversational match for Brenda. Within minutes they were discussing restoration, material wear, mechanical timing and the increasingly rare art of repairing old technology without replacing every part that made it interesting. Brenda was delighted. Martin appeared equally pleased. Iris listened for a while. Then noticed a woman standing in the doorway to the back room. She was watching the exchange with deep amusement. "Hello," Iris said. The woman smiled. "Hello, darling." She glanced toward Martin. Then toward Brenda. "Oh, dear." Iris laughed. "That obvious?" "Your wife has just asked Martin a question that will keep him awake for three nights. He's doing the same thing he did when we first met." Iris glanced toward Brenda. "What, forgetting he's supposed to be working?" "Precisely. Evelyn Hollis." "Iris Rourke." They shook hands. Evelyn looked toward Brenda. "And that's your…?" "My wife." Evelyn's smile warmed. "Oh! Congratulations." "Thank you." "Recently married?" "Recent enough that my wife has started using the word *wife* as punctuation," Iris said. Evelyn studied her for a moment. Then glanced toward the two enthusiasts. "Coffee?" "Please." Evelyn led her toward a small sitting area near the back of the shop. Behind them, Brenda had discovered a beautifully restored timing instrument and was asking Martin increasingly delighted questions. Evelyn poured coffee. Then settled opposite Iris. "How long have you been married?" "Just a few days." "Oh, wonderful." She smiled. "Martin and I have been together thirty-six years." Iris's expression brightened. "That's wonderful." "It is." Evelyn glanced toward the workshop. "Although I should warn you. If your wife has the same habits as my husband, you'll occasionally have to remind her that meals exist." Iris burst out laughing. "Oh, I already do." "Excellent. Then you're prepared." --- The conversation drifted naturally. Washington. The ship. Iris's former career. Her new work with O'Sullivan SAS. Brenda's extraordinary engineering ability. Evelyn listened with interest. Then asked a question Iris hadn't expected. "Does she know how proud you are of her?" Iris looked toward the workshop. Brenda was leaning over an open display unit while Martin explained its history. She looked completely absorbed. Completely happy. Iris smiled. "I tell her." "Good." Evelyn took a sip of coffee. "Keep telling her." Iris glanced back. Evelyn smiled. "Sometimes the people who can fix anything have a terrible time believing they're enough when nothing needs fixing." Iris was quiet. Then nodded. "Yes." Evelyn looked toward her husband. "Martin used to spend every evening trying to make the shop successful enough that he could finally take time off." "And?" Iris asked. "He eventually realized the shop was never going to announce that he'd worked enough." Iris laughed softly. "No." "So we learned to make time anyway." Evelyn looked back toward Brenda. "Your wife seems rather extraordinary." "She is." "And you love her." "Very much." "Then you'll find your rhythm." Iris considered. Then looked toward the workshop again. Brenda was laughing at something Martin had said. Her dark-brown hair had escaped its clip. Her hands moved animatedly as she described a mechanism. Iris felt a familiar warmth rise in her chest. "We're getting there." Evelyn nodded. "That's marriage, darling." --- Brenda finally emerged from the workshop carrying a small paper bag and looking almost indecently pleased. Iris looked up. "Have fun?" Brenda nodded vigorously. "Yes." Martin appeared behind her. "Your wife knows her machinery." "I've noticed." Brenda looked toward Evelyn. "Oh! Sorry. I disappeared." Evelyn laughed. "Don't apologize. I married one of those." Martin raised an eyebrow. "One of what?" Evelyn kissed his cheek. "Enthusiasts, darling." Brenda burst out laughing. Iris stood. "Thank you both." Martin nodded. "Come back if you're in town again." "Absolutely." Evelyn embraced Iris warmly. Then whispered: "Remember what I said." "I will." Outside, Brenda slipped her hand into Iris's. "So." Iris raised an eyebrow. "So?" "Did you have a good time?" "Very." Brenda smiled. "Good." They walked several steps. Then Brenda looked at her. "What did you talk about?" Iris considered. "Marriage." Brenda blinked. "Oh." "And you." "Oh." Iris smiled. "Mostly good things." Brenda laughed. "Mostly?" Iris kissed her cheek. "Almost entirely." --- They met Ace, Mai and Shammy outside the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Ace was examining a visitor guide. Mai stood beside her, looking toward the entrance. Shammy was watching a group of children excitedly discuss an aircraft displayed inside. Her hair floated in a faint, delighted halo. Brenda approached. Ace looked up. "Oh, there you are." Brenda grinned. "Found a shop." "I heard." Iris blinked. "How?" Mai smiled. "Brenda sent us seventeen messages." Brenda considered. "Only seventeen?" Ace showed her the holo. "Twenty-three, actually." Brenda burst out laughing. "Sorry." Ace shrugged. "Looked fun." "Magnificent." Mai glanced toward Iris. "How was your morning?" Iris smiled. "Beautiful." Brenda leaned against her. "And now?" Iris looked toward the museum. "Now we go look at things that fly." Brenda's expression became almost reverent. "Oh, yes." Ace grinned. "Excellent." They went inside. --- Brenda stopped talking at the first historic aircraft. Not because she was unimpressed. Because, for once, the machinery deserved silence. She approached the display. Studied the materials. The structure. The astonishing simplicity of an early attempt to conquer a problem that humanity had spent centuries dreaming about. Iris stood beside her. After a while, Brenda spoke. "Look at it." Iris nodded. "I am." "No, really." Brenda gestured toward the aircraft. "Look how little they had." Iris studied the structure. "Compared with what?" "Everything." Brenda's voice was quiet now. "No implants doing the thinking. No predictive systems. No simulation that could show them a thousand failures before breakfast." She shook her head. "They had wood. Fabric. Mechanical controls. And the determination to make the thing fly." Iris smiled. "Sounds familiar." Brenda looked toward her. "What?" "Someone doing impossible things with machinery everybody else considers inadequate." Brenda laughed softly. "Oh, gorgeous." Iris kissed her cheek. "Recognize anyone?" Brenda studied the aircraft again. Then smiled. "Maybe." --- The five moved through the exhibits together. Ace was fascinated by the earliest flight experiments. Mai became deeply interested in the development of navigation and control systems. Shammy found herself drawn toward the ways people had learned to understand pressure, turbulence and the atmosphere without being able to feel them as she did. Brenda stopped at practically every mechanical display. Iris watched the whole experience with quiet enjoyment. Then they reached the exhibits devoted to spaceflight. And something changed. An early crew capsule stood before them. Small. Cramped. Almost absurdly primitive compared with the spacecraft and orbital habitats they knew. Brenda approached slowly. Iris followed. For a while, neither spoke. Then Brenda said: "Can you imagine?" Iris looked toward her. "What?" "Getting into that." Iris studied the capsule. "Yes." Brenda turned. Iris smiled faintly. "Actually, I can." Brenda considered. Then nodded. "Yeah." They stood closer. Brenda looked through the display toward the tight interior. "So little room." "Very." "So many things that could go wrong." Iris nodded. "And nowhere to go if they did." Brenda was quiet. That was the part she understood now. Not abstractly. Not from a technical diagram. From Crystal Palace. From knowing what it felt like to exist in a place where the environment outside was not merely unpleasant or dangerous. It was impossible. Where pressure, air, heat and electrical systems were not conveniences. They were the thin line between people and the void. Brenda looked toward Iris. "Crystal Palace." Iris nodded. "I was thinking the same thing." --- They found a quieter area near a display about life aboard early orbital stations. For a while, the two stood reading. Brenda glanced toward an image of Earth taken from orbit. Her expression changed. Iris noticed. "Remember?" Brenda nodded. "Yeah." The image was beautiful. But flat. A representation of something that had been almost impossible to comprehend in person. Brenda had seen Earth from Crystal Palace. She remembered the scale. The curve. The colors. The extraordinary silence of realizing that the whole world was below them. She looked toward Iris. "It doesn't really show it, does it?" Iris shook her head. "No." Brenda considered. "I thought I'd feel clever up there." Iris smiled. "Did you?" "Briefly." That made Iris laugh. Brenda looked back at the image. "Then I looked down." Iris slipped an arm around her. "And?" Brenda was quiet. "Everything I'd ever built suddenly seemed very small." Iris rested her cheek against Brenda's hair. "That's not always a bad feeling." "No." Brenda leaned into her. "Just different." Iris nodded. They stood there together. Two women who had spent their lives learning very different kinds of responsibility. One through command, procedure and the consequences of failure. The other through construction, spectacle and the terrifying discovery that technical brilliance could never excuse carelessness. They had both gone into orbit. And both come back changed. Brenda looked toward her wife. "You know something?" "What?" "I'm glad we went." Iris smiled. "Me too." Brenda kissed her. Then laughed softly. "Even if I did spend an unreasonable amount of time staring at the engineering." Iris raised an eyebrow. "An unreasonable amount?" Brenda grinned. "All right. A completely reasonable amount." Iris burst out laughing. "That's my girl." --- Elsewhere in the museum, Ace had discovered an exhibit about the first Moon landings. She studied an old spacesuit. Then looked toward Mai. "Can you imagine wearing that?" "With your mobility preferences?" Mai asked. "Exactly." Ace gestured toward the suit. "I'd be furious." Shammy laughed. Her hair lifted. Mai considered. "You would also be completely unable to reach your swords." Ace stared. Then slowly nodded. "Unacceptable." Shammy's halo expanded. Ace looked toward her. "Don't laugh." "I'm sorry." "You're not." "No." Mai smiled. Ace studied the suit again. Then her expression softened. "Still." Mai followed her gaze. "Still?" "Brave." Mai nodded. "Very." Ace was quiet for a moment. Then looked toward the photographs of the astronauts. "They knew how much could go wrong." Shammy stepped closer. "Yes." "And went anyway." Mai watched her wife. "Sometimes that's what courage looks like." Ace considered. Then nodded. "Damn right." Shammy's hair settled gently. For a moment, the three stood together in silence. Then Ace looked up toward Shammy. "Although you'd never fit in one of those." Shammy blinked. Mai closed her eyes. Ace grinned. "One hundred and ninety-five centimeters of atmospheric inconvenience." Shammy stared. Then burst out laughing. Her hair rose into a spectacular halo. Mai shook her head. "Oh, honey." Ace looked delighted. "Just observing." --- The museum occupied most of their afternoon. Nobody complained. Even Ace, whose original plan had included several additional shops, abandoned her schedule without protest. By the time they emerged into the sunlight, Brenda was carrying a bag of books and exhibition reproductions. Iris was holding her hand. Mai was discussing an early navigation system with Shammy. And Ace was looking toward the sky. Brenda noticed. "What?" Ace shrugged. "Thinking." Iris smiled. "Dangerous." Ace gave her a flat look. "Very funny." Brenda grinned. "She has a point." Ace considered. Then looked toward the distant monument. "Funny, isn't it?" Mai tilted her head. "What?" Ace gestured toward the museum behind them. "All that effort to get people up there." Shammy followed her gaze. Ace continued. "And all that effort to bring them home." Iris's expression softened. "Yes." Ace looked toward Brenda. "Guess that's the important part." Brenda smiled. "Coming home?" Ace nodded. "Yeah." For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Shammy reached for Ace's hand. Her silver-white hair lifted in a faint, warm halo. Mai took Ace's other hand. Iris slipped an arm around Brenda. Five women stood together beneath Washington's afternoon sky. And for once, even Brenda had no reason to improve the moment with a joke. --- Mai chose dinner. Ace had insisted. Yesterday had been Japanese cuisine, selected for her. Tonight belonged to Mai. She'd researched several restaurants before settling on a Korean place a little removed from the busiest tourist areas. Not especially extravagant, but well regarded for the care taken with its cooking. Mai had chosen it after reading the chef's account of rebuilding the menu around seasonal ingredients—not because anyone expected her to know the place or the cuisine. Ace studied the menu. Then looked toward Mai. "Honey." Mai looked up. "Yes?" "How many dishes did you secretly decide we were ordering before we arrived?" "Enough to leave you with no room for dessert." "Cruel woman." Brenda burst out laughing. Iris studied the menu. "Oh, this looks wonderful." Shammy leaned closer. Her hair lifted with interest. Mai nodded. "It does." The table quickly filled with small dishes. Kimchi. Seasoned vegetables. Pickled accompaniments. A sizzling platter of grilled meat. Steaming stew. Rice. And enough aromas to make Ace forget the question she'd been about to ask. The first taste changed her expression. Mai noticed. "Oh?" Ace swallowed. Then nodded. "Excellent." Mai smiled. "Good." Brenda tried the stew and lifted her spoon for a second taste. Iris noticed her examining the stone bowl. "Please tell me you're enjoying the meal," Iris said, "not calculating how the heat stays in that thing." "Those are not mutually exclusive pleasures, gorgeous." Ace reached across for another small dish. "I knew you were going to fall in love with the cookware." "It's a serious relationship," Brenda said. "Don't cheapen it." Mai leaned toward Ace. "Try that one." Ace glanced at the dish. Then at her wife. "Is that the one you wouldn't let me order?" Mai glanced at the dish. "Because I'd already ordered it for you. Pay attention, honey." Ace considered. Then tried it. For several seconds, she said nothing. Brenda leaned forward. "Well?" Ace looked toward Mai. Her violet eyes narrowed. "Honey." Mai laughed. "Yes?" "You're evil." Shammy burst out laughing. Her hair spread into a delighted halo. Mai kissed Ace's cheek. "And you trusted me to choose dinner." Ace took another bite before she answered. "I am considering making this a permanent appointment." --- As dinner continued, the conversation became more relaxed. Brenda told Shammy about the Hollis shop. Shammy listened with genuine interest, occasionally asking questions about the older instruments. Iris described Evelyn's quiet wisdom. Mai smiled. "Thirty-six years?" Iris nodded. "Together." Ace considered. "That's impressive." Brenda looked toward Iris. "We could manage that." Iris smiled. "Thirty-six?" Brenda grinned. "At least." Iris leaned closer. "Ambitious." "Very." Ace raised her glass. "To unreasonable ambitions." Mai laughed. "That certainly describes our family." Shammy's hair lifted. Iris smiled. Brenda raised her glass. Five glasses met above the table. Ace looked around. Then grinned. "Excellent dinner, honey." Mai's expression softened. "Thank you." Ace leaned over and kissed her. Not a quick gesture. Not something performed for the table. Just a warm, deliberate kiss that made Mai smile when they separated. Shammy watched with quiet affection. Her hair settled gently around her shoulders. Brenda looked toward Iris. Then smiled. "Your turn?" Iris raised an eyebrow. "My turn for what?" Brenda kissed her. Iris laughed softly. "Oh." Ace leaned back. "Copycats." Brenda grinned. "Trendsetter." Mai laughed, delighted by the sheer nonsense. --- They returned to Aureate II later than planned. The ship was brilliantly illuminated at her berth, its windows glowing against the darkness. Ace looked up as they approached. "Nice to see her again." "Yes," Iris said. Brenda glanced toward the vessel. Then toward her wife. "Does it still feel like home?" Iris considered. For a moment, the old answer would have come easily. Aureate II had shaped so much of her life. Her training. Her friendships. Her professional instincts. Her relationship with her father. She knew the ship intimately. Perhaps she always would. But now— Iris looked toward Brenda. Then toward Ace, Mai and Shammy walking ahead of them. The answer was different. "It feels familiar," she said. Brenda studied her. "And home?" Iris smiled. "Home is where we're going when the voyage ends." Brenda's expression softened. "Watson." "Yes." Brenda slipped her hand into Iris's. "With you." Iris kissed her cheek. "With me." They continued toward the terminal. --- Much later, the Triad stood on their balcony. Washington's lights stretched across the distance. Ace leaned against Mai. Shammy stood close beside them, wearing a loose robe, her silver-white hair drifting gently around her shoulders. For a while, they simply watched the city. Then Ace looked toward Mai. "Good day?" Mai smiled. "Wonderful." Ace nodded. "Good." Shammy looked down at her. "You've been very quiet." Ace considered. "Thinking." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Again?" Ace grinned. "Occasionally." Shammy laughed. Her hair lifted. Ace looked out toward the city. "Tomorrow's our last full day here." Mai nodded. "Yes." "Then back to the ship." "We're already on the ship," Shammy said. Ace looked up. A pause. Then: "You know what I mean." Mai burst out laughing. Shammy's halo expanded. Ace sighed. "I live with monsters." Mai kissed her. "Married one." Ace grinned. "Best decision ever." They stood together for a while longer. Then Shammy's holo chimed. A message from Nadia. _I hope Washington is treating you beautifully. I've been thinking about our installation all evening._ Shammy smiled. Her hair rose slightly. Ace noticed. "Oh?" Shammy glanced toward her. "Nadia." Mai smiled. "Tell her hello." Shammy nodded. Then began composing a reply. Ace watched her for a moment. Then leaned toward Mai. "Happy hair." Mai laughed softly. "Very." Washington remained visible beyond the cabin windows, all straight avenues and scattered lights. Brenda sent Iris a photograph of Martin Hollis's antique timing mechanism with the caption *Tell me this isn't gorgeous*. Iris replied with a photograph of her wife asleep five minutes earlier, still holding the catalogue open. On the other side of the ship, Shammy was writing to Nadia; Ace was counting the ways Mai had defeated her at teasing that afternoon. Across Washington, Mira and Della were finishing work Elisa had sent them to complete. Mira's holo showed a calendar with a free evening at last; Della checked the address of a restaurant neither had visited before. They hadn't realized who else was in the city. Not yet. ## Chapter 22 — Old Sins, New Rings The trouble with Washington, Ace decided, was that it had far too much dignity. Everywhere she looked, somebody had built a monument, preserved a monument, restored a monument, or erected a very serious sign explaining why a monument deserved to be taken seriously. She had nothing against history. She merely felt that the city needed to loosen its collar. "You're doing it again," Mai observed. Ace glanced up. "Doing what?" "Looking for somebody to annoy." "Not somebody. Something." "That's supposed to reassure me?" "Absolutely." Shammy stood beside them, examining the display window of a small contemporary gallery. Her silver-white hair stirred slightly, despite the still afternoon air. "I think she's bored." Ace turned. "Traitor." Shammy smiled. "You bought everything you wanted yesterday." "Not everything." "Seven shopping bags, two commissioned pairs of shoes and a tailored jacket would suggest otherwise." "I showed restraint." "You frightened the sales consultant." "She loved me." "She asked whether your wife knew how much you were spending." Ace considered. "Professional curiosity." Shammy's hair rose into a soft halo. Mai folded her arms. "You're both impossible." Ace slipped an arm around her waist. "And yet you've married one of us." "An administrative oversight." "Expensive mistake." "You say that as though I didn't examine the contract," Mai replied. "I married the most expensive trouble in Watson with my eyes wide open." Ace kissed her. Shammy looked down at them. "Should I remind you that we were going to meet Iris and Brenda?" Ace sighed. "Fine. Let's find the responsible adults." Mai stared at her. "Brenda?" Ace considered. "Good point." They turned toward the corner café where they had arranged to meet the other two. And somebody behind them said: "Well, fuck me sideways." Ace stopped walking. She knew that voice. Oh, she knew that voice. Mai turned first. Her face lit up. "Mira?" Mira stood outside a bookshop, holding a paper bag in one hand and wearing the expression of a woman who had just discovered a particularly entertaining problem. Beside her, Della was staring at the three of them. Then Della slowly smiled. "Oh, this is going to be good." Ace folded her arms. "Well, look what the cat dragged in." Mira's grin widened. "Still five feet of attitude?" "Four feet nine." "God, you're adorable when you're pissed off." "Keep talking. I'll start charging." Mira crossed the pavement in three long strides, caught Ace around the waist and lifted her clean off the ground. Ace burst out laughing. "Put me down, you overgrown menace!" "Not until you say you missed me." "Fuck off!" "Close enough." Mira kissed her. Not a cautious kiss. Not a tentative greeting. A very familiar one that made Ace stop protesting for long enough to kiss her back. When Mira finally set her down, Ace straightened her jacket. "Still rude." Mira caught Ace's collar between two fingers, an old and entirely unembarrassed gesture. "Still a filthy little troublemaker." Mai stepped forward. "Some things never change." Mira's expression softened. "Oh, beautiful." She caught Mai in an embrace and kissed her with equal familiarity. Mai's hands settled naturally against her shoulders. When they parted, Mira looked her up and down. "Christ. You somehow got even more gorgeous." Mai smiled. "And you've somehow become even less subtle." "Never needed subtlety with you." Ace nodded solemnly. "True. You're terrible at it." Mira glanced down. "And you're still talking." "Chronic condition." "Any treatment?" Mai smiled sweetly. "None that lasts." Mira laughed. Shammy's hair rose. Della looked toward her. "Well, hello, walking electrical incident." "Hello, Della," Shammy said. Della embraced her. Shammy bent slightly to make the hug easier. "Looking spectacular, sweetheart." "Thank you." "And the hair's already having a party." A silver-white lock curled upward beside Shammy's cheek. "Apparently." Della grinned. "God, I've missed you people." Then a voice behind her said: "Excuse me. Is there a reason you're blocking the entire pavement?" Della froze. Very slowly, she turned. Iris stood several steps away. Brenda was beside her, already grinning like a lunatic. Della stared. Then whispered: "Oh, fuck." Brenda spread her arms. "Miss me, gorgeous?" Della dropped her shopping bag. "Brenda?" "That's the one." Della caught her in an embrace. Brenda wrapped both arms around her and laughed as Della kissed her. "Jesus Christ," Della murmured when they finally separated. "Where the hell did you come from?" "Watson originally. More recently, a very expensive ship." "Smartass." "You're welcome." Then Della looked at Iris. Her smile changed. Less explosive. No less delighted. "Oh, Lieutenant." Iris raised one eyebrow. "Careful." Della stepped closer. "Still giving orders?" "Only when necessary." "Still convinced you're always right?" "Usually." Della kissed her. Iris caught her waist and kissed her back without hesitation. When they separated, Brenda applauded once. "Ah. There they are." Iris turned. "Brenda." "What? I'm appreciating the reunion." "Still impossible?" Iris sighed. "Worse." "And now she's legally stuck with me." Della stopped smiling. Her gaze dropped to Brenda's hand. Then Iris's. Then, slowly, to Ace and Mai. Four rings. Four very particular rings. Della closed her eyes. "No." Mira turned. "What did I miss?" Della pointed. "Look at their fucking hands." Mira looked. For a moment, her expression went blank. Then she stared at Ace. "You didn't." Ace grinned. "Did." Mira looked at Mai. "Both of you?" Mai held up her hand. "Both of us." Della turned toward Iris. "And you two?" Brenda raised her hand. "Also us." A long silence followed. Then Mira said: "You absolute fucking bastards." Ace smiled sweetly. "Technically, newlyweds." Della threw both hands into the air. "TWO WEDDINGS?" "Same day," Iris confirmed. "Same reception," Brenda added. Mira stared at the five of them. "And nobody thought to invite us?" Ace considered. "We were busy." "GETTING MARRIED!" "Exactly." Mai began laughing. Shammy's hair expanded into a bright halo. Della pointed at Brenda. "You. Especially you." Brenda pressed one hand against her chest. "Me?" "Don't give me that innocent face. I've seen what you look like when you're actually innocent. It doesn't happen often." Iris burst out laughing. Brenda grinned. "Fair." Mira looked back at Ace. "I cannot believe you got married without telling me." Ace tilted her head. "Would you have behaved at the ceremony?" Mira opened her mouth. Closed it. Then smiled. "Absolutely fucking not." "See?" Mai laughed. "An excellent argument, darling." "Thank you." Della folded her arms. "You're buying us dinner." Ace smiled. "Done." Mira narrowed her eyes. "Expensive dinner." "Of course." "And drinks." "Obviously." "And the whole story." Ace looked toward Mai. Mai smiled. "That seems reasonable." Iris leaned toward Della. "Careful what you ask for. The reception got VERY interesting." Della's smile became positively wicked. "Oh, sweetheart. I was rather counting on that." By the time seven people had squeezed themselves around a restaurant table for a late lunch, the wedding interrogation was underway. Mira had claimed the seat between Ace and Mai. Della sat between Iris and Brenda. Shammy had taken the end of the table, where she had enough room for her long legs and an excellent view of everybody misbehaving. She was having a wonderful time. Mira studied Ace's ring. "Let me see that properly." Ace offered her hand. Mira turned it gently. Then looked at Mai's. "Beautiful." "Thank you." Mira glanced toward Shammy. "And where do you fit into all this?" "Exactly where I've always fitted." Ace caught her hand across the corner of the table. "Right between us." Mai reached for her other hand. "Not going anywhere." Mira nodded. "Good. Because I was about to become very unpleasant if anybody had decided marriage meant rearranging the family." "You're always unpleasant." "Only with people I like." "Explains a lot." Mira leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Missed your smart mouth." Mai looked amused. "Unfortunately, it's never taken a day off." "Neither has yours, beautiful." Mai smiled. "Mine has better timing." Ace snorted. Mira looked between them. Then shook her head. "Jesus. I've missed this." Across the table, Della was examining Brenda's ring. "So. Married woman." Brenda nodded. "Very married." "And still wearing that face." "What face?" "The one that says you're about to do something spectacularly unwise." Brenda considered. "That's just my face." "She's not wrong." Della turned toward Iris. "And you. You actually married her." "Deliberately." "Without sedation?" Brenda made an offended noise. Iris smiled. "I considered it." "Hey!" "But then I remembered that being married to Brenda means life will never be boring." Brenda immediately softened. "Oh, gorgeous." Della looked between them. "Fuck. You're actually still adorable." "Don't spread that around. I've got a reputation." "Sweetheart, I've seen enough of you to know exactly how dangerous that reputation is." Brenda's smile widened. "And yet here you are." Della lifted her glass. "Terrible judgment." Iris touched her glass to Della's. "Excellent taste." The wedding story took nearly an hour. Not because the sequence was complicated. Because Mira and Della kept interrupting. "Wait," Mira said. "Padre officiated?" "Both ceremonies." "And Rogue was involved?" "Very involved." Mira stared at her. Then looked at Ace. "Oh, fucking hell." "What?" "That woman doesn't know how to attend a quiet event." "Neither do you," Mai pointed out. "True. But Rogue takes it as a personal insult if an evening ends without somebody needing recovery time." Shammy laughed. Her hair lifted. Della looked toward Brenda. "And you?" Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Me?" "Tell me you behaved." Brenda considered. Iris took a leisurely sip of her drink. Brenda glanced toward her. Then back at Della. "No." Della burst out laughing. "Of course not." "It was our wedding." "Exactly!" Brenda said. "If you can't misbehave at your own reception, what the hell is the point?" Mira leaned back. "Honestly, I can't decide whether I'm offended I wasn't invited or relieved I survived." "You wouldn't have stayed out of trouble." "Neither would you." "True." Mai looked toward Mira. "And you would probably have made friends with half the room." Mira grinned. "Only the attractive half." Ace glanced around the table. "Well, that narrows nothing down." Shammy's hair sprang upward. Brenda nearly spat out her drink. Della pointed at Ace. "There she is." They left the restaurant well after they'd intended. Mira and Della had completed a demanding Washington contract the previous evening and were enjoying an unexpected day off. Neither had any interest in being sensible about it. The seven wandered through a quieter neighborhood, eventually finding a shaded courtyard with a small bar and comfortable seating. Mira ordered drinks. Della claimed a sofa. Brenda immediately settled beside her. Iris followed. Ace looked at the remaining seats. Then at Mai. Then at Mira. "Well, that's inconvenient." Mira smiled. "What?" "Only one chair left." Mira sat. Then patted her knee. "Problem solved." Ace stared. Mai nearly folded in half laughing. Ace turned toward her wife. "You're supposed to defend my dignity." Mai considered. "Do you have any?" Shammy's hair rose sharply. Ace sighed. "Abandoned. By everyone." Then she sat sideways across Mira's lap. Mira wrapped an arm around her waist. "There." Ace settled comfortably. "Acceptable." Mai took the chair beside them. Mira looked toward her. "Want to trade?" "No, darling. I rather like the view." Ace turned. "Excuse me?" Mai leaned closer. Kissed her. "You're welcome." Mira laughed against Ace's shoulder. "Oh, I'm going to enjoy tonight." Ace tilted her head. "Tonight?" Mira gave her a look. "Don't tell me you've become slow since getting married." Ace smiled. "Not even remotely." "Good." Della had acquired Brenda's hand and was absentmindedly examining her new wedding ring. Iris watched with a small smile. Della looked up. "Still the same rules?" Iris understood immediately. "Honesty. Respect. Nobody assumes." Della nodded. "Good." "And nobody gets to make decisions for anybody else." "Especially you," Iris said. Brenda grinned. "Especially me." Della looked between them. Then leaned closer. "Christ, I missed being around people who can actually say what they want." Brenda laughed. "Honey, subtlety was never our strongest asset." Iris looked considerably less innocent than she sounded. "Speak for yourself." Della looked at her. Then smiled slowly. "Oh, Iris. You're the worst of us." Iris blinked. "Excuse me?" "Brenda announces trouble. You stand there looking perfectly civilized while planning something considerably worse." Brenda pointed triumphantly. "THANK YOU." Iris laughed. "Conspiracy." "No," Della said. "Experience." Brenda leaned back, immensely satisfied. "God, I love it when the prosecution brings witnesses." Della kissed her cheek. "Any time, sweetheart." Shammy had been listening to everyone with quiet amusement. Then her holo chimed. **Nadia: Are you enjoying Washington?** Shammy smiled. **Immensely. We ran into some very dear friends.** **Nadia: That sounds lovely.** Shammy looked up. Mira was murmuring something in Ace's ear that had earned her a sharp elbow and a delighted laugh. Mai was making matters worse. Across the courtyard, Della had somehow persuaded Iris to recount an incident Brenda clearly wanted to edit for dramatic effect. Shammy smiled again. **It is. But I was wondering about tonight.** Nadia replied almost immediately. **So was I.** A warmth rose in Shammy's cheeks. Her hair lifted. **Would you like some company?** The answer came quickly: **Nadia: Very much. Your suite or mine?** Shammy glanced toward the others. Then typed: **Yours, if that's all right.** **Nadia: I'll put the kettle on. No gallery talk unless we both want it.** Shammy laughed softly. An excellent arrangement. She put her holo away. Ace was watching her. With a very particular grin. "Oh, sweetheart." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "What?" "Your hair just filed a public announcement." Shammy glanced toward a nearby window. Several pale strands had risen above her head. Mai laughed. "Nadia?" Shammy nodded. "Yes." Ace grinned. "Attagirl." Mira looked between them. "Who's Nadia?" Shammy smiled. "A wonderful woman I met aboard Aureate II." Della leaned forward. "An artist?" "Yes." Mira looked at the halo. "And apparently a very talented one." Shammy's smile widened. "She is." Ace took another sip of her drink. "She also has excellent taste." Shammy looked down at her. "Thank you." "Not complimenting you. Stating a fact." Mai shook her head. "That's Ace's version of a compliment." Mira grinned. "Usually followed by an insult." Ace looked offended. "I am a delight." "You're a fucking menace." "Multitalented." They moved to dinner as the afternoon light began to fade. This time, they chose somewhere worth dressing up for. Not excessively formal. Just intimate, beautifully furnished, with soft lighting and enough privacy between tables that the seven could speak without offering the entire dining room a free education. Mira and Della insisted on celebrating the marriages properly. Ace insisted on paying. Mai quietly resolved the resulting argument before it could become ridiculous. The first bottle of wine arrived. Della raised her glass. "To the newlyweds." Mira added, "The inconsiderate little shits who forgot us." Ace smiled. "To our terribly wounded friends." Brenda lifted her glass. "May they recover." Iris smiled. "Eventually." Seven glasses met. The conversation promptly deteriorated. Mira looked toward Mai. "Tell me something." Mai raised an eyebrow. "That depends." "Has marriage improved Ace's behavior?" Mai considered. "She's become more affectionate." Mira smiled. "That wasn't the question." "She's also become more confident." "Still not the question." Mai took a sip of wine. "Absolutely not." Mira burst out laughing. Ace looked at her wife. "You promised to support me." "I am supporting you." "By slandering me?" "By providing accurate information." Shammy's hair rose. Ace glanced at her. "And you?" Shammy smiled. "I think marriage still suits you." Ace softened. "Thank you." "Even if you still steal food from both our plates." Mai laughed. Ace stared. "Ambushed." Mira leaned closer. "Some things never change." Ace smiled. "Unlike your taste in jokes." "What's wrong with my jokes?" "Same material for years." Mira lowered her voice. "And yet you keep responding." Ace's smile sharpened. "Wouldn't want you getting lonely." Mai laughed into her glass. At the other end of the table, Brenda was losing an argument with Iris and Della. It wasn't going well. "That's not what happened," Iris said. Brenda folded her arms. "It is how I remember it." Della grinned. "You remember yourself as considerably more innocent than you were." "I was delightful." Iris smiled. "You were trouble." "Delightful trouble." Della leaned back. "I remember a woman who could turn a perfectly ordinary evening into an incident report." Brenda pointed at her. "That's called talent." Iris kissed her cheek. "That's called Brenda." Della looked toward Iris. "And you never stopped her." Iris smiled. "Not when everyone was enjoying themselves." Brenda grinned. "There. Professional endorsement." Della laughed. Then her expression softened. "You two are good together." Brenda glanced toward Iris. Iris took her hand. "Yes." "I'm glad," Della said. For a moment, the teasing gave way to something gentler. Then Brenda looked at Della. "Still doesn't mean you get to pretend you were the sensible one." Della burst out laughing. "Oh, fuck off." Brenda raised her glass. "That's more like it." Shammy left after dessert. Not abruptly. She had enjoyed the reunion and had every intention of leaving the others with a suitably embarrassing farewell. She rose from her chair. "I should go." Ace looked up. "Date night?" Shammy smiled. "Yes." Mai reached for her hand. "Give Nadia our love." "I will." Brenda looked at her hair. "Sweetheart, your head has been advertising that date for the last hour." Shammy glanced toward her reflection in the dark window. Her hair was suspended in a broad silver-white halo. She sighed. "Subtle." Ace grinned. "About as subtle as Brenda holding a detonator." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Depends what it's connected to." Iris closed her eyes. "Of course it does." Mira stood to embrace Shammy. "Have a wonderful night, gorgeous." Shammy hugged her. "Thank you." Della followed. "Don't let these idiots ruin your evening." Shammy smiled. "I love these idiots." Ace pressed one hand against her chest. "Aw." Shammy looked down at her. "And you're the worst." Mai burst out laughing. Ace grinned. "Love you too." Shammy bent to kiss Ace. Then Mai. Neither kiss was hurried. Neither carried any uncertainty about the night ahead. "See you tomorrow," she said. Mai smiled. "Enjoy yourself." Ace added, "Tell Nadia she owes us another gallery visit." Shammy laughed. "I'll tell her." Then she left for Aureate II. Her hair was still floating as she disappeared through the restaurant doors. Della watched her go. "God, she's wonderful." Ace smiled. "She is." Mai slipped her arm through Ace's. "And somehow she makes the rest of us look like the irresponsible ones." "I object," Ace said. "I work very hard at being irresponsible." Mira looked between the two wives. Then smiled. "And now?" Ace turned. "Now?" Mira leaned forward. "We have a hotel suite." Brenda's expression brightened instantly. "Oh?" Della smiled. "A very nice one." Iris held Della’s gaze, amused. "Is that an invitation?" Della looked at her. "My Dear Lieutenant, if I have to spell it out for you, I'm going to be disappointed." Iris smiled slowly. "Just checking." Brenda laughed. "Checking what? She practically sent a fucking engraved card." Mai covered her mouth, laughing. Mira looked toward Ace. "And you?" "Depends," Ace said. "On?" "Whether the hotel's furniture is insured." Mira stared at her. Then threw her head back laughing. "Jesus Christ. I missed you." --- The hotel suite was spacious, elegant and considerably more private than the restaurant. Two bedrooms opened from a central living room. The windows looked out over Washington. A bottle of good whisky stood on a sideboard, courtesy of Mira and Della's decision that completing their contract deserved a reward. Brenda examined the room. Then looked at Iris. "Well?" Iris studied the arrangement. "Acceptable." Della burst out laughing. "Acceptable?" Brenda grinned. "She means she likes it." "I can speak for myself," Iris said. Della stepped closer. "Then do." Iris regarded her. Then took Della's hand and kissed her. When they parted, Iris smiled. "Very acceptable." Brenda applauded. "Excellent. We've made progress." Della turned toward her. "You are enjoying yourself far too much." Brenda grinned. "That is the general idea." Across the room, Mira had settled onto the sofa. Ace stood in front of her, looking faintly suspicious. "Why are you smiling like that?" Mira crossed one leg over the other. "Because you're standing there looking like a woman who just found an opportunity to be insufferable." Ace considered. "Found several." Mai approached. "Only several?" Ace glanced at her. "Honey, I'm being modest." Mira laughed. "Oh, this is going to be a long night." Mai smiled. "You're complaining?" "Not even remotely." Ace reached for her hand. "Good." For a moment, the three stood close together. The jokes quieted. Mira looked at Mai's ring. Then Ace's. Her expression softened. "I really am happy for you." Mai smiled. "Thank you." Mira glanced at Ace. "And you, little menace." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Careful. You're getting sentimental." "Shut up." "Make me." Mira grinned. "Oh, don't tempt me." Mai laughed softly. "She always says that." "Because it works." Ace smiled. "Sometimes." Mira took her hand. "Come here." Ace did. In the other half of the suite, Brenda had stepped onto the terrace. Della followed her. Iris joined them a moment later. The air was warm. Washington glowed below. For a while, they simply enjoyed the view. Then Della looked toward Brenda. "Married." Brenda smiled. "Yes." Della shook her head. "I still can't quite believe it." Brenda leaned against the railing. "Neither can I, some mornings." Iris glanced toward her. Brenda continued, softer now. "Then I wake up beside her." Iris's expression changed. "Oh, sweetheart." Brenda smiled. "And it makes perfect sense." Della watched them. "That's disgustingly romantic." Brenda grinned. "Want something disgusting instead?" Iris burst out laughing. "Brenda!" "What? She asked." Della laughed so hard she had to steady herself against the railing. Then she looked toward Iris. "Jesus, you married a menace." "I know," Iris said. "Regrets?" "Not a single one." Brenda turned. Her grin softened. "Really?" Iris stepped closer. Took her hand. "Really." Della watched them with a fond smile. Then Brenda reached for her too. "Come here, gorgeous." Della joined them. For a moment, the three held one another. Familiar. Comfortable. Entirely unhurried. Then Brenda looked between them. "Well." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Well?" Brenda grinned. "We can either keep standing here discussing my excellent life choices, or we can go inside and enjoy them." Della burst out laughing. Iris shook her head. "Subtle as ever." "Never claimed otherwise." Della caught both their hands. "Come on, then." Mira waited until Ace and Mai had joined her at the bedroom doorway. Then she caught Mai's hand. "Before we go any farther," she said, quieter than before, "I really am happy for you. Both of you. And I'm damned glad I get to see you again." Mai's expression softened. "We missed you, Mira." Ace looked up. "And for the record, I'm not apologizing for being very pleased to find you." "I wouldn't recognize you if you did." Mira bent to kiss Ace. Mai answered with a kiss of her own, and Mira laughed at herself for smiling quite so helplessly. Mira stopped Ace at the threshold and studied her for an unusually long moment. "You know what I remember? Not your mouth. The way you used to take everyone else's trouble home." Ace looked ready with a joke; Mai touched her hand before it could arrive. "She's learning to leave it at the door," Mai said. "Slowly," Ace conceded. Mira smiled and kissed her again. Mai joined them, and the three spent a moment without rushing toward the next clever line. It was old affection renewed with adult choices, not an obligation to recreate a younger version of themselves. They went inside together. The window looked over Washington; the room was warm from the day's sun. Ace shrugged off her jacket, dropped it over a chair and immediately received a scandalized look from Mai. "That's designer tailoring." "It's a chair. Not an industrial shredder." "I swear, someday I'll make you appreciate good clothes." Mira stared at the extravagant jacket. "Did she just accuse *you* of underappreciating clothes?" Ace nodded gravely. "My marriage has become a place of persecution." The resulting laughter drew all three closer. Old familiarity did the rest: nobody waited for a formal introduction to a touch or a kiss, and nobody assumed the others wanted precisely what they remembered from years before. When Mai shifted away to catch her breath, Mira waited, looked into her eyes and followed only when she reached back for her. Some time later they were still close, speaking intermittently, their laughter quieter but no less familiar. Ace's usual talent for a devastating one-liner deserted her for a moment; Mira saw the change and touched her cheek rather than demanding a joke. Mai drew both of them closer, content to let the silence finish. The connection they had renewed was neither a replacement for Ace and Mai's marriage nor a tourist souvenir. Mira knew exactly what coming back to one another had meant. "You two really did get married," she said eventually, tracing the edge of a ring. "We did," Mai answered. Ace opened one eye. "Are you going to repeat that all night?" "If I have to." "Fine. But make it flattering." "Little menace, magnificent wife, appalling taste in coffee." Ace grinned. "Two out of three." They stayed awake until the city's traffic thinned below their windows, catching up on friendships that had always included more than dates and departures. The teasing eased at last; Mira reached for Mai and Ace together, and neither made her ask twice. --- In the other bedroom, Della and Iris had barely reached the bedside when Brenda made an announcement. "I should warn you both: I plan to enjoy this tremendously." Della laughed. "Sweetheart, we've known that since lunch." "Just keeping everyone informed." Iris rested her hands on Della's shoulders. "You remember what you're getting into?" Della's smile softened. "Iris, I remember you." Their kiss was immediate and familiar. Brenda watched from close beside them, her delight so obvious that Iris laughed when she turned to find her. "What?" Iris asked. "Nothing. I just happen to be married to a ridiculously gorgeous woman, and she's got an equally gorgeous old friend. Hard to see the downside." Della grinned. "Iris, you have excellent taste." "I've been saying that for days," Brenda replied. Iris took her wife's hand and drew her close, refusing to let her become an audience stranded on the wrong side of the room. Brenda was there because she wanted to be, and Iris's happiness at being seen by her was as plain as the pleasure of Della's familiar attention. Sometimes Brenda stepped closer, sometimes she lingered where she could catch Iris's eye; the choices belonged to the three of them and changed easily with the conversation. Brenda paused with her hand in Iris's. Della had been watching the two brides look at one another with a tenderness they hadn't quite learned to hide. "I don't want to be the story that pulls you away from that," Della said. Iris answered first. "You're not. You knew me before I learned how to be this happy. That's part of why being here matters." Brenda kissed Iris's cheek and took Della's hand. "And I married her because she tells the truth. Don't make us start tonight by pretending nobody wants to be here." Della laughed quietly. She came closer, and the three let the invitation become something real without losing sight of each other. No one was reduced to an onlooker; even in the pauses they checked who was speaking, who was reaching and who wanted a moment to last. When they finally settled onto the bed, Della brushed a strand of Iris's dark hair away from her face and smiled with an almost disarming tenderness. "You seem lighter," she said. "I am." "That's a very good look on you." Iris glanced toward Brenda. "She has something to do with it." "I noticed," Della murmured. Brenda sat close enough to take Iris's free hand. Iris looked from Della to her wife, still visibly surprised by the generosity of this impossible reunion, and kissed Brenda before turning back toward their old friend. Della watched the exchange, then smiled when Iris reached for her too. "There," Brenda said softly. "Now nobody gets to claim they were forgotten." "As though you'd allow it," Iris murmured. They remained together, letting old affection become present-tense intimacy without putting either marriage or friendship in competition. Brenda's boisterous certainty softened whenever Iris looked at her; Della recognized the change, touched her hand and earned an unexpectedly tender smile. At times none of them needed words. At others, a half-finished joke made all three laugh before they drew close again. Nobody was left to stand outside the moment, and none of them treated it as something to hurry past. When the room finally quieted, Brenda stayed curled beside Iris and Della, still smiling at how naturally the evening had found its own shape. She was the first to speak. "Well, fuck. I think Washington deserves a return visit." Iris laughed. Della laughed harder. The spell didn't break; it settled into something comfortable. "You can come back for sightseeing," Della told her. "We *did* sightseeing. I'm proposing a rather different tourist program." Iris kissed her wife. "God help the tourism board." They remained together until fatigue finally won, not rushing into separate rooms or pretending the night had been a footnote. Della's hand found Iris's before sleep. Brenda watched them for a moment, smiled and moved closer. --- Aboard Aureate II, Nadia opened her suite door to find Shammy standing outside in a beautiful pale-gray outfit, her silver-white hair floating high around her head. Nadia stared. Then smiled slowly. "Oh, my." Shammy glanced upward. "I know." "Have you been looking forward to this?" "Rather." Nadia laughed. "Sweetheart, your hair is practically waving flags." Shammy smiled. "An unfortunate lack of discretion." "I think it's beautiful." Shammy stepped closer. "And you?" Nadia's expression warmed. "I've been looking forward to this too." Shammy took her hand. "Good." Nadia kissed her. The halo brightened. Shammy laughed in embarrassment, then stopped pretending she was embarrassed when Nadia touched her cheek. "Come inside," Nadia said. "I've been waiting for you." "I noticed." "Have you?" "You opened the door before I knocked." Nadia laughed and stepped backward, drawing Shammy with her. The room was quiet and gently lit, a world away from the seven-person noise of the restaurant. A pot of tea stood ready on the small table; Nadia had also set out the two sketches they had argued about that morning, then conspicuously turned them facedown. "No work tonight?" Shammy asked. "Not unless you have an irresistible idea." "I have several. None are about the installation." Nadia smiled at that, reached for her hand again, and let the conversation take its own pace. They spoke about the extraordinary accident of finding one another aboard the ship. Nadia admitted she'd been trying to think of a professional reason to see Shammy tomorrow; Shammy told her she could simply ask. For someone whose public life as Sera had taught her to receive requests wrapped in elaborate politeness, the honesty was a relief. When they kissed again, Shammy's hair rose, then drifted back toward her shoulders as Nadia held her. Shammy rested her cheek against Nadia's, listening to both their breathing settle. She could have told a joke; instead she stayed exactly where she wanted to be. "Are we going to talk all night?" Nadia asked eventually. "Not exclusively," Shammy said. Nadia laughed into her shoulder and took her toward the bedroom. Neither hurried the other. Later, as the ship's engines murmured beneath the floor, they lay together talking about things that had nothing to do with exhibitions. Nadia traced one loose silver-white strand across the pillow and admitted she was already dreading the voyage's end. Shammy took her hand and told her about Watson, about coffee in the safehouse kitchen, and about the people she'd love to introduce properly. "That sounds rather like an invitation," Nadia murmured. "It is." A brief, delighted kiss followed. Shammy's hair finally settled. The night didn't end their conversation; it simply made the next one possible. --- Hours later, Ace was lying comfortably beside Mai and Mira. The lights were low. Washington's distant traffic made a soft background murmur. Mira traced the edge of Ace's wedding ring. "So." Ace opened one eye. "So?" "Married woman." Ace smiled. "Yes?" "Still planning to be a pain in everyone's ass for the next fifty years?" "Minimum." Mira laughed softly. Mai brushed Ace's black hair away from her face. "She's ambitious." Mira looked at her. "And you married her anyway." Mai smiled. "I knew what I was getting." Ace grinned. "Liar." Mai kissed her. "Entirely." Mira rested a hand against Mai's shoulder. For a while, none of them spoke. Then Mira smiled. "Missed you both." Ace's expression softened. "Missed you too." Mai reached for Mira's hand. "We're glad we found you." Mira laughed quietly. "In the middle of Washington, of all places." Ace closed her eyes again. "City needed trouble." Mai shook her head. "Oh, darling." In the other bedroom, Brenda lay between Iris and Della. Her energy had finally settled into warm contentment. Della brushed a strand of brown hair from Brenda's face. "Still impossible." Brenda smiled. "Only on days ending in Y." Iris laughed softly. Della looked toward her. "And you." Iris gave Della a long, knowing look. "What?" "Still pretending you're the respectable one." Iris smiled. "Someone has to maintain standards." Brenda burst out laughing. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Della grinned. "Exactly." Iris kissed her. Then Brenda. "Both of you are terrible influences." Brenda leaned closer. "And yet." Iris smiled. "And yet." Della settled back against her pillow. "Next time, invite me to the wedding." Brenda considered. "We're hoping not to need another." Iris laughed. "Very much hoping." Della smiled. "Then invite me to an anniversary." Brenda grinned. "Now that's a plan." --- At some point before dawn, Shammy woke briefly beside Nadia. The room was quiet. The ship rested peacefully at its berth. Shammy reached for her holo. A message from Mai waited on the screen. All well here. Love you. She smiled. Typed a reply. All well here too. Love you both. A moment later, Ace answered. Good. Sleep, gorgeous. Shammy laughed silently. Her hair lifted into the faintest halo. Nadia stirred. "Everything all right?" Shammy turned toward her. "Perfectly." Nadia smiled sleepily. "Good." Shammy set the holo aside and moved closer. Outside, Washington slept. Inside, the night ended exactly where she wanted it to. At the hotel, Mira tried to reclaim her corner of the duvet and found Ace sleeping squarely across it. "Some things," she murmured, "don't improve with marriage." Mai, still awake, pulled Ace gently toward her. "We didn't promise improvement." Across the suite, Della checked the lamp nearest the door and switched it off before Iris could ask. Brenda noticed and mouthed *thank you*. Della remembered details like that, even after years apart. Aboard Aureate II, Nadia traced one finger along the sketch Shammy had left on the nightstand, careful not to wake her. In the morning, the ships and schedules would begin asking questions again. Tonight, nobody had to answer them. ## Chapter 23 — The Worst Possible Time to Call Della woke because somebody was kissing her shoulder. That was a perfectly acceptable reason to wake up. She kept her eyes closed. The kiss moved a little higher. Then stopped. "You're awake," Iris murmured. Della smiled. "Prove it." Another kiss. This one landed just below her ear. Della laughed softly. "That's a promising start." Iris's arm tightened around her waist. "Good morning." "Morning, Lieutenant." "Former lieutenant." "That hasn't stopped being fun to say." "I've noticed." Della opened her eyes. Iris lay beside her, dark hazelnut-brown hair mussed from sleep, looking considerably less formal than she had during their first unexpected encounter yesterday. Della studied her face. "God, I've missed waking up to that." Iris smiled. "My charming personality?" "Your terrible attitude." "Naturally." "And the way you look at me when you're considering whether I'm worth the trouble." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Have I ever decided you weren't?" "No." "Then perhaps you should stop worrying." Della's smile deepened. "Who said I was worried?" Iris kissed her. This time, neither hurried. When they separated, a voice from the other side of the bed said: "For the record, your wife is currently accepting breakfast requests." Della looked past Iris. Brenda was sitting upright against the pillows, dark-brown hair in magnificent disarray, examining the hotel's room-service menu. Iris closed her eyes. "Brenda." "What?" "Must you?" "Apparently. The universe entrusted me with a menu." Della laughed. Brenda looked toward her. "Coffee?" "Please." "Breakfast?" "Something substantial." "Excellent." Brenda glanced at Iris. "And for my devastatingly attractive wife?" Iris considered. "Coffee. Eggs. And five minutes without your commentary." Brenda gasped. "Cruelty. In my own marriage." Della leaned closer to Iris. "She's rather demanding this morning." Iris smiled. "She was demanding yesterday." "True." Brenda looked between them. "Hey. I'm right here." "We know," Della said. "We've been hoping you'll bring coffee," Iris added. Brenda stared. Then broke into a grin. "God, you're both assholes." She tapped in the order. Della looked at Iris. "Married life suits you." Iris's expression softened. "It does." Della brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. "Good." Then, with an entirely different smile: "And just so we're clear, I'm not finished stealing your attention." Brenda didn't look up from the menu. "Fine by me. She's got plenty." "How generous." "Very. I'm an excellent wife." Della looked down at the wedding band on Iris's hand and made a show of considering her verdict. "I'll send a glowing recommendation. Five stars. Dubious bedside manner." --- In the second bedroom, Mira had discovered that marriage had done absolutely nothing to improve Ace's manners. "Coffee," Ace announced. Mai, still half-asleep beside her, opened one eye. "Good morning, darling." Ace rolled toward her and kissed her. "Good morning. Coffee." Mira laughed into her pillow. "Still a demanding little shit." Ace turned. "Still an oversized smartass." "Good. I'd hate to discover you'd become respectable." Mai stretched. "Not a risk." Ace looked wounded. "My own wife." "Who knows you extremely well." Mira propped herself on one elbow. "Actually, I have a question." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Does it involve coffee?" "No." "Then it's badly timed." Mira ignored her. "Has she started making you call her 'darling wife' in public?" Mai laughed. Ace considered. "Only when she wants something." Mira looked toward Mai. "Oh, that's interesting." Mai smiled sweetly. "Ignore her." "Can't. She's sitting right there." Ace grinned. "Unfortunately for you both." Mira reached over and caught Ace around the waist. Ace made an indignant noise as Mira pulled her closer. "Hey." "Still threatening people before breakfast?" "Only people who deserve it." Mira kissed her. Ace's objection evaporated. When Mira released her, Mai was smiling. "Effective." "Some things I remember." Ace narrowed her eyes. "You're both enjoying this." "Immensely," Mai said. Mira looked at her. "Coffee?" "Please." Ace sat up. "FINALLY." --- The suite's room-service breakfast arrived shortly before ten. Six women gathered around the large dining table in varying degrees of readiness for the day. Della wore a robe. Iris had borrowed a soft shirt from Della. Mira had managed trousers but apparently decided the rest of the morning didn't require much ceremony. Mai looked effortlessly elegant, as usual. Ace was suspiciously alert now that caffeine had entered her bloodstream. Brenda was examining a small antique mechanical object she'd found on the suite's bookshelf. Iris watched her. "Put it down, sweetheart." "I'm just looking." "You've removed the cover." "I wanted to see the movement." "Brenda." "It's beautiful!" Della leaned toward Iris. "Is this what breakfast is like at home?" Iris considered. "Sometimes she waits until after coffee." Brenda looked offended. "Occasionally." Mira laughed. Ace pointed toward the device. "Does it explode?" "No!" "Shame." Mai sighed. "Ace." "What?" "Please don't encourage her." Brenda grinned. "Too late." Della looked at Iris. "How have you survived?" Iris smiled. "Skill. Patience. Excellent reflexes." Brenda leaned over and kissed her. "And love." Iris's expression softened. "That too." Della watched them for a moment. Then leaned closer to Iris's other side. "And apparently very good judgment in women." Iris glanced at her. "Occasionally questionable." "Fuck off." Iris kissed her cheek. "Gladly." Della's holo chimed at 10:06. She glanced at the incoming call. "Elisa." Mira looked up. "Work?" "Probably. Final contract review." Della accepted. A small holographic image appeared over the table. Elisa was seated at a workstation aboard Crystal Palace, a bank of displays glowing behind her. She looked focused. Organized. Professional. Entirely unprepared. "Morning, Della. Sorry to bother you on your day off. Did the client approve the final revisions, or are we still waiting for—" From somewhere behind the table, Ace called brightly: "Hi, Elisa!" Elisa stopped. Her eyes moved toward the sound. Then narrowed. "…Ace?" Ace leaned into view, coffee cup in hand. "Missed you too." Elisa stared. "ACE?" "Still me." "What the fuck are you doing there?" Ace considered. "Having breakfast." "I CAN SEE THAT." Mira started laughing. Elisa's eyes widened. "Wait." She leaned closer to the camera. "Is that Mira?" Mira waved. "Morning, gorgeous." Elisa stared. "MIRA?" Mai leaned into view. "Hello, Elisa." Elisa's mouth fell open. "MAI?" Brenda rose behind Della. "Hi!" Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, fuck me." Iris leaned forward beside Della. "Good morning." Elisa opened her eyes. Stared. Then pointed at the projection. "IRIS?" "Apparently." Elisa looked from face to face. Then back at Della. "Why is the entire fucking circus in your hotel room?" Della pressed her lips together. Her shoulders shook. Elisa narrowed her eyes. "Della." "Yes?" "Explain." Della inhaled. "Well—" Ace took a sip of coffee. "Small world." Elisa stared at her. "Nobody asked you." Ace smiled sweetly. "Rude." It took several minutes to establish that the Washington contract had, in fact, been completed successfully. Della explained the final documentation. Confirmed the sign-off. Reported that all equipment had been accounted for and payment had cleared. Elisa listened. Occasionally glanced toward the collection of suspiciously cheerful women in the background. Then finally nodded. "Good. Excellent. That's everything I needed." "Glad to help." Elisa looked past her again. A long silence followed. Then: "Now. Why the hell are they there?" Mira grinned. "Ran into them yesterday." "All five?" "All five." "Where?" "Street near the waterfront." Elisa frowned. "That's absurd." Ace shrugged. "Washington's not that big." Mai looked at her. "Yes, it is." Ace ignored her. Elisa studied the group. "Fine. Whatever. Lovely reunion. Why are you in Washington?" "Honeymoon." Elisa blinked. "…**What**?" "Honeymoon." Elisa laughed once. "Good one." Nobody joined her. Her smile faded. She looked toward Mai. Mai's left hand rested on the table. A ring caught the light. Elisa stared. Then slowly looked toward Ace. Another ring. She leaned closer to the camera. "Hold on." Mai smiled. "Yes?" "What is that?" Ace lifted her hand. "Jewelry." Elisa gave her a murderous look. "ACE." Mai laughed softly. "We got married." The silence was glorious. Elisa blinked. Once. Twice. Then: "YOU FUCKING **WHAT**?" Mira dissolved into laughter. Della covered her face. Brenda looked delighted. Ace grinned. "Married." "WHEN?" "Before we left Night City," Mai answered. Elisa stared at them. Then leaned back in her chair. "Okay." A pause. "Okay." Another pause. "YOU GOT MARRIED AND DIDN'T FUCKING INVITE ME?" Ace considered. "Would you have come?" Elisa practically shouted. "OF COURSE I'D HAVE COME!" Mai was laughing now. Elisa pointed at the projection. "Don't you dare laugh." That made Mai laugh harder. Elisa looked toward Della for support. And noticed something. Iris's hand rested over Brenda's on the table. Two more rings. Elisa went very still. "No." Brenda smiled. Elisa pointed at her. "No." Iris lifted her hand. "Hello again." Elisa closed her eyes. A long, terrible silence followed. Then she whispered: "Oh, you absolute fucking monsters." Brenda grinned. "Two weddings." "Same day." "SHARED RECEPTION," Ace contributed. Elisa opened her eyes. "YOU HAD TWO WEDDINGS?" "Yes," Mai said. "AND NOBODY TOLD ME?" Mira was laughing so hard she could barely breathe. Elisa stared at the ceiling. "Somebody on this station is going to die today." Della finally managed to speak. "Elisa—" "NOT YOU. YOU'RE ON VACATION." Brenda collapsed against Iris. Elisa looked at her. "AND STOP LAUGHING!" Brenda tried. Failed. Laughed harder. Elisa's outrage developed into a magnificent interrogation. She wanted details. Dates. Photographs. The officiant's name. The guest list. Who had planned the ceremony. Who had supplied the rings. And, most urgently, why nobody had thought to send her a message. "Padre officiated," Iris explained. Elisa blinked. "Padre?" "Both ceremonies," Brenda added. Elisa stared. "Of course he fucking did." Mira smiled. "Apparently it was beautiful." "It was," Mai said softly. Elisa looked toward her. The anger faltered for a moment. Then Elisa sighed. "Oh, Mai." "Yes?" "You look happy." "I am." Elisa's expression softened. Then her eyes narrowed again. "Still should've invited me." The words landed differently this time. Elisa was no longer shouting. On the holo, the familiar anger had thinned enough to reveal what she'd actually lost: a day with people she loved. Ace lowered her cup. "You're right. We should have asked. You were on Crystal Palace, but that should've been your decision, not ours. I'm sorry." Mai moved into view beside her. "So am I. We thought about keeping the gathering small, and somewhere along the way we forgot that small doesn't mean leaving people out without a word." Elisa looked between them. "Oh, for fuck's sake. I was trying to stay furious." "You can," Ace said. "I'll even hold still for the yelling. Briefly." "Don't test me." But Elisa's smile had gone crooked. "I wanted to see you do it. Both of you. And Iris and Brenda. I would've rearranged everything I could." Iris took Brenda's hand. "We know. We should have told you ourselves." Elisa let out a breath. "Next time you idiots do something life-changing, call me before the cake is gone." "Deal," Brenda said. "But we're not planning another wedding." "Good. I'd have to start invoicing you for emotional damages." Mira laughed; Della lifted her holo toward Elisa in a small, affectionate salute. Elisa waved it away with one hand, but she was smiling now. "Still should've invited me." Ace grinned. "We've established that." "NO, WE HAVEN'T ESTABLISHED IT ENOUGH." Della made a strangled noise. Elisa looked toward Iris. "And you." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "You too?" Iris nodded. "Me too." Elisa stared at her ring. Then looked toward Brenda. "You two really did it." Brenda's grin softened. "We did." For a moment, Elisa said nothing. Then she smiled. "Fuck." A pause. "Congratulations." Iris smiled. "Thank you." Brenda blew her a kiss. Elisa shook her head. "Still furious." "Naturally," Iris said. Elisa leaned back. Then looked around the group again. "Where's Shammy?" Ace smiled. "Aboard the ship." "Doing what?" Mai considered. "Enjoying a quiet morning with Nadia." Elisa blinked. "Who's Nadia?" "An artist," Ace said. Elisa stared. Then closed her eyes. "Of course she is." The call finally ended after Elisa demanded every wedding photograph in existence. Every photograph. Not a selection. Not a tasteful summary. Everything. "Even the reception?" Brenda asked. Elisa narrowed her eyes. "Why are you asking that?" Mira grinned. "Professional caution." Elisa pointed at her. "You. Shut up." Della laughed. Elisa looked toward Iris. "You're the responsible one. Tell me there are normal photographs." Iris smiled. "Of course." Elisa relaxed slightly. "Good." Iris added: "And some less normal ones." Elisa stared. Then slowly smiled. "Oh, now I'm definitely getting all of them." Ace lifted her coffee cup. "Enjoy." Elisa pointed at her. "You are an absolute menace." Ace grinned. "Missed you too." Then the call ended. For a moment, the suite was silent. Della looked at her holo. Then toward Iris. "Well." Iris smiled. "That went well." Brenda burst out laughing. Mira nearly dropped her coffee. Mai leaned against Ace, shaking with laughter. Ace looked immensely pleased. "Productive meeting." Della stared at her. "You're a terrible person." "Frequently," Ace said. --- After breakfast, Mira and Della began organizing their departure. Their contract in Washington was complete, and onward travel towards Night City awaited later that afternoon. The honeymooners had Aureate II waiting for them. Nobody particularly wanted the reunion to end. Della found Iris on the terrace, looking out across the city. She joined her quietly. For a while, they watched the traffic below. Then Della said: "I meant what I said yesterday." Iris turned. "About?" "Missing you." Iris's expression softened. "I missed you too." Della leaned against the railing. "You know what I missed most?" Iris smiled. "My sparkling personality?" "Your terrible fucking attitude." Iris laughed. Della stepped closer. "The way you always looked like you had three contingency plans and a fourth hidden in your back pocket." "Professional habit." "And the way you'd suddenly abandon all three because you wanted something. Or someone." Iris raised an eyebrow. "That sounds reckless." Della smiled. "Only when you were very sure." Iris looked at her. For a moment, the old familiarity sat between them. Comfortable. Undiminished. Then Della reached for her hand. "Last night was good." Iris turned toward her rather than reaching for a joke. "I forgot how you always know when I'm about to say something ridiculous. And I forgot how much I missed being allowed to." "You were never very good at asking permission," Della said, brushing her thumb over Iris's wedding ring. "You've changed." "I hope so." "Not into somebody else." Iris waited. Della smiled. "Just somebody who doesn't feel obliged to hold the whole fucking world together." Iris laughed softly. "That obvious?" "To me?" Della stepped closer. "Sweetheart, I know you." Iris drew her into an embrace. They stayed like that for a while. Then Della kissed her. Slowly. When they separated, Iris rested her forehead against hers. "Thank you." Della smiled. "For what?" "Yesterday. Last night. This morning." Della laughed softly. "You're welcome." A pause. Then her grin returned. "And if you're ever in the same city again, I'd appreciate more than a five-minute warning." Iris smiled. "Noted." "Preferably several hours." "I'll see what I can do." "With Brenda included, obviously." Iris laughed. "Obviously." Della kissed her once more. "Good." Brenda was in the living room when Iris returned. She glanced up. "Find Della?" Iris smiled. "Yes." Brenda studied her expression. Then grinned. "Oh, gorgeous." Iris raised an eyebrow. "What?" "Nothing." "Brenda." Brenda stood. Crossed the room. And kissed her. Iris caught her waist. "Something on your mind?" Brenda smiled. "Just glad you had such a good time." Iris's expression softened. "So did you." Brenda nudged their rings together. "I married you, gorgeous. I didn't put you under house arrest. Besides, Della always had excellent taste." Brenda glanced toward the terrace. Then back at Iris. "You know, she's still completely gone on you." Iris laughed. "Brenda." "What? I've got eyes." Iris shook her head. Brenda continued, entirely untroubled: "And excellent taste. Obviously. Married you." Iris kissed her again. "You did." Brenda smiled. "Smartest thing I ever did." Mira's farewell involved significantly more swearing. She caught Ace in a hug. Then looked down at her. "Still angry about the wedding." Ace grinned. "Noted." "Should've been there." "Probably." "Would've behaved." Mai laughed. Mira turned. "Okay, no. I wouldn't." "Exactly," Ace said. Mira kissed her. Then Mai. When she stepped back, her expression softened. "Seriously. Congratulations." Mai smiled. "Thank you." Mira looked toward Ace. "Take care of her." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Always." Then Mira turned toward Mai. "And you take care of this impossible little shit." Mai smiled. "With pleasure." Ace looked offended. "Both of you can fuck off." Mira burst out laughing. "God, I missed you." Mai took Ace's hand. "We missed you too." Mira embraced them both. For a moment, the jokes stopped. Then she stepped back. "All right. Get out of here before I decide to kidnap you." Ace grinned. "You couldn't afford me." Mira laughed. "Never could." --- Shammy greeted the others aboard Aureate II shortly after noon. Her silver-white hair lay mostly smooth against her shoulders. Mostly. A few strands rose when Ace approached. "Hello, gorgeous." Shammy smiled. "Hello." Mai embraced her. "How was your night?" "Wonderful." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Just wonderful?" Shammy considered. Then smiled. "Exceptionally satisfying." Brenda burst out laughing. Iris shook her head. Mai kissed Shammy's cheek. "I'm glad." Shammy looked toward them. "And yours?" Ace grinned. "Excellent." Mai nodded. "Very." "Lovely," Iris said. Brenda leaned against her wife. "Educational." Iris closed her eyes. "Oh, sweetheart." Shammy laughed. Her hair lifted into a delighted halo. Ace reached for her hand. "Missed you." Shammy's expression softened. "Missed you too." Mai took her other hand. For a moment, the three stood together. Not repairing anything. Nothing had been damaged. Just happy to be in one another's company again. Then Shammy looked toward Iris. "I heard Elisa called." Brenda nearly exploded. "Oh, honey. You have no idea." Ace grinned. "We've got a recording of the aftermath." Mai looked at her. "We do?" Ace smiled sweetly. "Possibly." Iris laughed. "Of course you do." Captain Henry Rourke found Iris near the observation lounge later that afternoon. She stood beside Brenda, looking toward Washington through the broad windows. Henry approached. "Enjoy your visit?" Iris turned. "Dad." She embraced him. "Very much." Brenda hugged him too. "Wonderful city." Henry smiled. "I'm glad." He looked toward Iris. "Ready to sail?" Iris considered. Then nodded. "Yes." Henry studied her. "There was a time I'd have expected you on the bridge by now." Iris smiled. "I know." "Part of me still does." "Old habits?" Henry laughed softly. "Very old." Brenda slipped an arm around Iris's waist. Henry looked at them. Then smiled. "But I think I prefer seeing you like this." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Like what?" "Happy." For a moment, she had no clever reply. She hugged him again. Henry held her tightly. Then looked toward Brenda. "Take care of her." Brenda smiled. "Always." Henry considered. "And please don't dismantle any part of my ship." Brenda looked scandalized. "Captain!" Henry raised an eyebrow. "Brenda." She grinned. "Not even something small?" Iris burst out laughing. Henry closed his eyes. "Oh, God." Brenda kissed his cheek. "Love you too." --- Aureate II departed Washington in the late afternoon. The city slowly receded behind them. Passengers gathered along the decks. Harbor traffic passed nearby. The ship moved smoothly toward open water. Ace stood on the Triad's balcony with Mai and Shammy. For a while, they watched the shoreline disappear. Then Ace looked toward Mai. "Good trip?" Mai smiled. "Wonderful." Shammy nodded. "I'd like to come back." Ace grinned. "For the art?" "Among other things." "Shopping?" Shammy smiled. "Possibly." Mai laughed. Ace took her hand. "Excellent priorities." Shammy's hair lifted softly. Mai shook her head. "You're both hopeless." Ace kissed her. "And you love us." "Desperately," Mai said. They watched Washington fade into the distance. Then Ace glanced toward Shammy. "How's Nadia?" Shammy's expression softened. "Very well." "Good." "She asked whether we'd consider another gallery visit before the voyage ends." Mai smiled. "That sounds very interesting." Ace nodded. "Definitely." Shammy's hair lifted into a gentle halo. "Thank you." Ace looked up. "Of course, gorgeous." --- That evening, Mai found Ace sitting on the sofa with her holo. Her wife was smiling. Not an ordinary smile. A very particular smile. Mai stopped in the doorway. "Oh, no." Ace looked up. "What?" "That expression." Ace blinked innocently. "Which expression?" "The one that says you're planning something." Ace considered. "Possibly." Mai approached. Looked toward the screen. Then raised an eyebrow. "A nightclub booking?" Ace grinned. "A very familiar club. And a place that takes requests." Mai studied her. Then slowly smiled. "Oh." Shammy appeared behind them. Her silver-white hair lifted with interest. "What are we planning?" Ace looked between her two partners. Then leaned back. "I've found somewhere we haven't danced yet," Ace said. Mai closed her eyes and laughed. "Of course you have." Shammy smiled slowly. "And you've already read the entire programme?" "Twice," Ace admitted. Mai looked toward her wife. "You're planning to enjoy yourself." "Scandalously," Ace said. "I even promise to let the evening surprise me." Shammy's hair rose into a delighted halo. Mai shook her head. "I married a menace." Ace stood. Stepped closer. And kissed her. "And you love it." Mai smiled against her mouth. "Unfortunately." Outside, Aureate II moved toward open water. Washington disappeared into the evening. Ace sent Mai and Shammy a photograph from The Velvet Dreams' programme: high-backed velvet booths and a dance floor crowded with people who seemed to have forgotten the time. *Research,* she wrote. Mai replied: *That expression on your face is visible from another deck.* Shammy added: *Try not to submit the entire establishment for peer review.* Ace considered three replies, discarded all of them and went looking for her good shorts. ## Chapter 24 — The Girl Who Remembered How to Play The problem with choosing an evening's adventure in advance was that Ace had far too much time to think about it. She'd already found The Velvet Dreams, sent Mai and Shammy the programme and selected the absurdly expensive shorts. Now she stood in front of the suite mirror, turning her wedding ring once with her thumb. Mai caught the movement. "Second thoughts?" "About the shorts? Never." "About tonight." Ace met her eyes in the mirror. "Not second thoughts. Just remembered how long it's been since I did anything purely because I felt like it." Shammy looked up from her sketchbook. "You bought six pairs of shoes in Washington." "Those were investments." "One was purple patent leather." "A diversified portfolio." Mai came up behind her and settled a hand at her waist. "Then perhaps tonight you can do something with absolutely no investment strategy." Ace looked at the two women reflected beside her. It had taken her longer than she cared to admit to learn that being wanted didn't have to mean being needed for something. She didn't have to win anybody, rescue anybody or prove she could outrun tomorrow. "I think I'd like to play," she said. Shammy's silver-white hair lifted. "Then we'll make sure you remember the difference between a game and a mission." Ace grinned. "One of those comes with better whisky." Mai caught the ring hand and kissed it. "Get dressed, trouble." --- Ace dressed for the club in the shorts that had caused nearly as much argument as the wedding rings. Dark fabric, a ruthless cut and tailoring so precise she had paid an absurd amount of money for the privilege of forgetting she was wearing them. A soft black jacket and violet-accented shoes completed the outfit. Mai chose something she could dance in for hours; Shammy dressed for herself, not for the public artist Sera. The Velvet Dreams occupied two decks toward Aureate II's stern. Its principal room was built around a broad dance floor with elegant lighting, a live DJ and a series of intimate seating areas tucked beneath curved balconies. The music was excellent. The drinks were expensive. And the atmosphere was precisely the sort of carefully managed decadence that made Ace feel immediately at home. She entered between Mai and Shammy. Stopped. Looked around. Then smiled. "Oh, this is exellent." Mai laughed. "Of course you'd say that." Shammy studied the room. Her hair lifted gently to the rhythm of the bass. "I like the acoustics." Ace looked up. "Naturally." "And the lighting." Mai smiled. "And the people?" Shammy considered the crowd. Then glanced toward Ace. "I think somebody else is already studying those." Ace grinned. "Research." Mai shook her head. "Incorrigible." "Married me anyway." "An ongoing lapse in judgment." Ace kissed her. "Love you." Mai smiled. "Love you too." They found a table near the dance floor. Not hidden. Not exposed. A good place to watch the room. Ace ordered whisky. Mai chose a cocktail. Shammy selected something light and sparkling. Then the three settled into the pleasure of an evening with nowhere else to be. --- Ace noticed the man halfway through her second drink. He was sitting with two friends near the far end of the bar. Mid-thirties, perhaps. Dark hair. Broad shoulders. A warm smile that appeared easily when somebody spoke to him. He looked comfortable in his own skin. Not arrogant. Not trying too hard. When a woman at the bar accidentally knocked a napkin dispenser from the counter, he caught it before it fell, handed it back and returned to his conversation without making a performance of the gesture. Ace watched him. Mai noticed. Of course Mai noticed. "Found somebody?" Ace considered. "Possibly." Mai followed her gaze. Then smiled. "Oh." Shammy looked across the room. Her hair stirred. "Handsome." "Very." Mai studied him. "Your type." "One of them." "Of course." Ace glanced toward her wife. "Problem?" "Not remotely." Shammy took a sip of her drink. "Does he know?" Ace looked back toward the bar. "Not yet." Mai laughed. "Oh, darling." Ace set down her glass. "Back in a minute." Shammy's hair rose. "Have fun." Ace turned. "Always." --- His name was Adrian. Ace learned that after walking up to the bar, ordering another drink and catching his eye in the mirror behind the bottles. He smiled first. "Evening." Ace turned toward him. "Hello." He looked her over. Not rudely. With open, appreciative interest. "Having a good night?" Ace considered. "Improving." He laughed. "Is that right?" "Depends." "On what?" Ace smiled. "Whether you're interesting." He studied her for a moment. Then grinned. "That's a lot of pressure." "Can you handle it?" "Possibly." "Good answer." He offered his hand. "Adrian." "Ace." He smiled. "Nice to meet you, Ace." She accepted his hand. "Likewise." The conversation came easily. Adrian taught nervous adults to dance for a living, which explained the confidence without the nightclub's usual performance of invincibility. His friends had persuaded him to spend a holiday *not* correcting anyone's footwork. "Do they succeed?" Ace asked. "Until someone nearly breaks an ankle demonstrating a tango they learned from a holo." "I like that you haven't offered to correct mine." "You'd stab me with a heel." "Observant. I could grow fond of that." He liked good whisky and, more interestingly, knew when to let a joke land without rushing in to improve it. Ace stopped treating every answer as a challenge. He began doing the same. Eventually he glanced toward the table where Mai and Shammy sat. "Friends?" Ace followed his gaze. "My wife and our partner." Adrian blinked. Then looked back at her. "Oh." "Surprised?" "A little." "Bad surprise?" "No." He considered. "Just unexpected." "Fair." Adrian smiled. "And they're happy with you talking to me?" Ace looked toward Mai. Mai raised her glass. Shammy waved. Her silver-white hair lifted in a soft halo. Adrian stared. Then laughed. "I suppose that answers that." Ace grinned. "Pretty clearly." --- From across the room, Mai recognized the moment Ace stopped trying to win every exchange. Adrian was telling a story with his hands, and Ace was actually allowing him to finish it. Shammy followed her gaze. "Interesting company?" "Very. He's making her listen." "That seems a greater accomplishment than anything advertised on the ship's programme." Mai laughed. "Don't tell Ace I said so. She'll turn it into a competition." "She already has," Shammy said. "I believe he's winning." Mai watched her wife tilt her head to hear him over the bass. "Then good for him." They watched Adrian laugh at something Ace said. Mai took Shammy's hand. "Come on. I'm not wasting an excellent song standing here assessing a stranger's qualifications." "Sensible." "Don't insult me." The DJ changed tracks. A familiar rhythmic pulse moved through the room. Mai's expression brightened. "Oh." Shammy looked toward her. "Dancing?" Mai stood. "Absolutely." Shammy laughed. Her hair lifted. They moved toward the dance floor together. --- Ace danced with Adrian. Not immediately. First there was conversation. Another shared joke. A few minutes spent discovering that he could tease as well as receive teasing. Then the music changed. He looked toward the floor. "Do you dance?" Ace raised an eyebrow. "Terribly." Adrian smiled. "I don't believe you." "Smart man." She offered her hand. He took it. They joined the crowd. Adrian was a good dancer. Not a show-off. He understood rhythm and spacing and knew how to follow another person's lead when she clearly had something in mind. Ace appreciated that. She moved closer. He smiled. "You're trouble." Ace grinned. "Observant." "Should I be worried?" "Depends how much you like trouble." Adrian laughed. "Quite a bit, apparently." "Excellent." They danced. Sometimes close. Sometimes apart. Ace was playful, confident and entirely comfortable being the center of his attention. Several songs passed before he leaned closer. "Can I kiss you?" Ace smiled. "Thought you'd never ask." He kissed her. She kissed him back. When they separated, Ace laughed softly. "Not bad." Adrian grinned. "Not bad?" "Room for improvement." "Oh, really?" Ace leaned closer. "Consider that encouragement." --- Across the dance floor, Mai caught Shammy's hand. They moved together with effortless familiarity. Shammy's height made her difficult to overlook. Her silver-white hair drifted around her shoulders, catching the changing lights. Mai smiled up at her. "Happy?" Shammy nodded. "Very." Mai glanced toward Ace. Shammy followed her gaze. Adrian had said something that made Ace laugh. Then Ace caught his collar and kissed him again. Shammy smiled. "She's having fun." "Definitely," Mai said. The music softened into a slower rhythm. Shammy drew Mai closer. For a while, the two simply danced. Then Mai looked up. "Thank you." Shammy tilted her head. "For what?" "For being here." Shammy's expression warmed. "Where else would I be?" Mai smiled. She kissed her. The hair around Shammy's shoulders lifted into a gentle halo. Neither woman noticed the admiring glances they received. Or, more accurately, neither particularly cared. --- Ace and Adrian eventually returned to the bar. They ordered water. Then found a quieter seating area beside the dance floor. Adrian looked at her. "So." Ace smiled. "So?" "Are you always like this?" "Charming?" He laughed. "Confident." Ace considered. "Usually." "Must be nice." "It is." He smiled. "Fair enough." Ace studied him. Then glanced toward the booths at the far side of the room. They were upholstered in dark velvet, with high curved backs that created small islands of privacy amid the club's shifting light. Adrian followed her gaze. "Something caught your eye?" Ace looked back at him. "Maybe." He smiled. "Should I ask?" Ace leaned closer. "Would you like somewhere quieter?" Adrian considered. Then nodded. "With you? Yes." Ace smiled. "Good." He offered his hand. She took it. They moved through the crowd toward the booths. --- From the far side of the room, Mai noticed them. Shammy followed her gaze. "Oh." "Yes," Mai said. Shammy's hair lifted. "An interesting new friend?" Shammy asked. Mai watched Ace glance back toward them. Her wife caught her eye and smiled. Mai returned it, lifting her glass in a small salute. "Looks like it," she said. Shammy laughed softly. "She's stopped scanning the exits," Mai said. "She's decided to be here, rather than somewhere else in her head." Shammy watched Ace turn and give them a quick, conspiratorial look. Her hair made one small bright wave. "I like that she still wants to tell us about it afterward." "Oh, she will," Mai said. "At considerable volume." A moment later, Ace and Adrian disappeared into one of the curved seating areas. Mai turned back toward Shammy. "Another dance?" Shammy smiled. "Please." They returned to the floor. --- The booth was quieter than the bar, although the bass could still be felt through the dark velvet upholstery. It faced the dance floor at an angle: anybody passing would see two adults leaning close, nothing more. Ace had inspected the arrangement before bringing Adrian here. Privacy mattered to her, as did the difference between sharing a secret and making strangers unwilling participants. Adrian sat and set his empty glass on the table. Ace stayed standing for a moment, just long enough to meet his eyes. "One last opportunity to flee," she said. "You're five minutes too late for that warning." "Excellent. I hate wasted paperwork." He laughed, but he waited. That was what Ace liked about him: the patience beneath the charm. She took his hand, and he glanced once at her ring. "I've met your wife," he said. "I don't intend to pretend I missed the introduction." "Good. Some men see a ring and immediately invent a tragic backstory." "I'd rather know what you want." Ace considered his expression for a beat. "Right now? Another kiss. Beyond that, we can decide together." "I can work with that." "You'd better. You're the dance teacher." She kissed him before he could formulate another reply. The laugh he'd been holding escaped against her cheek; she drew back just enough to see it, and the sight pleased her more than the expertly delivered lines at the bar had done. This was the part of the game no choreography could guarantee: the moment a stranger stopped performing charm and let her meet the person underneath. "You can still tell me to stop," she said. "I know. You too." "Good. I'm much better company when nobody's guessing." Ace settled facing him, close enough to feel his laugh before he managed to finish the joke. She stopped him with a kiss, then drew back and watched the shift in his expression. It was no longer a performance for a beautiful stranger. He was paying attention to *her*. "Still with me?" she murmured. "I was going to ask you that." "Then we're both learning." She stayed close, and Adrian answered by holding her. The privacy of the curved booth mattered: the people beyond it were entitled to their own evening, not to become an audience. Ace checked the sightline once, then brought her attention back to him. Adrian noticed both parts of the decision. "You're certain you want to stay here?" he asked. "I'm certain I want *you*," Ace said. "But we can move if either of us stops enjoying the idea." "I like that plan." "I specialize in excellent plans with terrible reputations." Adrian laughed; Ace kissed him again before the joke could harden into a performance. His expression changed when she lingered, and she gave him time to answer rather than deciding for both of them. The crowd beyond the booth kept moving, oblivious, while the two of them chose a very different kind of evening. Ace had expected to enjoy the surprise; she hadn't expected the sudden seriousness in Adrian's expression when he looked at her. She touched his face, waiting until he was looking at *her* rather than at the performance the club invited everyone to put on. "There you are," she whispered. Adrian's answering smile was small and entirely genuine. He kissed her again, and Ace let herself respond without reaching for another joke. Their closeness became unmistakably intimate, but the secrecy mattered less than the fact that they were choosing it together. They listened to one another even when neither was speaking, finding room for a quiet tenderness beneath the nightclub's outrageous noise. At one point Ace's breath caught sharply. Adrian stopped, watching her; she met his gaze and drew him close again, pleased that he'd listened to the smallest change. Then the joking ceased for a while. When they finally grew still, Adrian's hand remained against her back and Ace rested her forehead against his. Neither was ready to return to the bar, and neither pretended there was a prize for being first to speak. For several beats neither moved. That was the part strangers could not have guessed from the dance floor: not the adventure, but the quiet that followed it. Adrian looked at her when he could speak again, and she answered by touching his cheek. Only then did her usual irreverence return. Adrian started to speak, stopped and gave an incredulous little laugh. Ace hadn't intended to leave him speechless; she'd been enjoying the fact that he had opinions of his own. "Well?" she asked. "I'm trying to work out whether you were this dangerous at the bar." "I was on my best behavior at the bar." "Jesus." She laughed, but he caught the brief change beneath it. He let his hand rest where she could feel it, without demanding the next joke. Ace watched him pay attention and decided she liked this part as much as the secret they'd shared. It was surprisingly pleasant to be seen by someone who hadn't arrived with a list of things he expected her to be. For an instant she remembered Mandi, and a crowded Night City club where she'd once learned the particular thrill of keeping an impulsive moment her own. Adrian had no reason to know that name; the memory belonged to a different life. "You have an expression," Adrian said. "A very expensive one. You should appreciate it." "What does it mean?" "That I like finding a good surprise in an ordinary evening." "I think I can live with that." "Flattery won't get you everywhere, Adrian." "Wasn't aiming for everywhere. Just an invitation to stay a few more minutes." She answered by staying where she was. Only after their breathing had steadied did she shift to reach for her glass. Beyond the curved velvet back, the dance floor hadn't noticed anything at all. That was still one of her favorite parts. Eventually Adrian touched her wedding ring with one finger. "She was smiling at you like she'd already heard the best part of the joke," Adrian said, glancing toward the dance floor. "Does she do that often?" "Mai? She's usually written the punch line before I open my mouth." Ace turned the wedding ring once, a habit Adrian had noticed earlier. "We choose each other. Nobody here needs a permission slip." "And Shammy?" "She'll tell me I'm unbearable, then insist I drink water. She's usually right about both." Adrian gave her a puzzled smile. "That's a very strange recommendation." "You'll understand when you meet her." She kissed him once more. This time it was almost a goodbye; both recognized the difference. They took their time straightening the booth, collecting the glasses and finding their balance in the nightclub's noise again. He offered his hand. She accepted, and when they emerged together, she was still laughing at his belated attempt to finish the compliment he'd started twenty minutes earlier. --- Mai saw Ace first. Her wife was walking beside Adrian, looking entirely too pleased with herself. Mai smiled. Shammy noticed. "Oh?" Mai nodded toward the bar. Shammy turned. Her hair rose slightly. Ace caught their eyes. Then grinned. Mai shook her head. "Oh, darling." Ace returned to the table. Adrian followed. "This is Mai," she said. "And Shammy." Mai stood. "It's good to meet you." Adrian smiled. "Likewise." Shammy offered her hand. "Hello." He looked up. Then smiled. "You're very tall." Shammy considered. "Yes." Ace burst out laughing. "Observant man." Shammy's hair rose into a halo. Adrian stared for a moment. Then laughed. "Okay. That's amazing." Shammy smiled. "Thank you." Mai took one look at Ace and said, "You're going to make me ask how many rules of respectable society you've offended, aren't you?" "Only the boring ones." "Then I hope you enjoyed yourself." Ace drew her closer and kissed her. "I did. And Adrian's a much better dancer than he let on." "I heard that," Adrian said. "Good. You should be proud of your work." Adrian watched them. His expression warmed. "You three are something." Shammy smiled. "We've been told." Ace looked delighted. "Frequently." They shared another drink. Conversation flowed easily. Eventually Adrian's friends came looking for him. He glanced toward them. Then back at Ace. "Looks like I should go." Ace smiled. "Probably." He leaned closer. "Thank you." She kissed him. "You're welcome." Adrian looked toward Mai and Shammy. "I'm glad we met." Mai smiled. "You too." Shammy nodded. "Enjoy the rest of your evening." He left with his friends. Ace watched him disappear into the crowd. Then she turned toward Mai. Her smile softened. "Out with it, darling." Mai shook her head. "Nothing." Ace narrowed her eyes. "Honey." Mai reached for her hand. "Just enjoying seeing you happy." Ace leaned closer. "Sweet." Shammy's hair lifted. Ace glanced toward her. "And you?" Shammy smiled. "I'm glad you had fun." Ace laughed. "Understatement." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Really?" Ace grinned. "Really." --- The three stayed at the club for another hour. Not because anybody needed to prove something. Because the music was excellent. Mai and Shammy danced again. Ace joined them. The dance floor became their own little world for several songs. A few art-gallery regulars recognized Shammy from the earlier public events. She acknowledged their waves without turning the night into another Sera appearance; the extravagant white couture and the obligations of that role could wait. Tonight she was dancing with her family. Ace stole a sip of Mai's drink. Mai caught her. Ace claimed innocence. Nobody believed her. Eventually, Shammy's hair rose so dramatically during a particularly good track that a nearby dancer asked whether it was part of the lighting system. Shammy smiled. "Not exactly." Ace laughed for the next five minutes. By the time they finally left, all three were warm, relaxed and delighted with the evening. --- They returned to their suite shortly after midnight. Mai removed her shoes and dropped onto the sofa. Shammy settled beside her, her long legs stretching comfortably across the carpet. Ace stood near the balcony doors, looking out across the dark ocean. For a while, nobody spoke. Mai left room for Ace between herself and Shammy. Ace took the invitation without speaking, pulled her feet under her and stole a corner of Shammy's blanket. "Thief," Shammy observed. "Acquisitions specialist." "Then explain why you've acquired the entire blanket." "Excellent acquisition strategy." Mai reached over Ace and reclaimed half of it for Shammy. "The domestic economy has rules." Ace caught Mai's hand before she could withdraw. "And you're the finance minister?" "Apparently I must be." They traded a kiss, then Shammy held out her own hand and Ace kissed her knuckles too. The charged strands at Shammy's temple drifted toward Ace's shoulder, almost a question. Ace rested against her until they settled. "Good night?" Shammy asked. "Good enough to make Adrian forget his own name for a minute. Nice man, actually." "I could tell from the way you came back," Mai said. Ace looked up. "How?" "You'd stopped trying to impress anybody." For once Ace had no immediate comeback. She looked from her wife to Shammy, who was watching without demanding an explanation, and caught both their hands. "I missed this part too," she admitted. "Not the club. Coming back and not having to translate myself." Mai brushed her thumb across Ace's ring. "Good. Because neither of us has time for the translation." Shammy's hair lifted with a dry little crackle. "The footnotes alone would be a second honeymoon." Ace stared up at her. "You wicked giant." "Accurate giant," Shammy corrected. Mai caught Shammy looking at Ace over the back of the sofa and raised one eyebrow. Neither bothered to conceal how much they loved her. Ace pretended not to notice; she gave the game away by reaching for both their hands. Beyond the balcony, Aureate II moved through the darkness. Ace was halfway asleep when Shammy’s hair brushed her nose. She swatted at it without opening her eyes. "That’s attached to me," Shammy observed. "Then tell it to respect international boundaries." Mai caught Ace’s wandering hand and kissed her knuckles. "You started a diplomatic incident over a strand of hair." "Wouldn’t be my first." Shammy’s hair settled around both of them, and Ace made no further objections. ## Chapter 25 — Dressed for Trouble Earlier that day, Kiro had sent Mai a single question about a dance step they'd once disagreed over. Mai answered in a ten-second recording from the empty rehearsal floor. Kiro replied with four laughing messages and a photograph of her own deliberately exaggerated attempt. By the time Mai saw the last one, Kiro had already gone silent again. Mai saved the photograph anyway. --- Lena's message arrived shortly after four. _The gowns have been delivered. The mechanisms have been inspected and reset. Congratulations again, all four of you._ A second message followed. _And remember: I designed those dresses to be worn, not worshipped._ Brenda stared at the words. Then looked toward Iris. "Oh, I love that woman." "She's definitely one of a kind." A third message appeared. _If Ace breaks anything, I'm billing Mai._ Brenda made a strangled noise. Iris burst out laughing. "Oh, that's going to go down beautifully." Brenda forwarded the message. Ace replied six seconds later. _SLANDER._ Mai answered: _Entirely reasonable accounting practice._ Shammy added a heart. Then Ace: _YOU TOO?_ Brenda laughed so hard she nearly dropped her holo. Iris caught her around the waist. "Careful." "Sorry." "You're not." "Absolutely fucking not." --- The five met in the Triad's suite an hour later. Four wedding gowns rested in their garment cases. Five commissioned perfume bottles stood on a side table. Ace examined the arrangement. Then looked around. "So." Mai raised an eyebrow. "So?" "Are we actually going to wear them?" "That was the idea." Ace gestured toward the dresses. "Out?" "Out," Iris confirmed. "To dinner?" Mai smiled. "Perhaps briefly." Ace looked at her. Then slowly grinned. "Oh." Shammy's silver-white hair rose. "The Velvet Dreams has a second dance floor you didn't explore last night." Ace turned. "A second one?" "And a mezzanine lounge with very discreet garment collection. I checked." Brenda looked up at the word *garment*. "Discreet how?" "You'll have to see for yourself," Shammy said, her hair lifting another inch. Brenda looked toward Iris. "Honey." Iris smiled. "Yes?" "We're going to need dancing shoes." "Already arranged." Brenda stared. Iris's smile widened. "What?" "You planned ahead." "Occasionally." Brenda kissed her. "God, you're sexy when you're organized." Ace made an appreciative noise. Mai laughed. Shammy's hair lifted into a halo. Then Ace looked toward the perfume bottles. "And those?" Mai stepped closer. "Tonight." "Excellent." --- Getting dressed took considerably longer than any of them had predicted. Not because the gowns were difficult. Lena had made them beautifully practical. But because four women who remembered their wedding day kept stopping to look at one another. Ace emerged first. Her gown fitted perfectly, its elegant outer structure falling around her petite frame without overwhelming it. Mai turned. Stopped. Then smiled. "Oh, darling." Ace grinned. "Still like it?" Mai crossed the room. "Very much." She touched Ace's cheek and kissed her. Ace smiled against her mouth. "Good." Mai changed next. Ace watched. Then gave a low whistle. Mai laughed. "Subtle." "Never claimed to be." Shammy sat nearby, watching with open affection. Her silver-white hair began rising before Mai had even finished fastening the gown. Ace noticed. "Sweetheart, your hair is giving you away." "I don't mind," Shammy said. Mai approached. Shammy rose to her full height and embraced her. "You look gorgeous." Mai kissed her. "Thank you." Then Shammy looked toward Ace. "So do you." "Obviously." Mai’s delight escaped in a bright laugh. --- In their suite, Brenda was experiencing an entirely different problem. Iris had just stepped into her wedding gown. Brenda had stopped speaking. Completely. Iris noticed. She looked toward the mirror. Then back at her wife. "Well?" "Fuck." Iris laughed. "Good?" "Very." Iris approached until Brenda could see the tiny catch Lena had concealed beneath the bodice. "You know," Iris said, "you could just tell me what you're thinking." "I'm thinking I spent years studying mechanisms, and somehow you remain the most distracting thing I've ever seen built to such a ridiculous standard." "Brenda, I'm not a mechanism." "No. Mechanisms are much easier to understand." Iris caught her at the waist and kissed her. When she drew back, Brenda was still staring at the dress. "And I'm keeping you," Brenda said. "You'd better." When Brenda finally emerged in her own gown, Iris had much the same problem. She stared. Then smiled. "Oh, honey." Brenda turned slowly. "Still your type?" Iris laughed. "Very much." Brenda stepped closer. "Good." Then she looked toward the small perfume bottles. "Shall we make this worse?" Iris raised an eyebrow. "Worse?" Brenda grinned. "For everyone else's concentration." "Absolutely." --- The staff at **The Velvet Dreams** recognized them before they reached the doors. Ace had visited recently; tonight, though, the sight of four wedding gowns drew even the host's professional eyebrows upward. "Same floor?" the host asked. "Same floor," Ace confirmed. "Very different wardrobe." "Understood. Your garment collection service is available if you need it." Brenda stopped dead. "You have a *collection service*?" Iris took her arm. "Sweetheart, please don't interview the staff about coat-check infrastructure." "I'm appreciating their commitment to operational excellence." "We haven't even entered the club." They entered to a warm pulse of bass and a sweep of light across the dance floor. The mezzanine and the corridor of private lounges were familiar now; the surprise came from seeing them while dressed like brides instead of ordinary passengers. Nearby conversations hesitated. Then the room resumed, accepting the newcomers as another elaborate part of the night's pleasures. Four women in extraordinary wedding gowns. And beside them, a strikingly tall silver-haired woman in an exquisite evening ensemble. Shammy was appearing as herself tonight, not in the public Sera role. She wore her own silver-gray Lena fast-drop evening design rather than the extravagant white couture reserved for Sera appearances. Her dress had a beautifully integrated release system of its own. Ace surveyed the room. Then grinned. "Oh, this is going to be good." Mai smiled. "Behave." Ace looked up. "Honey." "Yes?" "Why would I start now?" Brenda burst out laughing. Iris caught her hand before she could disappear toward the coat-check desk to investigate the garment collection system. Mai leaned down to Ace. "If somebody asks why four brides are here tonight, I’m telling them you organized it." "Tell them I’m available for consulting." Shammy’s hair rose at the thought of the resulting invoice. --- The perfumes had been a brilliant idea. Ace noticed it first when Mai stepped close to speak into her ear. The fragrance was familiar already. Yet somehow richer now. Cool elegance and warmth. Mai noticed Ace's reaction. "Something wrong?" Ace smiled. "Quite the opposite." "Good." Shammy joined them. The airy mineral warmth of her own fragrance settled into the combination. Ace looked between them. Then shook her head. "Oh, Sabine knew exactly what she was doing." Shammy smiled. "She did." Across the room, Brenda was leaning toward Iris. Her own warm amber fragrance mingled with Iris's clean, woody composition. Iris caught the scent. Then smiled slowly. "Oh, sweetheart." Brenda lifted Iris's wrist to her face, inhaled and looked suddenly thoughtful. "Sabine managed to make you smell like you're about to win an argument." "And you?" "Like I'm about to start one." Iris kissed her, caught off guard by how perfectly the fragrances belonged together. "Then it's an excellent marriage." Then the music changed. Brenda turned toward the dance floor. Iris smiled. "Go on." Brenda caught her hand. "Oh, no. You're coming too." "Of course I am." They disappeared into the crowd. --- The first half hour belonged to dancing—and, for once, nobody proposed a group timetable. Brenda and Iris disappeared into a knot of people near the percussion stage, while Ace found that the best view of the floor was wherever Mai had decided to move. Kiro would have approved. Mai was magnificent. She moved with the easy confidence of someone who understood music instinctively. Shammy danced beside her, graceful despite her height, her hair responding to the changing rhythm in soft silver currents. Ace joined them occasionally. Then drifted away to inspect the room. Not aimlessly. Mai noticed the look. She smiled. Shammy leaned closer. "She's hunting." "Apparently." "For company?" "Probably." Shammy's hair lifted. Mai looked toward Ace. Their eyes met across the dance floor. Ace grinned. Mai blew her a kiss. Ace caught it theatrically. Then turned toward the bar. --- Brenda had discovered that Iris was attracting attention. This wasn't especially surprising. Her wife was beautiful, confident and wearing a gown that Lena had designed with almost unreasonable precision. What amused Brenda was the man watching her. Tall. Dark-haired. Broad-shouldered. Attractive. Standing near the edge of the dance floor with a drink in his hand. He seemed to recognize Iris. Brenda leaned close. "Sweetheart." Iris turned. "Yes?" "You have an admirer." Iris followed her gaze. Stopped. Then laughed. "Oh, fuck." Brenda's grin widened. "Interesting reaction." Iris looked at her. "Julian." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Julian?" "Julian Cross." A pause. Then Iris smiled. "Former navigation systems specialist. We worked together. He was very good at the job and a complete pain in the arse about proving it." Brenda looked toward the man again. "Worked?" Iris's smile became considerably more dangerous. "Among other things." Brenda burst out laughing. "Oh, gorgeous." Julian saw them looking. Recognition flashed across his face. Then he started walking toward them. Iris folded her arms. "Well, I'll be damned." Julian stopped in front of her. His smile widened. "Rourke?" "Hello, Julian." He stared. Then laughed. "Holy shit." He embraced her warmly. When they separated, he looked at her gown. Then at the ring on her finger. His eyebrows rose. "Oh." Iris smiled. "Yes." "You got married?" "I did." Julian laughed. "Well, fuck." Then he looked toward Brenda. Iris slipped an arm around her waist. "Meet my wife." Brenda offered her hand. "Brenda." "Julian. Pleasure." Brenda shook his hand. Then grinned. "So you're one of the reasons my wife occasionally smiles when she remembers her old job." Iris closed her eyes. "Oh, sweetheart." Julian burst out laughing. "Am I?" Brenda nodded. "Apparently." Julian looked toward Iris. "Jesus, you married a menace." "Quite deliberately," Iris said. Brenda kissed her cheek. "Excellent judgment." --- They found a quieter table near the edge of the dance floor. Julian ordered drinks. Iris began recounting an old navigation dispute that had apparently lasted three days. Julian objected to practically every detail. Brenda was delighted. "You ignored her instructions?" Julian frowned. "That is a gross oversimplification." Iris smiled. "He ignored three separate instructions." "Two." "Three." "The third was a suggestion." "It was written in red." Brenda nearly choked laughing. "Oh, I like you." Julian grinned. "Thank you." Iris shook her head. "He made every routine chart review into an argument about whether I trusted the instruments or his instincts." Julian leaned closer. "And yet you kept finding reasons to work late." Brenda slowly turned toward Iris. "Oh?" Iris smiled sweetly. "He also made excellent coffee." "Is that what we're calling it now?" Brenda threw her head back. "OH, FUCK." "Don't encourage him." Brenda grinned. "Honey, you've already given me excellent reasons to." --- The music softened. Julian looked toward Iris. "Would you dance?" Iris raised an eyebrow. "Can you still keep up?" He smiled. "Try me." Brenda leaned back. "Oh, please do." Iris looked at her. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." Iris kissed her. Then accepted Julian's hand. They moved onto the dance floor. He was a good dancer. Iris remembered that. More importantly, he remembered how she liked to move. He didn't try to overpower her steps. Didn't make a performance of leading. They found their rhythm almost immediately. Julian smiled. "Still bossy." Iris laughed. "Still terrible at following instructions." "Some things never change." "Unfortunately." He drew closer. She allowed it. Their eyes met. For a moment, both remembered other dances. Other ports. Long evenings after difficult shifts. Julian smiled. "Missed you." Iris's expression softened. "Missed you too." He glanced toward Brenda. "She's watching." Iris followed his gaze. Brenda stood near the table, smiling openly. Iris smiled back. "Yes." Julian looked toward her. "That all right?" Iris laughed softly. "Very." Then she kissed him. --- Brenda knew that expression: Iris's careful, professional focus giving way to a laugh she couldn't have suppressed if the captain himself had ordered it. Julian remembered how to catch the rhythm without trying to steer her. For Brenda, the pleasure lay in watching Iris discover that she could surrender an old habit without surrendering herself. When Iris caught her eye, Brenda lifted her glass and mouthed, *Show-off.* Iris answered by turning Julian neatly into the next measure. He laughed, recovered and kissed her while they were still moving. Brenda was on her feet when the song ended. "Your former lieutenant remains a menace, Julian. Did she teach you that turn or steal it?" "She stole the first one," Julian said. "I've been attempting to get it back for years." "You should've filed a complaint. I married her, so I apparently inherited jurisdiction." Iris drew Brenda in by the wrist and kissed her before she could finish drafting the charge. Julian waited with a grin that had become much less guarded than it was at the bar. "You realize," he said, "that both of you are impossible." "It's a competitive marriage," Brenda told him. "And you're doing surprisingly well in the preliminary round." --- Ace found company near the bar. His name was Rafael. Broad shoulders, a shameless smile, and the relaxed confidence of somebody who was not auditioning for anything. He restored old performance spaces for a living. Halfway through their first drink he'd already pointed out that The Velvet Dreams' balcony lighting made everyone on the floor look ten centimeters taller. "A tragedy," Ace informed him. "I'm already precisely the right height." "Then I'll file a formal complaint with the lighting designer." He complimented her gown and asked whether it was comfortable to dance in; he listened when she explained Lena's tailoring, because he understood what good design meant when somebody actually had to use it. "Most men begin with 'you look beautiful,'" Ace observed. "You do," Rafael said. "I was trying not to repeat the obvious." "Oh, you're good. That's annoying." They danced. He learned quickly that her height told him absolutely nothing about who would set the pace. She discovered that he could laugh at himself, which was almost always a better qualification than a practiced line. By the second song, his hand had found her waist with her encouragement. By the third, she'd kissed him and decided the result was worth investigating. "You know I'm married," she told him, showing the ring. "Congratulations." "That isn't an exit line. It's useful information. My wife and our partner know exactly what I'm doing." Rafael glanced toward Mai and Shammy, who were dancing with considerable skill and entirely too much amusement. "The silver-haired women?" "Both of them. Don't let the tall one fool you. She's the worst influence in the room." "She seems delightful." "That's how she gets you." They laughed. Ace tilted her head toward the corridor of private lounges. "Want to get away from the audience for a bit?" "Very much." --- Mai noticed. Shammy followed her gaze. "Ace found somebody." "Yes." Shammy's hair lifted. "Good." They continued dancing. A woman approached Mai several minutes later. She introduced herself as Corinne, an independent choreographer traveling home between touring productions. She had noticed Mai's timing long before she'd worked up the courage to approach, and she said so without dressing it up as an accident. "Your partner sees every beat," Corinne told Mai. "Most people only hear them." "Good ear," Mai replied. "Can your feet keep up?" Corinne offered her hand. "Find out." "Would you like to join us?" Corinne glanced toward Shammy. "Both of you?" Shammy smiled. "If you'd like." Corinne laughed. "Oh, I would." They danced. The three women moved together beneath the warm lights. Corinne caught the way Shammy adjusted her steps so neither woman had to compensate for her height. "You've danced professionally?" "No. I spend a great deal of my life trying not to collide with things that were built for shorter people." "The resulting footwork is impressive." "Thank you. The ship's acoustics help." Mai bent closer to Corinne. "Careful. Ask her about the acoustics and we'll be here until breakfast." Shammy drew Mai into the next turn before she could escape. "You were the one who wanted better music." Corinne laughed and took both their hands. "In that case, show me what you do with it." --- In the lounge, Rafael stopped to let Ace make the first move. She liked that; it also gave her a chance to see him properly without the crowd pushing them together. "Are you always this well behaved?" she asked. "When someone's wearing a dress worth more than my first car, I make an effort." "Sweetheart, Lena's tailoring deserves respect. I, on the other hand, am an acquired taste." Rafael laughed. "I got that impression." Ace kissed him. When he answered without attempting to take over, she stepped back and showed him the gown's concealed catches. He was immediately fascinated by the construction, but not so distracted that he forgot the woman wearing it. "What exactly happens if you release those?" "A design miracle. Stand clear and admire the engineering." She checked the garment's position and operated the release herself. The structured outer fabric descended into her waiting hands, revealing the elegant underdress Lena had designed for movement. Nothing tore; nothing required another person to guess where a fastening might be. Ace folded the released section over the lounge's garment rack and looked back at him. Rafael took a slow breath. "That's criminal." "Only if Lena sees me doing the demonstration without charging admission." "You could make a fortune." "Already did. Different business." He laughed, caught her offered hand and drew closer. Their conversation softened into an exchange of kisses, pauses and quiet questions. Ace was direct about what she wanted, and Rafael was equally clear about his own wishes. Ace drew him toward the sofa, where the discarded outer gown rested neatly beside the garment rack. She caught him looking at it again and laughed. "Do you want to date the dress or me?" "Definitely you. The dress is terrifying." "Correct answer." She sat close, waited for him to choose the distance, and let the conversation find its own rhythm. Their kisses lost the brisk challenge they'd worn on the dance floor. Rafael noticed when Ace's breath caught, and she noticed the instant his showy confidence became genuine attention; neither hurried past what the other had revealed. For all his easy confidence on the dance floor, Rafael became surprisingly quiet when Ace settled beside him. He noticed the difference in her as well: no audience, no need to keep winning the joke. She caught his eye, let him choose to come closer, and was rewarded with a kiss that made her momentarily forget the next insult she'd been preparing. "That's unfair," she murmured. "What is?" "I was going to be magnificent and unbearable. You've distracted me." "I'll try to live with the guilt." The evening grew more intimate in the shelter of the lounge, and both were plainly glad they'd chosen it. When the quick exchange of jokes finally gave way to quiet, Rafael was the one who paused to look at her, checking the expression she'd stopped bothering to conceal. Ace answered by touching his cheek. They stayed close through that shared stillness; neither filled it with another challenge until the moment had found its own ending. A few minutes earlier, he'd been a handsome stranger playing at confidence. Now his composure had loosened enough for Ace to see how carefully he paid attention. She liked the change. It prompted one of her own: she stopped setting clever tests and let herself enjoy the company she'd chosen. When they needed a moment, they took it. When laughter came, neither tried to suppress it for the sake of an imagined performance. Later, they sat close together at the far end of the sofa while the distant music changed. Rafael brushed an escaped strand of black hair away from her face. Ace looked at him with unguarded amusement, then lowered her head against his shoulder. Both were quiet long enough to notice the change in their breathing and the extraordinary relief of having nowhere else to be. "Are you always this dangerous?" he asked at last. "No. Some nights I wear cheaper shoes." His laugh shook the sofa. Ace stayed close until it finished; she wasn't about to hurry the best part of a perfectly good evening. They drank the water left on the side table, compared wildly inaccurate first impressions, and finally admitted that neither had expected to like the other's company quite so much. When Ace checked the underdress and gathered the released fabric, Rafael held the garment bag open without being asked. She gave him a small, approving nod. "Look at you. Useful as well as handsome." "Does that earn me another date?" "It earns you a kiss and the right to ask." He took the kiss. They left the lounge together, Rafael holding the door while Ace carried Lena's released outer layers in a garment bag. On the dance floor Shammy's hair caught the light; beside her, Mai had already spotted the changed silhouette and was making no effort to conceal her amusement. Rafael followed Ace toward them with a grin he had long since given up trying to suppress. Mai's gaze went directly to the streamlined underdress. "That is an impressive transformation, darling." "Lena's engineering works," Ace said. "And Rafael here managed to keep up with me without once asking for a fucking instruction manual." "A glowing professional review," Rafael observed. "Does the club print certificates?" Ace introduced him to Mai, Shammy and Corinne without assigning anybody a role to play. Mai embraced Ace, then drew back far enough to admire the new silhouette. "You look very pleased." "I earned it." Shammy reached out and touched the edge of the garment bag. "Did it release cleanly?" "Like a dream. And before you ask, I didn't test it by jumping off the furniture." Corinne laughed. "I'm starting to understand why you all talk about this designer as though she's a minor deity." "Minor?" Ace said. "Careful. She'll hear you." Rafael laughed, thanked Ace for the evening and took a warm goodbye from her before returning to his own friends. Mai watched him leave, then looked down at her wife. "Nice man?" Ace's expression softened. "Very. And he didn't once ask me to explain why I'm happy." Mai kissed her. "Sensible man." Shammy's hair briefly lifted toward them, then settled. The band changed tracks and Corinne caught Mai's hand again; nobody had finished dancing. --- Julian and Iris eventually returned to Brenda. Julian was smiling. Iris looked considerably more relaxed than she had an hour earlier. Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Good dance?" Iris smiled. "Excellent." Julian laughed. "She's still impossible." Brenda grinned. "That's what I married." Iris kissed her. Then looked toward Julian. "Would you like to join us for a drink?" He nodded. "Very much." They settled together. Conversation drifted toward old memories. Julian described a difficult voyage. Iris corrected his version of events. Brenda laughed. Then, after a while, Julian looked toward Iris. "Can I ask something?" She smiled. "Of course." He hesitated. "Would you like somewhere quieter?" Iris considered. Then looked toward Brenda. Brenda smiled. "Oh, honey." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" Brenda took her hand. "If you're asking whether I'd enjoy coming along, the answer is yes." Julian blinked. Then smiled. "Oh." Brenda grinned. "Surprised?" "A little." Iris laughed. "She's full of surprises." Brenda studied Julian over the rim of her glass. "One thing, handsome. If she starts referring to you as Mr. Cross, you've annoyed her." Julian grinned. "I remember. What if she calls me Julian?" Iris slipped her hand into Brenda's. "Then you've probably done something right." "Christ," Brenda said. "I think I might like this man." "Your wife has excellent taste," Julian told her. Brenda looked at Iris's wedding ring, then back at him. "In women, certainly. In navigation specialists? Jury's still out." --- They moved toward one of the club's private lounges, Brenda and Julian exchanging increasingly outrageous suggestions about which of Iris's old bridge habits had survived her retirement. Halfway along the corridor, Julian slowed. "I don't want to trespass on somebody else's honeymoon." Brenda stopped beside him. "Darling, if we didn't want you here, we'd be drinking downstairs. With more expensive whisky." Iris took Julian's hand. "I asked you to come. Brenda chose to join us. I'm rather looking forward to discovering what happens when nobody has to report for duty." Julian's composure cracked into a grin. "That's the lieutenant I remember." "Former lieutenant. And for once you can call me Iris without checking the watch roster." "Understood, Iris." Brenda squeezed between them to open the door. "Now that we've settled the chain of command, can we get on with having a bloody good evening?" Inside, the music from the nightclub faded to a manageable pulse. There was a sofa, soft light, water on the side table and a small rack intended for guests' coats and eveningwear. Brenda noticed that last detail immediately. "Oh, those clever bastards." Iris looked at her. "Don't start evaluating the furniture." "I'm evaluating the *possibilities*. Different discipline." Julian turned to Iris. "She really does know you." "Far too well," Iris said, smiling. He offered a hand. She took it and drew him close, then kissed him with the easy recognition that had survived years of other assignments and long distances. When she glanced back, Brenda hadn't moved away. She was watching them openly, her face warm and delighted. "Come here," Iris said. Brenda joined them, caught her wife's hand and kissed her knuckles. "Fuck, you look beautiful when you stop pretending you're on duty." Iris laughed. "Are you planning to remind me all night?" "At least until sunrise." Julian looked at Iris's wedding gown. "I'm still going to be afraid of damaging that." "Lena thought of that," Brenda said, suddenly looking almost indecently pleased. "Of course she did," Iris murmured. She showed him the concealed fast-drop mechanism, explaining what would release and where the fabric would fall. Brenda stepped in to help with a stubborn fold, then let Iris operate the catch herself. The gown's structured outer layers released in one smooth movement. Iris caught the light fabric against her arms as it descended, leaving Lena's simpler underdress perfectly in place. Julian stared. "Bloody hell." Brenda looked triumphant. "Tell me that's not glorious engineering." "Glorious," he agreed. "Also, I appear to have been outmaneuvered by a dress." "You were outmaneuvered by *my* dress," Iris corrected. "There's a difference." The released layers came to rest across the rack. Iris smoothed the underdress at her waist, caught Julian's expression and looked pleased with the trouble she'd caused. "You were saying?" she asked. "That your tailor is a genius. And that I ought to have followed your instructions in Barcelona." "First sensible thing you've said in years." Brenda put a hand to her chest. "I'm witnessing professional growth. Somebody document this." Then she reached beneath the elaborate outer skirt of her own gown and stopped. Iris knew that look. It was the exact expression Brenda wore before deciding that an elegant engineering solution had been wasted on people who were too careful to use it. "You know what?" Brenda said. "I'm done hauling half a cathedral around the furniture." Julian glanced from her dress to Iris's streamlined silhouette. "Is there another trick?" "Oh, darling. Lena didn't build one miracle and send the rest of us a consolation prize." She stepped beside the empty garment rack, checked the fall of the fabric and drew the release with the sure hand of someone who understood what it would do. Her outer wedding layers folded down without catching. Underneath was the light, beautifully fitted evening dress she had admired in Lena's sketches but never had cause to wear quite like this. For the first time that evening, Iris forgot to finish a sentence. Julian looked at her, saw the expression and wisely kept silent. "Well?" Brenda asked, with a wicked little smile. Iris moved toward her. "I was going to tell you that you look extraordinary, but apparently you've found a way to interfere with my language centers." "Engineer's privilege." Brenda touched her wife's collar and drew her into a kiss. "And before you ask, yes, the damn thing works." Julian finally recovered. "Does your designer accept commissions?" "Get in line," Iris told him. "I saw her first." Brenda laughed and Iris held a hand toward her wife. Brenda came closer immediately, though she was still watching the old familiarity between Iris and Julian with open delight. Julian did not move to edge her out. He looked at Brenda first, then at Iris. Julian looked from Iris to Brenda. "I can't believe your wife can dismantle my arguments faster than you used to." "Don't flatter yourself," Iris said. "You still owe me an apology for Barcelona." "I thought that's what dinner was." "Dinner was very good," Brenda offered. "The apology needs work." Julian looked at her. "You two have a frighteningly efficient partnership." "Oh, gorgeous, you haven't seen efficient yet." Iris caught Brenda's hand, her grin fading into something more tender. "If you start managing my evening like a duty roster," Brenda warned, catching Iris's fingers, "I'll steal Julian and make him tell me every embarrassing story from your service years." Julian brightened. "Barcelona alone could fill a book." Iris looked from him to her wife. "You two are absolutely not allowed to form an alliance." "Too late," Brenda said, kissing her knuckles. "We have a mutual interest in your downfall." Julian offered his other hand and waited until Iris took it. She drew him closer, kissed him, then turned deliberately back to Brenda; her wife answered with a kiss of her own. The three settled into a quieter closeness, with no one required to perform for the other two. Brenda sat at the end of the sofa, close enough to take Iris's hand but leaving her wife room to turn toward Julian. Iris understood the invitation. She kissed Brenda once, held her gaze a second longer, then returned to the man who had made her laugh so effortlessly on the dance floor. Julian brushed a loose strand of hair from Iris's face. "You used to look exactly this pleased when you proved a navigation estimate wrong." "I did not." "You absolutely did," Brenda said. "I've seen the face. Usually just before I lose an argument." Iris reached back without looking; Brenda caught her fingers. The small certainty of it made Julian's grin soften. The woman he'd known as the formidable lieutenant was here, unguarded, openly in love with somebody else, and still free to enjoy the old attraction between them. "You know," Julian murmured to Brenda, "you haven't once looked as though you're waiting for this to be over." "Sweetheart, if Iris wanted me elsewhere, I'd be elsewhere. She asked me here because she knows exactly what I like." Iris turned toward her. "And I like knowing you're watching." "Then quit looking so bloody smug and kiss your old colleague before I start rating his performance as a navigation officer." "That inspection would be deeply unfair," Julian protested. "I already married the head examiner," Brenda told him. "You'll survive." Iris laughed, drew Julian close again and found that Brenda's hand hadn't moved from hers. Nobody had to explain the arrangement a second time. They were making it together, moment by moment. Julian tried one of the lines Iris remembered from their working days. Brenda improved it before he reached the end. "Christ," Iris said, laughing. "You two are going to be unbearable together." "Going to be?" Brenda asked. That made Julian laugh as well, but he quieted when Iris reached for him again. Brenda remained close, entirely comfortable watching her wife's face change from professional mischief to open affection. Iris caught Brenda's eyes and kept them for a moment, as though the look itself were part of the embrace. "Don't you dare stop looking at me like that," Brenda said softly. Iris's breath caught. She reached for Brenda's hand, squeezed once, then turned back toward Julian. Brenda caught Julian noticing their linked hands. Instead of looking away, he brought Iris a cushion for her back; she accepted it with a grateful tap to his wrist. When Iris grew quiet, Julian stopped trying to find the next joke. Brenda's hand remained in hers. For a moment Iris held both of them close, her forehead resting against Julian's, her eyes finding Brenda's above his shoulder. That look was unguarded and wholly theirs; Brenda answered by pressing her thumb into Iris's palm. Only when all three had found their breath again did Iris lean back. "Well," Brenda murmured, "the former lieutenant has officially missed her appointment with respectable behavior." "I'll have to file a report," Julian said. Iris opened one eye. "If either of you files anything, I'll have you both reassigned to cleaning the bloody pool filters." "There she is," Brenda whispered, and kissed her cheek. Only after that shared, unhurried quiet did they settle together on the sofa. Brenda rested against Iris's shoulder; Julian sat on her other side, one hand loosely linked with hers. Their breathing steadied. Iris looked at Brenda, caught the shining satisfaction in her face and kissed the corner of her mouth. "You've been unusually quiet," Iris murmured. Brenda looked at her from beneath mussed brown hair. "I'm mentally composing two reviews. One for Lena, which will be extremely technical." "And the other?" "Entirely unsuitable for publication, wife." Julian coughed into his glass; Iris laughed and pulled Brenda close enough to kiss her forehead. Julian laughed quietly. Iris joined him, but neither hurried Brenda through the warmth of the moment. Then Julian fetched water from the side table and handed a glass to each woman. "You know," he said, "I came down to the club hoping to hear decent music." "And instead," Iris replied, "you were forced to confront your past professional failures." "Devastating." "With a remarkably thorough witness," Brenda added. They laughed. When the laughter faded, Julian lifted Iris's hand, touched her wedding ring and offered her a small, entirely sincere smile. "I'm glad you married someone who gets you." Iris looked at Brenda. "So am I." Brenda took Julian's empty glass before he could stand. "Now. About that Barcelona story. You are not leaving this lounge until I have the version Iris keeps editing." "That's blackmail," Iris said. "That's marriage, sweetheart." They gave the evening a little more time. When they finally rose, Iris and Brenda gathered both sets of released wedding layers while Julian held two garment bags open. Brenda refused to let anyone fold the fast-drop assemblies against their intended seams; Iris pointed out that her wife had never been this deferential to a machine in her life. "Machines usually don't have Lena on the other end of a holo," Brenda replied. "I'm brave, not suicidal." "I might invite you both to inspect the workshop someday," Brenda told Julian. "Is that an invitation or a threat?" "Depends whether you bring biscuits." They rejoined the nightclub together, Iris and Brenda both in Lena's elegant underdresses, each carrying a garment bag. Julian still had the expression of a man who'd lost an argument in Barcelona years ago and only just discovered how much he'd enjoyed it. Ace noticed them first. Then grinned. "Oh, excellent." Iris raised an eyebrow. "What have you found to be pleased about now?" Ace gestured toward the neatly bagged gown. "Did Lena's masterpiece survive your field testing?" Brenda lifted both bags a fraction. "Two clean releases. Julian's pride is the only thing that took damage." "I have no defense," Julian admitted. "First honest navigation report of your career," Iris said. Mai looked toward Iris. Then smiled. "Enjoy yourself?" Mai asked. Iris glanced at Brenda before answering. "Immensely. And I believe my wife has opinions about the tailoring." "A complete report," Brenda promised. Shammy's hair stirred in amusement. Julian looked up. Then stared. Brenda noticed. "Oh, don't worry. You get used to it." Shammy smiled. "Eventually." --- Mai and Shammy had been dancing with Corinne for almost an hour when the woman finally made an admission. "I came over because the two of you looked like you'd be fun," she said. "I was right, but I badly underestimated how much trouble I'd be in." Mai laughed. "We've been told we're excellent company." "That isn't quite what I said." Shammy glanced between them. "It was certainly the implication." Corinne looked up at the silver-white hair now drifting several inches from Shammy's shoulders. "You have a brutally honest accomplice." "The worst sort," Mai agreed. Corinne took a breath. "There's a private lounge off the mezzanine. Would you both like to join me?" Mai looked toward Shammy, who answered before the question could be repeated. "Very much." "I was going to say yes," Mai added. "You've stolen my line." "I'm tall enough to reach it first." Corinne laughed until she had to take Shammy's arm. The private room was quiet, with a narrow view of the Atlantic and deep chairs arranged around a low table. Here Corinne could ask about the two women's relationship without shouting above music. Mai spoke of their home and of Ace, then of how being married had changed the paperwork and nothing essential between the three. Shammy spoke of the remarkable people she'd met on this voyage, and how much she liked choosing her own evenings. "Does that mean you'd like to stay a while?" Corinne asked. Mai took her hand. "Yes. What do *you* want?" Corinne smiled, relieved at how uncomplicated the question was. "I'd like to kiss both of you, if that's welcome." "It is," Shammy said. Corinne kissed Mai first, with the careful confidence of an excellent dancer discovering that the music had become optional. When she drew back, Mai caught her hand and kept it. "That was considerably better than your opening line," Mai observed. "My opening line got me here. I prefer the result." "A sound defense." Shammy's laugh made Corinne look up. Her hair had begun to rise in silver curls above her shoulders, and Corinne's expression was openly fascinated. But she looked back at Shammy's eyes before she stepped closer. "And you?" "I'd like to kiss you," Shammy answered. "I just didn't want to interrupt the debate." Corinne moved into her embrace. Shammy bent to meet her, and Mai watched with the fond amusement of somebody who knew how rarely Shammy allowed herself the luxury of not thinking three moves ahead. When they parted, Shammy was the one who suggested showing Corinne Lena's extraordinary dress, not as a demonstration for applause but because she knew precisely what might appeal to another woman who appreciated beautiful design. "I thought that was only for brides," Corinne said. "Lena considers that a failure of imagination," Mai replied. Shammy let Corinne see how the release worked, waited for both women to make room, then released the gown's sculptural outer section. The silver-gray underdress beneath was as elegant as the original. Her hair rose in a loose, delighted arc at Corinne's expression, then settled when Corinne took her hand. "That's unfair," Corinne breathed. "You're both beautiful and technically alarming." Mai grinned. "You haven't met Brenda." "Who?" "Another time," Shammy said. "If we start discussing Brenda's engineering, you'll never get a kiss tonight." Corinne pulled her close. "In that case, priorities." Mai's own gown followed when she chose to simplify it, its layers folded with the same careful attention Lena had put into making it wearable. Their conversation turned, naturally and without embarrassment, to what each hoped the rest of the night might hold. Corinne admitted that she'd approached two spectacular women because she'd wanted to flirt, not because she had an elaborate plan for them. Mai approved of that answer. "Honesty saves an extraordinary amount of time," she said. "That from the woman who spent half an hour pretending not to notice me staring?" Corinne challenged. "I wasn't pretending. I was deciding whether you could keep time." Shammy tilted her head. "You could. That's why she asked you to dance again." "And here I thought it was my sparkling conversation." "That helped," Shammy answered gravely. Her silver-white hair curled toward Corinne's sleeve, betraying her amusement before she could conceal it. Corinne laughed, then reached to adjust a fold in Shammy's simplified dress. "May I?" "Please. The fabric catches if I sit like this." Corinne fixed the fold, then left her hand on Shammy's shoulder for a moment. Shammy glanced at Mai. The look was familiar: half question, half invitation. Mai came nearer and pressed a kiss to the back of Shammy's hand before turning toward Corinne. "You do realize," Mai said, "that she likes you enough to stop worrying about whether she's blocking your view?" "Of what?" "Everything. She's normally tall enough to be an architectural feature." "I can hear you," Shammy observed. "Good. Saves me the trouble of repeating myself." Corinne laughed, then touched Mai's wrist gently. The three stayed close through the laughter's fading. There was a quiet moment when Corinne looked from one woman to the other, no longer flirting for effect. Shammy noticed it and drew her nearer rather than treating it as a cue for another clever line. When Shammy caught Corinne studying the restless hair at her shoulder, she asked what she was thinking instead of waiting to be treated as a spectacle. "That you're very beautiful," Corinne said. "And that I like you better every time you speak." Shammy's eyes softened. A few locks rose, then rested against her cheek. "That's a much better answer than the one people usually give." Mai leaned across and kissed Shammy's temple. "She's excellent at selecting company." "I should hope so," Shammy replied. "She chose you." Corinne laughed. "Am I interrupting a competition?" "No," Mai said. "They'd both lose. I'm too well prepared." When the conversation finally grew quiet, Shammy was the one who reached for Corinne. She kissed her, then drew Mai close with the other hand and let the warmth of being wanted settle without explaining herself. A few strands of hair lifted toward the two women. Corinne watched the movement, but instead of reaching for it as though Shammy were a display, she met her eyes. "Is it all right when I notice?" "Yes," Shammy said. "I prefer that you ask me, rather than deciding what it means." Mai brushed one wandering strand from Shammy's face. "And what does it mean now?" Shammy thought about lying for dramatic effect. Her hair made the decision for her, gathering in a small bright cloud above her shoulder. "That I'm having a wonderful evening," she admitted. Corinne's expression softened. She took Shammy's hand, while Mai stayed near enough that the three could enjoy an easy shared silence. The fragrance on Mai's wrist and the faint mineral warmth of Shammy's were still distinct; neither woman had disappeared into the other. They remained close while the music beyond the door changed and the room grew still. No one treated that quiet as an instruction to end the evening. By the time they moved toward the lounge window, Corinne had stopped guessing what the silver-white hair meant. She asked Shammy directly and was delighted by the answer. Later, all three sat together watching the sea, drinking water and trying without success to identify which of them had first suggested leaving the dance floor. Mai claimed Corinne had started it. Corinne accused Shammy of having planned everything. Shammy considered the charge very seriously. "I did want to meet you," she admitted. "The rest was improvised." "Remind me never to play poker with you," Corinne said. "Wise," Mai agreed. When they returned to the nightclub, Ace noticed the simplified dresses and the folded garment bags, gave her partners one long appraising look, and burst into a grin. "Lena's going to demand royalties." "Send her the invoice," Mai replied. "And tell her the engineering survived field conditions." Shammy's hair flicked upward. "It performed beautifully." Ace glanced toward Corinne. "You do realize you've fallen in with terrible company?" Corinne smiled. "Oh, I gathered. I'll be back." Brenda joined them with Iris and Julian a moment later, and the five compared the evening's only safe-to-share technical findings over drinks: Lena's craftsmanship, Sabine's fragrances and the universal inability of any of them to behave like newlyweds from a respectable tourist brochure. Brenda lifted her glass. "To clothing that knows when to get the fuck out of the way." The toast received five enthusiastic answers and two surprised ones. Corinne and Julian were learning fast. --- They returned to their suites aboard Aureate II long after midnight. The corridors were quiet. Their elegant gowns had been carefully packed for cleaning and preservation. The fragrances lingered softly. Nobody was especially interested in sleeping immediately. Ace leaned against Mai as they entered the Triad's suite. Shammy followed. Her silver-white hair drifted gently around her shoulders. Ace looked toward them both. "Are we charging Lena for the structural testing?" Ace asked. "You spent half the evening praising her and the other half proving her design works," Mai said. "I think she's already had her fee." "I was conducting research." Shammy set the garment bags beside the wardrobe. "Your research included a rather handsome conservator. Mine involved a choreographer. Mai's sample size was excellent." Ace stared up at her. "You are getting absolutely filthy at delivering statistical reports." "I learned from the best." Mai caught Shammy's hand and drew her down for a kiss, then offered Ace her other hand. Ace took it without trying to steal the last word. Mai drew Ace close, then pulled Shammy into the circle of her other arm. The five had scattered into different pleasures tonight, and all three were delighted by the stories that would be told later. Right now, none of them wanted an audience. "You two are looking at me," Ace observed. "We are," Shammy said. "I approve, but I demand an explanation." Mai kissed her, then looked up at Shammy. "We love her, don't we?" "Terribly," Shammy answered, and bent to kiss Mai before Ace could make another speech. Ace caught them both, delighted and briefly speechless. The three moved away from the garment bags together. Their own desire had not been spent elsewhere; the easy trust among them gave it a place to arrive. They took their time with each other, allowing the first quiet, unguarded responses to settle before laughter returned. When they finally rested close again, Shammy's hair had found its way around all three shoulders. Nobody bothered to untangle it. --- In their own suite, Iris and Brenda stood beside the balcony doors. The ocean stretched beyond them. Brenda watched Iris remove the last hairpin. It landed on the dressing table beside Lena’s garment bag; Iris pushed a loose strand of dark hazelnut hair away from her face and caught Brenda studying her. "You looked at him like he was still the most infuriating man on the bridge," Brenda said. "He was." "And then you kissed him like you were prepared to forgive it." Iris came over, took Brenda by the waist and pulled her against her. "I had rather more interesting things to look at tonight." "Oh?" "My wife, for one. Smiling at me like she'd just pulled off a brilliant piece of sabotage." "I wouldn't call it sabotage. Everyone was extremely cooperative." Iris kissed her. Brenda's laughter caught in the kiss; when it subsided, Iris kept her close, looking at her with the unmistakable affection that had nothing to do with guests or nightclubs. "Love you," Brenda said. "I love you too. And you were entirely too pleased with yourself." "Married a woman with excellent judgment." Brenda glanced toward the garment bag, then back at Iris. "Think Lena would accept a thank-you card signed by three extremely satisfied customers?" Iris burst out laughing. "Oh, sweetheart." Brenda grinned. "What?" "Absolutely not." "Shame." Iris kissed her again. "Come to bed," Iris said. Brenda glanced at the neatly folded garment bag. "One minute. I promised Lena we wouldn’t treat her work like disposable party favors." "Since when?" "Since I saw the stitch work. I have principles." Iris took the bag from her and placed it on the chair. "Your principles can wait until morning." Brenda grinned and let her wife lead her away. "That one can." Iris stopped at the bedroom door, turned and drew Brenda back into a long kiss. Brenda's laughter faded into a startled, delighted quiet. She was used to Iris taking command in a crisis; seeing her wife choose the same certainty for sheer pleasure made her forget the next joke. "There you are," Brenda whispered. "Right where I want to be." Brenda answered with another kiss, pulling Iris closer. They had given plenty of time to old friends tonight, but this was their honeymoon and their own passion was neither an obligation nor an epilogue. Later, once the excitement had softened, they stayed awake discussing the evening with their foreheads together, pausing whenever one of them wanted another kiss more than another story. ## Chapter 26 — What the Room Remembers "Who moved my chair?" The question came from Nadia, standing in the doorway of an empty exhibition salon with a holo full of diagrams and the expression of a woman who had already had a complicated morning. Shammy looked around. A chair sat beside the windows where it hadn't been yesterday. "I did," she said. Nadia blinked. "Why?" "I wanted to see whether you'd notice the space it left behind." Nadia studied the room again, then laughed. "Oh, you impossible woman." Shammy's silver-white hair stirred. "You noticed." "I did. I'm also going to need to kiss you for being insufferable." "An unusual reward structure." "Efficient, though." Nadia crossed the room and kissed her. Shammy's hair lifted; then, for once, several strands settled when Nadia rested her hand against her shoulder. They were developing the installation they'd imagined together: a room that responded to presence, then retained something of the change when the visitor left. The prototype couldn't be connected to Aureate II's climate controls, and both artists agreed it shouldn't be. Their work was about perception, not taking liberties with a vessel full of paying passengers. "I think we need help," Nadia said. "We do," Shammy agreed. "Someone practical." "Brenda." "Is she available?" Shammy smiled. "Try telling her there are moving parts." --- Brenda arrived carrying a compact tool case and the unmistakable air of someone who had abandoned three other plans to look at a more interesting machine. Iris came with her, holding the ship's written restrictions. "Before you ask," Iris said, "nothing is being attached to operational ventilation. Nothing is being tested without the exhibitions coordinator. And if anybody suggests bypassing an alarm, we're leaving." Brenda glanced toward her. "Sweetheart, I can build something interesting without borrowing the ship's lungs." "A distinction I treasure." Nadia looked amused. "You're married?" Nadia asked, looking from the holo to the matching rings. "To the most infuriatingly competent woman on the ship," Brenda said. "And believe me, I've inspected the competition." "You haven't inspected the engine room today," Iris reminded her. "That's because you keep distracting me with workplace safety." Shammy laughed. "I thought you two might enjoy this." The concept looked simple on the holo: lightweight suspended surfaces, a grid of subtle lighting and sensors that could follow the movement of a person through the room. The response would be delayed by seconds, then slowly fade after the visitor left. Brenda studied the diagram. Her eyes narrowed. She moved a virtual boundary, enlarged another, then turned the whole model sideways. "This won't do," she said. Nadia's face fell. "Oh." "No, no, the *idea* is fucking gorgeous. The implementation is a disaster. That's the fun part." Iris closed her eyes. "Brenda." "Right. Translation: we can make this safer, cheaper and much more interesting." Shammy leaned closer. "Show us." Brenda removed two elements from the model. "You don't need the room to remember anything. You need people to recognize what they did to it. Let the panels settle at different rates. Let a delayed light follow the space a person just left. They'll make the connection themselves." Nadia stared at the revised design. Then smiled. "Oh, that's good." "Damned right it is," Brenda said. "Now, are we allowed to build a small one?" Iris consulted the approval on her holo. "A table-sized demonstration using independent power. The coordinator has signed off." Brenda grinned. "God, I love a woman with paperwork." "You'd be lost without me." "Frequently naked, too. But that's not a discussion for the exhibition coordinator." Nadia laughed so hard she had to sit down. Even Iris couldn't hold a straight face. --- They spent the next two hours building the first safe prototype. It wasn't glamorous. Brenda checked the assemblies with methodical care, rejecting one expensive component because it added nothing and modifying a bracket that would otherwise have snagged the moving panels. Nadia decided where light ought to fall; Shammy repeatedly asked what a stranger would feel, not merely what the sensors would report. Iris read the coordinator's approval, then deliberately set it aside to watch what the others were building. She knew the restrictions, but she'd come because Brenda had asked her to see the work. When the prototype faltered, her first question was not whether it passed inspection. It was whether Nadia still recognized the idea she'd wanted to make. When the prototype finally worked, it made no sound. A narrow panel moved as Nadia passed her hand beside it. The light followed after an almost imperceptible delay. Then, when she withdrew, the panel remained suspended for a moment before settling into place. Nadia stopped breathing for a second. "Oh," she said. Shammy watched her rather than the device. "You felt it." "The empty place. Yes." Brenda had been preparing a triumphant announcement. She closed her mouth instead, looked at Nadia and understood that the important thing wasn't the clever construction. It was what the room had done to somebody standing in it. Iris caught her wife's hand. "That's good work," she said. Brenda leaned against her. "Yeah. Fuck, that's good." Nadia touched the panel again, then looked at Shammy with unmistakable affection. "We actually made the first piece." "We did," Shammy said. Her hair rose in a faint, untidy halo before settling as Nadia approached. There was still a great deal to solve. Scale. Accessibility. A choice about what visitors would see if more than one person entered the installation. But the work had crossed an important threshold: they could show somebody what they meant, instead of explaining it for an hour. --- The second test went badly in a way none of them had expected—and the failure revealed a more important problem than a flawed light cue. Not dangerously: nothing broke and the independent power unit remained well within the limits Iris had checked. But when Nadia and Shammy crossed the small experimental zone from opposite directions, the lights tangled into a muddy wash. The device showed neither person's passing clearly. "It's treating them as one visitor," Brenda said, crouching beside the table. "That's a design choice we haven't made." Nadia looked disappointed. "I wanted the room to remember both." "Then let it make two different kinds of traces," Shammy said. "Not a larger version of the same trace." "That would require tracking people individually," Brenda replied. Iris looked up. "And what exactly would be stored?" The question landed in the middle of their excitement. Nadia had assumed some form of session record would help them tune the exhibit. Yvette, she explained, had mentioned collecting movement patterns to understand how visitors used the space. Nobody was proposing names or images, but Iris had worked aboard ships long enough to distrust an apparently innocent recording that could outlive its stated purpose. "What happens to the data after people leave?" she asked. Nadia hesitated. "We hadn't decided." "Then we decide now," Shammy said. Her hair had pulled close to her shoulders, not in alarm but concentration. She looked from Nadia to Brenda. "My piece should not need to keep people. The space keeps a change for a few moments. That's enough." Brenda considered, then began deleting components from the holo. "I can make it work without a persistent log. Local sensing only, short-lived state, nothing exported. The experience disappears when the panels settle." Nadia watched the simplified design. "We'll lose the research data." "We'll have the people who come through," Shammy answered. "Ask them afterward what they felt. Let them decide whether to tell you." Nadia was quiet for a little longer. Then she nodded. "You're right. I was about to build an archive when we'd been talking about impermanence all week." "An occupational hazard," Iris said. "I've seen excellent people collect everything because they were frightened of missing something useful." Brenda pointed at her. "And I married the woman who can make a privacy review sound like flirting." Iris glanced at her. "If you want flirting, sweetheart, you can wait until I'm off the clock." "You're always off the clock!" "Then you have nothing to complain about." Nadia laughed. The tension broke without erasing the decision. They ran the test again with the simpler design: two distinct traces, fading at different rates. Shammy entered first and waited. Nadia followed and stood beside her. After they left the marked area, one warm line remained suspended a moment longer than the other, then both were gone. Nadia reached for Shammy's hand. "That," she said, "is what I meant." Shammy nodded. "Now the room knows how to let go." --- Ace and Mai arrived to find four women standing around a table and looking suspiciously pleased. Ace studied the prototype. "Did it explode?" "No," Brenda said. "Missed opportunity." "Ace," Iris warned. Mai ignored them and approached the device. When she crossed the narrow line of light, a second panel moved. She stepped back, watched the delayed response and smiled. "It doesn't show me where I am. It shows me where I was." Nadia looked delighted. "Exactly." Ace tried it next, producing a much smaller shadow and an excellent opportunity to complain about museums that assumed visitors were taller than she was. Shammy watched her, smiling. One strand of silver-white hair rose when Ace circled the table for a second experiment. "What happens if I run?" Ace asked. "You don't," Iris said. "That's not an answer." Brenda leaned forward. "Actually, I'd like to know too." Mai turned slowly toward her. "Brenda." "I didn't say she'd run. I said I'd like to know. Scientific curiosity." "Two disasters in matching lab coats," Iris muttered. Ace grinned. "I want a lab coat." Nadia glanced at Shammy. "Is this what your family is always like?" Shammy considered. "No. Sometimes they're louder." The room dissolved into laughter. --- The exhibition coordinator returned before they could dismantle the demonstration. She brought a volunteer from the afternoon art programme, a woman named Lucia who had agreed to try something new but hadn't been told what reaction the artists hoped to produce. "Five minutes," the coordinator said. "Table prototype only. No modifications to the room." "And no records," Iris added. The woman looked from Iris to the device. "No pictures?" "None unless you want one taken on your own holo," Brenda said. "We don't store where you stand, how you move or how long you stay. If you change your mind, we switch it off." "Then what am I supposed to do?" Shammy moved the chair she'd taken from the window earlier and set it beyond the sensor line. "Whatever you feel like. You can simply look." Lucia approached the table. A small panel moved after her shadow had already gone; a faint light remained where her hand had been, lingering long enough to be noticed and then fading. She tried it again, changing direction halfway through. This time the second light caught up with the first and crossed it. Nothing spectacular happened. Nobody applauded. "It's strange," Lucia said at last. Nadia held herself still, determined not to explain the work before the visitor had spoken. "It keeps telling me I've just left somewhere. Not where I'm going." Brenda exchanged one sharp look with Shammy. Mai had described the delay almost the same way. Neither woman offered Lucia the comparison; the response belonged to her. "Does that bother you?" Nadia asked. "A little," Lucia said. "My husband used to say I always looked back over my shoulder when we left a place. It annoyed him. He'd been ahead of me for ten minutes and I'd still be saying goodbye to the furniture." She gave a quick, unexpected laugh, but her hand stayed near the fading light. "He's not here anymore. I didn't think a machine would remind me of that." Ace stopped rocking on her heels. She looked across to Mai, who had already gone quiet. Shammy watched Lucia without trying to complete her thought for her. "Would you like us to stop?" Shammy asked. Lucia shook her head. "No. Actually, I would like to try it once more." She passed her hand over the line. One trace appeared, brightened and faded. She waited until it was gone. Nadia took one step toward Lucia and stopped herself. The woman's hand was still suspended above the fading light. Shammy, standing beside the equipment, noticed Nadia's restraint and quietly withdrew her own hand from the control panel. Lucia could decide how long to remain. "Do I need to tell the gallery what I felt?" Lucia asked. "If you want to," Nadia said. "Or you may keep it for yourself. The installation won't keep it either way." Lucia looked at the silent equipment, then at the group of women waiting without crowding her. "I think I'll keep it. Thank you." Once she'd left with the coordinator, Brenda began disconnecting the power. Iris helped coil the leads without a word. Nadia watched them both, then looked toward Shammy. "We almost kept a log," she said. "I know," Shammy answered. "We would have reduced that to three minutes of movement data." "And missed everything important." Shammy's hair stirred gently when Nadia took her hand. Neither tried to capture what Lucia had said in their notes. They wrote down only the technical observation: *The delay is long enough for the visitor to recognize the space she has left.* --- Later, when the equipment had been switched off, Brenda stayed behind to make sure each piece was packed safely. Iris helped her. The room had emptied; the day's work had given both women something more satisfying than another circuit through the ship's shopping galleries. "You enjoyed that," Iris said. "I enjoyed the hell out of it. But you know what?" "What?" Brenda rested a hand on the closed case. "I used to think every machine needed a grand entrance," Brenda said, closing the case. "Smoke, noise, everybody staring at the damned engineer." "You still enjoy a grand entrance." "Obviously. But did you see Nadia when the light followed the empty space? She forgot I was even here." Iris touched her shoulder. "That bothered you?" Brenda shook her head. "Not one fucking bit." Iris stepped closer. "I'm proud of you." Brenda's grin wavered. She leaned into her wife, accepted the embrace without filling it with a joke, then looked up after a moment. "We still have time before dinner," Brenda murmured. "I noticed." "Want to spend it being wildly irresponsible?" Iris looked at the meticulously packed apparatus. "We've done our responsible thing for the day." Brenda took Iris's hand and led her into the corridor, laughing at herself. The laugh didn't last all the way back to their suite. By the time Iris closed the door, Brenda had grown thoughtful. "What's going on in that head?" Iris asked. "Lucia." Brenda set her work holo facedown on the table. "I built a thing that worked. Nadia and Shammy made it mean something. I think I used to believe those were the same job." Iris crossed the room. "You built the part that let her choose what it meant. Don't write yourself out of the story, darling." Brenda looked up. "And don't you dare get all professionally persuasive on me. I married that voice. It makes me terribly easy to influence." "That sounds like a design flaw." "Catastrophic." Iris kissed her, and Brenda answered at once. She caught the front of Iris's shirt in one hand, drew her a little closer, then laughed against her mouth when Iris's careful composure finally slipped. "There," Brenda murmured. "There's my wife." "You've had me all day." "I've had the woman checking the exhibit's safety margins. I wanted the one who looked at me across the workshop like I'd hung the fucking moon." Iris stopped trying to construct a clever answer. She touched Brenda's cheek, and the pause told Brenda that she'd reached the person she'd been looking for. Iris kissed her again, more slowly. When they drew apart, neither moved away. Brenda's thumb rested against Iris's wrist, a small point of contact that outlasted the excitement of the afternoon. "For the record," Iris said, her forehead still against Brenda's, "you were magnificent." "I was covered in wire clippings." "I've seen your wedding photographs. You seem to manage both extremes." That coaxed another laugh out of Brenda. Iris stayed close until it eased into a quieter breath. Beyond the balcony doors the sea was beginning to darken; inside, they had no task to finish and no audience to please. Brenda rested against her wife for a long moment, then drew her toward the balcony chairs rather than reaching for the holo. "What will you remember?" Brenda asked after a while. Iris turned Brenda's hand palm-up and touched the small mark left by the edge of a tool handle. "That you were pleased for Nadia when she forgot you were the engineer. That you didn't need the room to give you credit." "And?" "That you came looking for me afterward." Brenda bent to kiss her hand. "Always going to do that, gorgeous." --- Nadia found Shammy at the gallery windows with the drawings spread out beside them. The Atlantic had turned a deep blue, and the last of the light caught Shammy's pale hair. "You could have taken all the credit," Nadia said. Shammy looked up. "For what?" "The idea. You knew from the beginning what the room needed to feel like." "Brenda worked out how to build it. You decided what it should invite people to understand." Nadia smiled. "And what did you do?" Shammy considered. "Asked an irritating question about a chair." Nadia laughed. "You did." "It was a good chair." "An excellent chair." She sat beside Shammy and reached for her hand. They didn't need to hurry back into a creative discussion merely to justify wanting to spend time together. Nadia kissed her cheek, then looked at the sketch again. Panam's latest message arrived with no greeting: *Back in the city for a day. Passed a shop window you'd have spent an hour in front of.* The attached photograph showed an odd little metal sculpture. Shammy grinned and wrote back, *Only an hour? You're losing faith in me.* Then she held the image out to Nadia. "Someone I love knows my taste in dangerous shapes." Nadia studied it with the professional attention the object deserved, asked who had found it, and listened when Shammy told her about Panam. "Night City," she said. "We can continue there." "Yes," Shammy answered, and this time her hair moved only slightly. Her smile did the rest. Nadia leaned closer. "I'll miss being able to knock on your door whenever I want." "Then come and knock on my door in Watson. I'll answer." "With all three of you?" "Most likely. You'll find that Ace is much shorter than her opinions, and Mai generally manages the resulting damage." "And you?" Shammy smiled. "I usually enjoy watching them try." Nadia laughed, kissed her, and wrote *Watson* beside the next stage of the project. "I'm leaving your private address out of the exhibition file," Nadia said, closing the visitor-access permissions. "And I'm giving the test visitors a plain-language notice before they step inside." "Excellent," Shammy said, her hair lifting. "I want people to know what the room can remember—and what it refuses to keep." Nadia closed the work holo and put it away. Shammy appreciated the gesture: this was time with Nadia, not a meeting with a gallery contact who knew her only as Sera. They went on sitting together while the last light left the windows. ## Chapter 27 — Where We Belong The last thing Ace put away was a folded card from The Velvet Dreams. Not because the card mattered. The club had already sent a perfectly ordinary digital receipt. But someone had drawn a tiny, furious-looking woman with violet eyes on the back, added the words *DANCE FLOOR MENACE*, and persuaded Adrian to sign it. Ace had found the drawing tucked beneath her glass on the night she met Adrian. "Are you actually keeping that?" Mai asked from the doorway. "Evidence of excellent taste." "His or yours?" "Yes." Mai came closer, looked at the drawing and laughed. "That expression is painfully accurate." "My eyes are prettier." "By several orders of magnitude." Shammy was kneeling beside a travel case, removing the silver ornament Ace had given her from the protective tissue. She set it among her hair; the piece followed the shifting strands without tugging. "I think the drawing belongs in the safehouse," she said. "Preferably beside the portrait of Ace looking equally offended at our wedding." "That portrait is defamatory," Ace objected. "That portrait is a masterpiece," Mai said. Ace surrendered the card for packing and caught the other two women by their hands. She'd spent the voyage collecting luxuries, strangers' stories and a remarkable quantity of footwear. The things she wanted within reach tonight were considerably simpler. "We'll get home," she said, "and I'll discover you've both started a committee to decide where I'm allowed to hang it." "No committee," Shammy assured her. "Mai has already decided." Mai nodded. "Above your shoe cabinet. At eye level." Ace looked up. "Whose eye level?" Shammy's hair rose so quickly that Mai couldn't keep a straight face. "You gigantic bastards," Ace said, laughing, and pulled them both into a kiss. --- In the adjoining suite, Brenda was checking the shipping restraints on the mechanical regulator from Hollis and Hollis. Iris stood beside the crate with the manifest open. The freight service had already approved the transport; her wife had insisted on checking every fastening anyway. "You've done that twice," Iris said. "The first time I checked the wood. This time I'm checking the bracket Martin and I designed. Different problem." Iris crouched to inspect it. The regulator had survived decades of other people's careless repairs. Brenda wasn't going to let an inattentive courier become the final insult. "That one could shear in rough handling," Iris observed, pointing at a corner brace. Brenda looked, frowned and reached for the tool kit. "Christ. You're right." "Try not to sound so shocked." "I'm having a moment. My wife just found a mechanical fault before I did. It's upsetting my entire worldview." Iris held the crate steady while Brenda fixed the brace. "You can repay me when we're home." "With what?" "Come up with something inventive. You're the engineer." Brenda stopped tightening the fastener and looked up at her. "Oh, gorgeous. You're making promises you can't possibly keep in front of a freight manifest." "I rather think I can." Brenda leaned up for a quick kiss, then finished the restraint. Iris signed the actual shipping document, leaving the precious machine where it belonged: properly secured for the journey rather than competing with their clothes for bedroom space. --- The morning passed in a peculiar state of suspended time. Aureate II was still at sea. The restaurants still opened. The lounges remained full. The staff continued their perfectly choreographed routines. But the end of the voyage had begun appearing in small details. Passengers discussing onward transport. Luggage labels. Final arrangements. The familiar announcement of approaching arrival procedures. And, occasionally, the quiet realization that a place which had become comfortable was about to turn into a memory. Ace noticed it while standing at the railing of the upper promenade. Mai joined her. "Thinking?" Ace nodded. "Yes." "About?" Ace looked out across the water. "I keep thinking about that morning you found me arguing with the ship's florist." Mai looked at her. "You wanted violets. The florist had violets. The difficulty was that you wanted them delivered to the wrong suite." "I wanted to surprise you." "You surprised a retired dentist from Copenhagen." Ace snorted. "He was delighted." "He invited us to dinner." "See? Diplomacy." Mai caught her hand. The view was beautiful, but what she would remember was Ace standing there, already collecting ridiculous little stories they could retell at home. "Worth every hour," she said. They stood together. Then Ace looked up. "So what exactly did you get yourself into when you married me?" Ace asked. Mai glanced toward the unbroken horizon ahead. "I married a woman who buys shoes she can't possibly wear all at once, steals my dessert and changes her mind three times before breakfast." "I'm waiting for the romantic part." "She also knows when to get very quiet if somebody she loves needs it. And she'll cross a city at three in the morning rather than let one of us go home alone." Ace looked away toward the water. "That's a low trick." "Accuracy is my specialty." Ace pulled her into a kiss. "Good. I'll keep you." "You'd better. The paperwork's dreadful." --- Shammy found Nadia in the gallery packing the model into its transport case. A fresh diagram lay across the table: not another artistic revision, but a drawing of where visitors would stand at their first Night City test. "Yvette sent the gallery dimensions," Nadia said. "The doorway is narrower than I remembered." Shammy measured the opening on the holo. "Then we don't make the visitors turn sideways. We change the installation." "I knew you'd say that." "You were hoping I'd say it." "That too." Shammy placed a small blank card beside the diagram. "Here's what I want visitors to see before they enter. *This room responds to you. It doesn't record you.*" Nadia read the words twice. "No explanation about sensors?" "Not at the door. Brenda can write the technical notes for anyone who asks. Iris can make sure we mean what the sign says." "And what will we tell the gallery?" "That the artwork knows how to forget." Nadia regarded her for a long moment. "That's the title." Shammy hadn't meant it as one. Her hair rose at the discovery, sending a few silver strands across the plan. Nadia pushed them aside with a smile and kissed her. "We're not even off the ship," Nadia murmured, "and we've named the thing." "That's rather more dangerous than kissing on working hours." "Then we should stop doing at least one of those." Shammy looked from the new title to Nadia's mouth. "I vote against stopping the second." They secured the model together. It had a destination now, and so did the next piece of their work. Neither needed to repeat promises they'd already made. --- Iris found her father on the bridge after asking permission to visit. She could have found every display blindfolded. She left her hands in her pockets anyway. Henry noticed that immediately. "Resisting the urge to correct my route?" "You're three decimals off on the scenic approach." "The passengers won't notice." "I will." He smiled, then passed her a narrow envelope. Inside was a print of the old watch roster from her last voyage, with one line neatly crossed through: *Lt. Rourke — navigation*. Beneath it, in Henry's handwriting, he'd added *Passenger. No duties assigned.* Iris laughed once, then stopped. "Dad." "Kept it since you left. Thought you might enjoy having the last word." "I've already had several last words on this ship." "I know. The chief navigator sends his regards." Iris studied the annotation. The memory was exact: the fatigue, the pride, the old responsibility, and the relief of knowing she'd been allowed to lay it down. She folded the paper with great care and tucked it into the envelope. "Thank you for making room for who I am now," she said. Henry took her hand. "You made that room yourself, sweetheart. I merely kept a cabin ready." From the navigation console came a discreet alert. Henry glanced toward it, his expression changing with the old professional reflex. Iris stepped back. "Go on, Captain. Your ship needs you." "And you?" "I have a wife waiting to tell me I've stolen her husband for the afternoon." Henry blinked. "Her husband?" "She says it makes the paperwork interesting." His laugh followed her out of the bridge. Iris didn't look back, and she didn't need to. --- Millard found Brenda in a quiet passenger lounge with a heap of photographs from the voyage spread across her holo. Brenda had been selecting which ones Iris would never be permitted to delete. "Is that my husband losing an argument with Ace?" Millard asked, looking over her shoulder. "On three separate occasions. I'm trying to choose the best facial expression." Millard considered the images. "Keep the middle one. That's the face he makes when he knows he's lost and intends to argue anyway." Brenda stared at her. "You are a terrifyingly useful mother-in-law." "I have thirty years of experience with him." They made an album together, rearranging the pictures until the museum, the dance floors, the reunited friends and the wedding gowns no longer looked like a series of glamorous poses. The photographs told a story about people who had made room for one another. Millard inserted a candid picture of Iris and Brenda arguing cheerfully over a folded programme. "I love that one," she said. "I look deranged." "You look like yourself. And Iris is looking at you instead of the camera." Brenda swallowed, suddenly interested in the order of the photographs. Millard didn't demand an explanation. She simply nudged the image into place. "Will you send us a copy?" she asked. "Only if you let me put the one of Henry and Ace on the cover." "Darling, I insist." Brenda laughed and sent the album to Millard before either of them could become sentimental enough to embarrass the other. "There. Now the family has evidence." "We always did," Millard said, closing the holo. "It's nice to have photographs too." --- That evening, Brenda arrived in the Triad's suite carrying an old-fashioned instant camera. Ace looked up from the sofa. "Is it dangerous?" "Only to your vanity." "Unacceptable." Brenda set it on a shelf and began adjusting its mechanical timer. "Millard wants one picture with the five of us. No formal portrait, no ship photographer trying to make Shammy fit in the frame and no bloody anniversary typography." Mai looked interested. "How does the timer work?" "A spring and a gear train. You wind it here." Shammy examined the small device without touching it. Her hair drifted forward, threatening the composition before they'd even stood together. Iris fetched a chair. "Ace, you can sit there. Mai beside you. Shammy behind—" Ace turned. "Lieutenant." "Former lieutenant," Iris corrected automatically. "Exactly. Off duty. Stop assigning furniture." Brenda snorted. "She's been waiting since the day we boarded to say that to somebody." In the end, they settled themselves badly: Ace perched on the arm of the chair, Mai holding her waist; Shammy stood behind them with her silver-white hair beginning to rise; Iris kept one hand on Brenda's shoulder because her wife was still making final adjustments to the timer. They were laughing before Brenda reached them. The camera clicked. A print edged slowly from the mechanism. They watched it develop as though the image were another small piece of impossible engineering. Ace's face was half turned toward Mai. Shammy's hair had obscured one corner. Brenda was caught mid-word, clearly insulting the lens; Iris was watching Brenda rather than looking at the camera. "Awful," Ace declared. Mai held it closer to the light. "Perfect." Brenda checked the exposure and made a small noise of professional satisfaction. "The machine worked. The subjects were a catastrophe." "Then I suppose that's us," Iris said. She slipped the print into the envelope of keepsakes they'd collected through the voyage. They didn't attempt a second photograph. They already had the one they wanted. --- The next morning, Night City appeared on the horizon. At first it was only a distant arrangement of shapes. Then towers. Then the unmistakable geometry of a city that had never learned to do anything quietly. Ace stood on the balcony. Mai joined her. Shammy followed a moment later. For a while, none of them spoke. Then Ace smiled. "There she is." Mai nodded. "Home." Shammy's hair lifted gently. "Yes." The skyline grew clearer. The familiar districts. The towers. The haze. Night City looked exactly as it always had. And somehow different. Ace glanced toward Mai. "Ready?" Mai smiled. "Very." Shammy reached for their hands. "Together." Ace grinned. "Always." --- Iris and Brenda watched the city approach from their own balcony. Brenda leaned against the railing. Iris stood beside her. For a while, they simply looked at the skyline. Then Brenda smiled. "Well." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "Home." Iris nodded. "Yes." Brenda glanced toward her. "Miss the ship already?" Iris considered. "A little." Brenda smiled. "Me too." Then Iris looked toward her. "But I'd rather go home with you." Brenda's expression softened. "Oh, gorgeous." Iris kissed her. "Love you." Brenda smiled. "Love you too." They watched the city grow closer. Brenda looked toward the skyline, then at the faint grease mark near her thumb—the one even the ship's extraordinary laundry had failed to remove. "First thing when we get home," she said, "I'm showing you what that old regulator can actually do." Iris took the marked hand in hers. "Second thing. First, you and I are having coffee in our own kitchen with absolutely nobody asking me about a duty roster." "Deal. But I'm setting the timer." "Naturally. You'd hate to miss a measurement." Brenda leaned over the railing to kiss her. The city could wait a few more minutes. --- Captain Henry Rourke stood near the disembarkation lounge when the five arrived. Millard was beside him. The farewell was not formal. They had already said goodbye to Christina and Lea over a long breakfast full of outrageous dance-floor accusations; Christina had promised to send Mai the music they had loved, and Lea had extracted a promise of another evening together in Night City. Amara and Daniel had come to the promenade with photographs, gratitude and their own private jokes about the unexpected education of a honeymoon. Nadia's farewell with Shammy took the longest. They were leaving the ship separately, but both had agreed on where the work—and their connection—would continue. Now, at the disembarkation lounge, there were embraces, warm words, a few jokes and several promises to visit again. Iris lingered at the view toward the public balcony where she'd first kissed Brenda aboard the ship. She did not need to go back there to prove how much their lives had changed. Brenda came alongside her, took her hand and said, very softly, "I'd still choose you. Even if you came with a maintenance manual." "Especially then," Iris replied. They kissed, and only then went to join her parents. Henry embraced Iris tightly. Then Brenda. "Take care of one another." Iris smiled. "Always." Brenda nodded. "Absolutely." Millard kissed both their cheeks. Then embraced Ace, Mai and Shammy. "You girls come back whenever you like." Ace grinned. "Careful. We might." Millard laughed. "Good." Henry looked toward Ace. "And you." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "Try not to buy another ship." Mai burst out laughing. Ace looked offended. "I wasn't planning to." Henry smiled. "Good." A pause. Then Ace added: "Yet." Everyone laughed. Henry shook his head. "God help us." --- The five stepped ashore together. Night City's harbor smelled of salt, fuel and the familiar metallic warmth of a city that never truly slept. Their luggage had been arranged for separate delivery. Brenda's mechanical regulator required its own transport. Ace's shoes had apparently arrived in a second shipment. Mai had already handled the logistics. Iris checked the arrangements. Shammy stood beside Ace, looking toward the city. Her silver-white hair lifted gently in the harbor breeze. For a moment, none of them moved. Then Ace looked around. "Well." Mai smiled. "Well?" "Home." Brenda grinned. "Finally." Iris laughed. Shammy's expression softened. "Yes." Ace reached for Mai's hand. Then Shammy's. Iris slipped an arm around Brenda. And together, they walked toward the waiting transport. --- The safehouse in Watson was intact. It was also unmistakably a home that had spent nearly three weeks without its usual inhabitants and the associated chaos: the counters were clear, the lights held their programmed evening levels, and the living room had the almost insulting neatness of a place no one had been around to disturb. The armored lower door recognized their arrival. Ace led them up the stairs, waited while Iris opened the upper door manually, and stepped inside with the expression of a woman returning to territory she'd missed more than she meant to admit. Mai dropped a familiar set of keys into the bowl beside the door. Shammy's long hair drifted forward when she bent to retrieve a sketchbook that had fallen from her travel bag; the strands settled only after Ace touched her wrist. Neither commented. There was a time when Ace might have turned that small exchange into a joke. Today she simply took Shammy's hand. Brenda opened the workshop door and inhaled as though the room were a bakery. "Oh, you beautiful disaster." Iris looked past her at the neatly secured tools. "Nothing appears to have escaped." "Give it an hour." From the kitchen, Ace called, "Who emptied the coffee?" "We did," Mai answered. "Before leaving. Remember?" "I reject that decision retroactively." Iris set their bags down by the corridor. Brenda came back and took her hand, suddenly quiet as she looked toward their bedroom. The ship had offered luxury, novelty, company and spectacle; this familiar corridor offered all the mornings that came after. "Home," Brenda said, without her usual volume. "Home," Iris answered, and kissed her once before the inevitable argument began. Ace turned toward the others with the reckless satisfaction of someone about to poke a very happy bear. "You know," she told Iris, "for a woman who went aboard strictly as a passenger, you seemed to have an impressive number of former colleagues requiring *personal attention*." Brenda stopped halfway to the workshop and laughed. "Oh, she's doing this." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Am I supposed to be embarrassed?" "Not at all," Ace said. "Merely impressed with your dedication to crew relations." Mai covered her mouth. Shammy's hair stirred. Iris looked at Ace's ring, then the parcel of expensive shorts peeking from one of the luggage cases. An extremely slow smile appeared. "Interesting theory," Iris said. "But at least the people I went to see knew me under my actual name." Ace froze. Brenda made a sharp, delighted sound. Iris continued, pleasantly. "And I've never had to invent an entire nightclub sport to persuade somebody to sit down with me." Mai lost the battle and burst into laughter. Shammy's hair rose in a full, disloyal halo. "Also," Iris added, glancing toward the shorts, "I believe your luggage contains enough expensive fabric to clothe a small municipality. Which is impressive, considering how little of it you apparently intended to wear." Ace opened her mouth. Closed it. Brenda doubled over. "OH, FUCK." Iris took her wife's hand and kissed her cheek. "For the record, I loved my honeymoon. Every scandalous minute." Ace stared at her, then began laughing herself. "You vicious woman." "Former lieutenant," Iris said. "We keep records." "Christ," Mai managed. "She actually won." Shammy smiled. "Decisively." Ace raised both hands in surrender. "Fine. Iris wins. This time." Iris gave her one final, brilliant smile. "You're welcome to try again after you've unpacked the evidence." Ace paused beside the kitchen doorway and reached for Mai and Shammy together. "Three weeks. And I still wanted more mornings with you two." Mai kissed her. Shammy leaned in from the other side, hair stirring in the hallway draft. "You'll have them," Mai said. Brenda, carrying two bags and an unreasonable amount of confidence, caught Iris looking at the wedding ring she'd been touching throughout the return. "And you?" Iris tucked a strand of Brenda's hair behind her ear. "I was planning to keep having a honeymoon with my wife even after the ship was gone." "Outstanding plan," Brenda said, and kissed her. Nobody needed to decide that home meant the end of being in love. The safehouse filled with laughter. Brenda set the first of her new crates beside the workshop door; Iris immediately moved it out of the walkway. Mai went to rescue the luggage manifest from Ace, and Shammy’s hair caught the light above them as she watched the familiar argument resume. Aureate II's luggage labels still hung from two bags by the door. Ace reached down to remove one, read the destination—*Watson*—and left the other for Shammy to peel away. In the kitchen Mai started the coffee. Brenda called for Iris from the workshop, already arguing with a crate she couldn't open. Iris went to help her, laughing. Ace stood for a moment in the middle of it all, then followed the smell of coffee home.