Chapter 34: Galactic Conjuction
Didi paces the small-if lovely-room where she's spent her last two days, knowing every corner and cranny of the ship-board accommodations as though she was born to them by now. While a part of her can appreciate clean clothing and the fact they had real water-real water!-to shower in under a powerful nozzle in the suite's bathroom, she can't help but feel like a prisoner.
They assure her she's not as often as possible. From the lovely young man with the white streak in his hair who delivers her meals (How are you today, Miss Duke? I hope you're hungry!) to the cheerful woman who supervises the two bots who clean her room (How gorgeous you are this morning, Miss Duke!) to the hyper caring and eager young woman who Didi considers her personal handler. All of them, endlessly, despite the fact every time she tries to leave this light, airy room on board the Galactic Conjunction vessel, the G.C.S. Melville, Didi is firmly but kindly told no.
She's tired of no.