Main Core Workroom
“Hey, Deels.”
She turned away from her study of the shattered mess that had been the main core they’d all been so proud of.
“Tolly Jones,” she said.
“Same as ever. You stayin’?”
She tipped her head, her expression faintly amused.
“Why wouldn’t I? Got a sweet deal as a rack-and-tile specialist and general woman o’work with Seignur Veeoni.”
“That’ll be a rough road.”
Delia laughed.
“Talk to me about rough roads, Tolly Jones.”
“No,” he said meditatively, “don’t think I will, at that.”
He came to her side, and stared down at the wreckage.
“Guess we oughta be getting this cleaned up.”
“Why I’m here. Asked her if she didn’t want to salvage anything, but she’s against it.”
“Can’t say she’s wrong. Get unwanted programming in an associated grid like this was used to be, you gotta figure the hardware’s tainted.” He kicked at the shattered bit of tile by his boot. “Not that there’s much left, by way of hardware.”
“Sorry to see it go?”
He shrugged.
“It did what we needed—held the station stable until something better come along. I’m figuring that’s Seignur Veeoni’s view.”
“More or less. She’s calling it a successful field test.”
“And she’s not wrong. ’Nother thing, Deels.”
She glanced at him.
“What’s that?”
“Director Ling’s done.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“Feel better?”
“Actually—yeah. He got a blast outta his whistle before I did the needful.”
“So, the Healer’s fix really is a fix.” She nodded. “Good to know. Don’t guess there’s similar word on Formyne?”
“Far’s I’ve been able to determine, Formyne decided to skip the party.”
“Don’t hardly seem like her.”
“You’re right. Well.” He gave her a grin. “Worry or work?”
“Work. I’ll go get shovels. You grab us some cargo crates. Sooner we get this over to your buddy Ren Stryker, the happier I’ll be.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“Is that the truth, Deels?”
She showed him her teeth.
“Guess.”