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Spinward Arcade and Dorms
Administration Hall


It had been an instructive and exhilarating shift, and Ren Zel was beginning to consider the benefits of closing the office.

“How shall we manage my off-shifts?” he asked Catie—they had quickly become Ren Zel and Catie for this time of learning to work together.

“Light Keeper yos’Phelium asks to be called in the event of an emergency,” she said thoughtfully. “Perhaps a definition of an emergency would be in order.”

“An excellent place to start,” he agreed, and opened a screen. “Let us compile a list.”


It was a short list, appropriate to the category of emergency. When they were both satisfied with the degree and the responses, Ren Zel closed his screen, and stood up to stretch.

“Hazenthull and another person are approaching your door, Administrator.”

“Another person?” he asked, but by then the door had opened and his lifemate had arrived, Hazenthull in her wake. He glimpsed a sled piled with trunks and crates in the hallway before the door closed.

“There!” Anthora said, striking a pose and flinging out a hand, as if to display him to Hazenthull. “Did I not say that I would find him?”

“You did,” Hazenthull agreed, and to him, “Good shift, Pilot.”

“Good shift, Hazenthull,” he answered.

“Was I lost?” he asked Anthora.

“Did you tell me where you would be?”

“I hardly knew myself,” he admitted, “though I did send to the ship, once I was situated.”

“Rendering my locating you something less than fabulous, I agree. That aside, I am here, and I have brought such things as we might like to have in our new quarters. Hazenthull kindly brought me to you in Seignur Veeoni’s jitney.”

She turned.

“Thank you, Hazenthull.”

“You’re welcome. I will need to take the sled back with me.”

“Certainly,” Ren Zel said, moving forward. “Come, let me show you to our apartment, where we can unload. Hazenthull, will you be staying for wine?”


Hazenthull declined wine, pleading the necessity of returning Seignur Veeoni’s jitney to her in a timely fashion.

Ren Zel returned from seeing her off, to find Anthora in the kitchen, opening a box.

He leaned in the doorway and watched her extract a bottle of wine and a pair of glasses.

“Ask,” she said, not turning her head, and he smiled slightly.

“Did you not bring the seeds?”

“Oh, yes!”

She turned, eyes bright.

“We left them under seal in the garden area. There was no reason to bring them up, only to take them down again, you know.”

“Very true,” he said. “Shall I open and pour?”


They carried their glasses out into the comfortable parlor, sat next to each other on the sofa, and tasted the wine.

Anthora sighed.

“A busy day for us both, then, Beloved. However did you persuade Jen Sin to allow you to assist him?”

“Logic,” he said, and smiled when she laughed.

“Theo came while I was packing and was pleased to take the sports crate,” she said. “She says she hopes to see you soon for a bout of bowli ball. Apparently the plan is to begin a league.”

“A league, here on-station?”

Anthora gave him a limpid look. “Why not?”

“No reason, the idea merely startled. How long does Theo plan to stay?”

“That is not decided. Shan sent them to help, you see, and so they have been. I believe that Theo wishes to remain until Gordy arrives, in case of a need for assistance there. If not, she will apply to Shan for direction.”

Ren Zel nodded and sipped his wine.

“What else occupied you?” he asked.

“I spoke to Seignur Veeoni and was allowed to look at an image of the memory beads she had off of Jen Sin. We arrived at no firm decision regarding the possibility of contagion, from him to me, through a Healing link, and agreed that waiting and watching was the best present course.”

She sipped, and sighed.

“I also made the acquaintance of a person named Delia Bell, who stands in relation to Tolly Jones. She was equipped with the same fashion of controller, which she allowed me to neutralize.”

“Is Delia Bell also kin?”

“It would seem likely. Theo’s Tree provided her with a pod, as I learn from Tolly Jones.”

She paused to sip her wine.

“I will be having another meeting, with Seignur Veeoni and Delia Bell, but that is for later.”

She smiled. “And there is my day. What else of yours?”

“I am learning the station systems. In that regard, I would like to make you known to someone.”

Anthora tipped her head. “Now? I had thought we would rest after so much roistering.”

“We needn’t even stand,” Ren Zel assured her, and spoke the agreed-upon phrase.

“Station, please attend me.”

“I am here, Ren Zel.”

“Thank you. This is my lifemate, Anthora yos’Galan. Beloved, this is Catalinc Station.”

Anthora’s eyebrows were well up, but she inclined her head gracefully.

“Catalinc Station, I am honored.”


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Framed