Voidhold Two was familiar yet alien. Every space held echoes of Zero: their thren with its stunning mural so different from our austere dining area where Mother held court. Their waygate, chaotic with human activity, where ours was a model of functionary control.

  But some spaces defied comparison entirely. The node, which must exist on Zero though I'd never seen it, here housed Aster among his collected parts. And the bridge, abandoned on Zero for Gould's solitary wardroom, hummed with human activity and the constant chatter of human voices.

  When my guards led me through corridors that felt both strange and achingly familiar, I felt an odd sense of surprise mixed with inevitability as we approached what would have been my quarters on Zero. On Two, the space had been transformed into a cell, its walls and door to the corridor made of transparent material. The guards pushed me inside and sealed the door. One settled onto a stool to watch me while the other departed, the thick walls muffling the sound of his footsteps.

  Shade, where are you? I lost you at a mangled junction.

  Cedar's voice came through clearly. The guard's eyes were fixed on me, and I didn't want to raise his attention by responding.

  When the second guard returned, he carried a box. He opened the cell door and placed the box on the floor.

  "Your cellmate," he announced with a cruel smile, lifting the lid.

  The thing that emerged, a grotesque amalgamation of functionary parts, made my blood run cold. Multiple limbs sprouted from a twisted torso, its housing split to reveal tangles of fibers and components. It had a small club-like head that reminded me of PQ9, and its manipulator arms ended in exposed grippers that skittered against the floor with a metallic screech.

  The guard laughed. "We keep a few of these around as toys. They can be quite useful."

  The thing's head swivelled toward his voice, dull red sensors pulsing erratically.

  "Don't worry," he continued, "most of its mobility systems are fried. Though sometimes..." His grin widened. "Sometimes it gets a bit twitchy."

  As if on cue, the functionary jerked, its longest arm swinging in a wild arc towards me. I scrambled back, pressing against the cell's far wall. The wrecked functionary's red eye sensors pulsed erratically and one odd, circular hand opened like a blade-petalled flower.

  "I suggest you get comfortable," the guard said. "You could be here for some time. The council is sending Lidaros to conduct an investigation.” He paused. "Try not to upset your friend there. It gets excitable when it's disturbed."

  He closed the door, nodded to the seated guard, and walked away.

  I’ve found you! I’ve even got an eye on you, but it’s at a bad angle.

  “Can you hear me?” I whispered, turning my head to one side.

  Yes. I don’t have any authority to do anything fancy, so I can’t break you out. And I'm quite busy flying. Do you like this new steady voidhold?

  “I do.”

  Move to your left. I want to see what they put in there with you.

  I shuffled as directed.

  Ah, an enforcement unit, albeit a bit lacking in legs. They’re nasty. Designed for physical control, although most voidholds have never had to use theirs. Why am I not surprised that this is one they decided to keep?

  There was silence for a while.

  Can you talk?

  I wanted to, but the guard on the stool was watching me with the focused intensity of someone who had found his true calling in life. I had spent my life being watched by Mother, by functionaries, by my sister, but this felt very different. This man drew pleasure from the weight of his gaze.

  I yearned for my veil.

  Never mind. I’ll be listening. I can pick up most dialogue on board, although it’s difficult to filter. There is a lot of chatter. Oh no...

  My heart stuttered as Lidaros appeared on the other side of the transparent wall. He showed no mark from the stun weapon, but fury had carved new lines into his face as he spoke with the guard. Then Vessa appeared beside him, medical kit in hand. Hope flared in my chest, but as I watched their conversation through the barrier, I saw how she deferred to Lidaros, her eyes constantly sliding up to his face.

  My hope died as quickly as it had bloomed.

  The guard opened the door. Lidaros entered first, his body blocking any chance of escape.

  "Our little saboteur," he said softly. "What a mess you've caused."

  I remained silent, regarding him coolly.

  "Now, now." Lidaros moved closer. "We've been discussing your situation, and I must say, we're rather impressed. Accessing our navigation systems, nearly destabilizing an entire voidhold..." His smile widened. "That takes considerable skill."

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  "Yes," Vessa agreed as she came in, setting down her kit. "I thought you understood what we were doing here, but..." She shook her head.

  "The council is very concerned," Lidaros continued. "They'll want answers. Evidence suggests attempted mass murder, but..." He spread his hands. "There might be another explanation. After all, growing up on Zero, isolated, surrounded only by functionaries..."

  "No one blames you," Vessa added quickly, finally looking at me. "We understand that such isolation can create...problematic patterns. Programming, really."

  "Programming that can be corrected." Lidaros' voice was smooth. "We're offering you a chance at redemption, Shade. A way to atone for your mistakes and become a true member of our community."

  Vessa nodded. "I've developed several therapeutic approaches. Some are experimental, but very effective at adjusting problematic behaviors." Her professional mask slipped, showing an unsettling eagerness. "Think of it as reprogramming. With the right interventions, we could completely reshape your neural architecture. Wouldn't that be extraordinary?"

  Behind them, the guard watched with horrified fascination. I realized that I was making very strange expressions on my face. After all those years behind my veil, I had never learned to control it.

  But perhaps I could use that. They wanted me to be unstable and broken. Well, I could give them that.

  "The council convenes in an hour," Lidaros said. "But if we could show them you're cooperating, willing to undergo therapeutic correction, it would help your case enormously.”

  "The council has great respect for rehabilitation,” Vessa added earnestly.

  I watched their dance. Vessa's constant glances at Lidaros, his false concern that never reached his eyes. They were offering me a choice that wasn't really a choice, just like Mother did.

  "I understand," I said quietly, using a low, docile tone. "You want to help me."

  "Exactly!" Vessa beamed. "I'm so glad you-"

  "No," I interrupted, then quickly added, "I am not worthy of your help." I let my voice tremble, noting how it made Lidaros' smile widen. The more damaged they thought I was, the less dangerous they might consider me.

  "Let her think about it," Lidaros said, touching Vessa's arm. "We don't want to overwhelm her. Remember, she's not used to making decisions for herself." He smiled at me again, all teeth. "We'll give you some time to consider your options. Though I should warn you that the council's patience isn't infinite."

  As they left, Cedar spoke in my ear.

  Well, that was deeply unpleasant.

  I didn't respond. Exhaustion was creeping through my body, making my limbs feel heavy. The events of the day had drained what little energy I had left. I curled up on the hard floor, keeping my back to the wall where I could see both the door and the damaged functionary. Its red sensors pulsed in an irregular pattern that made shadows dance across the cell. My eyes grew heavy, and I drifted into an uneasy half-sleep filled with fragments of memory.

  ?

  The sound of the cell door opening jolted me awake. Larkin stood in the doorway, his face tight with emotion. For a moment, my heart lifted at the sight of him, the person who had shown me a world beyond protocols and permissions, who had made me brave enough to emerge from my voidhold.

  But his brown eyes were cold, nothing left of the sparkling excitement he had shown in our Stillness, when he spoke of freedom.

  "Could we have privacy?" he said over his shoulder.

  The guard moved down the corridor, out of earshot. Larkin came in but kept his distance. He studied me, and I studied him back. He looked tired and dirty and was wearing a flight suit. It was the same one he'd worn when he helped me take off my veil and showed me how to be more than just a human-present. I remembered how easily I had trusted him, how readily I had followed him. Now he was looking at me like I was something broken and dangerous.

  "I'm sorry," he said finally. "I take full responsibility for this. I should have been more careful."

  I remained silent. I no longer trusted him.

  "I should have watched you more closely, shouldn't have left you alone. That was my fault." His voice hardened. "I suppose I never imagined... even knowing where you came from..." he trailed off.

  "What do you mean?" I said. The words felt thick in my throat.

  He considered me from head to toe.

  "Voidhold Zero is a home of murderers and lunatics. I was fully aware of this before I even agreed to be traded.” He spat the word out. “But then I saw you at the waygate and thought that, maybe, the stories hadn't been true. That there were some normal people on Zero." He shook his head. "You didn’t look like a murderer, but I guess that's on me."

  “I am not a murderer,” I said. “I was just trying to help.”

  “Help!” He made a face of disgust and shook his head. “Perhaps in your twisted mind, help means something different than it does for the rest of humanity.” He sighed. “I knew you'd been shaped by that horrible place, but to try to kill an entire station?" He shook his head. "Even for Zero, that's extreme."

  “But I didn’t do anything, I was just…”

  “Just what, Shade? What were you doing lurking behind the consoles?”

  I couldn’t say it. I couldn’t betray Cedar and Aster. His hate for functionaries had clouded his eyes, and he wouldn't want to hear the truth of what had happened.

  “What will happen to me?” I asked instead.

  "The council has met to discuss your case, and they are trying to be fair. They are considering all angles. Your upbringing, your conditioning, your family." He tried to smile. "I've spoken for you. I explained how the poor life you were forced to lead must have affected, how you couldn't help what you are." He laughed suddenly. “Chio says I was a fool to trust anyone from Zero. That I let my sympathy cloud my judgement." He looked away. "She's probably right. Attacking the voidhold that offered you shelter?" He shook his head. "You're just proving what everyone says about Zero."

  The sheer density of his misunderstanding is a work of art, Cedar chimed in. I'm so glad I've been eavesdropping.

  I didn't know what to say. Not to Cedar, and not to Larkin. "I have to go," Larkin said. "Chio needs me. There's still damage to repair." He hesitated. "I really am sorry it turned out this way."

  After Larkin left, I sat very still. The guard returned to his post, settling onto his stool with the satisfied air of someone preparing to enjoy a show. I glanced away from his stare. It was one of those moments. People saw me as something to hurt and I needed to stay quiet, stay small, and wait for the storm to pass…although this felt different from Rashala's knife.

  My mind kept circling back to Larkin's words. Murderers and lunatics. Was that how the other voidholds saw us? Was this image true? Were we all twisted, as Larkin claimed? Had I been so blinded by the familiar patterns that I couldn't see what was right in front of me?

  I had to find out. I lay down and turned my face towards the wall as if going to sleep again, presenting my back to the guard and the enforcement unit.

  "Cedar?" My voice came out barely a whisper.

  Yes?

  "Can you tell me about Voidhold Zero?"

  Obviously I wasn't a key witness, but I do have access to the official report. Will that do?

  "Yes." I swallowed hard. "Tell me what everyone except me seems to know."