“We can work with that. Can you give us any more details about this assignment?” Sayeeda asked. Gregorious smiled an avuncular smile. 

“Your eagerness does you credit Captain, but today is for celebrating my daughter’s betrothal. A toast to the happy couple!”

It was nearly noon by the time Junebug was able to make her excuses and slip away from the gathering. Mostly to irritate Neil she invited Saxon to join her. The Hex agreed with what Sayeeda thought was enthusiasm but she was still having difficulty reading the alien’s moods and emotions. They made their way down to the shipyard where the Highlander had been moved from its landing pad.

The slip the Highlander was moored in was a dry dock, evidently used to repair the ocean going warships of this world. Dozens of armored plates had been removed by hydraulic derricks and technicians swarmed over the ship, replacing wiring and refitting the components damaged in the blind RIP jump from the Terran Cruiser.

“It looks like a partially stripped kill,” Saxon observed. Sayeeda shook her head.

“No, she is strong, she lives,” Sayeeda disagreed as she walked down into drydock, ignoring the iodine smell of old seawater and the acrid byproducts of welders and soldering irons. It felt somewhat sacrilegious to have other people working on the ship, but the damage had been severe for the four of them to put right. She wondered how Neil would find it, living on Chalcedon with Indra, perhaps Taya would stay too make some kind of life for herself. A world with such a porous nobility would suit her. Junebug lay a hand on the hull of the Highlander feeling the cold metal under her finger tips.

“She is your X’anada,” Saxon hissed behind her.

“My what?” Junebug asked.

“A steed for a warrior,” the Hex hissed. Junebug trailed her fingers along the ship’s armored plate.

“Something like,” Junebug agreed. Whatever Neil decided to do this was no place for her. She didn’t know that there was any place for her. Once this job was settled and the Highlander was repaired she would leave, although how she would do that without her pilot she had no idea.