For the first stage of Data Haven’s resistance efforts, Cleve is delivering the raiding party and Louisa to Morgan territory so that they don’t have to risk exposure while crossing Miasma Pass by foot. Dr. Citali has provided some preventative supplies as well. The group is kitted out with breath masks, miasma blocker shots made from the acorn star I gathered, a miasma detector, and several doses of FungX. Astrid in particular has to be careful out there, since as a planetfaller, she’s built up substantial exposure over the years. While Chloe has lived on Chiron nearly as long, Astrid experienced those very first days when no one yet knew how dangerous the air here can be.
I have no real rapport with Chloe or Astrid, but I do make a point of saying farewell to Louisa and Corazon. I give Louisa a perfectly innocent looking package of clothes to deliver. This gives her sufficient cover for contacting Fritz in his tailor role, regardless of whether she’s realized he’s also Data Haven’s ally Morris. Once he reads the message from me, Fritz can decide for himself whether to take Louisa into his confidence. I hope he does; there are activities they could work together on. I’m not sure how well he’ll take my other suggestions for collaborators, but I’ve shared some about Shu-Fen and Yushi, as well.
I’ve also suggested that we hang out together next time I’m in the dome. Hopefully he doesn’t read that the wrong way. There are so many innocent expressions that can be read as innuendo, so I tried to be as clear as I could that I want to literally spend time with him. I suppose I could have written, “Hey, I’m ace, are you cool with that?” But my sexuality has never gone over well before, and I’d rather it be the topic of an in-person conversation. It’ll only matter if this relationship is actually going somewhere.
Louisa, of course, does not know any of the contents. The package is already wrapped in paper and secured with string when I hand it to her. She assures me she’ll complete the delivery and then adds that she’ll also start up the resistance. “Resistance doesn’t mean violence,” I remind her, hoping Marina has echoed this sentiment in the private conversations they’ve shared. “When all is said and done, the legacy that you leave behind isn’t going to be one of people who fell to the cause, it’s going to be a new world order.”
Louisa appreciates my grandiose sentiment, even if she doesn’t offer me any assurances. “We’re starting the next phase of the resistance. We’ve got to get to the people! The people have to know Morgan’s crimes. After that, we can worry about the next-next phase,” she tells me. She carefully puts my package in her backpack and strides to the rover. I turn to Corazon.
Although Mr. Fuzzy has been trained to fight, Corazon insists he is not an attack wolf beetle. She gives him a heartfelt goodbye, but he still tries to follow her to the rover. “Stay!” she tells him. “I need to leave the house for a while. You’re going to have to stay here, Mr. Fuzzy.” The wolf beetle stills. This is not the environment where they spent their youths together, but clearly he still remembers the commands she taught him in that different life.
Cor looks worried though, so I volunteer, “I can take care of Mr. Fuzzy. At least, up until I have to leave.” Corazon lights up. She doesn’t realize how little I know about pet care.
“I’m just going to be gone for a few days, okay? It’s going to be fine,” she tells the wolf beetle. “I’m not—I’m never leaving you.” She scratches his head one more time, then straightens up and turns to me. “You have to clean his claws, and—you’ll be perfect for this—he needs at least one walk a day outside. I mean, you can give him two, if you want… And… um… he loves to play fetch.” I take the instructions, once again marveling at her demeanor. There’s none of the hate and anger so evident in our first meeting. I give Cor a one-armed hug and send her on her way. As Cleve drives off with the raiding party, I hold Mr. Fuzzy’s leash with my right hand, my recovering left arm still in its sling against my chest.