Pink, who had always been the best at reading a room, let Eva stew while they walked aimlessly through the tourist area. The streets were full of people at this hour, mostly kloshian and frog-like vroak and four-armed buasyr with their spidery eyes, all enjoying the golden-hued local star brightening the sky to a stunning blue. A group of muk wandered by together, their claws snapping in excitement at whatever their guide was signaling, and isolated pockets of humans carrying bags of beach supplies sauntered toward the water like they were on a mission. Signs outside various buildings indicated that food was available inside, but the prices were wildly beyond what Eva was interested in paying, and as hungry as she genuinely was, she had a head full of other problems.
The rebels would be contacting her at some point with their plan for shutting down the lab, and her crew would have to decide whether they were in or out. Or she could do it alone and let them work another angle? That might be the safest choice, and the most practical. But it was almost pointless to keep speculating until she had a better idea of how this would all go down.
A protein bar was waved in front of her face. Eva glanced sideways at Pink.
“Gracias,” Eva said, tearing into it gratefully.
“I know we’ve got some ground to cover,” Pink said quietly. “Not here, obviously, when we get back.”
Eva nodded, chewing and trying not to glare at all the surveillance equipment she knew was positioned around the area.
“You wanna talk about your mom, though?” Pink continued. “She’s something else.”
A kloshian family walked by, a pair of identical children scampering around the parents like satellites around a planet. Eva scowled and swallowed the bite in her mouth.
“Nah,” Eva said. “My stuff with her is a lot and it’s not going anywhere in a hurry. Better to focus on more useful things.”
Pink laid a hand on Eva’s arm and guided her off to one side of the street, to stand in the bright-red shade of a building. “Y’all are going to compartmentalize yourself into a breakdown,” Pink said. “I’ve been there, and it’s not fun. Don’t overdo it.”
“I know.”
Pink started walking again, leading this time. She tossed a smirk at Eva. “She really does just say anything that comes into her head, doesn’t she?”
Eva snorted. “She’s worse once she gets comfortable with you. That was her on her best behavior.”
“Lord save us,” Pink said. “And you really didn’t tell her about Vakar?”
“I’ve barely spoken to her in years. It wasn’t on purpose.” Not the whole time, anyway.
Pink held up a hand as if to ward off Eva’s tone. “I get you. Not like I’ve introduced y’all to everyone I’ve banged in the last eight years.”
A brief mental inventory of Pink’s sexual escapades cycled through Eva’s mind. The ones she knew about, anyway. “Ay dios, remember Adrian?”
“Adrian!” Pink groaned. “His hair was so good. All long and blond and silky. It was like God made it personally and angels kept it perfect with nightly visits.”
“His son was a handful, though. Had that jump rope he kept hitting you with.”
Pink laughed. “He said it was his whip. And I couldn’t be like, ‘Boy, I’ll show you a real whip,’ because I’m not that kind of lady.”
Before they could continue reminiscing, a shadow fell over them, and within seconds they were entirely flanked. Calm but authoritative psychic tones emanated from three Watchers, including the seemingly ever-present Watcher Rakyra, whom Eva was really starting to feel like punching.
“Captain Innocente,” Watcher Rakyra said. “I have been asked to convey many apologies to you for the destruction of your companion robot, and the injuries it caused to your person.”
Eva squinted at the xana and faked a smile. “Sin pena, I’m fine.” Her face still stung, but Pink had treated it in time, and she was breathing normally, so she assumed the nanite injection had taken care of her re-bruised ribs.
“I have also been asked to deliver a replacement,” Watcher Rakyra said, holding out a capsule. “The Prime was most insistent that you not be inconvenienced by the loss.”
“Oh, I’m not,” Eva said, before she could censor herself. She winced internally. Alabao, she really was like her mother.
“I do not entirely comprehend your assertion,” Watcher Rakyra said, his tone gaining an edge of concern.
“I mean, I don’t need a replacement,” Eva said. “It’s okay. We still have one, and Min wasn’t that attached to hers anyway.” Min had, in fact, been super upset, partly because of Eva going through her bag, but he didn’t need to know that.
Watcher Rakyra lowered his hand. “I will . . . inform the Prime of your decision. I was also asked to inquire as to the status of your second unit. Is it operating to your satisfaction?”
Eva thought of the Ball Buddy lying in pieces all over the floor of their hotel room. “It’s great,” she replied. “Very satisfactory.”
The Watcher hesitated again. Could he tell she was lying? Probably, if they’d been using the robots as surveillance and they were no longer operating properly. But would he call her out? Cuff her? Subdue her some other way, or let her keep on roaming freely?
What the hell was Lashra Damaal up to with her?
“We are pleased to hear of your satisfaction, honored guest,” Watcher Rakyra said finally, his tone ever so slightly annoyed. “We were additionally asked to reiterate the Prime’s invitation to attend the Tournament and its preceding organized conviviality event showcasing the upgraded units.”
That’s right. Eva had forgotten about all that, had more or less ignored the invite because she hadn’t been interested in any of that business, just in finding Josh.
“What kind of event are you talking about?” Eva asked.
Watcher Rakyra took a moment to collect himself, as if he hadn’t been expecting any interest. “Tonight there is a gathering at the Sylfe Company Building, for investors to interact with the scientists who developed the companions, and to enjoy a demonstration of the capabilities of the various unit types.”
Meet the scientists, hmm? That sounded like exactly the place to hook up with Josh, given how much he had allegedly contributed to the project. Maybe she wouldn’t have to work with the rebels after all, if she could just stroll into this party, grab some bocaditos, and chat him up like any other guest.
The thought gave Eva a pang of guilt; she had promised to help the resistance, but her mission had to come first, not whatever sense of atonement might be guiding her. And certainly not loyalty to their cause, which she didn’t have.
Besides, if she could get Josh out, it might make the rebels’ job easier regardless. Everyone wins.
Then again, it was also a perfect opportunity for Damaal to trap her and pump her for information. And what Eva said might make things much harder for everyone instead of easier, since she didn’t know what Damaal was up to. Was it worth the risk?
“You should go,” Pink said. “You love parties.”
“Parties are totally my jam,” Eva agreed. That was easily the boldest lie she’d told in months, but if Pink thought this was a good idea, it probably was. “Count me in.”