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doorway.
    “Time off for good behavior,” I said. “Mind if we come in?”
    “I don’t know.” She nodded to my new pseudo-canine companions. “Are they housebroken?”
    I looked down at Doug. “You two housebroken?”
    Doug twisted his head to look up at me and gave a little woof. “He says of course,” I translated, looking back at Terese.
    Reluctantly, the girl stepped aside. “Thanks,” I said. I started to walk in, but Doug was faster, slipping in ahead of me. Briefly, I wondered what would happen if I closed the door with him inside and me outside.
    But I didn’t wonder enough to actually try it. Ty, after all, was still out here with all of those teeth. I waited until Doug was all the way in, then walked in behind him and gave the room a quick once-over.
    It was small, not much bigger than a first-class Quadrail compartment, with a bed, computer desk, couch, half-bath, a wall-mounted entertainment center, a narrow closet that ran the full length of one of the walls, and a compact food-prep and dining area. “Cozy,” I commented.
    “And only big enough for one,” she said pointedly.
    That wasn’t strictly true, I noticed: while the bed was narrower than a standard Earth queen, king, or emperor, it would be adequate enough for two. “Don’t worry, we’re not planning to move in,” I assured her.
    “Then what are you planning?” she demanded. “Why are you even here?”
    “I told you that back at Venidra Carvo,” I reminded her. “ Asantra Muzzfor asked us to see you safely to Proteus Station.”
    “With his dying breath, and violins swelling in the background,” she said sarcastically. “Fine. I’m here, I’m safe, and I’m happy. So hit the road.”
    “Unfortunately, it’s not that easy,” I said. “We still have to meet your doctors, find out what procedures they’re planning, double-check the prognosis—basically, make sure you stay as safe and happy as you are right now.”
    Somewhere in the middle of all that Terese’s face had gone rigid. “You’re joking,” she said. “What if it takes weeks? Or months? What if it takes years ?”
    “Then we’ll be here for weeks or months or years,” I said calmly. “We made a promise.”
    “Oh, no, you don’t,” she growled. “You are not going to hang around making a royal pain of yourself. This is my last chance—” She broke off. “Okay, try this. If you don’t get lost, I’ll call Logra Emikai and tell him to throw you out.”
    “Actually, Logra Emikai will probably be on my side,” I said. “He was contracted to keep you safe, too, you know.”
    “Maybe it would help if you told us why you’re here,” Bayta put in quietly.
    “Why?” Terese shot back. “So you can fix it and make me all better?”
    I was working on a reply to that when there was a buzz from the door. “You want me to get that?” I asked.
    Terese glared her way past me and hit the door release. The panel slid open to reveal Dr. Aronobal, who had changed from her traveling clothes into the crisp tans of a proper on-duty Filiaelian doctor. “Mr. Compton,” she said, her blaze darkening briefly as she caught sight of me. Her eyes slipped to the watchdogs, then came back up again. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
    “We were charged with Ms. German’s safety and well-being,” I reminded her. “Can you tell me when she’ll be seeing the doctors?”
    “Right now,” Aronobal said. “Come, I’ll take you there.”
    “Great,” I said, gesturing Terese through the open door. “After you.”
    Aronobal stuck her hand out toward my chest. “I’m not certain the doctors will permit you to accompany her,” she warned.
    “Do I have to go through this again?” I asked patiently. “I made a promise—”
    “Yes, yes, I know,” Aronobal cut me off. “Very well. I shall ask them.”
    She turned and headed down the hallway. I gestured again to Terese, and the teen stomped past me and caught up with the Filly. Bayta and I were right