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awe on her face softened her features into something more classically feminine. “This is Exa Legacy,” she whispered. “And is that–?”
    Liam nodded. Even from behind, Kaizen Taliko’s long, pale gold hair was instantly recognizable.
    Dyna smiled, and all the softness crumbled away. “Thank you, Liam,” she said. “I’m sure this must’ve been hard for you to do,” she noted with strange relish, as if delighting in the torments of the human condition. As if wishing she could add this footnote to her report and make it even juicier. Dyna knew that Exa was his Companion, and had already almost threatened to fire him if he wouldn’t provide her with an exclusive interview. It was only when he assured her that he himself hardly knew Exa that she finally relented, sullen, merely commanding yet another Invigorate from the drink cart instead.
                  An electronic voice patched into the station. “Visitor for Liam Wilco.”
    Liam tensed, praying it was not Exa.
    “Who is it?” Dyna squawked, brightening. Clearly she was thinking the same thing.
    “ Messenger, CCSS, ” the voice replied.
    Dyna dampened. “Send them in,” she told the speaker. “Go take a break, Wilco,” she said to her assistant. “You’ve got two minutes.” Dyna added this with a glowering severity, pointing that jagged ruby cuticle once more before grasping her mic, pulling that lever, and rattling on about affordable automaton repair in downtown Icarus. How quick she was to forget gratitude.
    Liam stepped into the hallway and immediately recognized Dax Ghrenadel, Exa’s best friend, examining the percolating fount of mossy green on the drink cart, a popular choice known as Calm the Nerves. This likable sidekick had always aroused Liam’s suspicion, but then, everyone needed a friend, didn’t they? And anyway, Dax was sick. Like, really sick. Couldn’t kiss someone while you were wearing a rebreather, could you?
    “I’m talking about real life,” Exa had said to him, almost two weeks ago, during that awesome conversation about how she’d rather die alone than be with him. “Things happen! Things happen that are spontaneous and inexplicable and illogical. It’s . . . it’s magic, not math. The leap in my chest that I feel when he smiles has nothing to do–”
    “Who?”
    “Dax.”
    “Ghrenadel?”
    Liam’s jaw clenched with the recollection. Apparently, the attention Exa paid to Dax’s eyes was so painstaking, she knew when he was smiling, even though his mouth was always covered.
    Though, considering the film those slushers uncovered, jealousy of Dax was a bit pointless, wasn’t it? Perhaps he’d be better served to simply join him in a drink of Calm and a toast to the dog that bit them both.
    “Ghrenadel,” Liam greeted. His voice carried with a natural firmness, so he almost always sounded irritated. “How goes?”
    Dax glanced up, startled, and said, “Oh, hey, Liam.” For a beat, the guy just stared at him, fumbling for the next word. “I’ve got a notice for you.”
    “Oh, that’s right,” Liam replied, frowning. Frowns also came naturally to him. “I forgot you worked with the CCSS. Let’s have it then.” Dax wordlessly passed him the notice, and Liam continued, “You, uh, seen Exa lately?” without looking down at it. “Last saw her Friday, myself, in Heroes Park, but, uh . . . her flybot’s . . . not taking my messages anymore.”
    “Yeah, she –she broke it,” Dax answered, scratching his head. The boy seemed uncomfortable. Suspiciously uncomfortable. “I don’t know, man. She’s not at home?”
    “Well, you would know, wouldn’t you?” Liam countered. “Thought you two were constant . . .” The phrase was a common one, and halfway out of his mouth, but he wished he could call it back. “. . . companions,” he finished.
    And if you’re pretending you think she’s at home, when we both know she’s not and she hasn’t been, then you’ve got something to hide,