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explained, moving away from her cabin door. His guide hadn’t gone far, just around the corner and down a short distance.
    At a gesture from the suited guide, he stepped inside his own quarters and shared the awareness that the only differences between his and hers were that his quarters had an actual desk with a workstation between the door and the bunk, the sofa had three individual tables that could be pulled down, and the cushions and bedding were light blue, which blended in more pleasantly than beige, given the dull pewter gray of the walls.
    (
So that’s the difference between our suites? An extra table and a desk?
) Jackie asked, reading his subthoughts.
    (
And blue blankets and cushion covers.
)
    (
I’ll be booted if I’ll ask permission of our hosts—mind if I move in with you, and relegate the other psis to this room?
) she quipped. (
I like orange, not beige, but blue will do in a pinch.
)
    (
It . . . wouldn’t be diplomatic. We cannot appear to be living together. At least, not until my people grasp the fact that
your
people are indeed adults,
) he reminded her.
    (
Yes, yes, the inherent visual prejudice of your people toward the
jungen
less,
) she sighed. Finding a locker, she stowed her kit bag. (
I’m going to contact the other four. Thank you for being willing to share your quarters with Darian and Clees. Just gently remind Clees he is
not
allowed to take any pictures whatsoever while you’re in your shared quarters. I’ll do it from my end, too.
)
    (
You Terrans and your nearly compulsive need to record every moment of your lives,
) Li’eth teased lightly. (
Why do you do that, anyway?
)
    (
You’ve mostly seen the government side of things; civilian life is a little bit more circumspect,
) Jackie explained. (
The government has to be transparent and open for everything but security secrets. We dealt with . . .
)
    (
. . . Too much corruption in your past. Yes, I paid attention to the history overview lectures,
) Li’eth returned. (
You will be recorded here, but it will be like your quarantine, for medical and safety reasons. Those reviewing the footage will be reluctant to do so particularly in the privacy of your quarters because of the lack of
jungen
.
)
    (
And again, we get back to this simple, singular difference. I’m
hoping
it won’t be that bad, Li’eth,
) she told him. (
But I’m not holding my breath.
)
    He found a similar cupboard for his own gear. (
I wouldn’t advise it, no. We’re supposed to be able to overlook such things, but I’m not going to hold my breath, either. I suspect no one will know how good or bad our reactions will be until they are put to the test.
)
    An alarm blared, startling both of them. A voice came over the intercoms, belonging to Dr. Du, speaking in swift but crisp V’Dan, then again in Terranglo. “
Emergency! Dr. Maria to the kitchen immediately, and bring your
epi kit
! Emergency! All Terrans report to the hangar bay immediately! All Terrans report to the hangar bay immediately!
Code Blue! Dr. Maria to the kitchen with an epi kit, stat! All Terrans report to the hangar bay immediately!”
    (
?!?
)
    Dashing out of her quarters, Jackie cast out her mind as she ran. She sorted through the babble of confused, startled, and worried minds, and zeroed in on a desperate, panicked set of thoughts, strong enough that Jackie could
feel
the clogging of her lungs, making it seem like she had to struggle to breathe even as she sucked in full lungfuls of air. Behind her, she could hear another set of running boots and sensed Li’eth catching up.
    They entered the large kitchen area and skidded to a stop, Jackie bumping into a counter and Li’eth grabbing onto her. The prince blinked down at the sight of a group of Terrans huddled around one of their members, a youngish woman with curly brown hair and almost V’Dan golden skin. Her face and throat were blotchy and swollen, her body contorting as she wheezed with wild-eyed desperation for air. Maria de