Brightly Burning(14)

I left my bag on the floor, as I didn’t see any obvious areas for storage. I’d have to ask about that when the household was awake. I got down to my underdress, then slipped under the covers, sighing as my whole body sank into the plush of the mattress. I tried not to think about the laugh as I requested the lights be turned off. Thankfully, my mind and body were wearier than my conscious brain could battle, and before I knew it, I had drifted off to sleep.


Chapter Six


I awoke to Officer Xiao bustling about at the foot of my bed, folding linens.

“Oh, good, you’re awake!” she said, then frowned. “We’ve got to get you out of that underdress, though. Did you shower?”

“No, but I will whenever I get my shower rations for the week.”

“Stella, we don’t ration the water on board the Rochester,” she said, her tone somewhat flabbergasted. “You can shower whenever you like. Everything’s on a Kolburg recycling system. You’ll also see you have your own personal desk-tab unit over there.” She pointed to a desk to the left of the door. “And I’ve got some new clothes for you.”

She indicated the drawer that appeared at the foot of my bed when she pressed a hidden spring hinge and walked to the left of the bed. Then, placing a hand against one of the wall alcoves and pressing inward, she revealed a closet full to the brim with dresses and jackets.

What was this place?

“Oh, and whenever you’re feeling a bit stir-crazy, there’s always the window.”

“Window?” I asked, peering around. I didn’t see a window. She moved to the other side of the bed, pressing another stealth button. And then half the wall opened to reveal a black canvas of stars. That got me out of bed.

“I’ve never had a window this big,” I said stupidly, letting the view engulf my comparatively tiny body.

“Hope you don’t mind that we put you on the star-facing side. We had one or two rooms that face the moon, but they weren’t quite as spacious.”

“It’s perfect,” I breathed.

“I’ll leave you to shower and get dressed, and then I’ll come back in about an hour to show you where the dining quarters are.”

I searched the room for a rations tube and found none. “We don’t get our daily rations delivered to our quarters?” I asked.

“No, not on a ship of this size. The captain prefers we dine together.” She cast a kind smile in my direction. “I know you’ll have a lot of new routines to adjust to on board. I’m confident you’ll do well.” The door closed with a whoosh behind her.

Excitedly, I peeled off my underclothes and stepped inside the bathroom, eyeing the shower again. I extricated a hair tie from the end of my greasy braid, tossing it onto the floor and looking for an on switch. But—?I wasn’t crazy, was I?—?I didn’t see one.

“Shower on,” I said, and immediately water spouted from all directions. Unfortunately, it was freezing cold. “Too cold!” I shrieked, squirming with hands protecting my most sensitive bits from the onslaught. But quickly the water turned warm. I sighed, letting the pulsating rhythm of the jets of water massage my aching muscles, savoring the feel of water sluicing down my back, wetting my thick hair thoroughly.

“Please close your eyes,” a flat, feminine voice intoned, shocking me within an inch of my life.

“Wh-why?” I asked, sure this was a trick.

“I am going to provide soap now,” the voice continued. “I don’t want you to get any in your eyes.”

Of course. You talked to the ship. The ship talked back. I closed my eyes, then smelled the sharp aroma of soap. I found a rough sponge on a ledge in front of me when I opened my eyes.

“What about my hair?” I asked the shower. On the Stalwart, there was a special soap for washing hair.

“One moment.”

I felt the pressure of something squirt against my skull. I worked the gel into my hair until it foamed satisfyingly, sighing as the water washed away the last week. Death. Dancing. Saying goodbye to George.

“What is your name?” the voice asked.

“Stella,” I answered reluctantly. “And, uh, what’s your name?”

“Thank you for asking,” she intoned. “My name is Rori. Or Rochester Onboard Roving Intelligence.”

“Nice to properly meet you, Rori,” I said.

“Likewise, Stella. Please close your eyes again. I am preparing some conditioner.”

I didn’t know what conditioner was, but I obeyed. This time, it didn’t foam.

And then, after another minute, it was over.

“There is a towel to your right. Have a nice day, Stella.”

My shower was so polite! I dried off, finding a new toothbrush and toothpaste by the sink, so I happily brushed my teeth as well. With water, even. Now to figure out those new clothes.


“Stella, you look lovely,” Officer Xiao said when she came to fetch me, and despite her compliments, her gaze made me self-conscious. I tugged at the black fitted sleeves of my bodysuit, then adjusted my dress, fashioned on top like a uniform—?stiff fabric, squared shoulders, a taut, half-neck collar—?much like what Officer Xiao wore. I wasn’t accustomed to such luxe, tailored clothes. And so few pockets.

My new boots pinched my feet as I followed Xiao down the now properly lit corridor, recessed lighting in the ceiling panels revealing details the previous night had obscured. Where the Stalwart’s overwhelming geometric theme was squares, the Rochester favored the soft, rounded countenance of circles. Every twenty feet, between breaks in the bulkhead, were circular doorways, giving the corridor the feel of gliding down a tube. Our rooms may have been white, but the dominant color scheme in the gangways was black, offset with gray so dark, it might as well have been black. It was like walking through shadows.