Yulia was still sleeping when Alexander rolled her wheelchair into the apartment. It wasn’t much. There was a main room with a small kit, a single bedroom, and a small bathroom. But it was more than enough for the little girl’s needs. And it was since Alexander had spent the st day scrubbing the pce from top to bottom. It hadn’t been nearly as filthy as his shop when he first moved in, but he still wao ensure a safe enviro for the girl.

  Alexander gently scooped Yulia up and carried her into the bedroom before ying the covers over her. Since he didn’t know anything about raising a child, he had purchased a few books on the subject. After reading the books he was surprised that children needed so much sideration. Somehow he pictured taking care of them like taking care of a pet. He imagined if he told another parent that thought, they would ugh themselves silly.

  Being a robot, he couldn’t apply everything he had learned in the books, but he did try his best. Most of that effort went into the bedroom, which is why the small space was decked out in a pink floral pattern, including the sheets, b, and even a nightlight.

  He also left the door slightly open as he moved bato the main room. The main room sisted of a coud a holo-projector on one side with the kit having only a small fridge and single-element cooktop oher. Since Alexander didn’t o eat, this was all they needed.

  He didn’t want to leave Yulia alone while she was sleeping, so he sat on the floor in front of the holo and tinued his lessons in rocket propulsion, keeping the sound to the barest whisper.

  After a few hours, he heard a chime. fused for a moment, he looked around until he spotted the other item he had purchased retly. The sat on the ter i because the strap didn’t fit around Alexander’s wrist and he hadn’t gotten around to making ohat would yet.

  He stood up and walked over to the piece of tech that ected to the Q- rey built into the station. It was a message from Captain Daniel.

  Alexander, I got your message. It was vague, so I hope you are alright. I meant what I said to you back then, so if you need somethi me know. The Zephyr will remain in range of our local Q- until I get your reply.

  He began typing out a response, not sure when it would reach the Captain. His versation with Violet had seemed instantaneous if a bit low quality. Then again, he had never seen anyone else using a watch to have a real-time face-to-face versation. Everyone always seemed to use the text mode. He didn’t know if that was because their p had a better Q- or if there was something else that limited the unication devices.

  I’m fine, Jasper, thanks for asking. The cil orov has decided I am no longer wele here. They have given me sixty days to vacate. Fifty-Nine as I write this. I am currently in the process of acquiring a new residence off-station. Do you happen to know anyone willing to transport me… and my daughter?

  It took less than an hour to get a response. Alexander retty sure the Captain didn’t wait an hour to respond, so there was certainly some dey there.

  …A daughter… I think that is somethier discussed in person instead of over the s, I’m sure it’s a long story. As for transport, I don’t know anyone in that area.

  Alexander defted at that before he tio read.

  But that’s not a problem. The Zephyr be there within thirty days to transport you and anything you o take with you. And before you respond and tell me that that’s too much, and not necessary, because that does seem like something you would say, this is a friend doing another friend a favor. So as long as you still see me as your friend, you will accept my offer.

  It was indeed what he had been thinking. Alexander smiled internally. At least not everyone in this messed-up future was a jerk. Captain Daniels really did seem like one of the good ones. If it wasn’t for him, he was sure Omni would have e in and simply stolen his advas without a t iurn. He supposed he could put Captain Na in that n as well, even though he artly to bme for the way the station handled his issues. If Mingyu hadn’t spoken with the Headmaster, and given the hospital a heads-up, Yulia might be sitting in some cell somewhere, waiting for the STO to decide her fate.

  Thank you, Jasper, I owe you one. And yes, it’s a long story. I tell you when you and the Zephyr arrive.

  A weight lifted off Alexander’s shoulders knowing he had indeperansport off the station. sidering how hostile Zhang had e off, he wouldn’t put it past the man to try something to prevent him from leaving. He could reach out to Na to see if he could prevent that, but he didn’t want to rely oher cil Captain. There was also the fact that Na had been the only cil member to speak with him so far, to suddenly ge it to Zhang spoke of internal ges in the cil. And Alexander had stirred up that hor's enough. He just wao be off this station and away from people deg his fate for him.

  Yulia woke up a few hours ter. He only knew because she poked her head through the cra the door. It was almost like the little girl was afraid to believe what she experiehe night before. Tentatively, she pushed the door open and stepped out into the living room.

  “M, Yulia,” Alexander spoke as he rose from he couch. “Are you hungry?”

  The girl nodded quietly and walked over to the ter before climbing up oool. Alexander had fixed it after it was destroyed iad moved it from his shop. It was a little shorter now to match the ter height in the apartment though.

  The girl ook her eyes off him as he cooked up a breakfast. Whe the pte of food in front of her, she looked down at it and tears started to form in her eyes.

  Before Alexander could ask what was wrong, the girl hopped off her stool and ran around the ter to hug him. “It wasn’t a dream?”

  “No, sweetie, it wasn’t a dream. I’m your dad now.”

  He hugged her back as best he could and she stood there and cried like that for a bit before wiping the snot and tears from her face with her sleeve and walking back around to eat her food.

  After she ate, she ed up and got dressed in a new outfit. It was essentially a duplicate of her old outfit, but the girl didn’t seem to mind.

  “Where are we going?” Yulia asked as she held Alexander’s hand while they walked.

  “To my shop. I o start ing it out so we leave.”

  “Leave?” the little girl asked in fusion.

  “We have to leave Petrov Station.”

  The girl stopped a go of Alexander’s hand. “But what about my friends?”

  He khis versation was going to e up, he just wished it could have waited. He kneeled down in front of the girl. “You’ll get to see them before we leave. And I’ll get you a so you keep in touch.”

  The girl's eyes turned red, but she swallowed back her tears and nodded. He stood and they tiheir slow walk to his shop. After purchasing a personal for himself, he now uood why very few people bothered with the things. They were horrifically expensive for what they did, and each message oo send through the Q-.

  That was a small price to pay to see the girl happy though. Besides, even after he purchased a property, he would still be a multi-millionaire. He had received his portion of the damages from the attack. It galled him that Yulia wasn’t eligible for pensation because of her status as a ward during the ihough.

  They really did the bare minimum to see orphans as anything other than a burden.

  Yulia started to hesitate as they approached his shop. He stopped. “Is there something wrong?”

  “I- I’m scared.”

  He was being an idiot, he should have thought about this. Of course, a little kid would be afraid of going back to the pce where they got hurt.

  “Do you want to go back to the apartment?”

  The girl thought for a minute before shaking her head. “You’ll protect me?”

  “I’ll never let anyone hurt you ever again.” And he meant it.

  That seemed to mollify the girl. She was still a little hesitant, but they took it slow. Eventually, they arrived outside his shop. There were no signs an attack had ever takehere. Along with ing the apartment, Alexander had repaired everything that was damaged or destroyed iiny space he worked out of. The old printer was a loss, but he bought a newer better model.

  Seeing no signs of bad men, Yulia ran over and took her ary spot on a new seat. This one was muicer and had actual padding to it. From there they fell into their old fortable rhythm as he worked on pleting the jobs he had lined up. He didn’t pn on taking on any more work, but he wasn’t about to abandon the work he already had.