"Then that is what I shall do."

Dheto disengages the magnetized tethers holding her SLAYER to the dysofrag and leaps after the departing dragon.

Deskyl doesn't nap, this time; she's interested in seeing Artha's domain.

They fly far beyond the densely packed core of the debris disk, to a stretch of space where only a loose smattering of smaller dysofrags drift. Though they’re traveling significantly faster than would be safe within the disk’s interior volume, it still takes many degrees to reach the particular cluster of outer-disk dysofrags where Artha lives, on account of the sheer distance.

It takes long enough to get there that Deskyl gives up and goes to sleep again, but DZ wakes her when the built-up cluster comes into view, and she watches with interest.

The built up cluster contains a smattering of mechanized facilities: scanning stations, communication relays, defensive emplacements and so on.

Little sparks in the dark occasionally give away the position of small craft moving between these facilities.

She can't identify most of the facilities, even well enough to particularly guess, but it's fun to try; she points out some of the more interesting structures to DZ, and shares her speculation about what they do.

Dheto follows Artha to one of the larger structures on the periphery of the cluster. There's a single docking berth, which looks like it's designed for use by larger transport vessels but which can apparently still sync up with a SLAYER in a pinch.

The cockpit rattles slightly, then goes still.

Dheto pulls her SLAYER's uplink cable free from her spine and starts unbuckling her harness.

"We're here."

Deskyl wakes Devika and helps DZ to the hatch, pausing to check that the colonial pilot is following before making her way through it.

Dheto brings up the rear.

She’s a little tempted to ask for clearance to depart as soon as her charges are aboard this station. She wants to be done with this mission, done with these people, and back where she belongs as quickly as possible.

But she’s tired and hungry and she knows Ladriel would want her to rest before attempting the return trip. And so she’ll do that.

The station is small and sparse, as though human habitation were an afterthought of its construction.

There’s no rotational inertia here, nor meaningful gravity well. Most surfaces have handles for traction. The spotless walls thrum and some of them are warm to the touch.

No obvious sign of where to go, either. They wait a moment, in case a guide is on her way, and then DZ speaks up. "Ma'am?"

“Sorry, it’s been so long since last I had guests.”

Artha’s voice plays from a nearby interface.

”This outpost is fully stocked to sustain unaugmented humans. I will upload a map to this terminal, and configure the communications relay such that you can communicate freely with me and my subjects.”

A blueprint of the station appears on the interface screen, with amenities such as beds and food stores highlighted.

"Thank you, Ma'am. We also need to replace my charger; Deskyl can make one, but she'll need supplies and tools."

“List the items you need, and I’ll have them delivered.”

"Thank you, Ma'am." She lists them off; it's nothing complicated.

“If you need anything else, just ask. I’ll always be within earshot unless you specifically ask me not to be.”

"Yes Ma'am, thank you."

She converses briefly with her master before addressing Devika: "Deskyl wants a shower and change of clothes before she eats; is that okay with you?"

“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”

Deskyl shrugs, and sets off.

Dheto is already using the showers. It’s an almost noiseless process: the shower itself doesn’t produce anything audible over the hum of the station’s larger machinery, and without local directional inertia the water doesn’t slap hard enough against tile to produce a shower’s characteristic pitter-patter.

She hears Deskyl approaching: “I can vacate this space if you need access to it?”

Deskyl hesitates for a second, scowling, before responding.

    "We'll come back later, Ma'am.", DZ translates, as Deskyl turns to go.

Dheto wastes no time finishing her shower, towels off and heads for the eatery.

”Done, ma’am.” The towel wrapped around her midsection depicts two dragons—one clearly meant to be Artha—sitting on a verdant expanse, watching a sunrise.

Deskyl doesn't look up from her meal, but nods a perfunctory acknowledgement when DZ translates.

Dheto eats without making any stabs at conversation.

Deskyl doesn't attempt to talk to her, either. Then she showers - her 'saber is plenty waterproof, and she keeps it to hand as if this is entirely unremarkable behavior - and heads to the bunkroom.