SAYEN LOOKED IDENTICAL to how she’d been when Carl had last left her. Cushioned on a water-filled base in her stasis container, which undulated gently to help prevent pressure sores, she lay under a sheet. Beneath the sheet, tubes had been inserted into her body to maintain its temperature and systems at a level that kept her just alive. Her arms were above the sheet, with her palms face down, and her head was resting to one side. Her mouth was slightly open, and a thin line of drool ran from the corner.
Carl pulled his sleeve over his hand and wiped the spittle away. Sayen’s hair was growing out of its short-cropped style. He felt like he’d got to know the woman better in the last few days than he had in all the previous months aboard ship. Her exclusive modding, private schooling, and p
