Page 34 of Loka

“Much better. My reboot and repair were successful.”

Loka was right behind her, a menacing presence as he glared at the bot. “It responds to affection?”

“I like to think so.” Heather tickled Ernie’s head. “Although probably not. I like to spoil him.”

Loka poked Ernie with a finger.

The bot’s green sensor glowed red for a second.

“Don’t do that.” Heather swatted his hand away. “He doesn’t like that.”

“It is a bot. It likes what you program it to like. I’m not certain you should have it here. What if it becomes corrupted by the code and attacks you?”

“It won’t happen. He’s on a closed circuit. The other bots work on a hive mind system. They all get the same programming and updates. When Ernie was damaged, I removed him from the circuit. He’s a bot on his own. I’m his only family. He won’t be affected by the code trying to rip apart this station.”

Loka didn’t look reassured by that.

“You can hold him if you like. I promise you. He won’t bite.”

“I’ll leave the bot cuddling to you.” Loka gestured to her bedroom. “You should get changed. We have much to do.”

Heather gave Ernie one last cuddle before setting him down. “I’ll be right back.”

She shut the bedroom door behind her, hurried to her wardrobe, and pulled out a clean work jumpsuit. She owned seven jumpsuits. One for each day and all the same color. They weren’t exactly fashion items but were tailored to fit and meant Heather didn’t have to think about what to wear every day. Grab a clean jumpsuit, climb into it, and off she went.

Shimmying into her jumpsuit, Heather grabbed socks and boots and pulled them on.

She returned to the living area. Loka was studying the pictures of her space pad.

He pointed at the pictures. “Is this yours?”

“In my dreams.” She smiled as she adjusted the zipper on her jumpsuit. “It will be one day. I’m working toward it.”

His eyebrows rose. “Have you selected a planet you would like this building to be on?”

“Somewhere warm,” Heather said. “I have narrowed it down to a dozen possible planets.”

“With a breathable atmosphere for humans?”

“Of course. Nothing barren or too hilly. I’d like an ocean and friendly locals. I know not all aliens love humans, but I want to integrate. I’d like to run a bakery alongside my matchmaking work.”

“A bakery? That’s different.”

She shrugged and scuffed her feet on the ground. Heather rarely talked about her dream with anyone. It felt silly when she said it out loud. “It would be a matchmaking bakery. My Single Alien is negotiating setting up outposts in any galaxies that have a peace treaty in place. The plan is to have bases in every area where it’s safe to do so. It means aliens won’t have to travel to a main space station like this. They can drop in, meet me, and discuss their requirements. It always helps when you talk to somebody face-to-face and get a sense of what they really want.”

“I can see how that could work.”

“Sometimes, individuals have this idea in their head, and when they talk it through, they realize it’s not going to work. You, for example, might think you want a six-foot, bronzed goddess with long red hair and dimples.”

“I do not. I like my females’ small with blonde curls.” Loka looked back at the pictures.

Heather grinned. “When you talk it through with an expert, you’ll discover you want someone who is adventurous, friendly, and likes making cakes.”

Loka’s smile was cautious. “Are you describing yourself?”

Heather blushed. “This is all hypothetical.”

“You would run a My Single Alien outpost in a bakery?”