“That’s not an android box, is it?” Betta asked softly.
George Reganta gathered up Betta in his arms and rose to his feet in one swift movement. He set her down near the box. “This is what everyone’s been looking for.”
“I wasn’t looking for it,” Betta promised
“You didn’t know you were looking for it, but you were looking for it,” George said in a tone that gave the impression is was much wiser than Betta.
“Nope. Wasn’t looking for it. Was looking for my father when I found out he was alive, but I’ve never gone looking for a box. Wait, is this what those men were looking for, in the bunks, when I was little?” Betta didn’t fight his embrace, holding the solid old man close to her flesh.
“Yes,” Mister Jenkins answered. “You’re father informed me shortly after we made our acquaintance. This is the last stasis box that Humanity may ever need.”
They carried the box back to Betta’s chamber where Jadis slept in a standard med box that monitored his life signs and kept him nourished. As they walked, Betta listened to her father tell her stories of their adventures over the last few cycles.
“So.” She interrupted the two men, who spoke as if they were the best of friends. “You’re all pirates.”
“No. We’re entrepreneurs,” George Reganta replied.
“Opportunists,” Mister Jenkins added.
“Space pirates,” Betta corrected.
They placed Jadis in the box and her father touched a flurry of symbols and sealed it shut. “All done. It should take a few hours. What is there to do on Betta’s Station in the meantime?”
Betta lifted Joy from D’yanna’s arms. “Maybe get to know your granddaughter.” Joy buried her face into Betta’s chest.
George grinned again. “Amazing.”
They waited for hours, talking, laughing, and getting to know one another. Teena even let down her professional tone once or twice. Friz played an intense game of hide and seek with Joy that ended with them both soaking wet. D’yanna questioned Mister Jenkins, in detail, about his association with Pilo and the feds. All of this was eventually interrupted by the chime of the special med box in the center of the chamber.
The door slid open and Betta’s heart nearly burst from her chest at the sound of raucous snores that echoed off the walls of her chamber. She gathered up Joy and they all went to stand over the box.
Jadis Ter opened his eyes and greeted his new family.