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Narmuna, Lexarit, and the cargo bot were all inside. Dulsrum was standing with his back to the closed door.

“I’ll be guarding your door until it’s time to escort you to the committee’s dinner,” Dulsrum said. “Rest, Human Opal. You are well protected here.”

“Thank you for your gift of time and skill,” Tolly said. I remembered him saying the same thing to the healers. I tucked it away to use for later as a goodbye.

Dulsrum hit a fist to his chest with a loud smacking sound, then turned and walked out into the hall. I saw him take up position with his back to the opposite wall before the door slid shut again.

“That one,” Narmuna said, pointing to one of the doors in the suite.

Without another word, Tolly carried me into the room. The room also had bare walls and standard-looking furniture, but colors had been added, mostly in the large nest.

I couldn't be sure, but this one seemed even larger than the one he'd made for me on the Ever Secure.

After he laid me down on it, I tugged at my top. “I need this off.”

He helped me out of the rest of my clothes. I felt better the moment they were gone. I'd been wearing them for days, and although Tolly had carried me into a cleansing unit to use the sonic cleaner several times, I could've sworn they smelled odd.

“I know it's wasteful, but you can throw those away,” I said. “I never want to see them again.”

Tolly rumbled in agreement and shoved them in a waste receptacle. “Do you want other clothes?”

“No,” I said, holding out my arms. “I want you.”

He sank down into the nest next to me with a purr. “You can have all of me.”

I started by rubbing my face against his, spreading oil all over my cheeks and lips. It felt so good to have his oil on my skin.

Flopping back, I smiled up at him. “Cover me in your scent.”

He didn't hesitate to lower his face to my torso. With soft pressure, he rubbed his cheeks all over my belly, chest, shoulder, and my neck. His oil soaked into my skin and filled the air with the scent of sage.

I felt myself relax so thoroughly I felt like I was sinking into the nest.

“Opal?”

I thought I responded, but, in reality, I fell asleep to the sound of Tolly's purring.

“Opal, you need to wake up,” Tolly said, gently tugging at the sheet I'd curled around myself.

“No,” I mumbled. I was having the best dream. I was back on Bright Star Station, and it was busy like it had been when I first went to work there. Tolly, Narmuna, Lexarit, Mieshorum and Sloane were all working with me in the same repair bay. We were talking, teasing, and helping each other. I knew when we finished there were more smiles waiting for us at home.

I wasn't ready to give up the happy image.

“I'm sorry, Opal, you must rise now,” Tolly instead, tugging harder. “We need to attend a meal with the Committee of Stations and Travel.”

With a huff, I gave up my hold and let him pull the blanket away. “Stupid dinner interrupting my sleep,” I grumbled, then yawned wide enough to make a popping sound come out of my jaw.

“We have enough time for one of the hot showers you like so much,” he said. “Would you like that?”

“If I ever turn down a hot shower, have the healer check my brain,” I said with a cheeky grin. The evening was looking up a little.

“I'll make a note of that,” he agreed as he pulled off a blanket, then another blanket, and finally a few pillows. “I feel like I'm excavating.”

“Excavating a human from her nest,” I said with a chuckle as he finally freed me from the nest.

He picked me up and carried me into the cleansing unit, then set me down on an inbuilt bench. He must've planned this because he'd covered the bench in a towel to keep me from having to sit on cold metal. He fiddled with the display, and soon there was water pouring from half the ceiling.

Scooting over, I put myself in the hot waterfall, letting out a little moan of appreciation.