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“One unknown at a time.”

Sera’s eyebrows rose.

Kesta frowned. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“You are all becoming extremely irritating.”

Dreven’s mouth curved. Kesta ignored him and reached toward the dish. Keth moved first. His hand closed over the lid before she could lift it.

“This should go into command storage.”

Kesta looked at his hand. Then at his face.

“No.”

His mechanical eye clicked once. “If it contains imperial targeting instructions, Ash Camp needs access.”

“Ash Camp can have access.”

“Then we agree.”

“No. We agree you may examine it.”

Keth’s expression hardened. “There is a difference?”

“A significant one.” Kesta rested her forearms against the treatment table. “That device was attached to my body. Anything it collected from me belongs first to me.”

Keth looked toward Dreven. Dreven did not rescue him.

The organic side of Keth’s face tightened. “Everything useful on this planet becomes communal eventually. Water, medicine, metal, weapons. Survival does not leave much room for private ownership.”

Kesta heard the truth beneath the argument. That made it more difficult, not less.

“And that rule probably kept Ash Camp alive.”

Keth’s expression eased fractionally.

“It also means the camp can begin treating people as resources without noticing when it happens.”

The tension returned.

Kesta nodded toward his mechanical eye. “You understand that better than most.”

Keth went still. For a moment she wondered whether she had gone too far. Then his shoulders lowered slightly.

“Yes.”

The single word carried enough history that Kesta did not press.

She touched the edge of the glass dish instead. “We make copies of anything readable. Sera keeps one. The council gets access to anything that affects camp safety. The original stays with me unless I choose otherwise.”

Keth looked at Dreven again. This time Dreven stepped closer to the table.

“She keeps it.”

Keth’s tail struck once against his boot. “Commander—”