Chapter Seven

  Port Serein & the Beekeeping Robots

  Port Serein drifted into view like a dream someone had whispered into metal. Soft green glass panels caught the lamplight of the Lacaille?Tau system, shimmering like water in slow motion. The station’s long arc-shaped domes gleamed with a calming glow, each one dedicated to botanical research, atmospheric gardening… or, according to Kessa’s pre-docking reading, robotic beekeeping. Kessa practically vibrated. “Kael. They have robot bees.”

  Kael eyed the approach lane carefully. “Please tell me you’re not planning to poke them.”

  “Why do people keep telling me not to poke things?”

  “Experience.”

  She opened her mouth.

  Kael held up a finger. “Documented experience.”

  She closed her mouth.

  Docking in the Quiet Lane

  Unlike Nettle Station—full of personality and muffin?powered chaos—Port Serein radiated serenity. Docking Control’s voice came over the comm soft and lilting, as if they were halfway through meditation.

  “Wayward Starling, you are cleared for Dock Two. Please maintain low thruster output. Some of our bees are napping.”

  Kael blinked. “Bees nap?”

  Kessa whispered, “Don’t question magic.”

  The Starling glided forward like she’d been waiting her whole life for a station that appreciated quiet noises. Docking clamps sealed with a polite click rather than a heavy ka-chunk.

  Kessa stood, stretched, and cracked her knuckles. “Let’s go meet the bees.”

  “Kessa—no touching anything without permission.”

  “No promises.”

  “Kessa—”

  But she was already halfway down the corridor.

  The Green Hall

  Port Serein’s main hall smelled faintly of mint and something lightly sweet—maybe jasmine, maybe the aftermath of a very polite pie.

  Soft moss grew along recessed floor grooves. Ambient lights shifted in slow waves, imitating the effect of sunrise even though the station faced away from the star.

  Kessa inhaled like she could drink the air. “This place feels like a hug.”

  Kael nodded. “I could get used to this.”

  “Absolutely not,” said a small voice near Kael’s elbow.

  They both looked down.

  A round, palm-sized robot hovered at knee height, gold-and-black striped, wings humming with a gentle bzzt. Its optics blinked softly.

  “Visitors,” it buzzed. “Please refrain from stepping on the moss. It is decorative. And sensitive.”

  Kessa gasped. “Kael. It’s a polite bee.”

  “I see that.”

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  “It’s judging us.”

  “I see that too.”

  The bee spun slowly midair, regarding them both. “The Cooperative welcomes you. You are here for delivery, yes?”

  Kael nodded. “Crates from Nettle Station’s Nettleseed Division.”

  “Good. Come. Follow.” The bee zipped ahead at a leisurely pace. “Please do not swat. Even in jest. We find that rude.”

  Kessa whispered, “I am in love with this station.”

  The Riddle Keeper

  They followed the bee down a hallway lined with plant murals—quiet, calming, elegant. At the end of the hall sat a circular kiosk manned by a silver-haired woman with soft eyes and a soft smile.

  She wore a embroidered vest covered in tiny bee patterns.

  “Welcome, travelers,” she said. “I am Anea, Keeper of Puzzles.”

  Kessa froze mid?step. “Keeper of… puzzles?”

  Anea nodded. “We offer riddles to visitors. A tradition. Solve it, and you get access to the ‘sweet path.’”

  Kael blinked. “What is the sweet path?”

  Anea smiled knowingly. “Those who solve the riddle find out.”

  Kessa whispered, “Oh, we’re doing this.”

  Kael sighed. “We have a delivery—”

  “We’re. Doing. This.”

  Kael gave up instantly. “Fine.”

  Anea folded her hands. “Your riddle, haulers of the Starling, is this:”

  She leaned forward.

  Riddle of Port Serein

  “I speak without a mouth, I sleep without eyes. I travel great distances, yet I never rise. What am I?”

  Kessa whispered loudly, “It’s not bees, right? Because they have eyes.”

  Kael rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Let me think.”

  Anea smiled patiently.

  Kessa paced. “Okay. No mouth, no eyes, but it travels… and it never rises… oh! Oh! Is it—”

  Kael held up a hand. “A shadow.”

  Anea clapped, delighted. “Correct.”

  Kessa stopped midword, mouth open. “I was going to say echoes.”

  Kael shrugged. “Close enough, honestly.”

  The Sweet Path

  Anea stood and gestured them toward a side corridor bathed in amber light.

  “This way,” she said. “Since you solved the riddle, the bees have agreed to grant you access.”

  Kael whispered, “The bees agreed?”

  Kessa whispered back, “Don’t question magic.”

  The Sweet Path was a small promenade leading into a greenhouse dome dedicated to pollination research. Inside, dozens of tiny robotic bees floated among rows of flowers—lavender, small citrus blooms, and tall stems of something that smelled faintly like warm sugar.

  Kessa’s eyes lit up like twin stars. “Kael. Kael. Look at them.”

  One bee drifted toward her, scanned her, beeped “Safe,” and hovered close enough to nuzzle her sleeve.

  She melted into a puddle of joy.

  Kael smiled despite himself.

  “Alright,” he said quietly, sensing the calm of the place settle into his bones. “Maybe this station is a hug.”

  Cargo Delivered, Peace Restored

  When they reached the receiving bay, the greenhouse tech double?checked their crates with deep appreciation.

  “Well kept,” the tech said. “Temperature stable, moisture perfect. These seedlings are in excellent shape.”

  Kessa whispered to Kael, “Our salad babies are thriving.”

  Kael whispered back, “Please never say that in public.”

  The tech chuckled. “Some of our guests enjoy visiting, if you’d like a tour after you rest.”

  Kael nodded. “We’d appreciate that.”

  Kessa leaned in. “What about the bees?”

  “Oh, they love visitors,” the tech said. “Especially kind ones.”

  Kessa preened.

  Kael braced for whatever she would do next.

  Departure

  Hours later, back aboard the Starling, the docking clamps released with an almost reluctant sigh. The station lights glowed against the hull like lanterns on a calm sea.

  Kessa sank into her chair. “We’re definitely coming back here.”

  Kael nodded. “I think so too.”

  “And next time,” she said mischievously, “I’m solving the riddle.”

  “You can try.”

  Kessa gasped. “Oh. Is that a challenge?”

  Kael smirked. “Maybe.”

  She grinned wide. “Careful, Captain. I take my riddles seriously.”

  He looked out at the stars as Port Serein shrank behind them.

  “I know,” he said softly.

  And the Starling slipped quietly into the lane once more.