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Kainda makes her dinner appearance.
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1
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The dinner is in one of the large halls in the palace.
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2
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Servant robots are bringing the prepared food from the kitchen.
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3
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Human servers serve guests and attend to their needs.
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4
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Servant robots, each equipped with four arms, are stationed every few meters.
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5
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They hold red wine, white wine, water, and juice, ready to hand to the servers.
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6
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There is a live band playing classical music in the corner, playing it softly.
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7
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Her brother, King Kabir, is at the head of the table with the envoy next to him on the right.
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8
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The official ambassador is also sitting next to the king on the left.
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9
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Kainda is across from the envoy, with the envoy’s son next to her.
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10
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The rest of the table comprises people from the Erikson sector sitting with their trade counterparts...
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11
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The goal is to set up trade with the envoys home system during this trip.
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12
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Kainda comments on the smell of the food as it comes out.
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13
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“This is one of the chef’s specialties. I always enjoy his preparation. With fresh vegetables in sea...
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14
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As the food is served, she comments,
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15
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“Yummy, this is the perfect time for your visit. Smell the aroma of the fresh herbs.”
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16
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As the dinner continues, she talks politely, follows the script, and makes the envoy feel welcome an...
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17
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The envoy’s son wants to flirt with Kainda.
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18
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After making small talk, the young man is getting more flirtatious, and Kainda needs to put a stop t...
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19
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She leans over to the young man, Gisfrid, and says,
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20
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“This is an official event. I am working and can’t entertain you. Additionally, I may not have suito...
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21
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Gisfrid replies,
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22
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“It has been great to meet you, Princess Kainda. I am sorry your family won’t let you interact with ...
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23
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Kainda smiles and says,
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24
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“Please do. Please notify the staff so they can add the event to the calendar. They hate surprises f...
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25
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When dinner is over, she tells the staff,
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26
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“I have a headache after remembering all those facts. I’m going to my quarters.”
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27
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The palace is enormous, with ceilings that are ten meters high.
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28
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It makes the stairs unbearable, but it looks impressive.
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29
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She leaves the hall, walking toward her quarters.
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30
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There are no guards following her from this social event because that would look bad.
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31
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The guards will be at the intersection on the way to her room.
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32
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As she walks, she finds a service corridor entrance.
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33
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They are easy to spot when you know about them, but most people don’t notice them.
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34
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She found the service corridors when she was young and learned they were a way to explore with no on...
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35
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Almost no one will use the service corridors; only service robots use them.
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36
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She knows some paths well, and she knows most people don’t at all.
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37
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The service corridors are great to move around because the robots won’t stop her, won’t complain, an...
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38
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Stopping at an intersection when she hears voices.
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39
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She doesn’t want to be seen.
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40
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They will demand to know what she is doing in this area.
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41
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It is simply the most direct route to her quarters.
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42
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Peeking her head around the corner, she sees that there is a door partially open, and the voices are...
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43
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She can’t hear what they are saying, so she walks toward the opening.
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44
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Now on her toes so her heels won’t make any noise on the floor.
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45
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She approaches the point where she can hear the conversation.
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46
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“You have been assigned to the princess’s guard detail. That will allow you to travel.”
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47
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“This is not a great assignment. I have to babysit the brat. Worse, because of the yacht attack, the...
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48
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“My duty station is to watch cameras to make sure everyone is safe. I can tell you she is considered...
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49
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“As one of her guards, I will get into trouble when she sneaks off. At least traveling on a yacht, s...
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50
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“I didn’t hear anything about what happened with the yacht. What do you know?”
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51
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“The team that went on site said the emergency transmitter and beacon were not working. Those turn o...
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52
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“That means they were sabotaged.”
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53
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“Yes, that’s the other thing I heard, but I haven’t seen the video myself. It looks like this inform...
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54
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“Someone boarded the ship?”
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55
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“That would be hard to do without the ship sending a distress signal. They probably left here on the...
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56
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“That is why you think you will be targeted.”
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57
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“Yes, and the reason the chief of the guard is saying we will start constantly guarding the princess...
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58
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“Wouldn’t it be better to sneak the princess off the planet to another safe place?”
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59
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“Probably, but that is not my call.”
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60
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“Another opportunity for you. If you are nice to her, she will play poker with you. No one complains...
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61
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“I heard she is good at poker.”
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62
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“Everyone I’ve talked to who has played against her says she is damned good. She can read people lik...
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63
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“That doesn’t sound good to me.”
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64
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“The good part for you is that she helps her guards get better, so she has more of a challenge. One ...
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65
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Kainda tiptoes back to the corridor to continue toward her quarters.
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66
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Her head is churning.
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67
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“There were attackers on the yacht. Who can I trust? Anyone could say they are trying to protect me ...
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68
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She can hide in the palace.
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69
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Years of exploring mean she has become skilled at hiding.
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70
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She can’t explore and hide in these event clothes, but going to her room with the guards means she m...
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71
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A plan forms in her head.
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72
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She has not thought it through, but it is all she has right now.
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73
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Aunt Victoria is leaving on her ship soon.
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74
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She continues walking and sees a service robot and stops it.
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75
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“I am looking for a basic jumpsuit that I can use on a ship. Show me where to get one and use the ro...
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76
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The robot walks down the hallway to another hallway.
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77
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Turning and walking down a hallway, Kainda can hear more voices.
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78
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As they get to a doorway area, she moves ahead of the robot quickly and waits.
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79
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No one can see her.
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80
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After a couple of turns, the robot stops at a closet area, saying,
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81
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“These are the basic service jumpsuits. They are colored by duty and rank.”
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82
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“Get me a basic service jumpsuit and a supervisor one in my size.”
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83
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The robot enters and returns quickly with two jumpsuits.
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84
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Kainda says,
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85
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“Wait right there.”
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86
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She enters the room and removes her heels, ceremonial dress, and pants.
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87
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Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings are all thrown into a pile on the floor.
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88
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She says,
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89
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“Robot, is there a trash chute close, or a trash bag you can get?”
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90
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The robot replies,
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91
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“There is a trash chute in the room marked. It should be waist high on the left of the door.”
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92
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Kainda hadn’t even looked before asking.
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93
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She grabs everything and shoves it into the trash.
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94
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At the last minute, she holds the pants’ leg, pulling them back.
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95
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She scrubs her face, trying to get as much makeup off as possible.
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96
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Now the event makeup is all over the pant leg.
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97
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When done, she shoves the pants into the chute.
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98
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Next, she takes her hair down.
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99
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Her red hair is long, allowing it to be styled for various events.
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100
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Tonight, it was in a large bun on top of her head.
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101
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Keeping that will attract attention.
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102
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She takes it all down and quickly braids it in the back.
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103
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She asks,
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104
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“Robot, what about shoes?”
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105
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The robot replies,
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106
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“They are stacked in bags on the back wall. These are the basic worker shoes.”
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107
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Kainda searches and finds a pair of simple slip-on shoes that are close to her size.
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108
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They are basic gray, and this is another indicator of a basic worker.
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109
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Leaving the supply closet, she is in a basic worker light blue jumpsuit with a supervisor’s yellow o...
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110
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“Robot, take me to the ship landing hangar area without going through the main hallways.”
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111
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Kainda doesn’t know every passage, but she has spent many hours going through the palace without bei...
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112
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Using a passage doesn’t mean she knows where it goes.
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113
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Usually, in the past, she would try to go anywhere and take random turns.
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114
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Eventually, they would find her hungry, mad at being caught, and not apologetic.
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115
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There were places she went that no one ever knew; they only caught her or found her in a few places.
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116
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Now she needs to get to the hangar.
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117
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The robot must go through multiple doors and walkways.
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118
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Kainda stops and waits whenever she hears people talking.
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119
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Service robots are using the corridors, opening doors, and she waits until the door is closed before...
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120
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They get to the ship hangar area, where Kainda looks around.
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121
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“Wait here. I will be back in one minute. Oh, and hold this.”
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122
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She hands him the yellow jumpsuit.
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123
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She is looking for her aunt’s ship.
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124
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It is small, only large enough for five people with enough supplies for a few cycles.
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125
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Her aunt talked about the ship with Kainda before.
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126
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She described it as the perfect getaway ship.
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127
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When she was little and exploring, she learned how to avoid people so she wouldn’t get caught and in...
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128
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After moving around behind several crates and avoiding people walking, she spots the ship.
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129
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It is halfway down the hangar area.
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130
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There are people moving supplies around the entire area.
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131
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She must figure out how to get onto the ship to hide without being stopped.
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132
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The robot will help her get close, and then she will send it away to be a distraction.
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133
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Walking back to the robot, she asks questions.
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134
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“The ship’s name is Victoria’s Folly. I want to get on that ship without being stopped. They should ...
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135
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The robot responds immediately,
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136
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“I don’t have access to any records for the ship Victoria’s Folly. I don’t know what supplies are sc...
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137
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Kainda replies,
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138
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“Fine, help me get close to the ship without being seen.”
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139
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As they walk outside the shipping area, Kainda looks at pallets of materials and sees a small box.
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140
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“Robot, can you tell what is in that box?”
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141
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The robot turns to scan the area.
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142
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“I am not sure which box.”
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143
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Kainda walks over and picks up the box.
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144
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The robot looks at the box and says,
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145
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“That is a medical scanner.”
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146
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“Perfect, let’s go.”
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147
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The robot walking with her helps with the visual that she is delivering something important.
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148
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They get close to the ship.
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149
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Kainda stops saying to the robot,
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150
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“I have a list of instructions. You will follow these instructions. One, you will erase the informat...
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151
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“Yes, Princess.”
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152
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“Begin.”
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153
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The robot walks toward the front of the ship and then turns toward the main cargo entrance for the s...
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154
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If anyone is looking for something out of place, they will spot the robot first, she hopes.
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155
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Kainda turns and starts walking to the ship with her small medical device box, looking as though she...
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156
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Approaching the ship, she appears to be just another delivery worker.
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157
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She is holding her breath, hoping that no one will recognize her or stop her.
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158
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Getting to the ramp, she doesn’t pause and walks on board.
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159
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She doesn’t even look at the robot.
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160
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She lets out her breath and is now breathing hard from holding her breath too long.
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161
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Partway to the entrance, the robot walks over and drops the jumpsuit on a pallet.
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162
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This is another Kainda distraction.
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163
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A jumpsuit in her size, near a ship, will draw people’s attention to look there first.
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164
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As the robot drops the jumpsuit, it executes the last command and resets its systems.
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165
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Recovering, it says,
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166
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“Service needed,”
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167
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and starts walking out of the area.
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168
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A supervisor sees the robot and tells it to stop.
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169
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“Why are you here?”
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170
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“I am unsure. My memory of recent events is blank. I need to go to the maintenance area for service....
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171
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The supervisor lets him walk away and goes back to his duties.
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172
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On the ship, Kainda puts the medical scanner on a seat and looks for something she can crawl into—a ...
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173
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The ship has no crew area because automation handles everything.
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174
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She can’t find anything in the master bedroom or the bathroom.
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175
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Getting frustrated, she is now flushed and ready to yell.
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176
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Then she sees a latch.
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177
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It is a service crawl space for some ship equipment, like the service corridors in the palace.
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178
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She opens it and looks inside.
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179
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It is a crawl space.
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180
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She crawls into the space backward and can only get to the door latch by swinging it hard.
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181
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The noise of the door closing is loud.
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182
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Now she realizes she may not be able to open the door from the inside.
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183
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<<<>>>
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184
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Being in the service crawl space is now at the top of her list of the worst experiences of her life.
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185
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The ship takes off, accelerates, and eventually jumps.
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186
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Kainda has no suit, no seatbelt, and no padding.
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187
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She jams her legs and arms against the gear as the ship accelerates.
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188
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With jumps, people are usually sitting upright.
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189
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Being jammed into this area when the equipment heats up, it burns her leg, and being horizontal, she...
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190
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The landing is somewhat smooth, meaning she will only have a few bruises.
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191
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She can hear her aunt talking, probably giving instructions to her handmaiden robot.
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192
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After she stops hearing her aunt’s voice for a while, she tries to figure out how to get out.
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193
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She realizes she can’t get out of this service area without tools.
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194
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Sitting in the service area for what seems like hours, she is ready to cry.
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195
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“This is a disaster. If her aunt finds her, it will be a complete waste. She will never have another...
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196
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Hearing something in the main cabin, she finally gives up and calls for help.
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197
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“Help! Open the latch.”
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198
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After a few seconds, she hears some movement, and the latch opens.
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199
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Her aunt’s handmaiden robot is looking at her.
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200
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“Help me out of here.”
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201
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After she gets out, she asks the robot questions about their location and the ship’s condition.
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202
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She then has the robot wait.
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203
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Kainda uses the toilet, then she searches the clothing closet for anything other than the jumpsuit.
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204
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Finding that the only clothes are fashion items her aunt wears, which she can’t wear to walk on the ...
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205
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She tells the robot to erase its memory of her and get back to work.
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206
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Kainda is now alone on a trade hub planet, Vince-4, with no identification, no credits, and nowhere ...
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207
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It dawns on her she didn’t have a plan past this point.
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208
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Her impulse reaction was to get out of the palace, but she could have done a little planning first.
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209
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She considers and decides she will find help.
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210
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She heads to the landing area exit and begins walking, taking in the sights and areas she has never ...
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211
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The city looks amazing.
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212
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She has never been to a city like this.
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213
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Her press and presentation events were all controlled.
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214
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This is mostly chaos.
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215
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There are short buildings close to the landing area, but they quickly get taller, and she can see ve...
|
|
|
216
|
|
|
There are bright and flashing lights everywhere.
|
|
|
217
|
|
|
Vehicles are moving on the street; most of them are trucks or buses.
|
|
|
218
|
|
|
It appears that smaller vehicles have different rules; they are constantly moving around and soundin...
|
|
|
219
|
|
|
The city has so many smells.
|
|
|
220
|
|
|
She recognizes the scent of industrial oil, some burning wood, or paper, and a few wonderful smells.
|
|
|
221
|
|
|
There are also unfamiliar smells that are hard to identify.
|
|
|
222
|
|
|
As she walks, she views shops and pauses at several.
|
|
|
223
|
|
|
This one has a pungent but sweet smell.
|
|
|
224
|
|
|
The sign says tobacco.
|
|
|
225
|
|
|
A few blocks later, the shop she pauses at has smoky smells, but not from burning incense.
|
|
|
226
|
|
|
She has never smelled these in the palace.
|
|
|
227
|
|
|
She keeps walking, taking in the sights.
|
|
|
228
|
|
|
After a few blocks, she turns and continues.
|
|
|
229
|
|
|
After several more blocks, she notices the area is changing.
|
|
|
230
|
|
|
Less clean, with some buildings having lights out.
|
|
|
231
|
|
|
She turns around and starts heading the other way.
|
|
|
232
|
|
|
Where can she get help?
|
|
|
233
|
|
|
She walks back toward the tallest buildings she can see.
|
|