Ollie cleared her throat. “What is the duty rotation after flushing the reactor in Engineering?”
There was a faint beep. “Sick bay.”
The girls exchanged glances. Ollie went on with her questioning. “How long does the average assignment to sick bay last?”
“Two days.”
Another pause, before Ollie prodded it with another question. “Where after that?”
“Usually the compactor. But occasionally recycling for compost.”
Both girls gasped. “That’s it? Does flushing the reactor always kill people?”
“No,” the robot said. “The radiation kills people.”
Mattie spoke up, the screwdriver clenched tight in her hand. “Do you record all the questions that are asked of you?”
“Yes, I do,” the robot said. “My function is—”
Ollie never heard the function. The moment the robot said yes, Mattie traded her
