The desert night was cold and dark. He looked around and found a familiar dirt trail that led to a large rock overlooking the desert he'd sat on earlier to watch the sunset.
He loved sunsets.
"Is this better, kiri?" he asked and sat on his cold rock.
I don't like it underground.
He had no choice. He did what his master said to do. Kiri was in his head. She had to do what his master said, too.
No, she retorted stubbornly.
"He will hurt you, kiri," he told her.
You'll protect me.
He frowned, troubled. At least his master couldn't touch her if she stayed in his head. He'd never have to worry about protecting her.
His eyes traveled from the desert to the sky. He clasped his arms behind his head and lay down, impervious to the cold. The sky was dark, the stars plentiful and bright.
"Do you like the stars?" he asked her.
Yes.
"I think I like them, too." But he wasn't sure yet.
"Slave."
Two bolted to his feet at the unfamiliar voice. The man with eyes the color of the moss in his room materialized from the shadows.
"Yes, master," he said.
"What are you doing here?"
Two looked around him. He'd found his way out, but he wasn't sure how. He looked up and recalled the stars. He stared, aware kiri liked them, too. When he came to see the stars or watch the sunset, she didn't cry. Maybe she didn't like it underground.
"Slave."
He jerked, surprised to find his master's friend, the one with eyes the color of the moss in his room, standing before him.
"Yes, master."
"What are you thinking?" his master's friend asked.
"Slaves don't think, master."
His master's friend moved closer, and he silently told kiri to be quiet, lest she be heard. She was on the verge of crying again.
"Do you like the stars?" his master's friend asked.
"Yes, we do."
His master's friend looked at him for a long minute.
"Return to your room, slave, and I won't tell your master I found you here."
"Yes, master."
Two went back to the door and looked at his hand. He didn't remember coming this way, but he was sure it was the way back. He entered three codes and crossed through three doors, walked down a hall too narrow for him to walk straight, and retreated to his room. Kiri began to cry again.
"Slave."
He turned when he reached his door. The master's friend, the one with eyes the color of the moss in the corner of his room, stood before him.