By morning, Millie was dressed. All of the furniture had been moved to the outer edges of the room, with the help of Pang, to facilitate more space for training. She sat in the single chair that she’d first pulled to the viewport, staring down at the ringed planet below.

 

The door opened and James walked in, looking around. “What the hell happened to the room?”

 

Millie gestured with her chin to the robotic woman who stood outside the doorway. “My babysitter won’t let me leave this room, and since you removed everything that wasn’t bolted to the walls, I’ve had to keep myself occupied for the last week you’ve kept me as your prisoner.” Millie’s attention went back to James. “It seems my parental controls won’t let me go down to the gym or training room, so I had to make do here.”

 

He knew that point was not incorrect so he gave a little sigh and walked over, picking up a chair and moving it over to the viewport. “Alright that makes sense and I had to have those things removed, you destroyed almost 4 million credits in the time you’ve been here.”  Sitting, he looked at her. “So I have to ask you a serious question.”

 

Millie just raised an eyebrow at him before sighing and turning her attention to the planet outside the window.

 

“Are you suicidal….or just stupid?”

 

Millie continued looking out the window. “I think the word you’re looking for is ‘desperate’.”

 

“Last night I was in the midst of a private meeting when I get a call from my mother, telling me that I need to lessen Marcy’s workload because she’s now hired an assistant which is just an unnecessary cost. I immediately called Marcy and she melted under the pressure.” He paused, taking a breath. “You have to stay away from her.  If our company has an apex predator it is my mother. You always talk about wanting to keep your loved ones safe.  If she knew the truth of this situation…” he let that hang.

 

“You’re lucky that Marcy introduced me as her assistant.” Millie smirked. “I was ready to introduce her to her granddaughter.” 

 

“Your recklessness has forced me to take new measures to protect you from yourself.  You’ll find your ventilation system now is blocked from travel. I had thought about extending your perimeter to include the dining hall but that probably isn’t wise right now.  I also had to send Marcy planetside because I think you’re too close to her and are frankly a bad influence.”

 

“If your assistant isn’t allowed to have friends, then perhaps your mother was right and you should lighten her workload so that she has time for social endeavors.” Millie finally turned her attention from the window. “But I’m pretty sure I told you that the first time you kidnapped me away from my family.”

 

Before he could answer the door opened.  “I told you to stay outside.” He snapped.

 

“I must have not gotten that memo,” answered the elderly man who entered with the aid of a cane.

 

James quickly stood.  “I, uh, didn’t know you were….of course I wasn’t talking that way to you.”

Behind the old man was a Pang, but not the version Millie had become accustomed to.  This one looked different in its build, hair style, and eye color. The old man slowly walked towards them and sat in the chair James had left.  He looked up to his son.  “Leave us.”

 

“Oh, uh, I’d much rather….”

 

“I said leave us.”

 

James looked at Millie with everything in his being trying to send a message for her not to do anything stupid before he turned and left.

 

The old man, whose eyes were a darker shade of violet compared to James, looked at the girl.  “What is your name?”

 

Millie tucked one foot under her, attempting to look relaxed. “Aemilia, but everyone calls me Millie.”

 

“That’s a pretty name.”  He looked around at the room.  “An interesting set up you have here.  Not the usual kind of thing for an administrative assistant’s assistant.”

 

“I’m experimenting with the Feng Shui in the space.” Millie gave a gentle smile. “I was told that I could have the room redone, but I’m hoping that this ship won’t be my…permanent location.” She folded her hands in her lap.

 

Before he could speak he erupted in a series of deep coughs. Pang, his Pang, moved to his side to check on him in more than a robotic protective manner.  He nodded, holding up his hand.  “I’m okay, it’s fine.”  He cleared his throat before looking at Millie. “Yes, I know of your permanent location.”

 

“I have been told how important family is to the Nadalls, if I may be so bold as to–” There was a waiver in her voice, and she stopped, not wanting to let the emotions through.

 

“You want to go home.”

 

Millie swallowed hard. “I need to go home. I have a daughter who needs her mother, and if I may be truthful–this is not the place to raise a little girl.”

 

“Oh I don’t know if I’d say that.” He motioned to the planet below.  “When I was a boy, my father owned a single business.  He had no vision beyond that, he was happy doing what he did.  Now I own that world, and many others.  My family has everything it would ever want or need.  The best of everything.  I’ve done my best to create a structure in which they will thrive long after I am gone, which may be sooner than I’d like. “But I don’t know if I have given them the happiness of my father.” He looked at the planet in silent contemplation. “How can I deny my granddaughter that?”  He looked directly at her.

 

Millie seemed to let out the breath she’d been holding. “So, you know then.” Her eyes met his. “All I ever wanted was to keep my family safe, and I will do everything in my power to protect them from—from all of this. Even if it means that I live out the rest of my life locked in this white room.”

 

“No, no.  You won’t be locked in here and you will be going back to your ship and your family.  But we must be careful to keep this our secret.  The little incident with my wife could have gone badly.  What is your child’s name?”

 

Millie’s lower lip waivered for a moment. “La’lana. Her mother died in childbirth, and I was asked to protect her.” Millie swallowed hard. “I need to keep that promise to her mother.”

 

“She is very lucky then to have someone willing to fill that void.” He stood with some help from his Pang. “You will be on a ship, my ship, on your way home within an hour.  I will have a talk with my son and explain to him the boundaries of the parent-child relationship.  You must forgive him in some aspects, this was as much a shock to him as to you.”

 

Millie also stood. “Thank you for this–”

 

“You are family.  You may not want to be, but there is an old saying that you can’t choose your relatives.  If you or La’lana should ever need anything you have unlimited access.”

 

The first flicker of a genuine smile grew across Millie’s face. “I hope you will forgive my desire to never need to make that request.”

 

“That’s alright, your Aunt uses enough resources to make up the difference.”  He put a light hand on her upper arm. “Be happy.”  With that he turned and exited the room with his Pang.

 

Once he was out of the room, a sob escaped Millie’s throat. She spun, putting her hand on the viewport. “I’m coming home, girls–I’m coming home.”