Across The Universe With A Giant Housecat (The Blue) by Stephanie Void

her name is on one of them. You have access to that kind of thing, right? Perhaps it is just taking her a bit longer to find you. You aren’t exactly an easy person to locate, with that ship of yours, flitting from place to place as you do.”
    “Yes, but she could have—”
      One of the quarreling boys punched the other, who started wailing. Mrs. Mongarusa grimaced. “Sorry, Alan, but I’ve got to go. They always get restless around this time of year. The harvest is over and they don’t have much to do. Why don’t you check the transport logs for Useia? I’m sure you will be able to find her. My daughter is a very resilient girl. And Alan, we will always be grateful to you for what you’ve done. Our home is always open to you. Good bye, and good luck.” She switched off her monitor.
    I clicked off the monitor and frowned. Useia’s family didn’t know where she was.   Transport logs? I pounded my thigh in frustration.  
    A door slammed behind me. Turning, I saw Katelyn had returned.
    “What were you up to?” I asked.
    “Just more exploring. This place is massive!”
    “Yep. I know. The school is even bigger.”
    “I know! I went there. Just to tour it. Ms. Bridgewater said I could move into the dorms in a few days.”
    “Katelyn, I’m trying to find Useia.”
    “And? Any luck?”
    “No. Her mother says she left home four months ago. She suggested looking over the transport logs. Any chance you could help me with that?”
    One corner of her mouth slid upward in a half smile. “Of course. We both know I was born to use technology.”
    “Yeah, yeah, I know.” She never missed an opportunity to brag about her superiority when it came to using technology.  
    “Good. That’s settled, then. Now move off, I need to use that monitor.”
    I backed away and she promptly settled herself down in front of the monitor. Her fingers flew over the screen as she accessed the records.
    “She could have gone to Avalon Colony, her old homeworld,” I suggested.  
    “I’ll check there. Now quit looking over my shoulder and let me work my magic.”
    I was more than happy to do as she asked. Technology didn’t fascinate me as it did her; I was more interested in exploring and living, not sitting in front of a screen.
    I left our quarters, headed nowhere in particular, but happy for a chance to walk around again. Movement felt so much better now that I was free of the medical vest.  
    Since I had little else to do, I spent the next several hours wandering the base. I considered stopping by the military school section of it to see if I could find some of my old school friends, but realized that the school would be all but deserted until next week: it was summer break, or an approximation of it. There were no seasons in space.
    Instead, I simply walked about, taking things in and more importantly, enjoying my newly released spine. I’d forgotten how much of a range of motion I used to have.
    At one point I stopped and bought a sack of oranges, my favorite fruit. Sitting down at a table at the food court, I devoured several and saved the rest for later.
    By the time I returned to my quarters, I felt relaxed and refreshed. My worries had vanished, pushed into the background by the pleasures of the present.  
    Katelyn wasn’t in our quarters, but there was a call request from Standing Admiral Northe blinking on the monitor.
    I contacted him via the monitor.
    “Alan! I’ve been trying to contact you for hours!” Standing Admiral Northe was sitting in his office, a glass of amber beverage in his hand. “I had Cartus running all over the place to look for you. We really need to get you a wrist communicator.”
    “Sorry, sir.”
    “I wanted to tell you that your ship will be arriving early. We just received word she will be here within the hour. Debriefing will take place one hour after that, in the conference room on the green floor of the executive wing. Be there.”
    “Oh. Oh! Yes, sir! Where will they be