Bzzzt—
A spherical servo-automaton bearing the Imperial Aquila floated before a door and scanned its number.
It spoke in an electronic voice. "Zone A, Unit 1313. Access rights have been transferred."
Once it had finished, the servo-automaton turned to Osborne and his daughter, who were anxious but hopeful. "Mr. Osborne, this is the temporary residence the Imperium has arranged for you. Your access rights will remain valid until the evacuation is complete.
"Please take care of public property during your stay. You will be fined for any damage.
"And—"
After briefly explaining the rules of residence, the servo-automaton floated off without looking back, bound for its next assignment.
Osborne and his daughter stood alone before the door, staring at it in a daze.
They had a home again?!
Osborne had assumed he and his daughter would be sent to a communal cabin, where everyone would be crammed together as they had been aboard the Federation ship.
Instead, the Imperial machine had brought them to a residential complex packed with rooms, then led them to this door.
They would be living inside.
"Dad, we have somewhere to live again. Does that mean we don't have to go to those smelly places anymore?" his daughter asked timidly. She had been frightened when she and her father were packed into that huge Black House full of people.
"Yes. We have somewhere to live."
Osborne nodded, unable to keep the tremor from his voice.
He was more than satisfied.
While fleeing for their lives, having a place of their own—even a tiny, cramped one—was a rare luxury.
Especially a safe one.
Most temporary housing was still shared, more like a dormitory. It was not so extravagant that everyone received a private apartment, though there was far more space.
Osborne's circumstances were unusual, however. He