The day had been long and exhausting, both emotionally and physically. Ellie found a hotel right next to the port. Parking she set two drones in the best condition to watch the cart, one in front, and one in the cargo space.

Braving anther rush of heat, she entered the hotel. A man in clean clothes was hunched over a vid at the desk. Ellie waited and waited. “Excuse me sir. I need a room.”

The man jerked, then lifted he head to stare in confusion at Ellie. “What are you doing here kid?”

Ellie suppressed a sigh. “I need a room.”

“Aren't you too young to be by yourself? Where are your parents?”

Ellie did sigh then. A long drawn out sigh. “I am an adult as of today.” Ellie commanded her implant to send out her identification wondering if she would have to do this with everyone she met.

“Okay kid. Rooms are fifty creds a night.”

Ellie gulped at that. That was outrageous! “Any discount for extended stays?” Ellie needed to get her bearings and having a safe place to come back to would be nice.

“Sure kid, a week is 200 creds. If you stay a month, its 500 creds.”

“It's Ellie not Kid and I well take a room for the month.” Nodding the man started typing into his computer.

“Any place for food and supplies?” Ellie asked after she was sent the codes to her room.

“Sure Tom's Place, it is across the street and just a few blocks down is Wholesome Goods.”

Nodding Ellie went up to her room. It was a small place, barely large enough to walk around in, but it was hers for the next month. Ellie started to call out to Rosa but then realized she wasn't there anymore.

A feeling of deep loneliness welled up and to distract herself she instructed her chip to play a song form one of her favorite singers, then jumped into the shower.

After a hot shower and a selection of her favorite tunes, she wondered if she should sleep or get something to eat, eating won. She made her way back down to the lobby. The guy already back to his vid show and Ellie left the comforts of the hotel.

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Ellie did not want a repeat of almost being hit by a careless driver so she carefully looked up and down the deserted street to make sure no one was coming before she hurried across. Tom's Place was another small eatery, she just hoped it was as good as the last one at UEN's port.

There were a dozen people scattered about and she quickly grabbed a chair at the counter.

A multipurpose bot that resembled a hominoid figure came over. “What can I get you miss?”

“Water first thanks.”

The bot left and she looked over the menu, some of the items she never had before. The bot came back with a large glass of water and took Ellie's order. Ellie listened to the conversation going on next to her.

“I'll tell you Rick, Somoko is dumping their complete inventory of Q607 chips.”

Ellie's ears perked up at that. The Q607 chips were the latest and fastest quantum chip on the market. It was said that it processed forty percent better than its nearest competitor Tesenki's chips.

“Really Dale? I just outfitted my ship with those!” Rick said outraged.

“No lie. They work great for the first six to eight months but then start getting errors and lagging. I heard a rumor, form an engineering friend of mine, that the chips can work, and even better, if you freeze them.”

“And how the hell am I going to do that!” Rick got up and stormed out.

Ellie wanted to shout in joy. The chips could provide the processing power she needed to run her DNA simulations! She quickly started typing into her comm pad. Routing data through several different locations and, masking her comm id, she soon had the location of the chips. About twenty-six miles from her location.

She wanted to jump up and head out but it was getting late and her food just arrived. Ellie know she needed to eat and rest. She doubted anyone else would be as interested in the chips as she was. She finished the really good vat steak and headed to her hotel.

Ellie stopped by her cart to retrieve her bag. Not being sure about the hotel she had left it guarded by her senor bots. She wanted to bring up all her salvage and inspect them but there was too much to carry. The desk clerk might notice, if he ever looked up from his vids.

She was right, the man still was engrossed with whatever he was watching. Snorting softly, she went up to her room. After locking and flipping the bolt for extra security, she emptied her bag on the bed. First out were Rosa's packages, then she pulled out her sanitary items, and then her three work coveralls.

Ship suits and work coveralls were both cut and pierce resistant, as will resistant to burning, electricity, and, acid, they were also resistant to the more mundane elements, water, staining, and winkles. The work coverall though were a lot thicker and more durable, able to handle rough treatment longer.

Under the cloths she pulled out the bundle of thick cloth holding her tools. Unrolling it would reveal dozens of tools tucked away in individual pockets for protection.

She smiled remembering the very first test probe Rosa had given her. Rosa was been so patient with Ellie's constant testing of all her bots at the orphanage. Setting it aside she saw the vacuum sealed box containing her parent’s letter. With a tumbling hand she pulled it out and sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Well you gave me up so the UEN would cure me. They didn't and instead threw me out.”

A single tear slid down her cheek, she just lost her second home. The only home she knew.

She missed Rosa.