Bri checked in with the spaceport security and was given clearance to board the craft. She handed her suitcase over to the woman behind the check-in counter and then knelt down in front of Toto.

“I’m going to need to shut you down for a bit while we travel, okay?”

“Understood. See you on the colony,” Toto said. Bri reached around to the back of Toto’s head and held in the power button. Toto’s limbs folded up to close to its body, and its head bent forward. The spaceport staff member walked over, picked up Toto, and set it on the conveyor belt with the rest of Bri’s luggage. Bri thanked the woman and made her way to the terminal.

Eternally early, Bri had four hours until boarding began. There wasn’t another soul in the terminal yet. She found a seat by the window and watched the maintenance crew prepare the shuttle. She took a deep breath and shut her eyes.