“I could send you a few episodes,” offered Sarah, quietly.

“Really?”

“Sure,” said Sarah. “When the next MS arrives, I’ll tell Daniel to pass them on.” Seeing her expression fall, she added, “Or you could download them tonight.”

Merlianne’s eyes lit up. Sending data across the VRC was frowned upon, and it didn’t always work. Jeffrey tried to explain it to her once, but after the third formula, she couldn’t absorb any more. The VRC channel was also supposed to be left open when not used by live people in case of an emergency. Emergencies seemed so distant and world-changing that she felt safe one would never happen to her, and so she felt safe in bending the rules a little.

“When?” whispered Merlianne.

Sarah wondered, “Why are you whispering?” and then she remembered that Merlianne’s mom followed the rules exactly, despite the mess she’d made of the rest of her life. She would never agree.