Free Born of Sand (Tales of a Dying Star Book 5) by David Kristoph

her back a long piece of bread with a sweet crust, and something that tasted like tea. With her hunger kept at bay they dove back into the work.
    They had examined and perfected ten of the electroids when Farrow found them.
    Mira didn't notice him until Binny suddenly stopped sweeping. Farrow stood in the doorway, arms crossed, a blank expression on his face. She didn't know how long he'd been watching.
    "G'morning Farrow," Binny greeted him, but he raised a hand to cut her off.
    "We need to speak alone."
    Everyone knew who he meant. The engineers, who had chatted excitedly all morning, grew quiet as they left. Binny followed, sending one final, frightened look into the room.
    Farrow pressed a button to close the door and returned his stare to Mira.
    She sat on the floor, a half-mutilated electroid on the ground in front of her, spare parts arrayed all around. She felt pride at her work, confidence in her skill. She wasn't the same, helpless woman Farrow had found wandering the desert only days before.
    "I gave you explicit orders," Farrow said quietly. "You were to do basic duties around the base before being trusted with anything more."
    Mira put down her bolt-driver. "They asked for my help." She'd been practicing the speech in her head all morning. "I was eating in the kitchen when they came to me, asking me to..."
    "No. Not at first. You waited until they left the workshop yesterday and began tinkering where you didn't shitting belong."
    Mira said, "I only wanted to show that--"
    "Do not interrupt me."
    She fell silent.
    "We have rules. Rules and structure are critical here, more so than anywhere else on Praetar. We are rebels. Traitors. Freeman. Everything we do has an added layer of secrecy so we are not caught. Maintaining that secrecy is only possible if everyone follows orders immediately and without question.
    "The pillar of command may be confusing at the top with Akonai and Spider here, but below that it is quite clear. I am in charge, and you take orders from me. I didn't assign you to cleaning duty because I thought you had no value. I assigned you to cleaning duty to ensure you could obey the most basic orders from your superior. You very clearly cannot. You couldn't even follow my command for a full day of work."
    He paused, fixing Mira with a cold, uncompromising stare. The silence went on until Mira could stand it no longer. "I was eager to prove myself. I need to get to my daughters."
    "And there is the specific problem with this situation," he said. "Tell me. What do you have in common with Spider?"
    "Spider?" she repeated. She scowled. "I have nothing in common with that terrible man."
    "You do not," he agreed. "But the rest of us do. Spider may be a foul man with a cruel heart, but I know exactly what he wants. We all have a purpose here: to throw off the Empire, to return Praetar to the monarchy and restore our Mother's religion. A single goal which unites every single heart within this base, even Spider's. Most of us would die to accomplish that goal, although we hope not to.
    "But you do not care for our cause. You have expressed little animosity toward the Melisao and their occupation. The only thing you care about are your daughters. Finding a way to reach them. I'm confident you would do anything for them." There was a hint of question in his voice.
    "I would," Mira whispered to the floor. "How could I not?"
    "You would do anything for them, anything to reach them. Including betraying everyone in this base to the Melisao. No, don't try to deny it. You may not have such a betrayal in mind now, but if presented with the option I know what you would choose. Frankly, I cannot blame you. A mother's love is a powerful thing."
    He's right . For a brief second Mira imagined that possibility, and she instantly knew what she would do. I would throw them to the Melisao for a chance to reach my girls , she realized. Even Binny.
    The realization horrified her, like discovering a foul creature hiding beneath