ONE BOTTLE, 24 KILOMETERS

A current shear rattles the Sovereign Quarters and Mara’s Reserve Bottle vanishes from its shelf. What follows is a full tactical search for one missing drink: sleeping platform, bath ledge, weapon cradle, floor channels—everywhere except where Mara wants it to be. When she finally hears the bottle trapped in a living groove, commands accomplish nothing. A simple request does. Floor pressure rolls the scuffed but intact bottle back to her boot, and Mara pours herself a drink without saying thank you. Relationship insight: Mara discovers Grievance can help without obeying her, and “please” becomes more effective than rank, ownership, or profanity.