“Is he okay?”

“Uh huh.” Echo was putting the finishing touches on Ensign Klivers’ recovery. His condition was now medically “stable” by most criteria.

“I’m glad.” Butterfly said.

“I wish we could talk to Lunar. I bet he’s having so much fun on the big spaceship. It’s been so long since I saw all my friends on Exeter.”

“We could talk to him if I could see the ship,” Butterfly said. “Remember when we talked on the LOS that one time?”

“Uh huh. Rebel was being funny and yelling about stuff. He’s always so serious.”

Commander Hunter was busy monitoring the EM situation with her handheld signals analysis unit, but somewhere in her subconscious she was also listening intently to Echo and Butterfly’s conversation. Something had gotten her attention and she couldn’t shake the feeling this was one conversation she should be part of.

“Tom, listen,” she whispered.

Commander Huggins perked up and watched Jayce Hunter’s raised eyebrows as the two little minibots conversed.

"–yeah. I remember that. When Rebel was running around and trying to hide from the laser net he didn’t know you were watching him from way up in the sky. That’s why I could always find him when we play hide and seek. I think that’s why Acey gave him new engines and stuff, ‘cause he was mad he couldn’t win like before.”

“I don’t get it,” Huggins whispered.

Hunter kept her voice low. “They’re talking about LOS communications. Laser-assisted data networking. Same stuff Skywatch uses for their electronic warfare protocols.”

“Yeah. Same stuff we use for battle conditions.”

“Butterfly knows how to do LOS communications, and so does Lunar.”

It hit Tom in an instant.

“LOS can’t be jammed! All we need now is a window!”

Commander Hunter crouched down by Lieutenant Sutherland.

“How is she doing?”

“Hi Acey!” Echo chirped. “She’s sleepy now, but everyone’s all better.”

“Butterfly, do you remember how to do LOS communications with the other minibots?” Hunter asked.

“Yes I do. It’s really easy once you taught us how.”

“Do you think you could find a port on the opposite side of the station and talk to Lunar for me? And do you think you could relay communications from my designator to the Exeter bridge?”

“Yeah! If Lunar is out in space I can see him and send him messages!”

“Then let’s get started. I need you to fly back to where Rebel and Wave are and find the hatch Lunar used to leave the station. It will have a port in it. Use that port to establish LOS contact with Lunar and set up a comm net with my designator and the Exeter bridge.”

“Okay!”

“Can I go too?” Echo asked plaintively.

“I need you to stay here and take care of my officers,” Hunter replied with a smile. “You’re doing a great job.”

“Awwww,” Echo whined. Then she turned to face the little helicopter.

“I have to go,” Butterfly said.

“I know. Send me a message if you get in trouble and I’ll come help you.” Echo said.

“Call me if you need help and I’ll come help you too,” Butterfly replied.

The humans watched the two little minibots reassure each other with wonder in their eyes. It was very much like watching two best friends on moving day for one of them. Even through her drowsiness, Sutherland was certain they would have hugged each other goodbye if they could.

Finally Butterfly engaged her engines and brought her rotors to flight velocity. She rose quietly from the deck and pivoted towards the exit. Echo followed her to the door and watched her fly away. Then she rolled back to Lieutenant Sutherland’s side and resumed monitoring the two wounded officers’ vital signs.

Hunter noted Echo had quietly activated her wide-spectrum monitoring antenna. She might not have been able to go with her friend, but she was now listening intently on more than sixteen thousand broadcast frequencies for Butterfly’s designator. If the little helicopter shouted, Jayce knew Echo would be there before the sound faded.

Perhaps that’s an even more apt description of the little robot’s namesake, Hunter thought. She switched frequencies on her EM monitoring unit and waited for Butterfly’s signal.