Page 59

“I demand Nagán, or an equally competent Medical Rancher, meet us at the courts. Based on my calculations, she’s gone at least one Earth day without water. Humans cannot survive under such conditions. I will make sure she’s safe before she’s interrogated.”

With his mask in place, I cannot see his expression, but his body tightens. “And you have proof?”

“As best as I can. I know when she was taken, but no proof of treatment after leaving our fields.”

Nodding, the enforcer pulls the bottle back against his chest and looks down at Fiona. “Can you hold on for just a bit longer? The Medical Rancher on staff can tell when you last drank.”

Instead of answering, she lowers her head and lets out a soft moo. Satisfied, he motions for us to go back to our transport. The instant we get inside, Vrokjan spears us with a dark look.

“You will tell me everything, and you will tell me now. What do you mean hacked? And how do you know about Jakroon’s activities? Did he tell you?”

Next to me, Fiona makes herself very small. “Back on Earth, I had an important job. I went into the terminals of businesses and spied on their workers. I got into their personal computers and looked up everything they had. If they were innocent, no harm, no foul. If they were trading insider secrets or sabotaging the company, I took that information to the boss.”

“But how did you access our terminals?” I ask, my mind slowly clicking into place. “No. Don’t tell me...”

“Don’t have her tell you what? If you two don’t start talking, I’m of a mind to kick both of you off my Ranch.”

“Please,” Fiona wails. “Don’t take it out on him. He has no knowledge of anything. He let me talk to my mum and I-”

“He. Did. What?” Vrokjan’s voice takes on a dangerous edge. Until this moment, I’ve never seen him so furious.

“To be fair, boss. I looked through all the records and laws. There’s nothing in there against such an action.”

“It was for your safety,” she amends, nodding for a moment before wincing. “I have a set schedule to speak with my parents. If I didn’t call, they would have come looking. People would miss me.”

With a heavy sigh, Vrokjan rubs his hand on the back of his neck. “Continue. I don’t like this one bit, but as you say, no laws were broken.”

“When he left to help you with Jessica...” Fiona trails off, her voice cracking.

Looking over at Vrokjan, I take her hand in mine. “Jessica is fine. She’s staying on Icora as Master Vrokjan’s personal cow. So do not allow that to cloud things.”

The look of surprise and happiness on her face tears at my heart. I may not get it, as she claims, but I understand loss. I understand thinking someone is gone, only to find them again. I felt that the moment I saw my prized human on Jakroon’s steps.

“She’s- she’s here? Oh. Oh thank God!” Wiping at her eyes, she beams at both of us before clearing her throat. “Anyway, when he went to help you, I messed around on his terminal. In my defense, you do not have any safeguards in place whatsoever. The only thing keeping me from getting further into your terminal is that I’m still struggling to understand your written language.”

I stare at my cow, pride burning in my heart. What she did was dangerous and stupid, but she still manages to surprise me at every turn.

“I’ll be damned,” Vrokjan mutters under his breath. “And Jakroon?”

She snorts. “Jack-ass has the same terminal swipes as you do. As everyone does. It really is very small-minded of you to not have any passwords. I mean, even my grannie, bless her resting soul, had a basic passcode on her phone. You’d think aliens would be more advanced.”

At the look of shock on Vrokjan’s face, I can’t help the laugh bubbling from deep inside. It’s part humor, part relief, and part incredulity, all wrapped up in one long, loud laugh. Eventually, Vrokjan relaxes enough to join in. However, it’s all cut short the moment the capitol looms into view.

“Even if it’s true, how do we get the proof?”

Fiona looks between us and shrugs. “Can’t your government acquire records?”

“I supposed,” I hedge. “To my knowledge, nothing like this has ever been done before.”

“Well, I know you didn’t ask me, but if I were you, I’d ask to see whoever is presiding over this case to meet with you in private. Lay out the facts I’ve told you and see if they can find a way to procure it on their end. The last thing you need is Jakroon getting any hint of this and destroying the records.”

“I- I never would have thought to do that,” Vrokjan mutters next to us. “How is it this human has more acumen than me?”

“Shocking,” she scoffs. “Isn’t it?”

“Careful,” he growls, leaning in. “I still run the ranch. I’ve been merciful for now, but Antroli knows I rule with an iron fist. Do not push your luck.”

I wrap my hands around Fiona’s arms and draw her close. “Now is certainly not the time to test him. Be a good little cow. Please. I don’t wish to punish you on top of everything else.”