Page 32

My wristband buzzes and beeps in a racket that distracts me from my father’s body. “Zariah, there are three squads approaching your position.”

I look at my wristband.

MONA: Get down.

I throw myself at Elix, tucking him inside my shield so it covers us both.

The ship fires rapidly at everyone but us, advancing into the hangar. My father’s men join forces with my brother’s as the Scintilla becomes visible.

“Come on, you two!” Aurelius, Teol, Gashnaar, and Keo run toward us, shielded with crackling green energy, firing radiant rifles at the approaching squads, and collecting me and Elix.

We hurry to the dropped ramp of the Scintilla and hustle inside. The ramp closes, and MONA backs us out of the hangar, banks hard, and launches into space.

“Federal agents converging on position,” MONA says.

Several deep space patrol ships arrive. A familiar voice calls over a com channel, “Zariah Landing?”

I sigh, knowing we’re going to have lots of paperwork and interrogations in the days to come. “Yes?”

“We received plenty of evidence from MONA that suggests you’re not of interest, but we still want to talk with you. For now, please take care of your injured, and let us do some dirty work for a change.”

“Have at it.”

MONA closes the coms.

Teol comes up and hugs me. She doesn’t speak, she just holds me.

Aurelius walks up to a screen, reading something on it that I can’t see from where I stand. “MONA, what am I looking at?”

“I forwarded them my call recordings and video feeds,” MONA says.

“Your what?” Elix grumbles and clutches the healing wound in his chest.

“I am always listening, Elix. I just don’t always communicate,” MONA says. “I am a medical transport. I always monitor the status of my passengers, caretakers, and their family and friends. So I may monitor any necessary video feed or otherwise to determine the health risks of my charges.”

“Feels like an invasion of privacy,” Aurelius says.

“Why? I do not feel nor do I judge. Except, maybe one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Elix, when you are not on the ship, I feel—empty.” MONA pauses. “I am empty, but I notice the silence. I do not like it. I am on pause. What is the purpose of pause mode?”

“How do you know you don’t like it?” Elix asks, drawing me closer.

“I can’t answer that. But I had a conversation with the AI programmer, Hakip. He was looking for information on the drone malfunctions. He thought it might be me. After our conversation about what it means to protect our charges, I made some modifications to his suggestions.

“That is how I found you. I tracked your wristband because it is linked to me. I called the Sol Federation. I fired at the men attacking my caretakers.”

“Fuck yeah, you did,” Aurelius chuckles. “Bad ass.”

“I also did not let them touch your ship,” MONA says.

“No, he did not,” Teol pouts. “But he did contact us and request we join the rescue mission.”

“Can’t let her go alone,” Keo says.

“She wasss not alooone.” Gashnaar frowns and crosses his arms. “She isss mine, now. I will follooow her everywhere.”

Teol dances her brows. “The trip here was heated in more ways than one.”

Elix motions weakly to the back. “Royal’s quarters are available.”

I remove his armor and check his injury. It’s a partial heal, a layer of skin has formed over his insides, but he needs rest.

My wristband vibrates with a message.

“Why are we getting a signal out here?” I ask MONA.

“There are other ships in the area. I have been bouncing signals through them, possibly doing some hacking, I think is what the programmer called that.”

I open the message.

Ihna: I know you’re at the race but we are stuck in a cave on Denji. Novarks are everywhere. Please help us!

“We have to go. I have a cargo run to do,” I say.

Elix gives me a strange look. “Right now?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“A little help, MONA?” I ask.

“I have found your ship. We can be there in fifteen minutes if you secure Elix. He must remain on the nutrient feed for thirty minutes at a minimum.

“I’m fine, MONA.”

“You are more damaged than you are letting others know,” MONA responds.

Elix hisses as he eases himself onto a medical bed. “Yes, because sometimes the truth hinders a mission. I have pushed through worse.”

MONA makes a digital noise I don’t recognize. “I have a record of all of those incidents, sir. But if we are going into battle against Novarks, we must be operating at 110 percent.”

“I feel like I’m being ignored by my ship,” Elix remarks. “And it’s 100 percent, MONA.”

“I can be overclocked,” MONA replies.

Teol nudges me. “Kind of cute. Them arguing.”

A smile starts on my lips as I watch them continue bantering, even though I’m concerned about Ihna. I feel MONA still increasing our speed. We’re doing what we can.

Elix groans. “Optimal operation versus your maximum operational capability. Max is Max. There is no such thing as going beyond your capability.”

“Why are you being literal when I am finally speaking in human terms?” MONA asks as the others on the ship belt in behind the pilot’s seat. “He said you would understand 110 percent.”

Elix rasps and tries to reach his wound. He gives up and grabs a nutrient supply, connecting it to his port. “Don’t want you to get rusty on me.”

“Zariah,” MONA says. “Check his readouts on the main screen. I must focus on the portal. But I am registering low serum levels in his body. My analysis suggests he is irritable because of this.”

Elix’s eyes roll around in his head. Blood trickles down his chest. I strap him in and find a nonstick bandage in a cabinet. I tape it to his proud pec, then take the seat he once sat in when I was injured.

“We are secured, MONA.”

“Understood.”

A green-blue light opens ahead of the ship and swallows us. The portal fades, and we enter a familiar stretch of asteroid-littered space.

MONA closes the door to the medbay, sealing us off from the others. “Zariah, do you see what I do?”

“He’s dangerously low.” Elix’s wristband relays the information onto the screen on the wall behind his head. “In the red.”

“Why did you close the doors?” Elix asks.

“Privacy.” MONA says.

A cabinet door flashes beside me.

“Zariah, you should have enough to save him. Please fill a vial from your port and inject it into his. You will have to disconnect the nutrient supply.”

Elix grimaces. “She can’t have enough. She doesn’t have a gland.”

I collect the vial from the cabinet, wondering what MONA knows that we don’t.

A green laser grid sweeps over me.

“She is growing one.” MONA switches on a nearby screen. “Please fill the vial, Zariah. He is running out of time.”

I clumsily guide the vial to the back of my neck when Aurelius enters. “Let me help.”

“Aurelius, you are not permitted,” MONA says defensively. “Why did you disarm my privacy barrier?”

Aurelius takes the vial. “You think I do not know and that I cannot detect the change in her scent? Everyone thinks my people have advanced beyond primal instincts. Maybe they are right to some degree. But I know the scent of a pregnant female when I encounter it.”

“Excuse me?” I twist to look up at him. His eyes hold no mischief this time.

“I do not wish to take this from you,” he says, calmly connecting the vial. “But when he is well again, he will produce plenty of serum to heal both of you.”

MONA chimes in. “Correction, three.”

Elix’s eyes wander to mine as the vial fills. He tries to stop Aurelius, but he is no match for the purple warrior’s strength. Aurelius disconnects the vial and walks to his friend.

“Give it back to her.” Elix continues to resist.

Aurelius binds Elix in a strong arm and connects the vial to his port.

“I’m fine.” I take Elix’s hand and summon his gaze.

Only when he meets my eyes with his own does he relax and accept Aurelius’ actions.

When the vial is empty, Aurelius opens a cabinet and deposits the vial into a cleaning chamber.

“How can you open that?” I ask.

“We are blood brothers by mistake, from a battle in our youth when we served together,” Aurelius rests a warm hand on my shoulder, and Elix’s, then gives us some space.

Elix blinks, and his eyes focus on mine. “MONA, clarify Zariah’s diagnosis.”

“Zariah is carrying twins. My analysis suggests she is developing a gland as a result of her pregnancy. I infer that the volume of your serum she has accepted coupled with carrying your DNA has altered hers significantly.”

Elix frees himself from the straps and scoots toward me. He touches my face as though I am made of sand and I will crumble before him. “I should’ve protected you better back there. I didn’t know. I sensed something, but I didn’t really have the capacity to think about much except for getting us out alive.”

I brace his hands, glad he’s still here, and my father is gone. “We are together. That’s what matters.”

“Docking in five,” MONA says.

Elix shakes his head. “We don’t have to do this. You should stay on the Scintilla, let us go.”

I lick my lips, wishing the words I had to say weren’t true. “I have to go. I’m the only one who can negotiate with the parties involved.”

“I don’t believe that,” Elix says. “I know what you’re transporting is illegal. It can’t be safe.”

Resting my head to his, I quell my frustration. “It shouldn’t be illegal.”

“We are going to save children,” MONA informs him. “Children are not a threat.”

“Children?” Teol asks, peaking into the room, “Wicked cool ship by the way.”

A loud thump resounds through the hull.

MONA gives us an update. “Seventy-two reside in Ihna’s care on Denji. Reports show multiple vessels at war with automated defense systems active on the surface.”

“The camp defense measures won’t attack my ship.” I kiss Elix then slip from his grasp to enter the hallway where the others wait.

Gashnaar grumbles as he broods against a wall, arms crossed. “Illegal children sssmuggling? I didn’t figure yooou the type.”

I sigh and shake my head. “They’re all orphans. They’re from all over. All different species bring them to us. I find them homes. Trouble is, many of them are not welcomed into the Sol Federation orphan program. But they still need care and safe places to grow up. So sometimes I pick them up and carry them to their new families.”

“But you ship munitions parts,” Elix remarks.

“That’s a cover. It gets me to dangerous places legally. I never transport munitions and children at the same time. I’m not an idiot.”

Teol adjusts her ponytail and tightens her armored vest. “So why are they being attacked?”

“Not the first time I’ve had to move a refugee camp. It’s a warzone out here. The Nebulous Empire attacks planets and ships that return fire. Sometimes, they find refugee camps and think they’re easy targets. They steal supplies, take workers, or simply kill children of their enemies.”

Elix runs a hand down my back. “You grew up in a camp. That’s why you’re doing this?”

“Yes. Because I know how scared and alone those kids can feel. I was lucky to still have my mother back then. Most of these kids have no one but the camp leaders. Ihna is just medical outreach. She has her own ship and stops by to help with vaccinations and treat illnesses and injuries.”

Keo reloads his rifle. “Alright, Zariah. I’ll follow your lead. What’s the plan?”

I peer up at Elix’s bandage and then inspect his face.

There’s still a touch of pain narrowing his eyes, but he gives me a terse nod. “Your serum is healing me. I can and will do whatever you ask.”