I’ll run it by Max, see what he thinks before I decide anything.
I open my mouth to ask Beckett for a status report, but I can’t get the words out of my mouth. It’s what Milla used to say whenever we were planning or doing a job.
“Time for a status report, boys.”
I push the memory away. One thing at a time.
“What’s happening?” I ask instead.
Beckett tosses me a grin. “Company.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? Not again.” And why does she always seem so happy in the face of impending disaster? I’m about ready to push the big red button Gage tried earlier myself if it’ll just make all this shit stop.
I mutter a few of my favorite curses as I head over to study the screen. Sure enough, there’s a blip right in the middle. “Are you sure it’s not just some sort of space debris?” I ask hopefully.
“If so, that’s pretty big space debris.” Beckett presses a button, and we zoom in. “And it’s shaped just like a ship.”
“A big one,” Gage adds helpfully as he comes up behind us.
“It’s not the same one, is it?” I ask, squinting at the screen as if I can vaporize it with sheer will alone. But I’ve tried that more than once before, and it never works. “Could it have followed us somehow?”
“It could. But it didn’t. This one’s bigger and faster.” She blows up the screen even more. “And more dangerous.”
“It’s a frigate, and she’s well-armed.” Gage points to the ship’s undercarriage. “Look at those rocket boosters. And this one has markings.”
He leans forward and taps the console, and we zoom in closer. I can make out writing on the side but can’t read it.
“It’s Corporation,” Beckett says.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. I squint, trying to get a better look. “You sure about that?”
“Completely sure. It’s the Archer.”
“The Archer?” I’ve never heard of her.
“She’s a hunter/seeker. A high-tech surveillance ship.”
“A surveillance ship that just happens to be equipped with enough weapons to wipe us out completely?” I ask skeptically.
Gage snorts. “Look at you, so optimistic. That ship’s equipped with enough weapons to wipe out half a planet. We won’t even slow her down.”
“Maybe she’s not looking for us,” I offer up. But as much as I like that idea, all three of us know it’s a pipe dream. Why else would the Archer show up so soon after our encounter with a different laser-happy ship?
“They could be looking for someone else—or something else,” Kali suggests from behind us. “How about a recon mission for their alien artifact? I bet they’re pretty pissed someone stole it.”
“I’d hardly say we stole it,” I retort.
She lets out a little sigh. “What would you call it, considering we’re currently flying it halfway across the system?”
I think for a moment. “We appropriated it in a life-or-death situation in order to save the heir to the Empire. We’re not thieves; we’re heroes. We deserve a fucking medal.”
She snorts. “Good luck with that.”
I glance back at the ship. Corporation. Corporation leads to the Empire. The Empire would get Kali back home safely. Even though every cell in my body is pushing me not to do it, I still say, “Maybe we should try to communicate with them. See if they can get the princess home safely.”
“No way,” Beckett says with so much force that we all turn to stare at her. “I’ve been a guest of the Corporation before—it’s not happening again. They will have to shoot me out of dead fucking space first.”
I can see her point. But still…
“Maybe we should put it to a vote,” Rain says.
Beckett lets out a harsh laugh. “Since when has this ship been a democracy?”
It’s another good point, and even Rain seems to know it, but she still isn’t daunted. “This affects all of us. We should all have a say.”
I’m not particularly into this democracy thing on board my ship, but I am interested in which way everyone will vote. If nothing else, it will help push me to make the right decision.
I turn to face the majority of my crew. “Raise your hand if you want to stick around and talk with the nice people from the Corporation.”
I raise my hand. And absolutely no one else.
Max doesn’t for obvious reasons.
Gage is smart enough to figure out he’s finished if he goes back to his wayward employer.
Beckett was never going to agree.
Rain clearly wants to help her new girlfriend stay free.
I understand their reasoning, but Merrick surprises me. I would have expected him to vote to stay for no other reason than he’s desperate to get Rain back to Serati. But when I look over at him, his face is expressionless and both his arms are firmly down.
Yeah, there’s definitely something there. Some reason he doesn’t trust the Corporation. It makes me wonder what secrets he’s keeping.
Then I turn to Kali, look at her crossed arms. “Really? Even you?”
But all she says is, “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
Before anyone can stop her—or even say a word—Kali’s at the control panel, and with more force than I thought possible, she slams her hand down on the button we’ve all seen Beckett push a hundred times. The one we all know means “Go, Go, Go.”
There’s a scramble for seats. We’re all getting to know how the Starlight tends to fly when that button is pushed.
This time, I’m ready for it, and boy, is it a rush when you’re sitting down and not tumbling ass over elbow.
Within seconds, we leave the Archer far behind.
“Eat our dust, you fucking drokaray shit,” Kali yells.
And I find myself laughing. Half in amusement. Half in relief.
Chapter 37
Kali
That felt fucking good.
With the push of one button, not only did I send a big ol’ fuck-you to the Corporation and my mother, I made my own decision about my fate and stuck with it. I’m on the Starlight now because I want to be. Because I need to be. And because I’ve earned my spot here, and fuck anyone who says otherwise.
Who’s dead weight now?
“Well, that was unexpected,” Ian says. Then he grins at me. “Welcome to the Starlight, Kali.”
The others send huge smiles my way, too. Even Beckett looks less hostile, and you know what? I’ll take it. It feels amazing to be useful for something besides ensuring there’s always a fresh pot of coffee.
“Set a course for Glacea again, please,” Ian says to Beckett, and she does, no snarky comment added in.
I head over to take a seat next to Rain, blowing out a long, deep breath. Now that the adrenaline has started to wear off, I feel wiped.
Rain gives me an encouraging smile. “That was amazing,” she says. “Well done.”
“Thanks,” I say. Then: “Looks like we’re officially off to Glacea.”
“I know.” She says it with her usual brand of enthusiasm. “I’ve never been. I can’t wait. It’s supposed to be beautiful.”
“And cold.”