The helmet was huge, but as soon as she pulled it on, it began conforming to the shape of her head, as though actually shrinking. Tiny waves of electricity stabbed through her scalp, and for the first time since she’d entered the robot, she admitted she didn’t know what she was doing.
But it didn’t matter. The robot knew. And what the robot knew, she knew also. It was there before she knew it—synergy. The perfect blend of human and machine. Now when she looked at the vid screen, she was really looking beyond it. If she wanted to look farther to the right, the screen responded instantly. Up. Down. Closer. Farther away. Whatever she wanted to see outside the robot instantly appeared on the screen.
Meanwhile, the sounds of the approaching intruders filled her ears, so distinct she almost thought she could hear Rem cursing. And she could definitely hear a stream of profanity in Logan’s furious voice.
“Okay, big guy. Time to dance.” Slipping her hands into the gloves, she closed her eyes and willed the giant frame to take a step, knowing that that sight, more than anything, would cause Logan and his crew to back off.
But the giant’s leg didn’t move. Instead, his enormous arm began to elevate, until his hand was held high in greeting to the outsiders.
Now she was pretty sure she could hear laughing. Not just Rem, but every single member of the rescue team.
“Back off!” she called out cheerfully, and to her delight, her voice resonated over speakers, filling the cool night air. “Let’s see what this guy can do.”
“Zia?”
She turned to see that Dr. Annur had entered the chamber.
“Annur! Do you see? You were right.”
“I see.” He walked up to her and touched her arm. “Next time, put your feet in the anchors. But for now, you need to stop and rest. This is already too much for your first experience with the giant.”
She wanted to argue, but could see in his eyes that he was honestly concerned. She had made her point, hadn’t she? Now it was time to do the prudent thing for once.
“It’s for sure? I’m a match?”
“It is for sure.”
“Ninety-five percent,” she reminded him with a smile.
He laughed. “Take off the helmet, Zia.”
“Let’s hope I can. It feels like it’s welded to my head,” she complained, but as soon as she touched it, it expanded to its original shape and she was able to remove it easily. “Wow, that’s so amazing.”
Annur stepped over to the instrument panel and pulled out the solenoid. “Shall we go?”
“You don’t have air boots.”
“There is a hovercraft waiting for us right outside the hatch.”
She gave a pained smile. “I don’t suppose they’re going to congratulate me?”
“Eventually. But first, you will be scolded. You frightened Ambassador Humber to death. And as for Commander Logan, his display of temper was like nothing I have ever seen.”
“And Lieutenant Stone?”
Rem poked his head through the doorway and gave her a sheepish smile. “He feels like the world’s biggest foghead.”
“Good.” She grinned. “Remember when my air boots stalled and I fell into the water? And you laughed so hard at me? Now we’re even.”
“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Dr. Annur? Can you give us a minute?”
The Malaran hesitated. “The commander is waiting. And I do not think he wants you two alone together.”
“It’s not romantic or anything,” Rem promised.
“Fifteen seconds,” Annur agreed finally, then he went back to the door and transferred onto the hovercraft.
“Rem . . .”
“Come on, Zia. Let me say it. You asked for my help and I turned you down. I just want you to know, I won’t ever do that again.”
“You had a conflict,” she reminded him.
“Because I thought they’d be suspicious of my motives if your brain got toasted? Because I’m a Stone? I meant it at the time, but it bothered me later. I don’t want that crap coming between us, Zee. Not ever again.”
She smiled. “I meant the other conflict—your promise to my grandfather you’d protect me. He would’ve haunted you forever if you had helped fry my brain cells. It’s fine,” she added sincerely. “The commander would have court-martialed you if you’d been part of this. But I did it on my own, and now he’s in your debt for alerting him—”
“Stone!” came an angry bark from the external speakers of the hovercraft. “Get out of that damned robot and bring the president’s niece with you. Now!”
Rem chuckled. “He doesn’t sound too grateful, does he? We’d better do what he says.”
“Wait.” She slipped her hands behind his head. “Don’t you want to congratulate me?”
He flushed. “I promised Annur this wouldn’t be romantic. But yeah. Congratulations, Miss Quito. Your grandfather would be proud of you. I wish I had a medal to put around your neck, but since I don’t . . .” He leaned his head down and tasted her lips gently. Then he pulled her against himself and whispered, “You feel so good.”
“So do you,” she told him, her heart pounding.
It was just like in the vid of the medal ceremony, where Zia had seen him lean his head down toward her as if he were going to kiss her. She had reached up, but only to put the Exemplar around his neck. This time was different. This time, she sifted her fingers through his thick, wavy hair. Then she licked her lips in cautious anticipation.
He kissed her again, and now, his mouth wasn’t just curious—it was on a mission. Zia responded breathlessly, wrapping her arms around his neck, loving the fact that their date to Malara was officially beginning.
“Stone!” Commander Logan had entered the colossus. “Get your ass into that hovercraft!”
Rem jumped away from Zia as though she were a grenade. “Yes, sir. Right away, sir.” He made eye contact with her, but only for a second, then he strode past the commander and exited the colossus.
“Have you lost your mind?” Logan demanded.
Zia wanted to give a scathing retort. After all, she had just piloted a giant mech! Who was he to criticize her?
But all she could manage to say was, “Stop yelling at me. You’re so mean!” Then before he could react, she darted past him for the safety of the hovercraft.
* * * *
The next twelve hours were a blur to Zia, between the pompous lectures and the mind grubbing attempts to make her feel guilty—even though they were the ones who had refused to consider that ninety-five might be a match. And interspersed with it all was the maudlin insistence that she shouldn’t go to Malara even if she was a match, because it would break the heart of every citizen, particularly her uncle, if anything ever happened to her.
It might have been fun had Rem had been allowed to stay so that she’d have someone to roll her eyes at. But Logan had ordered the young lieutenant back to the hotel the moment the hovercraft touched down. She envied Rem the chance to get a decent night’s sleep—something impossible at the Hacienda, given her uncle’s tirades and the need to prepare for the launch ceremony, which now carried even greater significance for the Quito administration.
The last thing you need is sleep anyway. You’re about to spend two weeks in suspension during the flight to Malara, she reminded herself as she dressed in the blue-gray flight suit she had chosen to wear to the ceremony. It was the working uniform of a United States Air-Space pilot, and while her uncle had wanted her to wear dress whites for her induction into the armed forces, she suspected Rem would already be in his flight suit, and she wanted to set the tone right away.
They were a team. Not a “Quito” and a “Stone,” but two Earth pilots ready to help their Malaran allies the way Malara had helped Earth.
“What do you think?” she asked finally, turning to smile self-consciously at Jenni, who had been allowed to visit for Zia’s final few minutes at the Hacienda. “Not exactly stylish, but at least it covers my legs and arms so the Malarans won’t be offended by all my hairless skin.”
“I told you, I’m not speaking to you,” Jenni reminded her from her seat on Zia’s bed. “Not until you promise to stay here where you belong. You’re not a pilot, Zee. You can dress up like one and play sky paddle like one, but that doesn’t change the facts.”
“Jenn—”
“Don’t go.” Jenni’s tone grew desperate. “I don’t care how guilty you feel, or what you think we owe Malara. It’s too dangerous there.”
“Ambassador Humber says they worship me. I’ll be perfectly safe.” Zia arched an eyebrow. “I want to look like a pilot. So? Hair up? Braided? What do you think?”
“Loose, I guess.” Jenni managed a halfhearted smile. “I can’t believe the president is letting you run off with a hot-body like Rem Stone.”
Zia laughed. “We’ll be asleep on the transport, then plopped into the middle of a war. Plus, we’ll have a chaperone. Guess who it is? Commander Logan.”
“Ooo.” Jenni sat up straight. “A love triangle? You should have mentioned that earlier. It explains everything.”
“Be quiet.” Zia laughed again. “I fell out of love with him months ago, remember?”
“It’s so romantic. Your old love and your new one. What if they fight over you?”
Zia rolled her eyes and went back to brushing her hair.
“So?” Jenni asked suddenly. “Do you want me to come with you?”
Touched, Zia crossed to the bed and gave the girl a hug. “You’re such a perfect best friend. But no. It’s something I need to do by myself.”
Jenni hugged her back. “Malara sounds so hideous. The air is filthy, you know. And everyone’s so big and furry. Even their vegetables are wrong.”
“I don’t think vegetables can be wrong,” Zia said with a laugh.
“They can if they’re pink. Yuck.” Jenni bit her lip. “Malara’s bad enough. But the trip will be even scarier.”
“I’ll be sound asleep,” Zia reminded her.
“In a metal capsule filled with water. I’d be terrified of drowning again.” She shook her head. “I’ll never forget how scary that was, Zee. I thought my lungs were going to burst.”
Zia winced. “It’s water vapor. You can’t drown in it.”
“But you can’t breathe it either. My mom says your respiration will slow to almost nothing from the IV they give you. Otherwise, you would drown. Or at least get pneumonia.”
“Jenni?” Zia murmured. “Can we talk about something else?”
“Oh, sorry.”
“It’s time to go anyway.” Zia turned back to the mirror. “This looks too flashy, doesn’t it? I should braid it—”
“No, leave it like that. The vids will love it.”
A knock sounded from the hallway. “Zia?”
She gave Jenni a wistful smile, then crossed the room and opened the door. “Hi, Uncle J. Is it time?”
“The limo’s right outside.” His expression was weary as he studied her uniform. “Look at you.”
Jenni walked up to Jared and said bluntly, “Don’t let her go, Mr. President.”
“Believe me, I’ve tried to stop her.” He sighed out loud, then inclined his head toward the hall. “Your parents are waiting to take you home, Jenni. Have you girls said good-bye?”
Jenni turned to Zia, her eyes filled with tears, which made Zia cry too. She had always joked that they were sisters at heart, and now she knew it was true, because her heart felt as though it were breaking. They might never see each other, or even talk, again. Not raise kids, much less hell, together.
“If something happens to me, you’d better name your first baby Zia.”
“I will, I promise!”
They hugged each other again. Then Zia insisted, “I don’t want a blotchy face for the vids, so get going, okay?”
“You don’t want me at the launch?”
Zia shook her head.
“You look so grown up. So military. Don’t die, please?”
Zia laughed through her tears. “I won’t. I promise.”
Jenni looked like she was about to say something else, but instead, she burst into tears again and ran out of the room.
“She took that well,” Zia joked to her uncle, but inside, her mood was growing grim. Moving back to the mirror, she confirmed that her makeup wasn’t tear-streaked. Then she announced quietly, “Okay. Let’s get this over with.”
* * * *
When they reached the limousine that was parked in front of the Hacienda, Zia took a deep breath. This was it. If she was going to change her mind, this was the time. In a few minutes, they’d be at the press conference, which was being held on an airstrip near the transport that would take her to Malara.
“Do you know if Rem is at the launch site yet, Uncle J?”
When he scowled, she reminded him sharply, “We settled this last night. No more Rem-busting. Or I’ll just walk to the ceremony.”
“It’s not that,” Jared assured her. “I’m willing to admit he has his good points. Especially because he refused to help you with your crazy robot scheme last night. That demonstrated good judgment on his part.”
“I agree.” Zia slid into the leather seat next to her uncle. “Now all we have to do is get him to admit that you’re a good guy too.”
“That will never happen,” Jared predicted. “His resentment runs too deep. It’s easy for us, Zee. We can judge him on his own merit because he’s no real threat. But to him, we’re the enemy as much as the Alluvans are.”
When she rolled her eyes, Jared insisted, “I don’t blame him for feeling that way. Our family shattered his father’s life, and Rem’s future along with it. Even if he’s a hero on Malara and returns to a wave of popularity that eventually lands him the presidency, his legacy will not yet be restored.”
“Why not? That’s his goal. I’m sure of it.”
“It’s one of his goals. But that boy will never really be content until he clears his father’s name. And the only way to do that is to smear the name of Elena Quito. You see that, don’t you?”
The statement had an uncomfortably accurate ring, but Zia wasn’t buying it. “I think you’re the one who won’t let the rivalry die, Uncle J. So just stop talking about it. We’re here anyway.”
“Wait, Zee! I’m sorry.” He gave her a hopeful smile. “I did what you asked, by the way.”
“What?”
“You told me last night that you didn’t want Sean Logan going to Malara with you.”
Her anger evaporated into tentative appreciation. “You told him he couldn’t come? And he listened?”
“He had no choice,” Jared said with a harsh laugh. “I’m the one who appointed him. If he disregards my wishes, I can appoint someone else. So he had to agree with me. Especially because I’m correct—we cannot spare him for such a long mission so far from Earth. If we were attacked, he could never get back here in time to do his job.”
“That’s true,” she murmured. Then she gave her uncle an awkward hug. “Thanks, Uncle J. He would have ruined everything for me if he’d come.”
Jared arched a knowing eyebrow.
“Not that,” she scolded him. “I need the Malarans to take me seriously. So that the Alluvans will be afraid of me. That’s the whole idea. And since I’ll turn eighteen during the flight—”
“Your birthday! I forgot all about that, Zia. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be,” she told him. “It’s perfect timing, because I’m determined to act like an adult and a professional pilot even if it kills me. But I couldn’t do that with Logan bellowing at me and treating me like a child all the time. So thank you so, so much. And don’t worry. Rem will protect me. Whatever else he feels, he’s serious about that.”
“He’ll have help. Humber tells us there’s room for three additional personnel on the transport. So Logan selected an honor guard. Since you and Stone are representing the Air-Space Force, the others will be from the army, the navy, and the marines.”
“Ooo, I love that,” she said, adding warily, “They can’t order me around, can they?”
“No. As a captain, you’ll outrank them.”
“Captain?” She eyed him critically. “I don’t want to outrank Rem.”
“Logan promoted him to captain early this morning.”
“Really?” She exhaled in relief. “Thanks, Uncle J. That’s perfect.”
Someone tapped on the window of the limo, and when Jared lowered it, his press secretary told him, “They’re ready for you and Zia, sir.”
“One minute.” Jared raised the window glass again, then turned to Zia. “This is it. Your last chance to change your mind.”
“I can’t.”
“I know. I’m so proud of you.” He took her hand and squeezed it. “Don’t become too much of an adult on Malara. And promise me you’ll let the others protect you. Humber’s warriors, and the honor guard, and even Stone. Listen to them. Promise?”
“I promise.” She batted away the tears filling her eyes. “My makeup is perfect, so please stop being so nice to me.”
He smiled sadly, then opened the door and exited the limo. Then he extended his hand to her. “Shall we, Captain Quito?”
* * * *
Everyone else was already in place on the stage. Humber and Logan were seated on one side of the microphone with the vice president, who had flown in at the last minute. On the other side were Rem and three soldiers. In the middle of the platform were empty chairs for Zia and her uncle, and as she walked over to them, she flashed Rem a smile that congratulated him on his promotion and gloated about her own. From the twinkle in his blue eyes, she knew he got the message.
Aside from some privileged dignitaries and friends, the only persons in the audience were reporters, who were already interfacing with their compu-tabs. Despite the late notice, every major vid service on Earth was there in full force, broadcasting the ceremony to the world.
The press secretary greeted the crowd cheerfully. “We need to keep this moving, folks. Launch time is ten a.m. sharp, and there’s still lots to do. You can consult your briefing materials for the details about all that. There will be ten occupants on the transport—Ambassador Humber and his crew, and our five brave military personnel, including the latest inductee, Captain Zia Quito.”
A roar of approval erupted, and he waited for it to die down. “In the interest of time, we won’t be allowing any questions—” He paused for a second, less appreciative, outburst, then continued blithely. “I’m sure we all agree that installing the crew safely in the suspension chambers is more important, so let’s move on, shall we? And now, without further delay, I give you the president of the United States.”
The applause was polite, but not overwhelming, which Zia attributed to the ban on questioning. She didn’t really blame the reporters. This was probably the biggest single story of their careers. But as Jared Quito began to speak about his faith in the alliance and his confidence in Zia and Rem, the crowd grew silent and attentive.
He was more eloquent than she’d ever heard him, and when he ended with a tribute to Zia—“not as her president, but as her proud, adoring uncle”—she had to choke back a sob. When he was done, he walked over to her and hugged her, and the vids went wild.
Then the press secretary announced her three new bodyguards: Sergeant Pao, Ensign Jackson, and Lieutenant Harada. They stood and took a bow, and Zia leaned forward enough to wave to them, pleased with their no-nonsense attitudes and muscular builds. She knew she should have saluted, but wasn’t sure she could pull it off. She’d have to ask Rem to teach her.
Finally, the press secretary introduced Rem, recounting his excellent academic record, his unprecedented three Exemplars, and finally, the fact that he was Finn Stone’s grandson. Reminding the crowd that there would be no questions, he turned the microphone over to the handsome young pilot, who seemed as surprised as Zia by the fact he had been so openly included.
So don’t squander it, she warned him silently. You look so gorgeous. And you’re doing such a brave thing. Let that be enough. Prove to my uncle once and for all that there’s more to you than just a massive grudge against our family.
The audience clapped with gusto, and Zia relaxed a bit, especially when Rem began to talk, his tone confident and unhurried without a hint of nervousness. She knew that if he would just be himself—the unselfish, courageous, fun guy, not the brooding grouch—he’d be fine.
He thanked the reporters, then surprised everyone by saying, “I appreciate the press secretary’s willingness to run interference for me, but since I didn’t prepare a speech, I don’t mind answering a couple of questions about the mission if you’ve got them.”
“What’s he doing?” Jared muttered. “Damned ingrate. I knew we shouldn’t have risked this.”
“Hush,” Zia insisted. “He said ‘questions about the mission.’ I’m sure that’s all he meant, too.”
Every hand in the audience was up and waving frantically, and Rem selected a young woman from the back row, who asked, “What’s it like spending time with Zia? We hear you two have been inseparable since the medal ceremony. Is it as romantic as it sounds?”
Rem waited for the ripple of amused buzzing to subside. Then he admitted, “She’s pretty amazing, as you know. But we need to focus on our mission. That’s all that matters for now. And then there’s the fact that Commander Logan ordered me to keep my hands off her, so . . .”
The audience laughed, and so did Zia. With a few simple words, Rem had told them so much about himself: that he admired Quito’s granddaughter; that he took his duty seriously; that he respected authority; and that he had a charming sense of humor. Most important, he was confident. Borderline cocky.
And his new fans were eating that up.
Then he called on an OmniVid reporter who had been impatiently waving her hand to catch his attention.
“Captain Stone,” she began boldly. “This mission to Malara is vital to the future of every person on Earth, but for you in particular, isn’t that true? Medals are nice, but isn’t this your perfect chance to restore your family’s honor?”
Rem shrugged. “Our reputation, yes. Our honor? That has never wavered, because my father never did anything wrong. He didn’t kill that guard or betray his country. And I don’t believe he killed himself either.”
Zia struggled to keep her face expressionless despite the shock at hearing how correct her uncle had been about Rem and his agenda.
The audience seemed shocked too, but Rem was cool and matter-of-fact as he added, “To the extent my mission to Malara can help persuade people of my father’s innocence, then yes—it has a special purpose for me. But the main reason I’m going is to repay the Malarans and to protect the granddaughter of Quito the Great.”
In an instant the reporters were on their feet, impatiently waving their hands, but the press secretary stepped up to the microphone, edging Rem aside. “We need to keep this moving, folks. Lift-off is less than two hours away. And there’s someone else I’m sure you want to say good-bye to. So let me present Earth’s most precious natural resource, Captain Zia Quito.”
Still stunned, Zia waited until Rem had returned to his seat, not wanting to come within spitting distance of him, at least for the moment. Then she walked up to the podium and flashed a wistful smile at the audience, who were clapping loudly. “Hi, everyone.”
The reporters shouted “Hi, Zee!” as though they were each on a first-name basis with her, which was more or less true. She’d been interacting with the vid services since she was six years old. Answering their questions, posing for pictures, enjoying the attention without really needing it. And the reporters loved her for it, especially because, on a slow news day, they could always count on her to do something mildly scandalous or fogheaded.
But when current events grew volatile or grim, she usually faded into the background, making this a slightly new experience for her and for OmniVid and company. Today, she was an active part of history. And worse, her mother had just been attacked—obliquely maybe, but not even “ZeeZee” Quito could have missed what Rem Stone had really meant by his remarks.
Taking a slow, steadying breath, she addressed them sincerely. “As you know, I’ve never been much for politics, and I’m not going to start now. The only piece of history I care about today—the only piece I’ll answer questions on—is our debt to Malara. They saved us fifty years ago, and now we have a chance to reciprocate. So, if you want to ask about that, feel free.”
Predictably, the OmniVid reporters were quick to raise their hands, but she followed Rem’s example and called on someone from the local vid service first. “Harry?”
His expression was somber. “The Vekzori are still active on Malara. Given the fact that they killed your father and tried to kill your mother, aren’t you worried about running into them?”
“I’m not afraid of sniveling cowards. Next question?”
The reporters seemed shocked by her bluntness. Then an OmniVid reporter called out, “Do you trust Jeremiah Stone?”
“Yes,” Zia replied. “And so should you. He’s risking his life for you, isn’t he? Next question?”
“He says there’s no romance,” the reporter persisted. “Is that true?”
“Yes. Can we change the subject, please? Allison? Did you have a question?”
The only fashion reporter in the audience gave her a grateful smile. “Tell us about your experience with the giant last night. What were your feelings when you put the helmet on?”
Zia’s pulse quickened. “Honestly? I felt like my life was just beginning. Like it finally had a purpose. Of course, my mother always said I’d do anything to avoid school, so that’s probably part of it too.”
Everyone laughed, and Zia’s stomach finally unclenched.
Then her least favorite OmniVid representative stuck his hand in the air, and she was tempted to cut off further questions. But she had just said she despised cowards, so she gritted her teeth and gave the man a nod. “Yes?”
“You mentioned your mother. Don’t you think Captain Stone’s remarks here today were a direct attack on her? It was her eyewitness testimony that convicted Aengus Stone, wasn’t it?”
“You know,” she murmured, looking out over the sea of faces. “I’m pretty disappointed in all of you today.” When they began shifting and shuffling, visibly guilty, she laughed and explained. “Not one of you mentioned my new uniform! And you call yourself vidhounds?”
They chuckled, and a few even called out compliments, referring to her as Captain ZeeZee. Not exactly the exit she wanted to make, but better than a public grudge match with Rem, so she forced herself to keep smiling.
“I’d better run. I’ve got a date with a gorgeous guy, and considering that he’s sixty feet tall and made of steel, I really don’t want to keep him waiting.”
* * * *
The cheers and good wishes resounded in her ears as she gave her uncle a final hug—a long one so that the vids would be happy. She hugged the vice president too, even though she barely knew the guy, who spent most of his time on the East Coast—an arrangement begun by Elena to thwart opportunities for assassinating both leaders at once. Apparently today was worth the risk.
She had been hoping to avoid Commander Logan completely, but he had other ideas, taking her by the arm and insisting on escorting her to the launch site.
“I don’t want to argue,” she told the big man quietly.
“Neither do I. So just promise me you’ll be careful. Wear your oxygen mask religiously, and do whatever Captain Stone tells you to do.”
“What?” She stopped walking and stared up at him. “Didn’t you hear what he just said to OmniVid? He has an agenda, just like my uncle says.”
“That agenda will protect you. If anything happens to you on Malara, his career—not to mention his political ambitions—will be finished. Rem knows that, so he’ll make sure you’re safe.”
“But how can I trust him after that stupid stunt?”
“He’s Finn Stone’s grandson. He’ll do the right thing even if it kills him.” Logan touched her cheek. “You have to trust him, Zee. He’s all you’ve got. We don’t have an ambassador on Malara, thanks to their crappy air. And Humber has more of an agenda than Stone. So you’ve got no choice. It’s Rem or no one.”
Zia looked straight into Logan’s dark brown eyes and silently acknowledged the truth: she should have welcomed him along as a bodyguard. Now it was too late.
He seemed to read her thoughts. “You’ll be fine. Just wear your mask and stay close to Stone. And trust your instincts—you’re Daniel Quito reborn, remember? He’d be so proud of you, Zee.”
She bit her lip, then gave him a halfhearted salute, thinking he’d laugh at the gesture. But to her surprise he reached for her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it.
“For luck,” he explained, his voice hoarse.
Confused but also touched, she nodded. “Thanks. I promise I’ll wear my mask. And I’ll be back soon.”
“It shouldn’t take long for a Quito and a Stone to kick Alluva’s ass,” he agreed. “I’ll expect a full report, Captain.”
“Right.” She edged away from him and toward the launch bay door. “Thanks, Commander.”
Unbelievable, she added to herself.
The last thing she had expected from Sean Logan was a show of unqualified support, and she memorized the words to replay in her head later. She memorized the sight of him too, standing with his feet planted wide apart, his hands on his hips, his smile radiating warmth and power.
It was tempting to run back to him and ask him to come with her, but she knew her uncle had been correct—Earth needed their military commander. What if some other enemy used the war on Malara as an opportunity to attack? Logan would be wasted as a babysitter, even for someone as symbolically important as Zia.
Still, when she finally turned her back on him and walked toward the transport, she felt more alone than she’d ever felt in her life. And it didn’t help to know that Rem Stone was somewhere inside the launch bay, waiting for her.
* * * *
Rem watched from a discreet distance as Zia and Commander Logan said their good-byes. They seemed so close—almost like father and daughter. It was a charming sight.
It was also depressing, because he knew both of them were furious at him at this moment. They had come so close to being a team, the three of them. Then Rem had destroyed that camaraderie with his blunt remarks about his father’s innocence.
What choice did you have? he asked himself, his anger over the situation resurfacing. You couldn’t just let that frigging slimesucker parade you onstage like the president’s personal lapdog.
Apparently, Jared had believed Rem would be so grateful for a crumb of publicity that he would blithely follow their instructions—instructions that benefited Jared and his political ambitions, rather than the mission, or Zia, or least of all Rem.
Rem hadn’t meant to go as far as he’d gone, though. That was why he had limited questions to ones about the mission.
And it had been going so well. Right up to the moment when that OmniVid reporter questioned his father’s honor—
“Stone!”
Rem whirled to see Jared bearing down on him, his expression murderous as he shouted, “Give me one good reason not to pull you off this mission right here, right now.”
Rem arched a mocking eyebrow. “I can give you two. The Malarans need me, and I can protect Zia. I’m the only soldier to ever win all three Exemplars. The Malarans know it, Zia knows it, and the voters know it. Not to mention that they’d all know my remarks hit a nerve if you remove me now.”
Jared’s cheeks grew scarlet. “Your remarks didn’t embarrass anyone but you. I put aside our political rivalry and gave you the honor of addressing the world. And you used it to make a campaign speech. You’re just like your father, and I mean that in the worst sense possible.”
Stunned, Rem retorted, “Just like my father? You mean I’m a threat to your administration? What’s next? You’ll frame me for murder, the way you and Elena framed Dad?”
“Your father was a traitor who got what he deserved. And someday, so will you. With any luck, the Alluvans will crush you like the insect you are. It’ll save me the trouble of having to do it myself.” Jared grinned to accentuate the harshness of his words. “And by the way, don’t bother telling Zia I said that. Thanks to your performance today, she’ll never believe a word you say again. You broke her heart with that speech of yours, Stone. I suppose I should thank you for that.”
“Unbelievable,” Rem murmured. “She’s your niece.”
“And I love her. That’s why I’m determined to protect her from you, whatever the cost.” The president’s lip curled in disgust. “Now get out of my sight.”
“Gladly.” Rem turned away and strode toward the launch area, more anxious than ever to grab a few minutes alone with Zia before the flight. Not that he intended to tell her what Jared had said, because unfortunately, the president was correct about one thing—Zia wasn’t going to trust Rem now, at least not for a while. Still, he needed to explain himself to her right away, before any more damage could be done.
He found her standing just outside the threshold to the transport, as though she literally couldn’t bring herself to cross it.
“Hey, Zee.”
She glared back at him. “I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s just go inside and get this over with.”
“Come on, Zee. Let me explain. I couldn’t let them think I was afraid to take questions. That I was ashamed of my family.”
She turned to face him, her eyes narrowed. “I’ve been begging my uncle not to make this about politics. Telling him that you and I are a team. Thanks for making me look like a frigging idiot.”
“Zee—”
“Drop it!” She exhaled sharply, then pointed toward the interior of the transport, where Dr. Fuller stood with Humber. “I need to talk to my doctor before I go.”
“Are you okay?”
She rolled her eyes, clearly mocking him. Then she called out, “Dr. Fuller! Thanks for coming!” and strode away from Rem.
* * * *
To Zia, Dr. Fuller was a welcome distraction, even though his presence reminded her of yet another source of stress—her fear that she’d disgrace herself by panicking in the suspension chamber. She had seen pictures and vids, and knew the individual capsules were cramped. The fact that they were transparent, allowing the occupant to look out while being anesthetized, didn’t really help matters, especially when the chamber would also be filling up with water vapor, a prospect that—thanks to Jenni—now frightened her to death.
Fuller hurried to meet her. “Zia? Your uncle said you needed to talk to me. Have you experienced some delayed side effects from the test? Or from that damned helmet? If so, we may need to postpone this voyage if not reconsider it entirely.”
“I’m fine.” She grabbed his elbow and dragged him into an empty changing room. “I need your help, Doctor. I’m afraid I’ll embarrass Earth in front of our allies by freaking out when they try to put me in suspension.”
Fuller’s tense expression melted into a smile. “The claustrophobia? It didn’t bother you in the RTX tube yesterday, remember? That’s because you were supplied with extra oxygen. And the suspension chambers have a similar system. Trust me, you won’t experience any symptoms.”
“It fills up with water vapor, not oxygen. I’ve seen that in the vids.”
The doctor grimaced and nodded. “True. But very slowly. You’ll be sound asleep before it becomes dense. And it’s highly breathable, especially given how suppressed your metabolism will be during the journey.”
Zia shook her head. “Remember my friend Jenni? She almost drowned a few years ago. She’s told me that story a million times, and it was so scary. I know I shouldn’t think about it. And I’m sure those chambers are safe, but . . .” She gave him a hopeful smile. “Can’t you give me a half dose of calmative? Like you did the last time? No one would have to know. They’ll just think I’m brave enough to get into one of those torture chambers with a big smile on my face.”
Fuller shook his head. “It’s out of the question. What if you vomit like you did the last time? Then you really would asphyxiate.”
“I didn’t vomit last time. I only fainted, remember? And in this case, fainting would be a good thing.”
The doctor sighed. “If you’re really this worried, I can ask the Malarans if there’s something you can take. Something safe. But I know what they’ll say—that the mixture in your IV will relax you—”
“I don’t want the Malarans to know. That’s the whole point! And I don’t want to rely on their mixture. Just give me the half dose again. Please? There were no side effects, other than fainting, and who cares about that now?” She bit her lip, trying not to think of Jenni’s horror story—the gasping, the bursting lungs, the silent screaming—
“Zia, you’re worried over nothing.”
“It’s not nothing!” She threw herself against his chest, suddenly terrified. “They all think I’m brave. But I’m so scared. And you’re my doctor. You’ve taken care of me since I was born. Plus you took some kind of an oath, right? So please help me now.”
He hugged her close. “Of course, of course. A half dose should be safe enough. Unnecessary but safe. Don’t tell anyone though.”
“Are you kidding?” She smiled up at him. “I’m the one who doesn’t want them to find out. Especially not Humber. And most especially not Rem Stone.”
Fuller scowled. “What he did during that press conference was unforgivable. No wonder you’re upset.” He dug in a side pocket of his black briefcase until he found a small white envelope. Opening it, he spilled one tablet into the palm of his hand. “Here you go. One pill. Half for this trip, half for the return.”
“The return trip! I almost forgot. Thanks.” She sighed. “Let’s hope I get a chance to use the second dose.”
“You’re Quito’s granddaughter. It’s the Alluvans who should be worried.” Fuller smiled. “Take the first dose right away. Hide the other in your gear. And be sure to lubricate your skin carefully when you change your clothes. The only real danger from the water vapor is that you’ll get chapped.”
“Pardon?”
“They haven’t explained that yet?” Fuller exhaled in evident disgust. “Malarans have oil glands in their fur to protect them. But human skin needs a little help. When you change into your tunic, use the apparatus on the wall over there to spray lubricant on your skin. Take the time to be thorough.”
“My tunic?” She glanced down at her starched uniform. “Can’t I wear this? I don’t want the Malarans to see any more skin than necessary. You know how they feel about that.”
Fuller laughed. “Yes, as provocative as your honor guard will find it, the Malarans will think you look bald and unnatural. But it can’t be helped. Once you’re floating in the chamber, your tunic will float too, so that nothing chafes against your skin.” He lifted a lightweight gauze garment from a nearby hook and handed it to her. “You can’t wear the flight suit. Hang it up here, and they’ll let you change back when you wake up on Malara.” His eyes visibly misted. “I still can’t believe we’re allowing you to go there—”
“I’ll be fine, thanks to you.” She broke the pill in half and popped a piece in her mouth, swallowing without waiting for water. Then she gave Fuller a grateful smile. “You’d better go so I can change. Wish me luck. And take good care of my uncle while I’m gone, okay?”
* * * *
When she finally exited the changing room she had to force herself to walk normally, when she wanted to cringe in shame over the skimpiness of her tunic. She had tried to arrange her hair so that it covered as much of her back, shoulders, and chest as possible, but knew that her “bald” arms and legs would repulse the Malarans. And as for maintaining her authority and dignity in front of Rem and the other military men—well, her bare feet alone were enough to undermine that.
She quickly discovered that they were in the same vulnerable position, looking like oiled-up gladiators in sleeveless garments that barely hung to their knees. Ordinarily that would have pleased her, since all four were in great shape, but she was too self-conscious, and too aware of the Malarans, who weren’t wearing a stitch of clothing at all, a fact that startled her as much as she assumed her appearance startled them.
But it could have been worse. Dr. Fuller’s pill was taking effect, so she wasn’t worried about the claustrophobia anymore. She just wanted to get past the prying eyes of all these males, so she walked right up to the closest sleep chamber—a transparent bubble eight feet in length, three feet wide, and two feet deep—and said in a cheery voice, “I’ll take this one. Last one asleep, don’t forget to turn out the lights.”
Humber hurried over to her. “Yours is on the other end, Zia. It is the escort chamber, as you will see. It is reserved for dignitaries such as yourself.”
She walked beside him along the row, then smiled in embarrassed relief. This container was almost twice as wide as the others, and while she ordinarily wouldn’t want to pull rank, she was more than happy to take the best accommodations in this situation. “It’s still shallow, but so nice and wide. It’ll help with my claustrophobia to have extra room. Thanks, Humber.”
He coughed lightly. “It is the escort chamber. Your bodyguard will be in it also, you understand. It is just a formality, I assure you, but we cannot take the chance that bandits might attack while we are in suspension.”
She shook her head, totally confused. “Bandits?”
“Or more likely, Vekzori,” Rem explained, stepping closer. “We’ll all be sound asleep, Zee. It takes hours to come out of stasis completely. But this chamber is rigged so that the escort—the bodyguard—gets an instant jolt of adrenaline if the chamber is tampered with or opened.”
“He will be armed,” Humber added. “Do you see, Zia? The rest of my crew will be useless, but your bodyguard will be able to protect you, first with his weapon, and also by activating further safety precautions to keep anyone from kidnapping you.”
“The Vekzori don’t want to kidnap me, they want to kill me. If there are enough of them, my bodyguard—” She grimaced. “Who exactly is that?”
“Me,” Rem told her bluntly.
Humber cleared his throat again. “That was our original plan. But given the events of the last few hours, I have decided to take his place.”
A collective gasp sounded from the Malaran crew, and Zia knew they were horrified at the thought of Humber in proximity to so much bald skin.
She sensed Humber was blushing under his coat of dense fur, but he insisted stubbornly, “There is no sexual component to this, Captain Quito. I would be honored to protect you on our journey.”
Touched, she decided to rescue him. Not that she was thrilled with the prospect of riding with Rem, but thanks to her medication—and the fact that they’d be in stasis within minutes—she was able to remind him quietly, “Like you said, there’s no sexual component. And Captain Stone is the ranking Earth officer. Plus, he promised my grandfather he’d protect me. So let’s let him do his job, shall we?”
* * * *
The Malarans helped the Earthlings into their chambers and deftly hooked IVs to their arms. It was clear that they had done this many times, and so Zia forgave them when they slammed the lid shut on her and Rem without any further ceremony or words of advice. She only hoped Rem would forgo conversation too.
He must have read her thoughts, because he didn’t say a word. He did however take her hand in his own, and while she wanted to yank it free in a gesture of contempt, she sheepishly clung to him instead, comforted by the rough, warm feel of his skin. Within seconds the container began to hum, and she felt her body rise on a bed of air until it was floating a few inches off the bottom—a necessary part of protecting her skin during the long flight. The sensation was slightly disorienting, but also interesting, so she counseled herself to relax and enjoy it. On impulse, she glanced at Rem, and he gave her a reassuring wink, which made her smile in spite of her anger toward him.
Finally the chamber began filling with the moist, dense vapor that would be their atmosphere for the next two weeks. She didn’t fight it—thanks to the calmative and the sleep aid being pumped into her arm. As her eyelids began to droop, her hand relaxed and slipped free of Rem’s, and they lost each other completely in the fog.