As Sean and I leave the Lighthouse Cafe and start walking down Diamond Street, I wonder how I can get more information out of him. That bit he let drop earlier, about the Sovereign’s relatives blabbing about Echtrans to the Duchas, is definitely something I can report to Allister and Lennox, but I want more.
“I still think it’s cool that the Echtran Council meets at your house every week,” I comment before we’ve gone a block. “Even if you don’t get to listen in on the actual meetings, you must hear lots of interesting stuff from your mum. Stuff not everyone knows.”
“Sometimes,” he admits. “She did give Molly and me a heads-up about all you newcomers coming to Jewel—I think we found out the same night M did. And there was the whole Grentl thing last week. They actually let Mol and me be there for some of it, since we already knew— I mean—”
The way he breaks off, like he’s said too much, immediately gets my antennae quivering.
“Oh, so you and your sister knew about the alien threat before that big announcement last week?” Yep, Sean definitely has info I want! “How long before?”
He slants a look down at me—he seems taller than ever walking next to me—and gnaws his lower lip uncertainly. “A while,” he finally answers evasively. “Not this latest threat. M only found out about that a couple days before the announcement. But that the aliens were still in touch and might pose a risk to Nuath. We couldn’t tell anybody, though. They swore us to secrecy, they were so afraid people would panic. Until that announcement last week, the only ones who knew were the Council and a handful of people in Nuath.”
Did Allister and Lennox know? Allister used to be on the Council…
“Was the Council okay with her releasing that statement, then? Or was it something she decided to do on her own?” Seems like the kind of thing she’d do, without thinking ahead to the consequences. “Was it really worth it to freak everybody out when that whole alien attack thing fizzled anyway?”
“It didn’t exactly fizzle. If M and Rigel hadn’t stopped it, it would have been every bit as bad as our Scientists predicted.”
I’m skeptical. “Yeah, I saw last night’s MARSTAR bulletin. I figured she made the Council send it out to get people off Rigel’s back.”
He blinks. “Huh. That would explain why Mum was so…” he mutters almost to himself, then shakes his head. “Whether she did or not, it basically described what happened. You wouldn’t believe how relieved the Council and everybody was Friday night. What M and Rigel did was totally a last-ditch effort and the Scientists admitted the odds of them succeeding or even surviving weren’t good.”
I mull over that for a moment and decide it’s not anything Allister or Lennox will want to hear, since it casts the Sovereign in a good light. But I’m curious about what Sean almost said about his mother, like she didn’t want that statement to go out. I need to get further past his defenses so he’ll tell me more.
“I have to admit, I’ve never had a particularly high opinion of Royals,” I confide when we’re out of earshot of a group of Duchas heading the opposite way. “I always had the impression they’re more interested in consolidating their power than the good of our people. But you seem…different. Like you really care.”
As I hoped, he looks surprised and a little flattered. “I’ve always cared about the good of our people, more than just about anything,” he assures me earnestly. “So do my parents—you know what they did for the Resistance. I won’t deny there are Royals who are more into power than they should be, but I promise we’re not all like that.”
I give a little shrug and smile up at him, though I can’t quite bring myself to flutter my eyelashes. “I’m starting to realize that. I guess it’s never good to generalize.”
“I think we all do until we know better.” That warm smile again, the one I can’t let affect me. “It probably helps that I was essentially raised as an Ag, never got treated like a Royal until we left Mars. It’s why I was at your last game—I grew up supporting the Ag team like nearly everyone in Glenamuir.”
Though I knew he and his parents lived in Glenamuir for years, it had never occurred to me they had to act like Ags all that time. The experience probably did color Sean’s attitudes—though from what I saw of him after that game, he reverted to form once the danger from Faxon had passed.
“Must’ve been nice to go back to Nuath and not have to hide who you were anymore.”
“I dunno. I was really looking forward to seeing Glenamuir again, and all my friends there, but…they acted kind of weird around me, especially at first. I guess because I was there with M, playing the whole “future Consort” role. Later, though, I got past that and started catching up with the guys I used to hang with. That was nice.”
I frown up at him. “But you spent most of your time there with other Royals, didn’t you? I thought—”
“For official stuff, yeah, but not socially. I never met any Royals my age while I was there.”
“Then those guys you went to that game with, and to Sheelah’s, those were Ags?”
He nods. “My old friends from Glenamuir, plus a couple others. You saw me at Sheelah’s? We saw your team come in, but you left before I could ask you all to join us to celebrate. Wish now I’d been quicker,” he adds with a grin.
“You…” I blink up at him. “We had, um, reserved that same party room, but the owner told us your group demanded it and he didn’t dare tell you no. We ended up settling for the little fish and chips place next door.”
Sean groans. “Oh, man, that sucks. It was Floyd—he insisted on the best room, pretending to be important because I was with them. The owner never said a word to us about your team having it reserved. He acted all honored, probably thought the whole group of us were Royals. Floyd did sort of imply that. I’m super sorry. I didn’t know.”
He looks so genuinely regretful I have to believe him. Yet another preconception about Sean crumbles, along with my determination not to like him.
“I guess you’re forgiven, since you didn’t know.”
“Thanks. Uh, this is where I turn off. Unless you want me to walk you the rest of the way home?”
I’m tempted to say I do, to give me more time to worm info out of him, but I don’t want to risk him reading too much into it. “No, that’s okay. I…had fun tonight. Thanks.”
“So did I.” His smile is warmer than ever, sparking an answering warmth in my midsection that I ruthlessly squelch. “Maybe we can do something together again soon? It’s…nice to talk about stuff I can’t talk about with anybody else except my own family and— Anyway, it’s nice.”
“I, ah, I’d like that,” I make myself say, fighting an instinctive urge to run—whether from Sean or my own feelings, I’m not sure. “Er, good night.”
“G’night, Kira.” He reaches out with one hand, like he’s about to touch my arm. But then doesn’t, just grins, turn away and starts walking up Opal Street.
I swallow, irresistibly reminded of Brady and those two times he touched me, touches that almost felt like kisses. Just as well Sean changed his mind just now. My feelings are confused enough as it is.
Mum and Dad are still up when I get back, though Adina’s not.
“Did you have a nice time?” Mum asks the moment I walk in. “Adina said she thought Sean O’Gara might also be at the Lighthouse Cafe tonight?”
“Um, yeah, he was. We talked some. Some other kids from school were there, too.” I definitely don’t want Mum thinking this was a date or anything.
Because it wasn’t.
“How did Sean seem?” Mum looks concerned now. “He must be having a difficult time just now, given that business with the Sovereign and Rigel Stuart—though I thought he hid the disappointment he must be feeling quite admirably at NuAgra the other night.”
“I, um, got the impression there’s a lot more behind Sean and the Sovereign calling it quits than was in that Echtran Enquirer story. He doesn’t seem nearly as upset as that reporter implied. And he and Rigel seem mostly friendly at school. So maybe their breakup was mutual.”
Not sure why I want to convince Mum—or myself—of that, since it’ll only make my campaign to turn Sean against the Sovereign harder.
“I told you not to put too much stock in anything that reporter writes, didn’t I, Deirdra?” Dad gives Mum a knowing look. “Gwendolyn Gannett is known for the sensationalistic spin she puts on things.”
“I’m glad you were right in this case, Aidan. I hated to think of Sean being hurt, especially now that it appears the Sovereign really has formed a graell bond with Rigel Stuart.”
I’m not quite ready to believe that part, though. If I get another chance to talk privately with Sean, I’ll ask why he does. No way he’ll back up that story if it’s not true. Not stopping to analyze why I assume that, I fake a yawn.
“I’m going to get ready for bed. Do we have anything planned for tomorrow?” Sean didn’t specifically mention getting together again that soon, but…
“I thought we’d all go to church in the morning,” Mum says brightly.
“Church?” I echo suspiciously. “Why?”
Her cheeks go a little pink. “I’ve been told it’s an excellent way to meet the local people as they tend to be particularly friendly there. The Sovereign did urge us to become involved in the community and not limit our socializing to other Martians. Anyway, you’re right, it’s time we all went to bed.”
I nod and head to the bathroom, eager to send my first report to Dun Cloch. Careful not to wake Adina, I lock the bathroom door and pull out my phone. On the regular screen, I see I’ve received a text from Trina inviting me again to come to cheerleading practice on Monday. Ignoring it, I touch the fake social media icon that will unlock my phone’s secret features.
An innocuous-looking window pops up until I hold the phone to my eye for the retinal scan. A moment later, an omni-like control panel appears. I click the command Enid showed me and a holographic screen and keyboard materialize in midair. Sitting down on the closed toilet lid, I start typing my report.
Have spoken with Sean O’Gara several times now and he seems to trust me. Hope to persuade him to our cause soon. Learned tonight that Sov’s Duchas guardians learned truth and let others in on our secret. Nearly caused serious incident with townspeople last night. Hope to learn more next time I talk with S.O. The Echtran Council meets weekly at his house, will try to get details on that. Will report again when I have more information. -K
The weather has turned cloudy and blustery the next morning, but Mum and Dad still insist on walking to church as soon as we’ve all finished breakfast. I pull my light sweater more tightly around me when a particularly strong gust buffets us. It’s not nearly as cold as our last few nights and early mornings in Dun Cloch, but still a lot chillier than it ever got in Nuath.
“Are we going to St. Mary’s, the church up here on the corner?” Adina asks as we take the back exit from Diamond View Terrace onto Ruby Street .
“No, I thought we’d try a different one a bit further along,” Mum says.
“Why? This one’s closer.”
Mum again turns pink—and I don’t think it’s the wind. “Er, I heard that a few Echtrans already go to the other one. They can introduce us around, make things less awkward.”
That seems to satisfy Adina, but I’m suspicious now. “Which Echtrans?”
“Well…the O’Garas, I believe. And, er, the Truitts. Perhaps a few others.”
“The Sovereign’s going to think we’re stalking her, Mum. First her Taekwondo school and now her church. I’d have thought after getting in trouble for inviting her family to dinner—”
“We did not get in trouble!” Mum protests. “She was very gracious about it. Of course we won’t do that again unless, well…unless we all really do become friends.”
I shake my head in disgust—though part of me hopes Sean will be there. So I can learn more to report to Dun Cloch.
We pass two more churches before Mum turns right on Emerald and we finally reach the one she’s so determined on. It looks similar to the others, a large-ish, white wooden building with a steeple on the roof. We follow a few other people inside, then hesitate, looking around.
Almost immediately, Mum spots the Sovereign. “Look,” she whispers to Dad. “There she is. I…I suppose we shouldn’t try to sit too close?”
In answer, he guides us all to one of the long benches near the back, several rows behind the one where the Sovereign and a man I assume is her adopted uncle are sitting with Sean and Molly O’Gara and their father. Embarrassed, I now hope Sean won’t think I’m stalking him.
I learned about the major Earth religions in Earth Studies last year so there are no big surprises during the service—except when everyone stands up and sings, using the songbooks, or “hymnals,” tucked into wooden pockets in front of us.
“This is lovely,” Mum whispers after the first song. “Rather like our own Group Sings. I’m so glad we came!”
Even I feel a twinge of nostalgia for the closest thing to religion most Nuathans practice. Of course, the Duchas aren’t capable of music as beautiful as the vocal polyphonics we’re taught from childhood, but they’re better than I expected—especially those facing us up front, leading the singing. Those include Sean’s mother and the Sovereign’s adopted aunt I realize, when they join the others after the singing finishes.
By the end of the service I’m in a surprisingly good mood, considering I didn’t want to be here at all. Even so, I’m eager to leave. Mum, however, is happily responding to greetings and introductions from the people around us, making it impossible for me to escape before Sean, starting down the central aisle with his parents, spots me.
His face immediately lights up and he quickens his pace. “Hey,” he says as he reaches our row. “If I’d known you planned to come here today, I’d have invited you to sit with us.” Then he turns to my parents. “Mr. and Mrs. Morain, right? I’m Sean O’Gara.”
As if they didn’t already know that. Mum doesn’t manage more than a muttered, “How nice.”
Dad, I’m relieved to see, is perfectly equal to the situation. “I understand you and Kira have a few classes together at school?”
Sean nods. “Physics, Lit and Government. I doubt she’ll have any trouble catching up.”
As we finally move toward the exit, he introduces his family to mine. The Sovereign, meanwhile, is hanging back to talk with Rigel and his parents near the front of the church.
Once outside, Mr. and Mrs. O’Gara make polite small talk with my parents about their impressions of Jewel so far and Molly does the same with Adina. I stand awkwardly off to one side until Sean motions me closer.
“I was wondering if maybe you’d like to, um, shoot some hoops this afternoon?”
I stare up at him, puzzled. “Shoot some…what?”
“Sorry, I mean practice a bit of basketball. The school gym is usually empty on Sundays, so I sometimes go work on my foul shots and stuff. I thought you might enjoy…that is…”
My spirits instantly rise at the thought of doing something athletic. It seems forever since I’ve had any real exercise. “Is that allowed?”
“Sure. Coach gave everyone on the team the code to the outside gym door so we can keep our skills up during the off season.”
“Oh, so it won’t be just us?”
The twinkle in his bright blue eyes makes me realize too late I sound disappointed—and that he misinterpreted why. “Depends if I say anything to the other guys or not. Will you mind if I don’t?”
“I, um, guess not.” It’ll mean another chance to speak privately with Sean, and sooner than I expected. Another chance to advance my mission.
“Cool. I can pick you up around three, if that works?”
I tell him that will be fine as our parents say their goodbyes. Sean and his family start walking up Emerald toward Diamond, while we head down Ruby.
By the time we get back to the apartment, I’ve convinced myself that the only reason I’m looking forward to this afternoon is so I can try to persuade Sean out of his foolish loyalty to the Sovereign. And the exercise, of course.