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Javad checked the time as he slipped into the Cry’s forward gym. Even after months of shipboard living, it gave him pause to see how many people were in the facility this late into the dark part of the ship’s cycle. With a three-watch rotation, roughly a third of the personnel would be off duty, and it made sense that many of them were looking to get in their TJF-mandated weight-bearing exercise. Rotational gravity could do a lot of things, but it would never be enough to combat the muscle loss and bone density changes that accompanied long stints of shipboard life.
Fortunately for him, the treadmills tended to be the last choice of most folks in favor of other, fancier machines.
He was more surprised to see Akomi Nikao, one of the TJF pilots, already going full tilt on her usual treadmill. She usually came in later, but it looked like she was nearing the end of her run instead of the beginning. As the safety officer for the pilots, and a top notch gossip, if anyone on the ship knew where Chen might be headed, it would be her.
He stepped onto the machine next to hers and programmed in his workout. After he settled his goggles over his eyes, they paired with the treadmill and counted down from three. The blue-grey walls of the Hunting Cry dissolved into a long stretch of forest path, which rolled past him as the treadmill started him into an easy warm-up pace.
“It’s an early run for you, Lieutenant,” he said at last. “I thought you came in later.” One of the benefits of being medical personnel was access to the officers’ facilities, even though they were civilians. Akomi had a ready smile and a penchant for bawdy jokes that made her easy to like. Her tendency to run at roughly the same time as him gave them a common ground for friendship.
“Or maybe you’re out late.” She huffed the words, still running hard. “Working off a guilty pleasure?”
More like plain old guilt. “Just a busy brain. What’s your excuse?”
Running was his favorite way to pound his brain and body into submission. When the rhythm was right, everything went on autopilot, and he could put his thoughts in order. Once he had his head clear he could review the plan again—he didn’t have many ideas for how to help his family on ce he’d warned Chen, but he could look for the worst holes.
She groaned in disgust. “Early flight. I’d rather get the run in now, so I can sleep when I get back.”
He chuckled, and his treadmill picked up the pace, easing into the actual workout. “You’re not going to send your new roommate instead?” Akomi’s old roommate, Imee, had been transferred after getting engaged to a ranger. Something about avoiding command chain issues or similar. Javad didn’t really get it and hadn’t felt like prying at the time.
“Oh, she’s going too.” Akomi’s tone implied that she wasn’t excited about the prospect. “It’s a shuttle run, so I’ll need the backup. In the plus column, I can monitor her shuttle checklists on the return flight.” The pilot sounded practically feral with glee.
Javad didn’t envy the other pilot. Processes and safety workflows dominated piloting, and he knew Akomi advocated for strict adherence to the ones she oversaw. “Poor kid. I’d say not to go too hard on her, but I know you. What dignitary are you stuck chauffeuring around the Systems?”
“I wish. At least a councilor would be able to hold a conversation. Instead it’s one of the Bravo rangers and her wolf. One of Imee’s fiancé’s friends.”
“Chen?” The name leapt past his lips before he could stop it, and heat pulsed across his cheeks. Nice going, Doctor. Can you sound more like a fool? He picked up his pace and tried to pass it off as exertion, hoping the pilot wouldn’t notice.
No such luck. Akomi’s machine beeped as she reduced the pace, and her slow, amused drawl sounded like the proverbial cat caught with the canary. “Really.”
“I recommended her wolf spend some time in full gravity. That’s all. I’m glad to hear she took me up on the advice.” He played down his anticipation, but even without the run his heart would have been hammering. Learning Chen’s destination would give him an easy first step. He could register his flight as a check-up, head to wherever, and then slip off to protect his family. If the TJF chose to view it a breach of contract, he’d lose his job, but his family was worth it.
And giving Chen a fighting chance was the right thing to do.
“Purely professional interest, of course.” From her tone, Akomi wasn’t buying his excuse. “So, I’m not sensing a desire to provide her with an off-schedule physical. Or test out that vaunted ranger stamina.”
Javad chuckled in spite of himself, his cheeks already blazing. He couldn’t remember if Akomi had VR goggles on when he’d stepped onto the treadmill. Even if she had, his blush probably registered as its own heat signature or something. His laugh sounded more nervous than sincere, but he played it off. “I’m not in the market. And if I were, Chen’s not my type.” The lie hurt to say out loud.
“Sure,” Akomi replied, layering an ornate combination of scorn and disbelief into the single, drawn-out syllable.
Her machine powered down, and a moment of panic released adrenaline into his veins. She couldn’t leave until he’d gotten a destination out of her. “How far do you have to fly?” There was a long silence as he continued to run, and he could feel the pilot watching him skeptically. Half a truth was the easiest lie. “It’s not what you think. I’m supposed to head down and assess her wolf in a few days. I just wanted some advanced warning if I was going someplace inhospitable. I don’t suppose you’re flying them to Kanaloa.”
Akomi scoffed. “Why? Hoping to catch her in a bikini enjoying the surf?” The admittedly delightful image that summoned must have been plain on his face, as she crowed in triumph. “I knew it! Sell your disinterested-doctor act somewhere else.”
“So that’s a no on Kanaloa, then?” Sun and surf would have been plenty for him, even without the prospect of a bikini.
“Sorry, Doctor. Headed to Farhope.”
Interesting. Farhope was ostensibly the capital world for the TriSystems. It hosted the main offices of the intersystem government and the TJF, but its populations tended to be in the cities. You didn’t have to get too far from town for the planet to return to unspoiled wilderness. Plenty of places to exercise a wolf, and the gravity was slightly heavier than starship average. In all, a solid choice.
“Don’t suppose you could be more specific.”
Her tone was apologetic. “You know I can’t. Probably said too much as it is.”
He nodded, though with his goggles on he had no idea if she was looking at him or not. “Fly safe, Ako. I’ll catch you when you come back.”
“I can catch myself just fine. See you around, Doc.”
Farhope was a big moon with plenty of inhabited areas. Narrowing down Chen’s location would be a hell of a lot harder than knowing where around Calypso she was orbiting. Getting more specific would take time, and his share of that was burning up like a meteor on a bad entry angle. He thought through the problem as he ran. Talking to command was a risk. If one of them was compromised, then he’d be telegraphing his entire plan to the people threatening his family. Then again, he had more than enough in his notes to paint Chen as a difficult patient, and the requested ground-side physical would be a good excuse. Chen had to register her exact location somewhere; there was no way the squad wouldn’t keep track of her while she was away.
The risk was worth the reward. He powered down his workout and snagged his omni off the deck of the treadmill. He toweled off his face as he headed toward the locker room. His workout was over, but he couldn’t get his heart rate to slow down.
#
ANDILE FINALLY RETURNED his call as Javad walked back from the gym. When her number flashed on his omni, he tapped it immediately, then confirmed he wasn’t set to send or receive video. It would speed up the laggy call somewhat without having to transmit a big video file. The gray screen continued for several minutes, while he walked through the door to his quarters and slid it shut behind him, then overlaid with a picture of his sister. He didn’t recognize the photo—it was recent, and she had her hair piled on top of her head in one hand while she pouted for the camera.
He shook his head. “Are you sure that’s the most flattering picture for you?”
It took another three minutes for her response to reach him, but her sigh spoke volumes. “It’s nice to see you too.”
“I’m just saying. So, how’ve you been?” He made sure the door was locked, then plugged his omni into the dock so he wouldn’t have to hold it.
“Frustrated by orbital lag, which apparently doesn’t bother you at all.”
“I barely even notice it,” he lied. He leaned back in his desk chair. “Mom said you haven’t talked to them lately.”
“Fuck.” Her profanity was sharp and quick. “Is this the new tactic? I miss one meal, and they sic you on me for the guilt course?”
“It’s not like that at all. I called because I’m worried about you. If you aren’t talking to our parents, that’s fine, but you always used to talk to me.” It was a shitty play, and he knew it even as the words left his mouth. He looked at the ceiling tiles in his room, but there wasn’t any inspiration to be found there.
“You know what? I don’t need a fourth parent.”
“Don’t hang up!” He slammed forward in the chair, hoping she didn’t terminate the call in the endless wait while the signal routed between moons. “I’m serious. I’m worried about you.”
Through some miracle, Andile had actually remained on the line, and she responded, albeit slowly. “What aren’t you saying?”
“I’m not allowed to worry about my sister?” He stood up, pacing around the room to push down some of his nervous energy. He tugged his travel bag out of the narrow closet and tossed it on the bed, then added a change of clothes to it.
Her tone was wary. “I’m fine. I’m just trying to get through school and mind my own business.”
It was dismissive and eerily similar to her answer the last time she’d been in real trouble. Then, a combination of bad habits and poor choice of boyfriends had trapped her in an abusive relationship and an addiction problem. He thought back to the photo the blackmailers had sent him. She’d clearly been getting out of a car that had given her a ride. “Of course. But it’s going okay? Your friends aren’t acting weird?”
“The only one acting strange is you.”
“Who did you ride to school with today?” He winced as soon as he blurted it out. The people making demands on him were too good at covering their tracks. It wouldn’t be like they were raising a red flag for her.
“Are you spying on me? What the hell is wrong with you?”
He could hear the anger in her voice, driving out the concern and patience that she’d been trying to maintain. “I need you to be safe. You can’t trust people. You know that.” It sounded ugly, but he was the perfect example. Everyone had an ulterior motive.
“No shit, I know that. I’m looking out for myself, Javad. I’m not stupid.”
“I didn’t say you were...” Except he had, or at least he’d implied it. Breaking the cardinal rule of orbital-delayed conversations, he let the air hang silent for a moment, then admitted, “I got a threatening text. Probably just someone trying to get into my head. Even so, I wanted to check on you.”
Her response started, then stopped, before restarting. “It sounds like you’re the one who needs to look at his friends, not me. I’m serious, big brother. I’m okay. Do you need to talk to someone about these messages?”
Once again, he regretted the shortcut attitude he’d had when he was younger. The idea that there had to be a fast track to the recognition he’d felt was his due. It made him easy prey for the people who were threatening him now. People like Liam Ratliff. The implicit and explicit threats, that they could get close to his parents—or Andile—combined with his fear of who to trust and left him feeling impotent and terrified.
Worse, knowing that Chen could suffer as a result of his vanity made him ashamed. He had a plan, lousy as it was, and it would have to work.
Javad took a deep breath. “Yeah. I’m taking care of it.”
“Then you stay safe too. If I have to, so do you.” Her voice softened. “Love you.”
“Love you too, Andy.” He ended the call before she could scream at him about the nickname she hated. Talking to her hadn’t been the balm he’d hoped, but at least he knew his sister was okay for now. He wasn’t sure how he’d keep her that way, but he’d figure it out. Warning Chen was first. He’d have the long flight from Farhope to Khonsu to plan step two.
Javad pushed his glasses up and rubbed the bridge of his nose, then checked his luggage against the list in his head. He’d prepped as well as he could. It was time to move.