“That’s not how you do it,” Amanda said, leaning away. He didn’t have time to argue. Bracing her shoulder, he pressed the jet to her arm and injected the drugs.
“Okay, let’s go,” Danny said, packing up the meds and setting the jet to be cleaned. “Saskia and Morrigan don’t need an audience.”
“I could use a nurse,” Saskia said, not looking up from her work.
“I can help,” Amanda volunteered.
“Ha ha, you’re very funny,” Danny said, pushing her down the hall. Amanda shuffled along, her head hanging in shame. She would have been a great nurse, or a pilot, or anything if she could just beat this schizophrenia.
When he got to the bay, Chase and Hawk had dragged one of the crates out from under the stairs, and Hawk was explaining his plan. Hawk’s concept was simple. He wanted to add a rig to the Bobsled, and re-jig the gravity lift so that the vehicle didn’t push off its own cargo. Chase DuPlessis, Danny’s best friend and former fling, knew the Bobsled inside and out. Hawk engineered things by intuition and Chase by experience.
“I get that we don’t like the raw stone,” Chase said, sitting on the crate. “But what about the other grav-sources on the ship? We have a whole grav-drive, the Bobsled, Sky’s grav-gun, and even a few tools in the kitchen and the infirmary.”
Chase’s fingers ran tentatively across his collarbone, just under the fading bruises on his neck. He’d become a pile of injuries since he’d join the crew.
“Tray dumped the kitchen tools after he got locked in that grav-chamber,” Danny said. Tray, Danny’s younger brother, was sensitive to artificial gravity, to the point where his arteries would dissolve when he was exposed to it. Using gravity for propulsion, directing the gravity away from Tray, seemed fine. But the last time his doctor put him in a grav-therapy chamber, he’d nearly bled to death. Now he was more paranoid about the little tools.
“I’m just saying,” Chase said. “Amanda’s episodes aren’t a new thing. She’s been having them ever since you brought her on the ship.”
“But she wasn’t channeling powers then,” Danny argued.
“Maybe she was. You don’t know,” Chase said.
“I want these things gone,” Hawk said forcefully.
“You know it’s still raining, right?” Sky asked, trotting down the stairs, her blonde hair still damp from the shower. Her white travel clothes and ever-present satchel said she was ready to run either way. The rain had made them all stir crazy.
“I don’t care. We’re dumping this Confluence now,” Hawk growled. “Amanda stabbed our doctor.”
Amanda crossed her arms and shrank behind Danny, hiding from Sky’s surprised look.
“Did you conjure a sword?” Sky asked, a hint of intrigue in her eyes.
“Needle. Face. Saskia could use a hand,” Danny said, rubbing his brows. He’d trade patients, but Amanda tended to get shot when he left her in Sky’s care. “Anything in your medical kit that can dull pain without drugs? We had to Detox her.”
“Never know until I try,” Sky said, patting her satchel. “Don’t fly off without me.”
She disappeared through the lower hatch and Amanda peeked around Danny again. “Corin,” she whispered, pointing to the stairs. Corin lay on his back next to the remaining two Confluence crates.
“He’ll be fine,” Hawk grumbled bitterly. “Taking him to the infirmary isn’t going to help, is it?”
“Tray, I could use your help in the bay,” Danny vrang. He wanted to help Hawk and Chase, but he couldn’t do that and take care of Amanda and Corin. He needed more hands.
When they checked on Corin, Amanda’s nursing instincts seemed to kick in. One of the quirks of her dying and being resurrected was she’d inherited some part of the healer’s power. It allowed her to see pain, but she couldn’t do anything about it. As cogent as she seemed in the moment, Danny couldn’t trust the peace.
“Moonslate is valuable outside of grav-tech, too,” Chase pointed out. “It’s the strongest metal-stone out there. It’s in every dome. It’s in the hull of Oriana.”
“Chase, if you don’t want to help Hawk, help Corin,” Danny said, helping Corin sit.
“Are you kidding?” Chase smiled, hopping up from the crate. “Look at my hand! This is the first time I’ve been able to hold a wrench in weeks.”
“And what have you done with that wrench so far?” Danny asked.
“I’m about to hit you with it,” Chase said cheekily.
“If you hit my brother, you’re walking home,” Tray hollered, the glower on his face saying he didn’t approve of the joke. Tray was ten years younger than Danny, ten shades darker, and a full head shorter. Where Danny wore the rugged clothes of a laborer, Tray preferred the finer fabrics of an aristocrat. His clothes were often askew these days because he and Saskia liked to sneak off for quick romps. All the time.
Chase smirked. “I’d ask you if you’re grouchy because you’re past the honeymoon phase of your relationship, but—”
“Maybe I should go find her and cheer myself up,” Tray said, turning back up the stairs.
“Tray! I need you,” Danny called, peeking out from under the stairs. Still glowering at Chase, Tray strode down the stairs. Danny pushed Amanda toward him. “Hold onto her while I help Corin.”
“Have you been getting into my Confluence again?” Tray asked, linking Amanda’s arm with him. Even when she was at her worst, he took a light-hearted, social tone with her, and they managed to connect through music lyrics or flicks.
“I think he opened the box,” Amanda said, pointing to Corin. “I had a blackout.”
“She stabbed Morrigan. Didn’t you hear all the screaming?” Danny asked.
“Sorry, I was trying to get a message to Quin. Sikorsky’s ship lands in two days and I’m worried what he’ll do to my son,” Tray said, masking his concern with a smile. Sikorsky was Tray’s ex-father-in-law. He was a hybrid and a crime boss, and he’d blackmailed the crew using Tray’s son as a ransom.
“We took down a government for him,” Danny said.
“But we didn’t let him keep it,” Tray said. “I’d hate to give up this quest before we get a rain-free day to really search, but I’d feel better if I could at least get a message to Mikayla.”
“I’m sure she’s getting your messages. She’s just not answering,” Danny said. Tray and his ex-wife had a strained relationship, and she was part of the reason he wasn’t home now.
“Comms are down, Danny. We haven’t been able to send a message since we landed on this side of the world,” Tray said. “As far as she knows, we died on re-entry.”
Danny rubbed his face. He hadn’t even noticed their isolation. He didn’t have the attachment to Quin that Tray did. There was a single communication relay that connected Quin to Terrana, but the global network had turned to dust after the war.
“Well, we can hang the plan to dump the Confluence and go back,” Danny said. “Sikorsky would buy the stock.”
“We told the acting Governor of Terrana that we would not sell it in Quin. If we sell Sikorsky that much Confluence, he’ll use it to enhance his teleport power and finish his coup,” Tray said. “Hawk, how soon can you get rid of these things?”
“Thirty minutes if Chase would just use the wrench,” Hawk said.
The Cordovan healing rod in Sky’s medical kit kept Morrigan’s pain level manageable during the surgery, but also kept sealing the wound before they extracted all the shards of broken capsule. After two hours, the wound was cleaned, the Detox working, and Sky was disappointed she’d missed out on her chance to fly the ‘sled. Hawk and Chase were out dumping the last load of Confluence stones, and Saskia went to find comfort from Tray. Sky was surprised to find Corin alone in the ward room, hunched over a console.
His eyes closed, he pressed a Feather to his ear, and listened to a message from home. He’d run from Nola in the middle of the night, but his family knew that Oriana was heading to Cordova, and they’d been broadcasting messages for him.
“Didn’t realize you were climbing the stairs these days,” Sky said, looking at the chairs, trying to decide if she wanted to stay.
Sitting straighter, Corin started to turn, but then he froze again, clutching his aching torso.
“I was beaten, same as Douglas. Drowned in the same river. He was under longer, and he’s flying a plane right now,” Corin said.
“Don’t compare your injuries to his. Or your healing. He’s not like you. He could probably fly the Bobsled from his bed if he wanted.”
Corin fiddled with the Feather hooked over his ear.
“Are you ever going to answer them?” Sky asked, sliding into the second chair and bringing it around to the console. The two chairs in the room were tacked to the floor and ran on tracks, so they wouldn’t float off when the ship went into space.
“No,” Corin said. “I kind of like that they think I’m dead. There seems a little more honor in dying at the hands of your oppressors than running away and leaving them free to oppress others.”
“If you’d stop listening to their messages, you’d stop waffling. You said your goodbyes,” Sky pointed out.
“Not really,” he said, his fingers ghosting over his injured ribs. “I was semi-conscious in a hospital bed getting healed, listening to my parents argue about my future. In my heart, I’d said goodbye months ago. The only difference between this and suicide is my dad holding out hope that I’ll come back to him.”
“Also, sweeping political changes. End of a breeding Festival. Recognition of hate crimes against same-sex partners. A few legal protections. And we got fancy Nolan pillows,” Sky pointed out. Corin’s mom had pledged to bring his attackers to justice, but without a body or a witness, she’d have a hard time. Sky thought their pleas had merit, but in her experience, fleeing was easier, so she didn’t blame him.
“Tell me the way to Cordova again,” Sky requested, calling up the ancient map of Aquia that predated the building of the domes. The final gift from Corin’s parents was a description of how to get to Cordova. Sky had promised to take Hawk there, and they’d encountered nothing but detours and obstacles along the way.
“I thought you were going to get arial views first,” Corin said, looking away from the map. Corin had an amazing ear, but something in his brain short-circuited when he tried to read. Even looking at the map frustrated him, and so his way to Cordova came in the form of a song. They’d broken down the lines and gotten themselves at least a thousand miles closer.
“I’d love to do an arial survey, but I’ve been busy triaging our doctor,” Sky quipped.
“You’re not the only one with eyes, Madame Sky,” Corin grinned.
The cargo doors opened with a creak. “That’s them,” Corin said, leaning forward in the chair but unable to stand.
“Easy,” Sky said, taking his elbow, then his hips. He leaned on her as they shuffled to the catwalk. Wind whistled around them and the humidity rose as the bay doors opened.
“Corin, just stay on that level. Please stop pushing yourself!” Danny admonished. He and Amanda were on the lower level, waiting to greet the others.
The Bobsled descended until it was level with the door, then the ship glided into its parking spot. The water dripping off it left a puddle in the bay, and Danny set one of their auto-mops loose to clean the mess. Hawk beamed when he peeked out, because he loved watching the little machines. Rocan didn’t have a whole lot of machine helpers.
“It’s done!” Hawk cried, springing down the Bobsled’s ladder. “They’re gone. Corin!”
He ran for the lower deck hatch toward Corin’s quarters.
“Hawk!” Sky shouted. “He’s up here!”
Hawk redirected his gleeful gallop, eager to celebrate with his prince. Sky left Corin leaning on a hatch and headed down the stairs patting Hawk as she passed. Chase climbed out of the ‘sled one-handed.
“What happened to your grip?” Danny asked, putting a steadying hand on his back.
“Didn’t like the weather,” Chase said.
Danny and Chase had shared a surprising kiss after they left Nola, and Sky had been watching them closely, but hadn’t seen a hint of that fire since.
“I like building ships much better than flying,” Chase complained, falling against Danny as soon as his feet hit the deck. By the haggard groan, Sky suspected he’d had a trauma flashback in the air.
The hug lasted long enough for Sky to reach the pair, and then she joined, squeezing them closer together. She planted a kiss on each man. Her lips hit the corner of Chase’s mouth first, and he pulled back slightly. When she turned to Danny, she expected him to grumble, but he didn’t. He turned his face and met her lips. Letting go of Chase, he put an arm around her waist, pulling her in tightly. This wasn’t a playful peck. It was a real kiss.
“I said no groups,” Chase said, raising his elbows to get out of the trio.
“If you kiss him, I’ll back off,” Sky offered.
Chase ignored her and hustled up the stairs. She felt bad for interrupting his moment of comfort, but she was confused now, too.
“Don’t torment him,” Danny said, rubbing his lips pensively.
“I can’t believe you kissed me back,” Sky said, licking her lips and staring at his. “Can we do that again?”
3
Danny was beginning to doubt that they were anywhere close to a living city. They’d seen nothing from the air when dumping the Confluence and they’d heard no broadcasts besides the staticky signals from Nola. After two more days of nonstop rain, the downpour slowed to a drizzle and the sun peeked through the clouds. He and Tray had agreed to give the arial survey at least one day.
“I should go up. I have better eyes,” Amanda insisted, tapping her Occ. She followed him down the stairs into the bay, dressed to fly, like she expected him to concede.
“Amanda, you stabbed your doctor!” Danny said.
“That was forever ago!” Amanda said. “I’ve been much better since we dumped the cargo.”
“If you weren’t doing better, I wouldn’t be going up,” Danny said. “You’re not so much better that you should be going up. If I don’t get Hawk and Sky out the door in five minutes, they’ll take off on their own. And they might not come back.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Amanda muttered.
Danny pursed his lips. “Tray, let’s go! You’ll be flying with Hawk.”
“In the glider? Do you hate me?” Tray cried, hefting a heavy bag over one shoulder. He’d fitted both the Bobsled and the glider with extra sensors.
“You volunteered to take a second seat,” Danny said, hitting the control on his Virp to open the ramp.
“With you. In the ‘sled!” Tray said. “The glider can’t get high enough to talk to Quin.”
“Neither can the ‘sled,” Danny said. When Terrana was up, they could relay messages, but the half-day time delay didn’t work for two-way communication.
“I’ll take his seat!” Amanda piped up.
“No. Amanda, close the hatch as soon as we’re out. If you get sick, talk to Saskia. Stay away from Morrigan,” Danny ordered.
“I didn’t mean to hurt her.”
“I’m not having this conversation again!” Danny barked. He looked around at the others then dropped his voice, putting a hand on Amanda’s shoulder to remind himself to stay calm. “If you want to help, lend me that Occ. I’ll spot Cordova in no time.”
Amanda backed away, her eyes filling with tears. “Then how will I see?”
“We fixed your vision in Quin. You can see fine without the enhancements,” Danny said. “Can’t you?”
“When you’re used to seeing with it, normal vision feels like blindness,” Amanda said. “It doesn’t react to hallucinations like it does real danger. It helps me filter them out.”
Reluctantly, she peeled the device from her brow. “Sometimes it acts on its own because it’s trying to warn you. Every bird will jump out at you. Just tap the edge and say ‘restore,’ and i
t’ll go back to normal. Let Sky do the flying until you get used to it.”
“Maybe this isn’t the time to experiment,” Danny said, hugging her around the neck and kissing the top of her head. The fact that she’d not only taken it off but also told him how to use it was huge. There was a good chance no one would get stabbed today.
Danny turned to address the others. “Stick to the grid. Go out seventy-five miles and do a loop search. It’ll take a little over six hours. Tray, get the food.”
“We already packed it,” Sky said, patting the belly of the red, patchwork glider. Danny never would have believed it airworthy if he hadn’t seen it fly. He wondered how much of Hawk’s hybrid power went in to keeping it aloft. Given how prone Tray was to getting motion sick, Danny started having second thoughts about sending his brother up in the glider.
“Six hours is pushing the fuel capacity,” Hawk said.
“Tray is half my weight. You’ll get farther with him than with me,” Danny grinned, clapping Hawk’s shoulder.
“We’ll have to carry that much extra in food,” Hawk teased, putting his cap on Tray’s head. Tray would need a lot more warm layers on the glider. The glider didn’t have a cover like the Bobsled did.
“If you see a dome, great, but I also want you scoping resources and terrain. Keep contact with Chase. Map everything. This is for posterity,” Danny said.
“Should we make contact if we get a signal?” Tray asked, pulling his hair back and repositioning his cap.
“Yes. You’re likely to hear them before you see them,” Sky said. “Mention my name and tell Dr. Jack Fisher I say hello. That should set a friendly enough tone.”
“You’re sure?” Tray asked. “I don’t recall your name ever winning us favors.”
“Yes, make contact,” Danny said, pushing Sky toward the ‘sled. “Let’s fly.”
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