by Kass Morgan
“How to get us both out of here,” Vesper corrected. Although, deep down, she knew there’d be no escape, it was comforting to think that Cormak hadn’t given up hope.
“No matter what happens, I’m glad I got the chance to tell you the truth. It’s been killing me, keeping this from you. Letting you think that I didn’t want to be with you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Vesper felt a surge of tenderness for the boy who’d been through hell but hadn’t let it break him. She pressed her fingers against the wall even harder, wishing she could reach through it and take his hand. “We’ll figure it out, I promise.”
Cormak laughed again, but this time, it was tinged with a sadness that made her chest ache. “I know you’re the most stubborn girl in the solar system, but there are some things beyond even your control.”
A violent jerk shook Vesper from the bench, sending her tumbling onto the floor. “What the hell?” she muttered. In the next cell, she heard Cormak making similar noises. “Are you okay?” she shouted.
The walls began to vibrate and a loud rumble drowned out Cormak’s response. The lights began to flicker as the ceiling shook, sending bits of debris drifting toward the floor. Vesper covered her head with her hands and half crawled, half wriggled under the bench, drawing her knees up to her chest. “Take cover!” she shouted as loud as possible, to be heard over the din. In the distance, she heard the piercing wail of an alarm and beyond that, faint shouts.
He did it, Vesper realized, fighting back tears of anger. Stepney activated another corrupted chip and he’s going to blame it on the Sylvans. The war’s never going to end.
And then a more urgent, chilling thought took hold.
We’re going to die in here. Her heart seemed to realize it before she did—it’d already lurched into a frantic sprint as if urging her to run for her life. But there was nowhere to go. From the sounds outside her cell, it was clear the guards had abandoned their prisoners, leaving them to their fate. The ceiling shook again, more violently this time. Vesper rolled onto her side and pressed her back against the wall. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine Cormak doing the same thing. If she focused hard enough, she could almost feel the warmth of his skin against hers. Could almost hear his heartbeat.
“Vesper! Come on!” She opened her eyes to see Arran, sweaty and panting, standing in the now-open doorway. Vesper rolled out from under the bench, scrambled to her feet, and ran unsteadily into the corridor just as Cormak slipped through the gap in his own cell door. “Follow me,” Arran said, then spun around and broke into a run. Cormak grabbed Vesper’s hand and they took off after him. The main deck had erupted into chaos as cadets, staff, officers, and fleet personnel darted in all directions—some heading to help the injured, the rest running to their battle stations.
“Those slimy fucking Specter bastards,” Vesper heard a woman in a pilot’s uniform say as she helped a limping officer down the hall. “We never should’ve trusted them for a second.”
“Stepney’s given the order to blow them all up,” the injured man said through gritted teeth. “They’ll get what they deserve.”
It wasn’t them, Vesper wanted to scream. But now wasn’t the time. They had to find a way to get a message to the Sylvans, to warn them about the attack so they had time to put up their shields before it was too late.
Vesper’s and Cormak’s links had been confiscated, so they used Arran’s to send a message to Admiral Haze, who told them to meet her in her quarters. They found her standing in the doorway, and she ushered them inside. She pulled Vesper into a hug, then stepped back to survey her worriedly. “I was on my way to find you when I got your message. What the hell’s going on? Stepney had you arrested?”
Vesper told her mother what had happened, with Cormak and Arran filling in their parts, then explained her plan. “Stepney triggered another explosion to make it look like the Sylvans violated the cease-fire. He wants to have a reason to destroy them all and colonize the planet for its fyron. We have to warn them.”
Arran was fiddling furiously with his link. “I keep trying to contract Orelia, but the message won’t go through now that the Sylvan ships have returned to their location. She’s out of range.” He glanced up at them, looking grave. “We have to get closer and tell the Sylvans to put up their shields. And convince them not to retaliate or run. The Sylvans can’t give the fighters any reason to think they started this battle.”
Vesper waited for her mother to dismiss the idea as too complicated or too dangerous, but Admiral Haze closed her eyes, let out a long breath, and nodded. “Yes, I think that’s our best option. We’ll find you a ship and get you in range.”
“Okay,” Arran nodded. “But… who’s going to fly it?”
To Vesper’s astonishment, her mother turned to her and smiled. “Think you’re up to the task, pilot?”
CHAPTER 22
CORMAK
Cormak felt nearly giddy with relief as he stepped onto the fightercraft. He didn’t know what would happen in the next five minutes, let alone the next five years. Whether he’d be pardoned for his crimes or spend the rest of his life as a fugitive. But none of that seemed to matter right now. After months of deception—dealing with the guilt and loneliness of keeping such an enormous secret—he’d finally told Vesper the truth and, miraculously, it hadn’t driven her away.
“Go on,” Admiral Haze urged, motioning for them to hurry. “If you leave now, you should be able to send the message before Stepney has time to attack. The fightercraft are faster than the battlecraft transporting the weapons.” On their way up to the top deck, she and the other top-ranking officers had received their orders from Commander Stepney. He was indeed planning a retaliatory attack and had ordered the mobilization of the entire fleet. When the Quatrans attacked the Sylvans, it would be with the full force of their military might.
Stepney wasn’t aiming to reignite hostilities—he’d created an excuse to wipe out the entire population. There was just the faintest hint of a silver lining: Since Stepney had to wait for the rest of the fleet to arrive, the cadets would have a head start. If they got within range of the Sylvan ships before they realized the Quatrans were planning an attack, they could possibly avert the bloodiest battle of the entire war. Admiral Haze would stay behind to contact the Quatra Federation and explain Stepney’s treachery.
Admiral Haze stepped into the fightercraft to say good-bye. She gave Vesper a quick hug, and gave Arran and Cormak each an affectionate if slightly awkward pat on the shoulder. “Good luck, all of you. I’ll see you soon.” And then she was gone, leaving the three of them on their own.
Vesper hurried over to the pilot’s seat while Arran settled himself into the chair next to the tech bay, where he’d be able to monitor fuel, engine function, and all other mechanical issues. But Cormak remained standing until Vesper spun around and asked, “Everything okay?”
“Yes, fine. I just didn’t want to… I mean, I didn’t think it was right to assume…” Cormak stammered, feeling slightly sheepish.
“Assume what?”
“I didn’t want to just assume that I’d continue as captain. The tournament is over—we can take whatever positions feel right to us. It feels like something we should at least discuss.”
Arran eyed the pilot’s seat warily. “The trip is going to require some intense flying—way beyond my capabilities. I’d rather stay here, if that’s okay with everyone.”
Cormak turned to Vesper. “I could probably handle flying, if you feel like you should captain this mission. The tournament aside, you have a ton more experience than I do.”
“I think we all know who belongs in that seat… Captain Phobos.” Vesper gave a playful salute and smiled, sending a surge of warmth through Cormak’s chest. It didn’t matter that his name was Cormak, not Rex. Or that he’d secured a spot at the Academy through subterfuge. She still cared for him.
Admiral Haze had the power to authorize their departure, but the sight of a fig
htercraft leaving suddenly, on its own, was going to raise some red flags. They needed to leave as quickly and unobtrusively as possible—no small feat considering it was only their second time flying an actual ship. For Arran and Cormak, it’d be easy to pretend they were back in the simulator, but it was an entirely different situation for Vesper, who’d have to take off from the crowded top deck of the battlecraft.
With anyone else, the stress would be evident. But as she prepared for liftoff, Vesper looked confident and focused. Cormak felt a surge of admiration as he watched her perform her usual ritual, tilting her head from side to side to stretch her neck and rolling her shoulders a few times before her fingers began to move deftly over the controls, as she retracted the docking mechanism and fired up the engine.
A moment later, they were airborne.
As they pulled away from the battlecraft, Cormak found that he felt more excited than nervous. This was where he belonged—in this fightercraft and, more important, with this team. The last time he, Vesper, and Arran flew together, they’d managed to destroy an enemy ship and save the Academy. They might be first-year cadets, but they were all gifted in their own way, and together, they were unstoppable.
“Arran, how long until we’re in range of the Sylvan ships?” Vesper asked as she deftly steered around an enormous chunk of metal that must’ve broken off from the Quatran battlecraft during the explosion.
“Not long,” Arran said as his fingers flew over the controls of the radar panel. “If we go at max speed, maybe forty minutes?”
The communications panel lit up and Admiral Haze’s voice poured out of the speakers. “Stepney decided not to wait for the rest of the fleet to launch his attack. The first wave of ships is taking off now. You have to hurry.” Cormak had never heard her sound so distraught.
“We’ll be fine,” Vesper said calmly. “We have a head start. We’ll make it to the Sylvans in time to send the message.”
“That’s not the only problem. Stepney knows I authorized you to take the fightercraft, and he’s figured out the plan. He’s…” She took a deep breath. “He’s going to try to stop you from reaching the Sylvans.”
“So what do we do?” Arran asked, looking from Cormak to Vesper anxiously. “What if he orders us to turn around?”
“You keep going,” Admiral Haze said resolutely. “Even if he tries to use force.”
“Force?” Vesper repeated. “You think Stepney will fire on us?”
“As far as he’s concerned, you’ve taken the ship illegally and you’re harboring a fugitive.”
Cormak’s heart sank as silence filled the fightercraft. Vesper and Arran had risked their careers to rescue him—and now it looked like they’d risked their lives too. He clenched his teeth as a wave of nausea crashed over him. This is exactly what had happened with Rex. Anyone who cared about Cormak ended up paying for it.
Arran must’ve seen the dismay on his face, because he sat up straighter and said, “Then we’ll show him what happens to people who try to go up against Squadron 20.”
“Hell yeah!” Vesper called from the pilot’s seat.
Their enthusiasm wasn’t enough to sweep away the guilt and anxiety bubbling up in Cormak’s stomach, but he tried to remain focused. After everything Arran and Vesper had done for him, Cormak owed them his best effort. As they flew on, he began to relax into the comforting rhythms of flying with his friends, using the shorthand they’d developed during their countless hours practicing in the simulator and competing in the tournament. It felt so familiar that he was surprised to glance over and see the intelligence officer’s seat empty; there was part of him that’d almost expected to see Orelia sitting there.
“How much farther?” he asked Arran.
“It’s impossible to know for sure, but I estimate that we’ll be in range in about ten minutes. I’ll try sending the message now, just in case.” Keeping an eye on the control panel, Arran began to tap on his link. “Still too far.”
The light on the comm system began to flash again. Cormak assumed it’d be Admiral Haze with another update, but this time an unfamiliar male voice filled the cabin. “This ship was not authorized for departure. You have ten seconds to turn around. After that, your ship will be considered an enemy craft and treated accordingly.”
This is it, Cormak thought. This is the moment I get my friends killed. “We should do what they say,” he said. “There’s no reason for you two to get hurt.”
“No way,” Vesper said in a fierce voice that made Cormak’s heart swell. “We have a mission to carry out.”
“Arran, what do you think? You’re not a wanted felon.”
“I’m pretty sure I am now.” He sounded strangely calm, almost amused by the absurdity of the situation. “And I say we keep going.”
“Incoming missile detected… Prepare for impact,” the warning sounded.
Cormak gripped the sides of his chair. “Vesper, get us out—”
“Already on it,” she called as she turned the craft into a sharp, inverted dive.
“Impact avoided.”
“Yeah, we know…” Cormak said as he let out a ragged breath. “Great job, Vee.”
Cormak took a few deep breaths to quell his nausea. Arran did the same, though Vesper appeared unruffled. “How far away are we from the Sylvan battlecraft?” Cormak asked.
“Just three parsecs,” Arran said. “We’ll be in range in five minutes if…”
“If that ship doesn’t blow us up first,” Vesper finished for him. “And we’re not going to let that happen.”
Like hell we’re not, Cormak thought, his fear hardening into resolve.
“So what am I supposed to say to her, exactly?” Arran asked.
“You have to explain that Stepney went rogue,” Cormak said, still breathing heavily. “And then she needs to convince her commanding officer to put up the ships’ shields but hold off on returning fire.”
“Great. No big deal, then,” Arran said with a short laugh.
“You can do this,” Cormak called from the captain’s chair. “If anyone can avert a violent showdown, it’s you. Besides, you’re just talking to your friend. Our friend. She’ll be willing to listen to us.”
Arran took a few deep breaths. “Okay…” He sat up straighter, rotated his shoulders a few times, and pressed his link again and frowned. “We’re still not in range. I’m not sure what’s going on…”
“I think that’s our problem.” Vesper lifted one hand from the controls to point out the window. “It looks like there’s an asteroid belt between us and the Sylvans. The signal’s probably getting scrambled. Arran, how big is it? Should I go around?”
Arran leaned in to look at the radar screen. “I’m not sure there’s time. If we don’t send that message soon, the Sylvans will notice Stepney’s forces on the move and prepare their own counterattack. Do you think you can make it through?”
“We’re about to find out.”
“Incoming missile detected… Prepare for impact,” the warning sounded again. But this time, Vesper didn’t seem to be adjusting their course.
“Prepare for impact in ten… nine… eight…”
“Vesper!” Cormak shouted. “You have to—”
“I’ve got this. Trust me.”
“Seven… six… five…”
The craggy outline of an asteroid filled the window, and Cormak’s breath caught in his chest. If they weren’t blown up by the missile, they’d crash and cause an explosion themselves.
“Four… three… two…”
Just as Cormak closed his eyes, he felt the ship dip slightly. He opened them and saw that Vesper had taken them under the asteroid—the fightercraft cabin turned dark as jagged shadows filled the windows.
A moment later, the ship began to rumble. Cormak turned around and peered out the back window just in time to see a flash of orange flames. “What was that?”
“The missile hit the asteroid instead of us,” Vesper said calmly. “And if I’m correct, the ship Ste
pney sent after us was just pummeled with about a thousand pieces of debris.”
“I think you’re right,” Arran said, sounding slightly awed as he examined the radar screen. “The ship’s not following us anymore.”
“I told you to trust me.”
Cormak couldn’t see Vesper’s face, but he could hear the smile in her voice.
“Okay, try messaging Orelia now,” Cormak said as they emerged from the asteroid belt a few minutes later. “Arran, are we in range?”
“Yes… I think so. Hold on.” Arran cleared his throat. “Orelia? Are you there?”
CHAPTER 23
ORELIA
Orelia hadn’t realized such a thing was possible, but for the first time in her life, she felt too happy to sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Zafir’s face, his expression a combination of tenderness and intensity that made her shiver despite the fact that her small sleeping chamber automatically adjusted to her body temperature. The situation was fixable, of course; years of training had taught her how to clear her mind. But tonight, Orelia had no interest in quieting her thoughts and allowed herself the rare luxury of lying awake, replaying her kiss with Zafir over and over again.
Although the first session of peace talks had ended on a promising note, General Greet still “invited” Zafir to return to the Sylvan ship at the end of the day. Despite the deference and politeness he was shown, it was clear he was more hostage than guest and would remain in that position until a treaty was signed.
He’d been assigned a sleeping chamber a few doors down from Orelia, and the thought of him in bed so nearby made her feel tingly and restless. She wished she could send him a message to see if he was awake, but his link had been confiscated for “safekeeping” while he was aboard the Sylvan ship. Would he find it nice or strange if she snuck into his chamber to say good night?
Orelia rose from her cot and hesitated, wondering whether or not to change out of her loose Sylvan sleep clothes into something more flattering. But surely it’d look even stranger for her to appear in his room late at night fully dressed? She forced herself to stop overthinking and padded quietly from her chamber down the empty hall toward Zafir’s room.
