Braedon took the flight controls. “I’m on it.”
The Verity broke free from the planet’s atmosphere, and the view on the front display changed to a dark starscape.
“Two minutes until we can jump,” Trix reported. “Arvonen One and the shuttle are still in pursuit.”
“Evasive maneuvers. Get us out of here as soon as you can,” Iza said.
The graphic indication of the Arvonen One’s plasma beam range was getting dangerously close to the Verity. Braedon accelerated with the sub-light engines, using the maneuvering thrusters to change trajectory just enough to throw off the pursuit ship’s weapons targeting. If they’d been hauling anything heavier than sheep, they might not have been able to outpace the other vessel.
Tense minutes passed while Trix completed the necessary computations for the subspace route. “Preparing to jump,” she stated at last.
A blue-green swirl of light encapsulated the ship, and it slipped into subspace. Iza couldn’t be sure, but it seemed like there was a slight hesitation at the moment of transition that she hadn’t noticed before.
“That was close,” Jovani said, collapsing into the chair at the tactical console.
“Too close,” Iza said. The dog, whom Iza hadn’t even realized had followed her from the shuttle, leaped into her lap, trying to lick her face. “Not now, mutt, I’ve got work to do.” She dropped him to his feet and turned to Trix. “What was that?”
“What was what?”
“Is there something going on with our jump drive or nav console? That transition seemed a little sluggish.”
“No all systems appear to be functioning normally,” Trix answered.
“Things have been anything but normal lately.” Iza sighed. “Braedon, go check on Cierra and make sure she didn’t touch anything else.”
“I’m certain she wouldn’t. She probably needs a cleansing just to get over the amount of tech she handled today.”
Iza rolled her eyes. “Whatever you say. Jovani can you set the scientists up in an empty cabin where they can shower or get some rest? Then show them where they can get something to eat if they get hungry. Everywhere else on the ship is off-limits.”
“Sure, but, there’s something you should know,” he said.
Iza only half-heard him, distracted by the dog. He ran from the flight deck, heading toward the cargo hold.
She chased after him. “Stop… you!” She faltered, realizing that she didn’t know his actual name.
At the base of the stairs descending to the cargo deck, the dog had become fixated on the sheep. His curly tail wagged with excitement while his tongue hung out of his mouth. His brown eyes were locked on the sheep, making them shift uncomfortably in the pen, unable to move away from him in the tight quarters. Seeming to think it a new game, the dog moved toward them and then sat down before taking another couple steps forward again.
Iza didn’t want him getting any ideas.
“Iza,” Jovani called from behind her.
She lifted a hand to stop him from saying anything more. “I’m sorry, it’ll have to wait. I need to find a place for the latest interloper far away from the sheep.”
CHAPTER FIVE
With Iza distracted by her new canine companion, Joe set about getting the two scientists settled instead.
After giving them a brief introduction to the ship, he went to his cabin and pulled out his TSS-issued handheld from the bedside table. The latest incident with the scientists might not be enough to free him from his exile, but it was certainly something his superiors would want to know about. Such situations were precisely what he’d been sent to the outer colonies to monitor. He hoped Agent Mandren, his former trainer and direct superior, would be pleased with his detailing of events.
In the last few months, Joe had been meticulous about sending regular reports, but lately he had found his attention was divided between his duty to his mission and his assignments on board the Verity. Iza needed his focus, as did the crew. Even though most of what they did was legal, a lot of it was squarely in the gray area for most civilians and well out of bounds for an undercover TSS Agent.
He wanted to talk openly with Iza about what was really going on, but he was hesitant to cause her any more stress. Even though he couldn’t telepathically glean impressions from her in the way he could with most people, her body language said it all. She was barely holding it together. It was clear it had something to do with Karter, since Iza’s demeanor had started to change the moment Karter had gotten them out of the trouble with the Tararian Guard and Arvonen. There was something else, too, but he couldn’t figure out what it might be.
For the time being, Joe would be quietly supportive. Even when Iza tried to distance herself from him, Joe sensed her desire to be close. She was putting on an act. He couldn’t think of a reason why, but he’d play along. She was too important to him to give up without a fight.
When he finished writing his summary of pertinent events for the TSS, Joe found himself wondering how many other Agents besides himself left gaps in their official reports. Perhaps his feelings for Iza were influencing him even more than he’d realized. Worries for another time. He sent the report and returned his official Agent handheld to the drawer of his bedside table.
Joe wandered up to the galley, where he found Cierra and Braedon seated at the table. Braedon was hunched over, absorbed in his handheld, while Cierra looked like she was trying to incinerate the device with the power of her mind.
Wanting to steer clear from their drama, Joe walked to the refrigerator without making eye contact.
The basic furnishings in the Verity’s galley came standard with most hauling ships, though the previous owner had made some nice improvements. One wall lined with touch-sensitive cabinets served as storage for their dry or packaged food stuffs and utensils. Upgraded refrigeration units next to the cabinetry helped preserve fresh produce longer. The opposite wall held the cooking appliances and the sink.
Joe selected a piece of fruit from the refrigerator, but when he bit into it, the taste and texture were off. He spat out the bite and threw the whole thing into the trash, realizing it was spoiled.
The rancid taste had ruined his appetite, so he turned to leave.
“Not like that!” Cierra exploded.
“It’s my project. I didn’t ask for your input in the first place,” Braedon said, snatching back his handheld.
Don’t get involved. Joe continued toward the door.
“Jovani, be the tie-breaker,” Cierra called out.
“Um-no.” Braedon shook his head.
“What is it?” Joe asked tentatively.
“His opinion is as good as anyone else’s,” Cierra insisted. “Tell Braedon he’s making a mistake with the costuming.” She snatched Braedon’s handheld from him and pointed at the screen.
Joe looked down at the device and saw it was a comic, like the ones he grew up reading as a boy back on Earth. Braedon had chosen a clean style with a minimalist but sleek feel.
“You’re writing a comic? How many pages have you done?” Joe asked as he began scrolling through it.
“Only a few. I just wanted to get some ideas down,” Braedon said his voice quieter than usual.
Joe noted that Braedon had included some of their crew’s experiences on Phiris. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the raw grief he’d drawn on Iza’s face. Braedon had drawn himself as the hero in the story, and Joe was lying unconscious in Iza’s lap. Though he looked sickly rather than just passed out, it wasn’t a bad drawing.
“It’s good. Don’t show Iza, though. I don’t think she’d like what you’ve done with her.” Joe waved a hand in front of his chest and cleared his throat.
“I told you,” Cierra said. She gave Braedon a light slap. “He doesn’t listen.”
“I’m a great listener. Right, Trix?” Braedon called out when Trix came into the galley.
She reached for her cooking apron before answering. “I believe I am the better listener. Wh
en Jovani told me about the TSS, I listened.”
Joe’s mouth fell open. What is she doing?
“What, Jovani telling you his old Agent stories?” Braedon elbowed Cierra, and she squirmed away from him.
“No, he still has TSS friends. He spoke to one the other day,” Trix said.
“That’s enough about the old days. Come with me, Trix,” Joe said, grabbing her by the hand and leading her into the corridor. He spoke low enough for only her to hear. “What were you saying?”
“I do not understand. What do you mean?” Her facial expression more blank than usual.
“You were basically telling Braedon everything. What’s wrong with you? I thought you were going to keep it a secret.”
Trix tilted her head to one side and looked at him in confusion. Then, her eyes filled with tears that spilled down her cheeks.
“What’s wrong, Trix?” Joe asked as he put a hand to the side of her tear-streaked face.
“Nothing,” she said, her voice devoid of emotion.
“You’re crying.”
“It is the secrets… they are spilling out of me.”
Joe ran a hand through his hair. At a loss for what to do, he led Trix to the relative privacy of the cargo hold.
“This couldn’t have happened at a worse time. I can’t deal with this right now,” he murmured under his breath as he looked her over. “Why is this happening?”
“I do not know.”
“What’s going on with you two?”
Joe spun around to see Cierra descending the stairs.
“Can’t two friends talk in private?” Joe retorted.
“Ah, you’re getting advice about Iza.” Cierra smirked. “Carry on.”
“What are you doing down here?” Joe asked, not that he cared. Mostly, he wanted to know if he’d be able to resume his conversation with Trix in privacy or if he should find another location where they could talk.
“I’m looking for the crate of seasonings I brought on board. Have you seen it?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Are you sure you two are okay?” She looked him over.
Joe waved her away. “We’re fine. Trix is just helping me out, like you said.”
Cierra looked at her and then back at him. He could feel her pressing against his thoughts.
“Don’t,” he said in a warning tone.
“You’re hiding something,” she stated confidently.
“So are you.” He telepathically pushed back at her hard enough to let her know he could do more if she persisted.
Cierra let out a sigh and shrugged before picking up the edge of her robes. “I’ll look for that crate later.” She sauntered toward the upper deck.
Only when Cierra was out of sight and her mind was no longer near did Joe risk speaking again.
“Trix, there’s something going on with you.”
“I am sorry. I cannot keep these secrets of yours anymore. She has a right to know who her father is,” Trix said. Her voice didn’t tremble, but her eyes filled again.
What is she talking about? Joe’s brow knitted. “I don’t know what you mean. What about her father?”
“I cannot tell, but it will not be long before all the secrets come pouring out. I cannot stop them.”
“Is there something corrupting your operating matrix?”
Trix shook her head. “I do not know. He is dangerous, but she must know the truth. I cannot keep it from her.”
Jovani let a curse. “You need a self-diagnostic and a recharge. Go to it now and we’ll see if we can get you working again, okay?”
“Yes, Joe, you are right.”
“My name is Jovani, remember? I’ll be back to check on you.” He directed her toward her charging station at the back of the cargo hold.
The last thing he wanted to do was expose his secret to anyone else on the ship. It was bad enough that Trix knew. Karter would use it to his advantage. Joe was prepared to avoid him at all costs, but now he had to worry about Trix telling anyone who happened by.
“Jovani?” Trix’s voice reminded Joe of a scared child.
“What is it?”
“I am afraid of what’s coming. You will have to protect her. She may not be able to handle what is out there.”
“Out where?”
Trix abruptly shut down.
Joe rushed to her. “Trix! Can you hear me?”
“If she’s charging, you’ll have to wait,” Iza said, entering the cargo area.
Joe gathered himself. “Ah, okay. That was strange.”
Iza came to attention. “Strange how?”
“It might be nothing, but she was acting kind of… erratic,” Joe said.
“Okay, so it’s not just me thinking that.” Iza groaned. “If it’s not one thing with this ship, it’s something else.”
“What do you mean? What else has been going on?”
Having found the part she was after, Iza jogged back up the stairs. “You mean besides the temperature in here rising by the hour and the communications being spotty?” She didn’t slow as she spoke.
Joe followed her to the upper deck. “Could an issue with Trix cause the ship to act up, or do you think it’s the other way around?”
“I have no idea. Sucks when the engineer might be part of the problem, doesn’t it?”
“How do we—”
“The refrigerator isn’t keeping my food fresh,” Cierra yelled from the galley down the corridor. She ducked back inside the room.
Joe frowned. “I noticed it, too.”
Iza rolled her eyes. “I’ll deal with it later.” She continued forward without breaking stride.
When they passed by the doorway to the galley, Cierra was standing just inside with her arms crossed, tapping one foot impatiently. “This is why I don’t like living on ships. I need to touch soil again with my bare feet.”
Iza waved a hand. “I’ve got bigger problems than what you do with your bare feet. We’re on our way to Beurias. Feel free to roam around in the dirt when we get there.” She jogged the rest of the way to the flight deck.
Joe flashed Cierra a sympathetic smile before racing to catch up to Iza. She was mumbling to herself about taking on passengers instead of crew as she dove inside an access panel on the wall behind the tactical console.
“Here, let me help you with that.” Joe reached over and held the new temperature regulator valve while she removed the old one.
Iza traded parts with him as she tightened the new valve into place, testing the gauge. Joe examined the old part. It looked pristine, as for as he could tell.
“It doesn’t look burned out to me. It might be something else,” he said.
“I’ve replaced everything else. I don’t know what else to do.” Iza wiped her wet brow with the back of her hand, leaving a smudge behind.
Joe put the old valve aside, confident they might be able to use it again once they discovered the real problem. Iza stood up and adjusted the temperature, waiting for the cool air to fill the room. She smiled when the vents started blowing cool air onto the deck.
“Nice work, Captain.” He moved closer to her with the hopes of pulling her in for a kiss.
To his surprise, she didn’t resist as he planted his lips onto hers. He pushed aside the doubts from earlier and let the kiss deepen as he gripped her hip with his left hand while reached under her curls to cradle her neck. When they parted, both he and Iza were breathless.
For a moment, she looked at him the way she had when they first realized the connection between them. Then, a shadow passed over her eyes and she pulled away from him.
She picked up her tools. “Let’s get back to work.”
— — —
Iza cleared her throat and stepped away from Jovani. Stars! He’s a good kisser. His proximity made her forget about her contract with Karter and wish she’d never made it. Why does he always have to smell so amazing?
“Iza—” Jovani started to protest, but he cut off when Trix chose that inop
portune moment to return to the flight deck, far sooner than she should have for just having started a charging cycle.
Trix sat in her place at the front control station, and Iza took in her movements and manner. There was something off about her. Plus, thinking back on it, Iza recalled Trix recharging the night before, which meant she should have a sufficient charge for days.
“Hey, Trix, how are you feeling?” Jovani asked after exchanging a concerned look with Iza.
“I am fine, thank you for asking, Jovani. Your heart rate is elevated, and you are perspiring below your hair line and along your upper lip. Are you well?”
Iza tried to conceal her amused smirk. She seems to be her old self.
Jovani rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes, I’m fine. It’s just a little warm in here.”
“The ship is regulating the temperature on board at a chill factor of twenty. Would you like to lower the number?”
“No, tried that,” Iza said. “We just finished replacing the temperature regulator, and at least cold air is blowing for the time being. Something is still off, though.” She frowned at the exposed innards of the console, wishing she knew more about environmental systems.
“I will run another diagnostic,” Trix stated.
Iza nodded absently.
“Jovani was supposed to tell you about the new jump drive we had installed,” Trix blurted out.
Jovani’s eyes widened.
“The what?” Iza stared at Jovani, then Trix, and back again.
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you about it, but there’s always something…” Jovani trailed off.
That was all the confirmation Iza needed, but she wanted to see for herself. “Show me.”
Trix brought up the technical specifications of the new jump drive installed behind her back, intentionally buried beneath the conventional interface. Iza’s heart thudded against her chest and she kept looking for something to hit. There was nothing except Jovani’s sad eyes and Trix, whose mouth was turned down in a confused frown.
“How? Why?” Iza demanded. It was the betrayal of her friends lying to her for more than a month rather than the upgrades themselves. Her ship had quadrupled in value with that upgrade, but she couldn’t think of a reason for why they would keep it from her. “I trusted you,” she whispered.
Divided Loyalties (Verity Chronicles Book 2): A Cadicle Space Opera Adventure Page 5
