Rain on Neptune

by Lisa Jade

  I feel the same. Scared of what’s happened. What’s still happening. What’s going to happen next.

  But then she lets out a frightened sob, and my fear fades. A moment later it’s replaced by something else; something that licks through me with the same boundless ferocity as the fear does in her.

  Suddenly, I’m angry. It’s the same anger I felt when facing down Angelique, the same anger I felt when Isaac’s father struck him. It’s something basic and instinctive, something that fills me with hatred towards those who would dare do this. Who would dare to upset her. Who would dare to hurt them.

  I tighten my grip around Luci, ignoring the enraged snarl that escapes my lips.

  “It’s okay. I’ll get to the bottom of this.”

  “What can you do?” she bawls. I sigh.

  “Whoever did this is from Four. So am I. I figure if it’s anyone’s responsibility to stop them, it’s mine.”

  “But nobody knows who it is. Not even my Dad.”

  “I’m sure he knows something,” I say sternly, “and I’m going to find out what.”

  “Like he would tell you, even if he had narrowed it down. Stop talking stupid.”

  “Y-you’re right. Now’s not the time. Let’s get you to bed.”

  “Wait.”

  She pulls away for a moment, fixing me with a tearful look.

  “Sleep in here tonight. Please. I don’t want to be alone.”

  My chest aches.

  “Okay.”

  As she invites me under the covers with her, and snuggles up to my still-clothed body, I find myself wondering why this isn’t weird. Why I’m not resisting the touch of a snob.

  Guess she’s not a snob any more. Just a friend. And like the nights Alice and I shared a bed, this isn’t uncomfortable. She leans in a little more and I rest my chin atop her head.

  The anger hasn’t faded. It’s still there, burning against my skin.

  Only now, I know what to do with it.

  Eighteen

  I throw the door to the Bridge open hard enough to make it bounce off the wall. The crew members sitting at their stations jump, whipping round to look at me. Eyes fill with curiosity. Who would dare?

  “Miss, you shouldn’t be in here.”

  “Shut it,” I growl, and to my surprise the man recoils from my glare.

  The Captain stands where he always does, and he fixes me with a bemused look. There’s a small moment where I fight the desire to shrink back, alarmed by just how big he is, but I set my jaw and march up to him.

  “Ah, if it isn’t the resident bad influence. How can I help you?” he asks, his voice light. It only fuels my anger; how dare he not take this seriously?! It’s been two days!

  “I want information.”

  My voice is firm, almost intimidating – and suddenly, I realise where I’ve heard it before. It’s the same authoritative tone I used when trying to save Cherise. His expression changes momentarily, but then his eyebrows raise. He’s amused by my anger.

  “Shall I assume you’re here on behalf of my daughter?”

  “No. I’m here for me.”

  “Then you’ll have to leave. I don’t have time to entertain every ridiculous request from people like you.”

  “If you just listen…”

  “The answer is no. If you like, you can speak to one of my colleagues. But I am not wasting a second longer on your inane questions.”

  He turns away from me and I stamp my foot. It’s a childish motion, but it gives him pause.

  “Don’t you dare brush me off!” I growl, “This is important.”

  “And why’s that?”

  “I just spent the last two days trying in vain to coax your daughter out of her room. She’s terrified, and you’re not doing anything to fix it!”

  His eyes flash.

  “Excuse you! I am working on finding out what happened. Security has been increased. Curfews have been implemented. Crew members accompany passengers on main routes. Every damn person on board is being investigated. Tell me, what more could I possibly do?”

  “Share what you know with me.”

  He lets out a mirthless laugh.

  “Ah, I see. You’re planning to solve this mystery yourself, are you? You shouldn’t even be here. You ended up on this ship through sheer dumb luck, and nothing more. Why should I share what I know with some reckless, stupid failure of genetics?”

  His anger is building, his irritation palpable; but the blood pounding in my ears drowns it out.

  “If you care at all about the safety of your children, you’ll tell me what I want to know!”

  “Is that a threat?”

  “I’m trying to protect them!”

  “That is not your job.”

  He steps away from me, but I follow him.

  “We want the same thing!” I bark, “we should be on the same side. I actually care about Luci and Isaac. And in case you didn’t already hear, I’m the only reason your daughter survived the last disaster! Without me, she’d be another frozen corpse floating outside the barrier. And I’m willing to keep protecting them, but I can’t do that if I don’t know what I’m fighting. So tell me what you know, or the next time there’s an attack, your precious legacy might be lost forever.”

  He stops in his tracks then turns, looking me up and down just like he did at our first meeting. Then he steps forward. My immediate instinct is to back away, but I fight it. Even if he’s angry, even if he launches me across the room in a fit of blind rage, I can’t show fear. He moves closer and closer, until his wide, furious eyes are just an inch from mine. I stare back with fiery indifference.

  “Well?”

  “I don’t trust you,” he says simply.

  “I don’t trust you either. After seeing what you did, putting your hands on him… make no mistake, Captain. I hate your guts. A part of me thinks you deserve everything that’s coming to you. But right now, I need your help. And you need mine. So we have to work together.”

  “What do you think you can do to help me?”

  The question is softer this time, a genuine question rather than a rage-filled attack. It’s a far cry from the blind anger I’ve seen before. I recall thinking that I just needed to learn what makes this man tick to handle him. Looks like I’ve found it. Even if he doesn’t care about his kids, he cares about the legacy he leaves behind.

  “I know about the Crysalin blades,” I say, “they’re only found on Four.”

  His brows furrow.

  “So? We already know that much.”

  “I know about Four. The culture, the people. I can help you.”

  His eyes narrow at that, and suddenly I wonder if he knows more than he’s letting on. If he knows who I really am. Why I’m really here. But then he turns away. He’s stressed. Always held to a high standard that he can’t meet. Totally helpless.

  And then I see them. The crew members still sat at their respective stations watch the stress on their leader’s face. Their expressions change a little, filling with doubt or even happiness, and I wonder how badly he must treat them, too.

  “We’ve narrowed it down somewhat.”

  The older man’s voice is soft, like he’s fighting the words as they come out.

  “What?”

  “There’s a list,” he says, pointing to a stack of paper on his desk, “of all the possible suspects on board. We’ve removed anyone who’s been killed during the… incidents. Then we’ve cut out everyone who has no relation to Four, leaving only those who have had interactions with scum like that in the past.”

  I step over and pick up the list, grimacing at its length. Apparently, more people have been involved with Four than I realised.

  “Why would you show me this?”

  “Make no mistake,” he says, “I don’t trust you, and I don’t believe for a moment that you can help me. But if you can – if you can use what you’ve learned to protect my offspring – then that will be enough. I don’t personally care if you live or die, but ult
imately, if you’re willing to act as a meat shield for my daughter, then you’ve served enough of a purpose.”

  He chuckles.

  “I also suspect that if I don’t give you something, then you won’t leave my sight.”

  “You’d be right about that,” I say, scanning the list.

  “Good. Then take that copy and get out of my sight.”

  I move to leave, but pause when I feel his eyes settle on me.

  “Listen, Companion. When I tell you to protect them, I mean it. If either one of them dies under your care, I’ll slaughter you myself. And you know first hand that I’m not joking.”

  My hand tightens around the paper.

  “I understand.”

  Luci’s in the bath again. The door is seeping flowery-scented steam, and I can hear running water. She’s going to let it overflow again, like she always does. Guess who’ll be forced to clean it up? I sigh and turn back to the list the Captain gave me.

  In the past few months, I’ve not learned quite as many names as I had hoped. Many listed seem familiar, even bringing faces to mind, but I’m not sure about any of them. But then my eyes settle at one near the top, and my stomach twists.

  Angelique. Of course.

  There’s no reason to take her off the list, I suppose. She’d stepped aside just before the disaster in the ballroom, having just finished her song. She never has been one to mingle with the commoners. And she is from Four – or, at least, she lived there for a time. No matter how she might try to deny the connection between us, it’s still there, written in black and white.

  I peruse the list further, finding several more familiar names, including Terri and Finn. Apparently, Finn’s great grandfather was from Four – a genetic anomaly like my mother, who moved to a higher Level after screening. Luckily, his profile suggests any trace of Four DNA is negligible at best. Perhaps he doesn’t know his own lineage. Perhaps he doesn’t care.

  Terri’s also listed – she did her basic medical training on Four. Makes sense. The lower you go in Pyre, the more likely you are to stumble across people who need medical care. It’s not unusual to come across people from One doing their doctorates in Four. But that doesn’t mean much on its own, either.

  A strange thought occurs. My name’s not on here – which makes sense, since I’m not registered. How hasn’t the Captain noticed that? And if he hadn’t before, he will now. After my display on the Bridge, there’s no way he won’t investigate me. Find out who I am, why I’m here. I can probably expect a knock on my door and cuffs around my wrist within a few days. My resolve hardens.

  “Quinn, can you pass me a towel?”

  I grab one and head towards the door, running through my choices again. There are several people I know on the list – but nobody who stands out. How am I supposed to investigate with no leads?

  I pass the towel to Luci and she wraps it around herself, shivering against the cold.

  “Thanks. I don’t suppose you’d mind going out and grabbing me some food?”

  “Are you still not leaving this room? Trust me, Luci. It does no good to stay locked up.”

  She bites her lip.

  “I’m just… not there yet. Is that okay?”

  “I’ll keep asking. In the meantime, let’s pick you up some dinner. What do you want?”

  She reels off enough food for a small feast, and I give a solemn nod. How she manages to stay so skinny, I’ll never know. When she finishes, she eyes me nervously.

  “Is it safe for you to go?” she asks, “we don’t know if there’s another attack planned.”

  “If someone from Four is behind the attacks, they probably won’t target me. They’re bound to know who I am.”

  “Even so… as far as they’re concerned, you work for me. Isn’t that a problem?”

  I bite my lip. Whoever’s behind these attacks hasn’t been discerning in choosing their victims. While passengers seem to be the obvious target, just as many crew members and Companions have been hurt, too.

  “It’ll be fine. I can handle myself.”

  “I know you can.”

  The walk to the dining hall is unnerving at best. The damage is still awful; although the rubble has been cleared away, the walls are still scratched and broken. The ballroom doors had been open at the time of the attack, so everything in the hallways was damaged, too. The halls look empty without furniture in them, and even the entrancing beauty of the universe outside can’t hide the devastation.

  I pause for a moment, eyes fixed on the field of meteors we’re flying through. They float unnervingly close before bouncing softly off the shields, and after a moment, I realise what that means. The trajectory of each one will change, and that will change the universe somehow – even if only the slightest bit. Our presence here will leave a mark long after we’re gone. Whenever that may be.

  I rub at my eye, disappointment filling my chest. Once, I was enthralled by the stars. I wanted nothing more than to walk amongst them, to watch as the universe burned and span in front of me. But now? The stunning sights leave me numb. That sense of wonder has faded, replaced by a constant, nagging sense of dread.

  Right now, I’d trade every star in the universe if I could make this ship safe.

  “Oi.”

  A low, growling voice rings out across the otherwise empty hallway, and my chest tightens. I whip around to look behind me, but there’s nobody there.

  “Quinn, right?”

  There it is again. I look around wildly. The voice echoes in the empty space; I can’t locate it. My hands curl into fists. I don’t have much in the way of fighting experience – but I’ll do my best.

  “Who’s there?”

  “A friend.”

  I grit my teeth, eyeing the curtains. That’s the only place they could be hiding.

  “Something tells me that a friend would reveal themselves.”

  “Can’t risk it. Don’t trust you yet.”

  “The feeling’s mutual,” I mutter, “what do you want?”

  “You’re looking into the attacks.”

  It’s a statement, not a question. Someone knows I’ve got the list.

  “What about it?”

  “They’re my doing. Mine and my friends.”

  My stomach churns. Great. I’m trapped with one of them.

  “Why would you tell me that? You know I’m going to try and stop you.”

  “You’re not supposed to be here.”

  The voice seems to shift, like the speaker is circling me. I whip around again, fists raised, but there’s nobody there. My panic builds.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “We saw it,” the voice says, “during the launch. You ran on board. You got in with the Captain’s kids. They’re hiding you.”

  “Y-you don’t know anything.”

  “We know enough.”

  I step back, pressing my shoulders to the wall. The voice seems light, almost casual, but I can’t escape the shiver of fear that works its way up my spine. It feels cold in here, suddenly, like any warmth has been sapped out of the air.

  How did they find out? Who else knows I’m a stowaway, aside from Isaac and Luci? Finn took a guess, but he doesn’t know the details. Sabina? She’s always been suspicious of me. But then again, she doesn’t know anything.

  My heart sinks. Could it be Terri? She was on the list. She saw the brand on my arm. And she’s damn smart. If anyone was going to put the pieces together, it would be her. Shame. I thought we were friends.

  “What are you going to do to me?” I ask, fearing the worst. But the voice just laughs.

  “Don’t worry. We know, but we won’t expose you. And we have no intention of hurting you. In fact, we want your help.”

  “Why the hell would I help you?! You’ve killed so many people. I’m nothing like you.”

  “Ah yes, the deaths. An... unfortunate side effect of what we’re trying to do. Things have gotten out of hand, I admit. We want to get it back under control.”

&nb
sp; “I don’t understand.”

  “You will. Look, tomorrow at six, the Captain plans to make a speech in the main hall. He’ll provide words of comfort to the passengers. He’ll promise their safety.”

  “This had better not be another attack.”

  “No. But during this time, all crew members will be present to ensure the passenger’s safety. That will leave the Bridge exposed, though the systems will be locked for safety. I want you to meet us there.”

  I stare.

  “Meet you? This isn’t coffee, you know. You’re asking me to meet with murderers. I have no reason to think you won’t just kill me.”

  “We have no intention of hurting you, but I suppose my word doesn’t count for much right now. So if it comforts you, don’t come alone. Bring no more than two people as protection. It can be whoever you like – just as long as you’re certain they can be trusted.”

  I growl. There are only be two people on board that I’d trust with this; but I don’t know if I can trust these… people… to hold up their side of the bargain.

  “Tell me now,” I say, my voice hard, “forget the meeting, forget the others. Tell me what you want from me now, instead.”

  “Not safe. Not private. Meet us there.”

  “No, wait! Listen to me…”

  But nobody responds. The room falls silent, so silent that for a moment, I wonder if I imagined the entire thing. For a moment I consider ripping the curtains aside to catch a glimpse of the speaker; but then I hear footsteps approaching, and I’m forced to stuff my hands into my pockets and make a quick exit.

  Nineteen

  “They said what?”

  Isaac leans forward, his eyes wide. We’re sitting on the lush carpet of his room, heads held together to ensure nobody will hear. Luci perches on the edge of the bed, her hands folded in her lap, her lips tight.

  “They want to meet me,” I repeat, “tomorrow at six, on the Bridge. They want me to talk to them.”

  “Well, of course you can’t. That’d be suicide. We’ll report it to our Dad, instead. He can set a trap. Catch them red-handed.”

  I shake my head.

  “There’s a problem with that. These people – whoever they are – they know who I am. They know I’m not supposed to be on board.”