Page 4 of Across The Stars
She didn’t look very happy and I was beginning to wonder what she did inside that trashy little establishment. While she seemed kind of lost in thought, I hailed a taxi on the main road. They were automated, but the systems listened and logged every conversation and when Sam still didn’t say anything, I assumed it was because she wanted privacy.
When we arrived at our building, I watched Sam like a hawk, worried. We ascended to our apartment and slipped inside. As soon as the door closed, she immediately spun toward me with a giant smile smeared across her face. I stood there wide-eyed,unsure what to say after the whole ride home was filled with uncomfortable silence.
“Tell me,” I demanded.
She pulled an envelope from her oversized jacket pocket and took out its contents. Unfolding the papers, she flipped them over to show me what they were. The first thing I saw was the red writing on the top of the documents.
Official Nexus Work Order
I reached out and snatched the papers, sifting through them. I found Sam’s name on top of one and skimmed over it.
Samantha P. Worthington
Application accepted: Nexus medical personnel. Level 7. Identification Number: 33-27-07
Common work placement.
Other qualifications: Biochemistry
I raised my brow at her. “Biochemistry and medical?”
Sam shrugged. “The guys added it. Not me. Said openings were slim so it was my best chance not to get promoted any time soon.”
I flipped to my own documents and read over the qualifications.
Innifer G. Harmon
I cocked a brow at that.
“What?” Sam shrugged. “I didn’t want to use our legal names.”
“Did it have to be my mom’s name, though?”
“Sorry.”
I sighed and continued reading.
Application accepted: Nexus Pilot Program. Level 9. Identification Number: 58-09-12
Common work placement
Other Qualifications: Linguistics and combat. Level 12
My breath caught in my throat a little. “Piloting?”
“You said your dad was a pilot,” Sam said. “I just figured—"
I rolled my eyes. “God, I don’t know anything about flying. What if—"
“Then we deal with it up there,” Sam said, pointing toward the ceiling. “The guys said it’s rare to be promoted in your first year, so we have that long to figure it out. But these documents are legit.”
I folded the papers back up neatly. Before I slid them into the envelope, I pulled out two ID badges. I wasn’t sure how to tell if something looked authentic and I was sure the real trick was getting them past scanners and security checkpoints, but to me they looked real. Our photos were on them, which we had submitted to the “guys” weeks ago. Already, I missed my real name.
“They said those will get us through the security checkpoints,” Sam explained. “They uploaded all of our information to those badges. Denz used to work for Nexus security before they fired him. He knows his way around and he knows how far they’ll go if they want to. As long as we don’t give them a reason, we should be fine.”
“We better not give them a reason,” I said, looking closely at the little, blue circuits inside the transparent border on the badge. “I worked my ass off for the money they took. Literally. And I sold everything I own.” I looked up at Sam again. “You didn’t do anything extra for these, did you?”
“Just some simulated stuff,” she said with a shrug. “It was all acting, but it got us these.”
