Page 115 of Between Earth and Eternity
Vallen returns the gesture in gratitude. “Anyone else?”
Runa looks apologetic as she says, “What of her reputation? Your father no doubt has her on his radar.”
I feel sweat beading on my forehead. She’s right. I could jeopardize them if extra eyes are on me already.
“I’ve contemplated this,” Vallen begins, glancing in my direction. “With the extraction site approaching, there isn’t a lot of time for anything else to go amiss. I believe I can deter my father from us as long as weallstay discreet until then.” He does his best to squash the smirk on his lips. “We should be long gone before they truly suspect something.”
They all ponder this for a minute.
“Extraction site?” I whisper.
“I’ll explain later,” he replies, squeezing my hand lightly.
“It’s risky, as everything usually is, but security has been relatively quiet as of late,” Laz says. “There hasn’t been anythingto indicate Mannox is more suspicious than usual. No extra security walls or memos for any security personnel.”
“As far as you know,” Payson mumbles.
“Nothing goes on aboard this ship with me knowing. I’ve planted moles in nearly every system,” Laz says, sitting up a little straighter.
“Nearlyis the key word,” Pace digs to rile him, but Laz only smiles.
“How about you do your job and I’ll do mine.”
“Enough,” Vallen says, his authoritative tone silencing them in an instant.
“Now that I know the truth, a couple of weeks should be manageable,” I say, lighthearted but genuine.
Payson lets out an incredulous laugh that makes my skin crawl.
“Do you really want to do this here? I thought a private conversation would be best, but maybe I was mistaken,” I retort. His jaw locks, and he remains silent. “We can talk later,” I add softly, stepping forward. “Just give me a chance to explain.”
He eventually nods in agreement. A very small win for now.
“I will do whatever is asked of me, whatever Nova needs. I’m pledging myself to this cause, here and now. If you will have me.”Please,I want to add, but I don’t want to seem too desperate, even if I am.
“Those in favor?” Vallen raises his arm, and everyone quickly follows suit, even Payson.
“Welcome to Nova!” Laz shouts, rising to his feet and rushing over to scoop me up into a hug.
The meeting moves to the massive dining table, where Bex brings out a variety of food and drinks. It actually doesn’t look at all conspicuous. For some reason, I was thinking we would be meeting in a dimly lit room, much like the one behind Vallen’s bookshelves, but this seems almost normal.
“Is this how meetings usually go?” I ask Vallen between conversations of other Nova factions and their whereabouts.
“Sometimes. Laz is good about cloaking cameras and scanners to cover our tracks. We try not to do it if we don’t have to. The less digital footprints the better.”
I feel guilty for causing them unnecessary work and exposure.
“Hey.” He bumps his knee against mine under the table. “It’s all good. I promise.”
I smile gratefully, and he looks . . . happy. Content and relaxed with me here.
After a few more rounds of check-ins that I try to follow, Captain Carter proposes a change in topic. “I think it’s best we bring Miss Andrews up to date on 224.”
“The floor is yours, Captain,” Vallen says.
“Thank you.” He stands to take a place at the head of the table. A large hologram appears in the middle. “224, as in Day 224 of Zenith’s voyage, will bring us to the edge of this asteroid field.”
The hologram materializes into a map, showing Zenith’s projected path. “This large field will be our cover when we disembark Zenith with all the supplies and data we have been slowly stealing since we left Earth.
