Page 4 of Surrendering the Skies

“Not yet,” Marcus mumbled. “They can just leave it outside for us.”

Outside the window, the first pastel streaks of the sunset stretched across the sky, bathing the room in a soft glow. The muted light emphasized the coppery shades in Ash’s cropped hair and the golden-brown tones of Marcus’s exposed skin. It was a flawless picture, and Geneva hated to disrupt it. “You’re right,” she said. “Let’s stay here like this for as long as we can.”

Chapter Two

“Do you have everything you need? Did you pack everything you brought with you?” Dahlia scurried to the base of the wide staircase connecting the two levels of the sprawling mansion the Greysons called home. “Let me go check your room one more time.”

“Mother, I have plenty of experience packing my bag. I already organized everything three times.” Geneva stifled a sigh and tried to remember her mother meant well. “Besides, we really need to get going.”

“I know, I know.” Her heels clicked on the marble floor as she rushed back toward the front door. “It’s always difficult for me when you leave, and this new assignment of yours issolong, and—”

“It’s only nine months.” She forced a smile for her benefit. “Surely, I don’t need to remind you how I’ve been gone from this place for much longer stretches?”

“Yes, but not since you’ve been coming home on a more regular basis.” Exhaling, she tucked an errant wisp of her bright-red hair back into her elaborate updo. “At least you’re not flying straight into the middle of a war zone this time,” she said, sniffing.

“See? It could be a lot worse. We shouldn’t even mention how Ash hasn’t been home to see his family in almost two years.” Geneva tilted her head toward her companion. “The time will pass by before you know it. Plus, we’ll still be able to keep in touch with messages and video calls, even all the way out on Kasarad.”

Dahlia planted her hands on her hips and fixed Ash in a stern glare. “You’ll make sure she actually keeps up with her correspondence and doesn’t try to use that terrible place as an excuse?”

He lifted his hand in a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am. Geneva’s right—we’ll be back here before you have a chance to miss us.”

She stood on her toes and gave him a quick hug, then flung her arms around her daughter’s shoulders. “Be careful out there, sweetie,” she said, squeezing her tight. “And please, do call whenever you get a chance.”

“Yes, Mother.” Geneva returned the embrace. “I’ll be in touch as soon as I can.”

“I appreciate it.” Releasing her, she stepped back, the corners of her eyes damp. “I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Geneva grabbed the handles of her duffel bag and scooped it up. Outside, the searing glare of the two suns made her wince, and she shielded her eyes with one hand until they adjusted to the bright light. A hovercar waited for them at the end of the stone walkway, her parents’ driver prepared to take them to the spaceport in the capital. “I guess it’s time,” she said.

Ash looped an arm around her waist. “Is this where I say something dramatic and romantic about how I’d follow you to the ends of the universe and back?”

She elbowed him in the rib cage, laughing. “Seeing as how you’re assigned to the same ship as me, I don’t think you have much of a choice.”

“Hmm, true.” Leaning over, he kissed the top of her head. “But I mean it all the same.”

“I’m flattered.” Blowing out a long, slow breath, she trudged toward the hovercar. “Kasarad, here we come.”

***

Geneva strode into the room on one of the lower levels of the ship where her team had assembled for the meeting she’d scheduled. “Good morning,” she said. “I know we’ve gone over our protocols and objectives for this assignment a hundred times over the past few weeks, but since we’re expected to approach Kasarad’s orbit by the end of the day, the higher-ups want us to review everything for a hundred-and-first time.”

She plopped into one of the chairs that had been set up in an uneven circle and rested her datapad on one knee so she could consult her notes if necessary. The soldiers assigned to her were intelligent, competent people whom she trusted with her life, and she had zero doubts about their capabilities. Still, orders were orders, and she prepared to go down her list of crucial points.

“First up, and I’ve been told I cannot stress this enough, is equipment.” She glanced around the circle to ensure she held everyone’s attention. “Kasarad is very cold, and the gravitational force is a lot stronger than what we’re used to. I don’tthinkone tiny tear in your spacesuit would be enough to kill you, but let’s not find out, okay? I’d like to leave this planet at the end of the mission without any fatalities.”

Her fingers tapped the datapad’s screen. “I’ve sent you each a copy of the equipment checklist,” she continued. “Every day, you’ll need to complete the form and send it back to me. We should be able to make any minor repairs, and we’ll have some backups available, but I’m asking you to be careful. Again, we don’t want to take any unnecessary risks.”

No one spoke up to ask for any clarification, so Geneva moved on to the next topic. “As you know, research and testing are our primary goals here. I’ll pass on the specific details of our assignments as soon as I receive them, along with the time frames and deadlines, priority rankings, and so on.” She smirked. “The Terran military is actually asking us for our honest feedback on these projects, for once, so my suggestion is don’t hold anything back in your reports.”

That remark earned her a couple of half-hearted chuckles. Ash had always been better at using humor to deal with stressful situations, she thought. Switching off the datapad and placing it on the floor beside her, she leaned forward, clasping her hands together. “Lastly, I want to reiterate how I’m aware this assignment was not anybody’s preference. We’re going to be out here on our own for a long time, and I’m not going to lie, it probably won’t be a lot of fun.”

Several soldiers shifted in their seats or glanced downward. “Our options may be limited,” she said, “but let’s do our best to keep morale as high as we can. I’m not going to force you to partake in any fun activities we plan, but do what you need to do to take care of yourselves. Read your books, watch your shows, keep in touch with your loved ones.” She looked at each member of her team in turn. “Talk tome. If you’re having a hard time, I want to know about it and I’m here to help. I want this team leaving Kasarad in the same excellent condition as when we got here.”

“So, what, we’re going to have ice cream socials and movie nights?” someone asked.

“Maybe. I don’t know what the plans are yet.” Geneva lifted her chin. “But just so you know, if there’s any sort of trivia game or tournament, I play to win.”

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