Page 22 of Commander’s Mate

I would not give them false forever.

Zoe closed her eyes in relief. Kyanna began crying again, though quietly. Scarlet leaned back in her chair and said, “Well, that was fun. Let’s never do it again.”

Harper came closer, stopping an arm’s length away. She had changed into one of our oversized inner shirts. It covered her better than the slave garment, though not enough for my peace of mind. Or perhaps my peace of mind was no longer available.

“Thank you,” she said.

“For surviving?”

“For coming back.”

Ah.

Something in my chest shifted.

“I said I would.”

“People say things.”

“Yes.”

“And you also said you would explain what happens next.”

“I did.”

“So?”

Around us, the room had gone very quiet. The women were listening. Good. They deserved answers too.

I looked from Harper to the others. “We are en route to a temporary safe vector before turning toward Halor. Governor Guryon will receive his daughter there. Those of you from Consortium worlds may request return transport through Halor authorities. Those whose worlds are unknown or unsafe may request asylum. Those who wish to remain with Farseek will be considered under our protection and eventual settlement sponsorship.”

Scarlet lifted one hand. “And Earth?”

The word changed Harper’s face before I could answer.

“Tivid is searching the auction records now,” I said. “I will not guess before he reports. If there is a route to your world, we will tell you.”

Harper studied me for a long moment. “Even if you don’t like what the answer means?”

Every instinct in me knew exactly what she was asking. “Even then.”

She nodded once. It was not trust. Not yet. But it was something I intended to deserve.

I left the room before the need to stay beside her became another kind of order.

Chapter Six

Zared

The jump completed with the ugly vibration of a ship asking more from its engines than the engineers would have approved if anyone had bothered to ask them.

For six breaths, the bridge stayed silent.

Then Dreadnought One began reporting everything that had gone wrong.

“Shield emitters four and seven are cycling irregularly.”

“Outer hull scoring, portside auxiliary bay.”