Page 47 of Commander’s Mate

I had known the possibility from the moment Harper described a world no one aboard recognized. Hearing it confirmed was different.

I should have felt only sorrow for her.

I did feel sorrow.

Under it, shamefully, relief opened.

She could not go home.

She might stay.

I despised the thought even as I understood where it came from.

Degatu came to stand beside me. “You have to tell them.”

“Yes.”

“Them,” he repeated. “Not only Harper. You are the commander responsible for rescued people.”

I looked at him.

“If you stand before her looking pleased by tragedy, she may hate you. She may be right to.”

“I am not pleased.”

“You are relieved.”

I said nothing.

“That is not the same thing. But make sure you know the difference before you ask her to.”

The words struck too close.

I turned back to Tivid. “Continue the Earth search. If even a partial coordinate appears, bring it to me and the Admiral immediately.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“And Breskaa?”

“Preliminary report within two hours.”

Two hundred Farseek citizens, alive when sold. Harper and three Earth women from a world erased from the records. Nearly a hundred rescued captives waiting to learn where they could go.

Victory had lasted less than an hour.

“Prepare the origin report,” I said. “I will tell them myself.”

Chapter Ten

Harper

Zared came back with bad news written all over his face.

I saw it before he spoke, before the conference room quieted, before Scarlet muttered, “Oh, hell.”

He stood inside the doorway in his dark green uniform, grief in his eyes.

My hands went cold.