Page 42

Jace closed his eyes. Of course, she behaved in a way that would comfort him or goad him or make him behave the way the AIs needed him to. There was nothing about him they didn’t know. But he had thought that these were their personalities coming out, regardless of him.

“Pilot?” Khoth hesitantly reached for Jace’s nearest forearm.

“One sec, Kh--Commander,” Jace replied tightly as his throat was tight with emotion. He really, really needed a hug, but he held himself stiff and apart.

Khoth stood there at attention, looking down at him with those blue-on-blue eyes with tenderness. But Khoth was careful to have his head turned so that none saw this but Jace. They were in front of the entire bridge crew and “on stage” in a lot of ways. His weakness to the mention of those boys’ deaths the other night showed him that the crew responded to all of his moods. His distress at the moment could infect them if it was noticed. He felt their joy at the thought of leaving Earth for the first time.

Drs. Isa and Kerr were there to represent Medical on this maiden voyage. Matias was there with Chili--who had on a new bowtie for the occasion of Earth blue--along with several exo-biologists.

Dai Suzuki was representing Engineering with a gaggle of other scientists and engineers. Of course, they were all clustered around Gehenna.

Dr. Hayter was bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet as he spoke to Thammah about the Thaf’ell languages. He was determined to have something to offer Jace in this department. His father was looking quite bemused at the linguist. He met Jace’s eyes and nodded his head in greeting. Though he was separate from Jace’s mother, he showed none of the sadness Jace knew he felt.

She had departed earlier that morning. Jace had watched from afar as his parents spoke to one another outside of the dropship that would take her to Earth’s first Colossus-class ship, the Galatea. They’d held each other’s hands and their eyes never left one another’s. Finally, they had kissed and then rested their foreheads against one another’s as if they could physically imprint on each other.

Jace wondered if his parents regretted their decisions for his father to stay with Jace and his mother to remain with the US military. He prayed they didn’t. He knew that if they did, he would never know. He wished they would tell him if they couldn’t bear to be separated, but both of them were hugely duty-bound. Their love for one another and him was boundless, but they served their duty too.

Jace looked away from his father to Lieutenant-Commander Martin Davies. Davies stood at stiff attention with his eyes practically nailed to the back of Jace’s head. He had been named head of security. Considering he was a spy that was his and Khoth’s little joke. But it served two purposes.

The first was to keep him well occupied. The less time he had to spy, the better. General Intoshkin did not wish their mission to fail so Davies would be good at his job and not try to sabotage them. The second was to test Davies’ loyalty. Being in charge of a part of the crew, being made to report to him and Khoth, being simply included would cause someone like Davies to feel a connection. He’d been completely loyal to the people under his command before. Jace didn’t think that he would be able to have some loyalty to the new ones. He was counting on that. Of anyone, other than Khoth, he would notice if Jace was acting in anything other than a normal manner. Jace gritted his jaw.

I want you guys to be yourselves, Jace told the AIs. I don’t want you to be certain ways to please me!

You are the Pilot, Gehenna said quietly. All we are is to be of service to you. It is what we want.

You’re people. Separate from me! Jace insisted.

We learn from you. Your priorities become ours to the extent that they do not conflict with our main objective, the Osiris stated.

But… but you’re not machines. I mean you are--

Oh, Jace! We know what you mean! Huge hearts floated up.

We behave within parameters. You must not concern yourself with what you perceive is a lack of free will on our behalf, the Osiris stated quite firmly. You do not see yourself clearly if you believe that you oppress us.

Osiris! Gehenna sounded almost shocked. That was actually kind! And true!

I wish the Pilot to understand. Being kind is vague and not satisfactory, the Osiris answered her.

Jace let out a small chuckle, which had Khoth staring hard at him. He waved a hand.

“It’s okay. I’m just… the AIs save the best revelations just when we’re about to make history,” Jace explained.

Those elegant eyebrows rose. Jace remembered tracing them with his fingertips the night before. He’d thought that they would make love last night after the party, but he’d been so tired, so worn out all of the sudden, that he’d just curled against Khoth who wound around him protectively. He had never slept so deeply or so well. The excitement and duties of the morning had ensured that other than some deep kisses, they had remained chaste together. Jace didn’t mind. There was time. And it had honestly been the most intimate thing he’d ever done with anyone. He flashed his best smile at the Thaf’ell Commander who blued slightly and lifted his eyebrows again.

“I’ll explain later. Go to address the crew. We’re about to leave orbit and head to the Gate,” Jace said.

“They are all eager to hear what you have to say,” Khoth said.

The two of them turned towards the crew on the bridge, but they weren’t the only people who would hear him. Everyone, throughout the ship, would. Bright, eager faces focused on him and Khoth. Even Lieutenant-Commander Davies appeared something other than stoic. Was there excitement in his eye?

Buy into this mission, Davies. You will want to be here. You will understand that you want to be wholly a part of us, Jace thought.

His Commander stood tall and sure, with his arms crossed over his broad chest, making Jace feel almost petite, but definitely protected. Jace brought his hands together in front of his chin and held them there as he regarded the crew. His own smile grew more and more genuine as he fed off of their excitement.

“Members of the Osiris crew, take one last look at Earth,” Jace told them.

The planet appeared to rise behind him. A beautiful blue and white jewel in the darkness of space.