Chapter 13
Ritter had sent them back to their cell around mid morning, and no one came to get them or give them food for the rest of the day.
Velda wanted to do something, but the space was too small to exercise, so she showered out of sheer boredom, then she and Ethan lay back down on the narrow bed.
He was quiet and thoughtful, and she let her eyes close and snuggled in, enjoying the feel of his arm around her, the sound of his heart beating in his chest.
If she wasn’t sure they were being watched by the black lens in the top corner of the cell, she knew they’d have found some creative ways to pass the time, but there was no way she was putting on a show for Ritter and the guards.
Ethan nuzzled her ear, and she smiled against his neck, sure his thoughts were running along the same track as hers.
“Damn lens,” he murmured.
The ship suddenly pinched to the black, the strange feeling of pressure holding her down was unmistakeable, and she recalled the captain telling Ritter it was going to happen later while they were still tied to the gurneys this morning.
Something about picking up a prisoner who’d escaped.
She’d wondered which prisoner, or if it was someone new who’d been imprisoned while she and Ethan had been making their way through the mountains.
The ship came out of the pinch, rocking a little, and then she felt a smooth acceleration as it went back to normal speed.
“That was a quick pinch,” she said, and felt Ethan’s nod of agreement.
And still, no one came, hours stretching out with no activity. She was dozing when she sensed someone by the door, and was suddenly on her feet, facing it.
What disturbed her was that she hadn’t felt in control of the movement.
Ethan moved, too, his body flowing in that effortless, efficient way of his, settling down in front of her, making his body a shield between her and the door.
She pressed a hand to his back, freaking out at what had just happened.
Something had controlled her.
She felt a sudden flow of reassurance, as if whatever had forced her to move was trying to soothe her fears, but that just made her breathing hitch a little higher, because it was coming from within.
“Velda?” Ethan sounded like he had some sense of her panic, but he kept his gaze on the door.
“All good.” She swallowed down the tremor in her voice, cleared her throat.
How she moved was a problem for later. Why she moved was clear from the sounds coming from beyond the door.
It opened, and it was four guards, this time, along with the captain, Ritter, and a woman she’d never seen before.
“It’s definitely her,” the woman said. “I thought that was her on the comms feed. Velda Shan?ha. And that’s Ethan Hyt, commander of Demeter Special Forces.”
The captain lifted his shoulders. “We didn’t know. And I don’t see what difference it makes.”
The woman narrowed her eyes at the two men, unwilling to concede. “They were supposed to die, as far as I’m aware. I was told the plan was to shoot down their runner.”
“Well, someone must have missed. And we needed the test subjects.” Ritter seemed to be in agreement with the captain, unsure what the fuss was about. “There’s no way we’re killing them until after I’ve . . .” He slid a sly look at the guards. “Until after I’ve finished the test work.”
The woman stared at her and Ethan for another beat, then turned on her heel and stalked off, shaking her head. Ritter and the captain exchanged a look that said they didn’t care much for the dramatics.
“Feeling all right?” Ritter asked, his gaze suddenly focused on them.
Velda lifted her shoulders and her hands, being as non-committal as possible.
Ritter tilted his head, looked at his screen, and then closed the door.
“Do you think that’s the prisoner they were talking about?” Velda wondered who she was, because she didn’t recognize her, and she was kept up-to-date on all high-profile prisoners. “We’ve been gone from Demeter for less than a week.”
“She’s obviously involved in this whole scheme,” Ethan said. “So someone must have arrested her since we crashed.”
“And then someone else broke her out and got her up to nearspace.” It was depressing just thinking about it. Because it meant there were moles everywhere. In Nanganya, in her own department. Even in the military, as the captain had said the prisoner was in a military prison.
“And whoever she is, she’s plugged in enough on Aponi to recognize the both of us,” Ethan said.
“And wants us dead.” Velda didn’t like that part so much.
“Fortunately, Ritter’s got other plans for us.” Ethan stretched, and Velda admired all the muscles while it lasted.
He caught her gaze and gave a tiny smile.
She felt like stretching herself, or doing a handstand against the wall. Anything to move her body rather than do nothing, as they had been for what felt like far too long.
Except she hadn’t done a handstand of any kind since she was about eleven years old, and yet she was sure she would be able to do one now, no problem.
Her gaze flew to Ethan, and he stepped closer, concerned. “What?”
She shook her head. “Nothing.”
Ethan frowned, drew her in close. “What is it?” he whispered.
“I want to move, or do something.” She kept the handstand part to herself. “But . . .”
“They’re watching,” he agreed. “Better to act listless.”
He drew her back down onto the bed, and she forced herself to relax, to endure the inactivity as best she could.
Ethan wove his fingers through hers, and that helped soothe her. She thought there was a tingle of awareness where their skin touched, but as soon as she noticed it, it faded.
Or maybe hid.
She worried her lip, not sure where her mind was going with that.
It was less than an hour after the door had opened last time when Ethan raised his head, gaze snapping open to stare at the door, and Velda drew her legs up, pushing back so she could lean against the wall at the top of the bed.
Ethan sat up and swung his legs down, angled to see who was about to appear. He looked half asleep, but she knew with certainty he was anything but.
She thought it interesting neither of them had stood this time. Either whatever her new warning system was didn’t think there was as much of a threat, or they’d decided to switch up the response.
The door opened and it was Ritter again, with the two guards, but the new woman was there, as well.
Velda took an immediate dislike to her. It felt as if she was watching them like they were an exotic species she’d never encountered before.
“How did the Aponi Head of Planetary Defense end up in your clutches, Ritter?” The woman leaned against the doorjamb as the guards did their usual dance of getting them in their restraints.
“Brink got them for me from the mine site.” Ritter was watching them like they were delicate explosives that could blow at the smallest jostle.
Velda had almost forgotten about Brink. She hadn’t seen the woman since she’d shot them both in the little admin office at the mine. She wondered what her role on the ship and in this operation was. She’d certainly seemed to boss Ridgeman, the mine manager, around.
“The mine site?” The woman straightened. “You walked from where they brought down your hover all the way to the mine site?”
Velda shrugged. “We were headed for Demeter. Stumbled across it by accident.”
The woman didn’t look like she believed them. “That’s one hell of a coincidence.”
“Not when the mine is all lit up at night, running engines. It wasn’t on our route, but it was difficult to ignore,” Ethan said.
The woman swore. “What were they thinking?”
“They were obeying orders. With Salisas not reporting in, Pontia dead, you on Ytla and then in prison, and with no access to the warehouse that was storing the ore, we didn’t have enough trivolun to keep the Caruso sweet. It was run full tilt, or lose the alliance.”
The person speaking was Brink, Velda recognized her voice, although the woman was just beyond the doorway, and she couldn’t see her. She did not like the person who’d shot her and Ethan and then handed them over to Ritter.
“Did Opek get the ore in the end?” the woman asked, turning to address Brink over her shoulder.
“He said he did. But something happened to the Caruso ship that came down to get the ore.” Brink spoke with an edge.
“Something?” The woman asked.
“It blew up. Probably shot down by the military, but the Caruso aren’t happy. You’re lucky the top bosses value you enough to make us swing by to get you, rather than go straight to the delivery coordinates so we can hand the trivolun over to them.”
“Aren’t I just?” The woman sounded sarcastic.
“It was one of the Caruson’s small Raptors that was taken out,” Brink said, her tone saying she didn’t like the attitude at all. “They say you told them Demeter was a safe zone. That we’d taken the city. Which we had not.”
“I told them what I was told to tell them, and then I was ordered to take a side trip to Ytla.” The woman’s voice was low and mean.
“I was not the one attacking the capital. If that attack wasn’t successful, that’s not on me.
And it landed me in jail afterward, because in the aftermath, the authorities were very ticked off about the damage, and only had little old me to point the finger at as I arrived back. ”
“What’s on Ytla that was more important than taking the city?” Ritter asked. He’d been listening in to the conversation as avidly as Velda had been.
The woman seemed to realize how many people were watching the byplay between her and Brink, and she shook her head. “None of your business.” She shoved past Brink, and disappeared down the passageway.
Interesting. As it happened, Velda had a pretty good idea what was on Ytla that was potentially more important than taking the capital of Aponi. Wren Thorakis had laid it out quite well for her and Ethan. It was why they’d gone to Nanganya in the first place.
“Nothing sticks to that woman,” Brink said, finally stepping into the doorway. “She’s never in the wrong and she always comes out on top.”
“I’ve heard more than one rumor Linao isn’t who she says she is,” Ritter said to Brink. “She’s never met a consequence that wasn’t waived, apparently. Burning an asset to break her out of prison and then taking a massive detour to fetch her is totally in keeping with that.”
Brink’s gaze swept over Velda and Ethan. “You two seem none the worse for wear,” she said, as if reminding Ritter who they were talking in front of.
“No thanks to you,” Velda said. “Ethan was shot twice in the space of an hour.”
“Was he?” Ritter spun to look at Ethan. “No one told me that.” He glared at Brink. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“I didn’t know. You knew I shot them both to get them in here.” Brink bristled at his accusatory tone.
“Did I?” Ritter frowned. Looked down at his screen. “Maybe. But how was he shot twice?”
“One of the security guards at the mine shot him just before the ship landed,” Velda said. “Then Brink shot him again.”
“Could that be why . . .?” Ritter tapped a finger to his lips. “Let’s test you again.”
Brink studied them, then stepped back to allow the guards to herd them through the door. “They’re not working out?” she asked.
“Early days,” Ritter said, but Velda thought he sounded annoyed. “At least they can’t say no.”
For now, Velda thought to herself.
But watch out when the tables turn, asshole.