Chapter 31
The Julian this weekend’s Julian this was a foregone conclusion.
But she didn’t think it would get announced like that, without Clarke being given so much as a courtesy heads-up.
Why does she keep being surprised when Yves takes every available opportunity to further ostracize her? Why does she keep letting him?
Debrief ends with a round of applause for Raff. Clarke has an escape route plotted in her head, but only gets as far as the hallway before Yves catches up and tugs her into his office.
“I’m sure you’re wondering what Raff’s new contract means for you.” Yves pulls a holoscreen out of his desk. “I imagine this will answer most of your questions.”
It’s a contract. It’s Clarke’s contract, her current one, just with the expiration date crossed out and the end of the season two years from now filled in instead.
“This is an extension offer,” Clarke says slowly, kaleidoscoping through emotions.
“It is.” Yves sits on the side of his desk, crosses his arms. “Congratulations.”
There is murder in her heart. “An extension, as in, the exact same terms. Salary. Clauses. Everything?”
“We think it’s fair, given your inconsistent performance and the dissension you’ve caused in the team.”
There’s this breathing technique F0 pilots get taught, to manage stress and control their heart rate in the seat. Clarke uses it now, inhaling through her nose for a count for four, holding for four, and blowing out through a nonexistent straw for eight. “And is this open to negotiation?”
“You’re welcome to speak with your manager and propose modifications,” Yves says, in a tone that means no. “I’ll have a copy sent to you and Rhynn.”
“Thanks.” Clarke takes the breathing exercise one step further and pushes herself into full race-mode compartmentalization. One step at a time. Get out of here without exploding, that’s all she needs to do until the next thing she needs to do. “I’ll see you Tuesday at HQ.”
Yves moves around to his desk chair. “You’re not taking the team transport back to Luna tomorrow?”
Clarke’s ship has failed, one way or another, in more than half of this season’s races. Clarke’s style and strengths are not being considered in the development of next year’s ship. Clarke’s team leadership doesn’t respect or value her.
Clarke is done with this.
She clears her throat. “I think I’ll travel separately. So I can think. Separately.”
Yves’s cuff pings, and Clarke loses his attention. She leaves the room, then the paddock, then the space station.