Chapter 29 #4
“My life would have ended there,” Arco said softly. “My parents had dedicated their lives to the Naturalist way. They were prepared to accept the heartbreak. Except, I remembered a story.”
Her posture straightened as her chin raised.
“My friend told me his pretty eyes were cloned parts. His DNA needed fixing before the medics would let him have the new eyes. His siblings and one parent had the same treatments. I asked my parents why my situation was different. What I didn’t know, but they did, was that my friend’s grandparent was the Prime of Gaia’s select circle. The enclave’s leaders.”
Renner knew the stench of hypocrisy from way back, and it still pissed him off. He breathed deeper to give his anger a chance to bleed off.
“My parents felt massively betrayed,” Arco said.
“They were also smart enough to gather hard evidence before confronting the leaders. It became a colossal clusterfuck. The enclave agreed to buy my family’s communal shares in exchange for our departure and absolute silence.
My parents took the deal because they loved me.
They also believed revealing the secret would shatter the community and hurt thousands of people who found a spiritual home in an enclave that accepted minders. ”
Renner absorbed the weight of that sacrifice. “They gave up everything.”
“I only learned about the deal later,” Arco murmured.
“I just knew my parents had to upend their lives to save me. We moved to another planet, changed our names, and they got jobs in an unfamiliar high-tech world. While I spent the next few years bouncing between medical centers, I consumed every publication I could find.”
She turned slightly, resting her cheek against his chest so she could look up at him.
“Somewhere in there, my finder talent came online. It started showing me patterns. Connections. People still told me their stories. I wrote my first piece about a corrupt deal with a medical equipment supplier. I sold it to a local media company under a secret pen name. I was fifteen. I’d heard enough stories about the CPS even back then to make sure I flunked the mandatory talent testing at age eighteen. ”
Renner stared down into her eyes, seeing the fierce, unyielding core of the woman he loved.
“The ‘Arco’ name became semi-famous later through luck.” A corner of her mouth quirked with a humorless smile.
“It could have been any of a half-dozen identities I used at the time. I became a journalist to be worthy of my parents’ sacrifice.
I needed to do something good for people.
I wanted to help them get fairness and justice. ”
Pieces of the puzzle came together for Renner. “That’s why you were so upset when the assassin killed your team. And why you hired me even though I didn’t like you well enough to die for you.”
Arco winced. “That was an asshole thing for me to say. I wanted to put space between us. I didn’t want you to think I was collecting a debt. I hoped your fierce will to live would keep me alive, too.”
He considered her words. “You have a talent for making people feel seen. We tell you shit we would never tell anyone else. I took the job because I needed that connection. Your words have done more to expose the CPS than violence could. My staying wasn’t a sacrifice.
It was respect.” He tilted his head down to kiss her softly. “It was love.”
She smiled against his lips. The quiet moment stretched between them.
Renner realized her career had been a clever use of her unique talents. “You still have those gifts. You need a new purpose.”
“I know.” Arco rested her head against his chest again.
“It scares me, to be honest. I have money saved with no ties to my former empire, but no more income. I also found another Davidro account to drain, so you have more money now, too. It’s a drop in the ocean compared to what you deserve, but it will keep you from starving. ”
“What is really important to you?” Renner asked. Neirra used to ask him that same question a lot. It had infuriated him back then. Now, he recognized its importance.
Arco fell silent, her expression unreadable. “I want to be safe with you. But I don’t know where that is. People are… tense. The CPS’s stupidity will ripple out for years.” She looked up at him. “What’s important to you?”
“Besides keeping you safe?” Renner shook his head. “I tank at plans, but I probably need one.”
“I’m a workaholic, maybe out of habit. Or maybe guilt.” She snorted in amusement. “Atonement makes a terrible long-term career goal.”
That hit home for Renner. “I can’t say that vengeance is any better.”
He twitched slightly when Soleil’s voice came over his earwire. “Seven minutes to jump. No traffic, and no patrols. Engines are green-go. See you in transit.”
Renner checked the clock display on the wall. The ship must be operating on standard GDAT time because there was absolutely zero chance it was noon back in Ridderth. He mentally thanked whoever had installed the displays throughout the ship.
He cocooned Arco more tightly in his embrace. An unfamiliar but welcome peace seeped into his bones. “We have time. We will figure it out.”