scoping for someone to use as target practice. Dalton had disappeared. Wise move.
“Aunt Essie.” She faced her. “I’m sorry.”
“Goddamned right.” Essie strode into the kitchen, hands on hips, dressed all in black. “You’re lucky Riley has such good contacts and could get that boy to get you out of there.”
“I know.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about that message?”
“When, exactly? You haven’t been home. You’re never home. And it’s not like you could bring yourself to come with me to see Dad.” Even as she said it she knew she sounded like a whiny brat.
Aunt Essie spoke through gritted teeth. “I was working. I told you that already.”
“All night? I couldn’t even contact you on the com. Riley said you were with him sometimes.”
Her aunt exhaled hard, running her hands through her hair. “I’m allowed to keep some things to myself, aren’t I? Just what do you want from me, Rosie? I’m doing the best I can. I’m not cut out for this. I’m not like your mum, or like Adam used to be.” She was looking at her with a desperation that Rosie had never seen before. “I thought we were in this together.”
“So did I,” Rosie said. “But lately you’re just never there.”
Essie sighed and sat down heavily. “I know,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry, kid. Sometimes I forget how young you are. You’re just so capable.”
An apologetic half-smile crossed her face and Rosie whispered, “Doesn’t feel like it sometimes.”
Aunt Essie’s smile faded. “I know. And I know I should go see him, but …” She shook her head. “I don’t think that helps either of us. Him or me. Still, you should have told me about that message. I was home a bit, enough, wasn’t I?”
Rosie could feel her heart shrinking to the size of an amoeba. She was scared but she didn’t want to voice it. Silence settled over them, only interrupted by the distant rush of the ocean and the faint sound of Dalton playing his guitar again.
Her aunt touched her arm. “I understand that you’re scared, but we’ve got to deal with what’s happening now and I’m not going to let anyone get to you. Are you going to be a Black and sort this out?”
Rosie took in a long breath and straightened up. “Sure. Let’s get it over with.”
“Good.” But she was still eyeing her like she wasn’t quite sure she was ready. “Come on, I’ve got a car waiting.”
“I’ll get my bag.” Rosie went to the room she’d slept in. When she came out Dalton was leaning against the wall.
“So,” he said, “Senate Prime.”
“Yep.” Rosie slung the bag over her good shoulder.
“I’m guessing Riley has a plan.”
“Hope so.” Rosie’s fingers felt cold where they clutched her bag. “Thanks for the fighting lessons and, um, everything. My aunt’s waiting.” Rosie walked past him.
“Hey, Pilot Girl,” he called and she turned. “Watch your back. I don’t want to have to rescue you again.” He smiled, but it was a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
CHAPTER 10
Senate Prime was a thirty-storey building that took up one entire side of Aurora Plaza in Central. The plaza was a massive pedestrian space dotted with patches of fake greenery and numerous AI information booths. A tall, clear column in the centre of the square provided access to a suspended shuttle station, several transport tubes shooting up and down inside it.
Rosie’s heart was beating way too fast when they stopped at the entrance. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down, and stared up at the edifice of curved metal and solar glass. The sky above was the washed-out blue of late summer and she could see a slight shimmer coming off the top four storeys of the building, as if it was surrounded by some kind of invisible field. Maybe it was.
“Ready?” Aunt Essie said.
“No.” They’d spent the trip going over how things were supposed to play out, but it hadn’t made her feel any better and she was sweating despite
“Aunt Essie.” She faced her. “I’m sorry.”
“Goddamned right.” Essie strode into the kitchen, hands on hips, dressed all in black. “You’re lucky Riley has such good contacts and could get that boy to get you out of there.”
“I know.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about that message?”
“When, exactly? You haven’t been home. You’re never home. And it’s not like you could bring yourself to come with me to see Dad.” Even as she said it she knew she sounded like a whiny brat.
Aunt Essie spoke through gritted teeth. “I was working. I told you that already.”
“All night? I couldn’t even contact you on the com. Riley said you were with him sometimes.”
Her aunt exhaled hard, running her hands through her hair. “I’m allowed to keep some things to myself, aren’t I? Just what do you want from me, Rosie? I’m doing the best I can. I’m not cut out for this. I’m not like your mum, or like Adam used to be.” She was looking at her with a desperation that Rosie had never seen before. “I thought we were in this together.”
“So did I,” Rosie said. “But lately you’re just never there.”
Essie sighed and sat down heavily. “I know,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry, kid. Sometimes I forget how young you are. You’re just so capable.”
An apologetic half-smile crossed her face and Rosie whispered, “Doesn’t feel like it sometimes.”
Aunt Essie’s smile faded. “I know. And I know I should go see him, but …” She shook her head. “I don’t think that helps either of us. Him or me. Still, you should have told me about that message. I was home a bit, enough, wasn’t I?”
Rosie could feel her heart shrinking to the size of an amoeba. She was scared but she didn’t want to voice it. Silence settled over them, only interrupted by the distant rush of the ocean and the faint sound of Dalton playing his guitar again.
Her aunt touched her arm. “I understand that you’re scared, but we’ve got to deal with what’s happening now and I’m not going to let anyone get to you. Are you going to be a Black and sort this out?”
Rosie took in a long breath and straightened up. “Sure. Let’s get it over with.”
“Good.” But she was still eyeing her like she wasn’t quite sure she was ready. “Come on, I’ve got a car waiting.”
“I’ll get my bag.” Rosie went to the room she’d slept in. When she came out Dalton was leaning against the wall.
“So,” he said, “Senate Prime.”
“Yep.” Rosie slung the bag over her good shoulder.
“I’m guessing Riley has a plan.”
“Hope so.” Rosie’s fingers felt cold where they clutched her bag. “Thanks for the fighting lessons and, um, everything. My aunt’s waiting.” Rosie walked past him.
“Hey, Pilot Girl,” he called and she turned. “Watch your back. I don’t want to have to rescue you again.” He smiled, but it was a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
CHAPTER 10
Senate Prime was a thirty-storey building that took up one entire side of Aurora Plaza in Central. The plaza was a massive pedestrian space dotted with patches of fake greenery and numerous AI information booths. A tall, clear column in the centre of the square provided access to a suspended shuttle station, several transport tubes shooting up and down inside it.
Rosie’s heart was beating way too fast when they stopped at the entrance. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down, and stared up at the edifice of curved metal and solar glass. The sky above was the washed-out blue of late summer and she could see a slight shimmer coming off the top four storeys of the building, as if it was surrounded by some kind of invisible field. Maybe it was.
“Ready?” Aunt Essie said.
“No.” They’d spent the trip going over how things were supposed to play out, but it hadn’t made her feel any better and she was sweating despite
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