drop my hand and go to my blanket. Rolling it up, I hand it to Jax. “I’m interested in meeting with your Skye—whoever they are.”
Jax says, “Skye is the military branch of our government...uh, sort of like—”
“The Army?’ I ask.
“No.”
The Navy?”
“Uh-uh.”
Marines?”
“The Cavars are like the Marines. Skye is like—”
“The Defense Department.” Trey says, handing his bedroll to Jax.
“But I thought Skye was like your judicial system.”
“You violated encroachment laws—a global violation, which falls under defense. They have their own judicial subsection. Defense isn’t accountable to any other branch of government; they’re autonomous.
“They’re self governing?” I ask with dread.
“Yes.”
“And you think that’s okay?”
“It’s worked so far,” Trey replies.
I put my hands on my hips. “For who?”
“There’s no way she’s only seventeen floans,” Wayra mutters, pulling his gear together. “She looks like a blusher, but she acts like a saer.”
“Me-ow,” Jax says next to me, grinning.
“How long will it take to get there?” I ask them, dropping to one knee and tightening the laces of my boots.
“That depends,” Trey says, lifting his gear. “We can only go as fast as our weakest link—a few days if we move.”
“Did you hear that, Wayra?” I ask, looking at him. “You’d better keep up.”
Heading toward the hole in the planks, I hear Wayra say, “I think I’m in love.”
“You’re taking all of this well,” Jax says, joining me.
“Am I?” I ask, brushing off the concern I can see in his eyes. “Well, the thought just occurred to me that I might as well hang out on Ethar for a few months. Take in the scene. I’ve been in worse places. I’ll see what Skye has to say for themselves. If it reeks, well, then I only have a few months—urr, specks—until I’m eighteen, right?”
“You plan to go back to Earth—to escape?” he asks, looking concerned. “Um, that’s not a very good idea. Everyone will have learned about you by then. The Alameeda will know everything—”
“So,” I shrug, “What do you care? Your job will be over. You’ll have delivered me to my…penance. I won’t be your problem anymore.”
“Yes, but it will be okay. We can help you—”
I interrupt, holding up my hand. “Look, I get the guilt thing. You’ll check in on me, you’ll make sure nothing really bad happens to me, blah, blah, blah. Don’t sweat it, Jax. In a couple of weeks, you won’t even remember my name. Now, how am I getting down from here?”
Trey grasps both of my arms, before turning me and making me look at him. “What Jax is trying to say is that going back to Earth will not be a viable option for you. Ever,” he says, unsmiling. “The Alameeda will follow you. Kyon will follow you.”
“Oh…” I trail off, thinking. “He is a total…what’s the word I’m looking for, Wayra?”
“Wacker?” Wayra replies, and Trey narrows his eyes at him disapprovingly.
I point my finger at Wayra. “Yes, he’s a total wacker, but now that I’ve met him, he can be avoided. I’ll just have to look out for huge blonds.”
“What about us?” Trey asks with menace. “How will you avoid me?”
“Why would you come looking for me if I vacate? Skye will probably send someone else and I can play shy with him, too,” I say stiffly, not liking his tone.
“I’ll volunteer,” Trey counters.
“No, you won’t. You’ll move on to the next one,” I say, blowing off his words.
“On to the next what?”
“On to the next goal, ambition—the next thrill,” I retort with heat. “You think I should follow their rules? Well I’m going to do what’s right for me , not what you think is right for me.”
“This is the problem with authority that you alluded to last night?” Trey asks, leaning his face close to mine.
“No, this is survival, Trey. I’d love to coach you, but I charge for babysitting.”
“I have a
Jax says, “Skye is the military branch of our government...uh, sort of like—”
“The Army?’ I ask.
“No.”
The Navy?”
“Uh-uh.”
Marines?”
“The Cavars are like the Marines. Skye is like—”
“The Defense Department.” Trey says, handing his bedroll to Jax.
“But I thought Skye was like your judicial system.”
“You violated encroachment laws—a global violation, which falls under defense. They have their own judicial subsection. Defense isn’t accountable to any other branch of government; they’re autonomous.
“They’re self governing?” I ask with dread.
“Yes.”
“And you think that’s okay?”
“It’s worked so far,” Trey replies.
I put my hands on my hips. “For who?”
“There’s no way she’s only seventeen floans,” Wayra mutters, pulling his gear together. “She looks like a blusher, but she acts like a saer.”
“Me-ow,” Jax says next to me, grinning.
“How long will it take to get there?” I ask them, dropping to one knee and tightening the laces of my boots.
“That depends,” Trey says, lifting his gear. “We can only go as fast as our weakest link—a few days if we move.”
“Did you hear that, Wayra?” I ask, looking at him. “You’d better keep up.”
Heading toward the hole in the planks, I hear Wayra say, “I think I’m in love.”
“You’re taking all of this well,” Jax says, joining me.
“Am I?” I ask, brushing off the concern I can see in his eyes. “Well, the thought just occurred to me that I might as well hang out on Ethar for a few months. Take in the scene. I’ve been in worse places. I’ll see what Skye has to say for themselves. If it reeks, well, then I only have a few months—urr, specks—until I’m eighteen, right?”
“You plan to go back to Earth—to escape?” he asks, looking concerned. “Um, that’s not a very good idea. Everyone will have learned about you by then. The Alameeda will know everything—”
“So,” I shrug, “What do you care? Your job will be over. You’ll have delivered me to my…penance. I won’t be your problem anymore.”
“Yes, but it will be okay. We can help you—”
I interrupt, holding up my hand. “Look, I get the guilt thing. You’ll check in on me, you’ll make sure nothing really bad happens to me, blah, blah, blah. Don’t sweat it, Jax. In a couple of weeks, you won’t even remember my name. Now, how am I getting down from here?”
Trey grasps both of my arms, before turning me and making me look at him. “What Jax is trying to say is that going back to Earth will not be a viable option for you. Ever,” he says, unsmiling. “The Alameeda will follow you. Kyon will follow you.”
“Oh…” I trail off, thinking. “He is a total…what’s the word I’m looking for, Wayra?”
“Wacker?” Wayra replies, and Trey narrows his eyes at him disapprovingly.
I point my finger at Wayra. “Yes, he’s a total wacker, but now that I’ve met him, he can be avoided. I’ll just have to look out for huge blonds.”
“What about us?” Trey asks with menace. “How will you avoid me?”
“Why would you come looking for me if I vacate? Skye will probably send someone else and I can play shy with him, too,” I say stiffly, not liking his tone.
“I’ll volunteer,” Trey counters.
“No, you won’t. You’ll move on to the next one,” I say, blowing off his words.
“On to the next what?”
“On to the next goal, ambition—the next thrill,” I retort with heat. “You think I should follow their rules? Well I’m going to do what’s right for me , not what you think is right for me.”
“This is the problem with authority that you alluded to last night?” Trey asks, leaning his face close to mine.
“No, this is survival, Trey. I’d love to coach you, but I charge for babysitting.”
“I have a
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