“We should discuss contingency plans,” I said. “What if we’re discovered or one of us gets caught?”
“If we get caught before we find Ferdinand, we’ll make a decision then as to whether we bail or keep looking. Afterward, our priority is to get both of you out. If Aoife has to leave before we’re out, she’ll try to go stealth and come back for us in twelve hours. Otherwise we’re on our own.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” I murmured. I slid into the tactical station and double-checked the ship’s registration. The MineCorp authorization was set to broadcast upon request. Everything was as ready as I could make it. “We’re good to go.”
“I’ve already requested a jump point from the gate,” Aoife said. “We’re jumping in to the most distant of the points you loaded into the system. We should have a little over an hour before we’re on-planet.”
“You have the ship,” Ian said. “Jump when you are ready. Be prepared to talk to Rockhurst on the other side.”
Aoife grinned and rolled her eyes. “Piece of cake.”
Now that the time was here, fear and hope and terror churned in my stomach. The engine noise changed and the lights flickered as the FTL engaged. Everything went quiet. My stomach dropped as we jumped. I started a timer on the secondary com I’d be using for this trip. Six hours until we could escape.
The main engine had barely started back up before we were hailed. “Incoming communication,” the ship intoned.
Aoife waved us away from her, then accepted the request on her console. It would prevent whoever was on the other end of the communication from seeing the entire flight deck.
“State your name and business,” a male voice asked.
“This is Captain Glenda Starling of the Opportunity,” Aoife said. Her accent had roughened around the edges. “I’m on a run for MineCorp to XAD Seven. Got one of their suits onboard. Must be urgent from what they’re paying me.”
“We don’t have any MineCorp deliveries on the schedule,” the man said.
“This isn’t a delivery. This is a suit doing some sort of inspection. She was mumbling something about checking the last deliveries and wondering if we had any hazmat suits onboard. As if a merc ship carries hazmat suits.” Aoife made a derisive noise. “Whatever it is, I’m glad it’s her and not me.”
“We’ll clear you through to Seven. Do not deviate from the approved flight plan. Talk to ground control when you get there and they’ll direct you. Good luck.” The man sounded relieved that he wasn’t dealing with whatever issue required hazmat suits.
He cut the connection and Aoife looked up. “How often has MineCorp shown up that it was that easy?”
“Often,” I said.
“The flight plan they sent has us arriving in seventy-two minutes,” Aoife said. “So if you have any last-minute prep, now is the time.”
I couldn’t stay here, where I could do nothing but watch and worry. “Come get me when we’re ten minutes from entry,” I said.
The ship was too small for much escape, but I headed down to the lower level. It had a crew bunk and head, the medbay, and a tiny exercise room. I entered the exercise room and looked around. There was resistance equipment, a treadmill, and a small open space. The far wall was lined with mirrors.
I couldn’t do much in my slacks and blouse, but all von Hasenberg children had been taught various martial arts forms. I moved to the open space and chose a gentle, flowing kata that would allow me to work out my excess energy while also sharpening my focus.
It had been a long time since I’d gone through this kata and my forms were shaky and weak. I closed my eyes so I wouldn’t see my reflection and focused on the movement. Gradually, muscle memory returned and my movements softened and flowed properly.
By the time I finished the sequence, I felt better. Calmer and more confident. I opened my eyes and nearly jumped out of my skin when I caught unexpected movement in the mirror. I yelped and nearly tripped over my own feet in an attempt to leap away.
Ian’s hand flashed out and he steadied me. I gulped in air, trying to get my heart rate under control. So much for my relaxed confidence.
“You scared me,” I said, once I could breathe. “I didn’t hear you come in, and you don’t look like yourself.”
“Sorry. I came to make sure you were okay, but then your movements were so mesmerizing, I kept watching. I apologize.”
“It’s okay. I don’t mind an audience, but I had just calmed down and now I’m wound up again.”
“If you go through it again, will you teach me?”
I glanced at him in surprise. “Sure, I can teach you. If you want to get the forms correct, we won’t be able to do them all, but if you just want to get close, we can probably do the whole kata.”
“Which do you recommend?”
“If you’re going to do it, you should do it right,” I said. He nodded in agreement. “The movements are intentionally slow and controlled. Keep your breathing even and your core engaged. Find your balance.”
I moved through the first three forms, explaining as I went, then I turned to face him. “Follow along and I’ll correct your form.” At first, I gave him verbal corrections, but as he gained confidence in the movements and didn’t need a guide, I touched him, adjusting the angle of his arms, shifting his center of balance.
I was achingly aware of him even as I fought to keep my touch professional. He had balance and strength and a natural grace that was beautiful to watch. It didn’t help that he watched me with smoldering eyes.
We made it through a dozen forms before Aoife announced that we were fifteen minutes out. I bowed to Ian and he returned the gesture.
“Thank you,” he said. “It’s harder than it looks, but I can see how it would be meditative.”
“You’re welcome. I can teach you the rest later, if you’re still interested.” I sank enough emphasis into the phrase that he couldn’t miss the fact that I wasn’t just talking about martial arts lessons.
His expression heated deliciously before he remembered to wipe it clean. “I should go,” he said.
I took a deep breath and decided to be brave. “Wait. Please. Why did you apologize for kissing me before?”
“I already explained.”
“But I don’t understand,” I said softly. “I enjoyed the kiss. I didn’t expect you to propose marriage afterward, if that’s what you were worried about. The Consortium is weird, but we’re not that weird. Hookups happen all the time.”
He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I refuse to lead you on when nothing can come of it. You’re so far out of my league, you’re in another universe.”
I laughed bitterly. I couldn’t help it. “I’m damaged goods, a widow accused of killing her husband. You’re out of my league.”
He huffed at me. “You know what I mean.”
I did. Even tainted, I was still a von Hasenberg and some would see that before they saw anything else. I tried a new tactic. “What if I want you to lead me on? Will you think less of me if I don’t plan ten steps ahead and instead decide that I want this little piece of happiness for however long it lasts? Will you deny me that?”