Aftermath - Ann Aguirre [107]
If they hadn’t, Vel and I would’ve been stranded on Marakeq until the next ship arrived, which could’ve been a hundred turns. I might’ve died there. A cold shudder works through me.
“Thanks for that. You saved our asses.”
Dina smirks. “Like usual.”
After the food arrives, I tell our story. That carries us through until the desserts. The others listen with silent astonishment, interjecting only the occasional question. I don’t think Zeeka is paying any attention at all; he’s too busy soaking everything in.
“The Makers,” Argus says, shaking his head in wonder. “You’re going to be famous. Well. More famous.”
Just what I need.
“Bidding on the Maker sample is up to ten million credits,” Vel puts in.
Hit shakes her head. “You’re gonna want find somewhere safe to put that stuff. It’s not worth your life, and collectors would absolutely kill for it.”
I grin at her. “You’d know.”
Later, as we’re all mellow from the drinks, of course, Dina asks, “Can I see your scar?”
In answer, I pull my shirt up and show her the bite mark. “Satisfied?”
“I can’t believe you survived,” Argus says softly.
“I have Vel to thank for that.”
“And I would not be here if not for Sirantha.”
The mechanic glances between us, a frown building, but she doesn’t speak of whatever conclusions she draws. Instead, she says, “In the morning, we’ll go see Carvati.” After a moment, she adds, “You should expect March in the next few days, as soon as he can hop a ship.”
“He hasn’t moved on?” I ask softly.
Her eyes widen. “Did you think he ever would?”
Hurt and gladness tangle together, until I don’t know what I feel or what I want. At this point, I might as well wait to see him in person. I need to send him a message, but if he’s already en route, my vid-mail will bounce past him. Frag, I have no idea what to say to him. I’ve missed him, but it hasn’t been turns in my head, so we’re coming at this separation from different perspectives. For me, it felt like longer while he was fighting on Lachion, but my perception isn’t the truth. On the other side of that gate, Vel and I parted company from the world we knew.
“So how’s everyone else?” By that, I encompass a number of mutual friends.
“Surge and Kora aren’t on Emry anymore,” Dina says.
“Oh?” That’s right; they were staying for Siri, but the kid must be pretty old by now.
“You missed her vision quest. I had to do it without you.” Her tone grows somber. “That, more than anything, made me think you must be dead.”
Shit. We were named godmothers of the child we helped deliver on board ship on the way to Emry Station. I had been on the docket to take Sirina into the wilderness with Dina in some Rodeisian cultural tradition. Instead, I had been trapped on the other side of the gate while life went on without me.
“What was it like?” I ignore what she said about my premature death.
Smiling faintly, Dina explains how she spent three days roughing it while the girl chanted and danced. It didn’t seem spiritual to her, I guess, but I’m sure she was properly respectful of the tradition. I wonder if she thought of me through those days, if she thought, Mary curse it, Jax is supposed to be here for this. By the shadow in her green eyes, she missed me. Mourned me. And I don’t know what to say.
“I have something for you,” she adds.
“Oh?”
In reply, she hands me a data spike. I stare at it with a question in my eyes. “Research?”
Dina shakes her head. “It’s Constance. When Surge and Kora left Emry, her duties ended. No more troops to train. So she asked them to download her, and they brought her to me.”
“Why didn’t you install her in the Big Bad Sue or get her a new body?”
“Because she’s yours, Jax.”
Huh. So Constance will be going with me to La’heng. Maybe I can find a body for her there. Surely there will be some Pretty Robotics salvage.
“Thank you. This means a lot.”
“Anytime.”
From there, we talk a little more about people we know. Share stories about some of the missions