“Oof!” Aerie grumbled as her hands smeared across the ground. “What in the—?” She broke off in a gasp as she examined the tree branch she’d fallen over.
And then she slowly looked up.
The Memory Tree, still weathered looking, with its top branches severely trimmed back, waved at her.
“My tree,” she gasped. “It’s here.” She hurried to get up, wiping her muddy hands over her eyes. Aerie went over to the tree and pressed against it, running her hands all over it.
The familiar patterns of lichens were damaged, but the main branches were still sturdy. Perhaps even stronger than they were before.
Aerie felt a wave of awe and reignited joy. “It really is you, isn’t it?” she asked. A small smile blossomed up onto her face. “I almost want to see if Moona’s up there, nestled inside one of your nooks.”
“I take it Exton didn’t tell you about saving your tree, did he?”
“Emery.” Aerie whirled around, terrified and scared. In her amazement, she’d failed to hear Emery’s approaching steps. She stammered for a moment, before Emery took off her oxygen mask and shook her head.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” Emery told her. “I’m angry at you, but I won’t hurt you.”
“I’m sorry,” Aerie whispered, looking down at the ground. She pressed against the tree.
“Answer my question. Exton didn’t tell you that he was going to save your tree, did he?”
“No.” Aerie shook her head. “In fact”—she snorted—“he asked me to forgive him for destroying it before the attack.”
Emery sighed. “That is just like him to do that. He doesn’t allow people to suffer illusions very often, least of all himself. He wanted to see if you would forgive him without knowing the tree was still alive.”
“That’s why he saved it?” Aerie asked. “Because of me?”
“I’m not entirely sure. Exton has been growing a large variety of plants in here. Some for their food, others for their rarity. I can see why he would save it for that reason alone.”
Aerie thought about how much he had tried to save, to protect. He followed in his father’s footsteps to please a ghost who could never be satisfied. He wants something greater than revenge.
She turned back to Emery. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I really have ruined him, haven’t I?”
Emery sighed. “We’ll have to see. That’s his call. Not ours.”
“Emery—”
“Until then, Aerie, we need to leave. The haul wasn’t breached in here,” Emery said. “But the Suncatcher has been damaged. Part of it is outside. I’ll need to file a report and have Exton fix it.”
Aerie hesitated. “Will he be able to fix it?” she asked.
“He should be able to.” Emery sighed. “He’s good at fixing things.” She shook her head. “Hopefully, he’ll be able to fix this situation between the two of you, too, without breaking anything else.”
“You’re going to make me go talk to him, aren’t you?” Aerie asked.
“I can’t make you,” Emery told her bitterly. “But either you’re going to tell him, or I’m going to tell him, and if I have to tell him, it’s going to be after I’ve stuffed you in an escape pod and sent you back to the URS where you belong.”
♦24♦
Exton adjusted the pirate hat on his head as he stood in the Captain’s private Comms Sec.
Something is wrong again, he thought, once more tugging the wig and beard into place.
The coat was too warm. When had he ever had that issue? And why did he feel no rush of pleasure as he thought about rubbing in the news he’d survived another attempt on his life?
For the first time in a long time, he actually hated dressing the part of the ghost of his father.
Exton felt the smooth edge of his jacket, before running his hand over where Aerie had bruised his ribs.
“This is Aerie’s fault.” As soon as he said it, he knew it was true.
The last time he had worn the coat was when he met her. And he couldn’t explain it. He couldn’t explain how she’d changed his life. Or why.
The screen buzzed to life as it picked up a signal. Exton pushed the matter to the back of his mind. He had a dictator to reprimand.
Glancing down at the console, Exton was impressed by the readings. “A fully secured line?” he muttered. “That’s unusual for the leader of the ‘fair’ world.”
“I’m sure that you’ll understand why I don’t want to share this conversation with the rest of the world,” the voice said on the other end. “Including Dictator Osgood.”
Exton nearly jumped at General St. Cloud’s voice. He caught himself just in time, only frowning at the sudden appearance of his nemesis on the screen. Though the connection sparkled with static at points, Exton did not need a clear reception to see General St. Cloud’s eyes narrow in determination.
“General,” Exton said, just barely inclining his head in greeting.
“You can take off the pirate costume, Exton.” The General shook his head. “I’ll give you the necessary points for creativity, but this is not official URS business that I have with you.”
Exton stilled. In all the times that General St. Cloud had communicated with the Perdition, he’d never indicated that he knew who Exton really was. He had always addressed him as “Captain Chainsword.”
“I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that you figured out my disguise.” He reached up and took off the hat and wig, revealing his face fully to his enemy. “Is that better, Master?”
“You always had a stubborn streak of defiance, even in class,” the general retorted. “I had a feeling you would insist on being difficult tonight.”
“That was part of the reason you wanted to mentor me, if I remember correctly,” Exton sneered. “Admit it. Military Tactics and History would have been a lot more boring if I hadn’t been there.”
“Believe it or not, I didn’t come to remember better times. Or to expose myself to your childishness.”
“You said it’s not official business from the URS,” Exton pointed out. “If it’s not, then I want to know why my crew had to defend itself against a batch of Heatseekers recently.”
“It was a cover,” St. Cloud said. “We have things to discuss, you and I, and you were obstinate enough to leave your transmission line shut. I had to get your attention somehow.”
“There’s nothing we have to discuss,” Exton insisted. “I was expecting Osgood, not you.”
“You have always maintained, along with the rest of the Ecclesia, that family is important.”
“You don’t know anything about me anymore,” Exton snapped. “Just because you were my recruiter, doesn’t mean that you know everything about me.”
“I know enough to make some good guesses,” St. Cloud replied, visibly struggling to control his tone.
“That information meant nothing the moment you killed my father.”
St. Cloud sighed. “We don’t have much time, Exton,” he said. “Silas was a good man, but—”
“Obviously that didn’t help my father at all in the end.” Exton frowned. “You won’t have to worry about that issue with me.”
“Enough.” St. Cloud straightened. “I’m calling to see if you’ve kidnapped my daughter.”
Exton laughed. “I’ve never kidnapped anyone, no matter what falsehoods Osgood mandated,” he said. “You know as well as I do that the Perdition is not designed to be a prison. Captives are more trouble than they’re worth.”
“I’ve looked all over for her as quietly as I could. I am not reaching you under Osgood’s orders. My conclusions have led me to believe she might be with you on the Perdition, or among one of your ally’s camps.”
“I wasn’t aware you even had a family,” Exton replied, recalling the dedication St. Cloud espoused when he’d trained under him. “What makes you think she’s here with us?”
“My daughter has been missing since the day after you attacked New Hope,” St. Cloud said. “I found her uniform hat
at the sight where the Memory Tree was planted.”
“It is possible she left you on her own, isn’t it?”
“You don’t know my daughter the way I do. As much as she thinks she’s capable of surviving the real world, she’s much too soft-hearted.”
A lightheaded sense of panic took over Exton. He gripped the console, trying to project strength when all he could do was hold on. “When we attacked, we only picked up a defector named Rearden—”
“That has to be Aerie,” St. Cloud said. “Her boyfriend’s last name was Rearden.”
“Aerie?” Exton whispered.
“You do have her then?” The look of tender relief on St. Cloud’s face alarmed Exton as never before. “That’s her. That’s her name, Aeris St. Clo—”
Exton reached over and shut off his receiver, cutting St. Cloud off in mid-sentence.
Then he punched the console hard enough to send sparks flying out of the screen. He squeezed his eyes shut against the pain in his fist.
Aerie.
Her face swam in his mind’s eye, and it was only then that he was able to see it: The same shape of the eyes, a shade lighter than St. Cloud’s.
“She lied to me.”
The words echoed around him as the anger and pain inside of him finally overwhelmed him.
“Augh!” He tore off his pirate jacket and threw it into the corner of his private Comms Sec. And then Exton marched out the door, a dangerous and desperate expression on his face.
He could feel the stunned expressions of his crew as he headed toward the Bridge. “Where is she?” he called. “Where is Aerie?”
The crewmembers lowered their gazes or turned away, a thick layer of unease settling in around them.
“I want her location, and I want it now.”
Exton glanced over as Tyler came in the door. “You. Come with me.”
“What’s wrong?” Tyler asked. “What did Osgood say?”
“Come with me,” Exton repeated, dragging him to the Records Room. “Now.”
Once they were inside, he turned to him. “Where are Aerie’s records?”
“We didn’t find much,” Tyler said. “Remember? You were with me and Emery while we looked.”
“You didn’t look hard enough.” Exton grabbed him by his jacket and shook him. “You should have looked harder!”
“Calm down, Exton,” Tyler snapped. “What’s wrong? Tell me what Osgood said.”
“Osgood didn’t say anything,” Exton shouted. “I just got off the line with St. Cloud.”
A look of understanding appeared in Tyler’s gaze. “Well, that explains why you’re so angry. I know you can’t stand the man.”
“He’s her father.”
The whole room went silent. Tyler said nothing, only looked confused.
“St. Cloud is Aerie’s father,” Exton clarified. “She’s his charge. His daughter. He actually called her that, too!”
“Why—”
“He is the second in command of the URS. Our sworn enemy. My father’s killer. And he just broke their stupid code by calling her his ‘daughter.’”
“Maybe he loves her?”
“Exactly!” Exton dropped Tyler’s jacket and turned away. “He loves her. What kind of person would a monster like him love?”
“Are you worried about Aerie?”
“Don’t say her name!” Exton grumbled. “She lied to me. She tricked all of us. Brilliantly, too. St. Cloud probably sent her here as a spy.”
“I don’t know, Exton—”
“That was smart of him. I was expecting he would send someone to try and kill me, not someone—” He stopped himself before he admitted it aloud. Not someone who would love me.
He sighed. “Where is she?”
Tyler faltered. “She was with Emery last I spoke with her. But, Exton, it is possible she’s not a spy. You should hear her out.”
Exton glared at him. “Why should I?”
“Because,” his friend told him, “she loves you.”
“She’s pretending to love me. St. Cloud told me himself she has a boyfriend down there.”
Tyler’s mouth dropped open. “Are you sure?” he asked a moment later. “You know as well as I do that your judgment when it comes to St. Cloud is—”
“Is what?” Exton barked.
“Is compromised at best.” Tyler snorted. “Fundamentally off, at worst.”
“He killed my father.”
“I know. That’s why you stole the ship. That’s why we were going to destroy the URS.” Tyler shook his head. “And when you saw what the URS was planning, that’s why you decided to stay up here instead, barricading the ship between them and the rest of the world.”
Exton slouched against the wall. “What am I going to do?” he asked.
“Talk to her.”
“I don’t know if I can,” Exton admitted, clenching his fists. I don’t know if I could talk to her without hurting her.
After a long moment, he finally turned to Tyler. “I need to think about it first. Cover for me.”
“Take your time,” Tyler said. “I’ll alert you if there’s any other activity. Thora cleared us before she went off-shift.”
“Thanks.”
Exton headed out the door, unsure of where to go or what to do.
Only to find Aerie standing before him, a sad wariness in her eyes as she stood beside a diffident Emery.
As he watched, she opened her mouth and began to speak. “Exton—”
“Captain, please,” he corrected, his tone bitter, tasting of bile as he talked. “Comrade St. Cloud.”
Her face flushed over red, a reaction that might have made him smile not even ten minutes before.
Emery stepped forward. “Exton … ”
But he waved her off. “Not now, Emery,” he said. “Comrade St. Cloud and I are having a discussion.”
“I’d hardly call snapping orders at me a discussion,” Aerie said. “I can explain.”
“I’d hardly call lying the same thing an explanation,” Exton said, stepping forward and taking her by the arm. “But I’ll humor you, on the way down to the hangar.”
“Exton, let me explain,” Aerie started as he jerked her out of the Command Bridge and led her down the hall. “I—”
“Captain,” he interrupted. “All subordinates should address the captain by his title.”
“I was never your subordinate,” Aerie argued. “I was your guest.”
“And you’ve clearly overstayed your welcome,” Exton shot back. “It’s time for you to go back home.”
“What are you going to do with me?” Aerie asked, this time visibly afraid.
“I’m going to order an escape pod for you,” he said as he pushed the elevator button for Level Ten. “And then send you back.”
“I don’t want to leave!” The elevator doors shut as she grasped his hand on her arm. “Please, Exton, please don’t send me away. I wanted to tell you the truth but—”
“But what?” His gaze burned through her. “Your father wouldn’t have approved? Or were you more concerned with your boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend?” Aerie frowned. “I don’t have a—”
Exton shook her hand off of his. “Your father was pretty clear on the matter.”
“He liked Brock! He approved of Brock,” Aerie nearly shouted. “It doesn’t mean that I was his girlfriend!”
She grabbed his jacket this time. “I swear to you, I just borrowed his name. He wasn’t—isn’t—my boyfriend.”
He felt a twinge as the smallest crack in his defenses rattled through him. “And St. Cloud?” Exton asked. “Am I supposed to believe that he’s not your father, either?”
Defeated, Aerie shook her head. “He is,” she confessed, her voice nearly a whisper. “But he doesn’t love me. He doesn’t care about me.”
“He loves you enough that he nearly blew up this ship trying to get my attention,” Exton yelled back. “There are over a thousand people on this ship, and your father nearly
killed them because of you!”
“And he almost killed me, too, right along with them,” Aerie pointed out. “That should tell you all you need to know.”
“That’s hardly all I needed to know,” Exton bit back.
The elevator stopped and he grabbed her arm again, pulling her toward the nearest collection of escape pods.
“No!” Aerie fought back, gripping onto the elevator doors. “No, don’t make me go. Exton, please!”
He was done hearing her pleas. He picked her up, surprising her with the force of his power and strength. She scrambled and squirmed, trying to free herself.
Exton groaned as she managed to kick him in the side. With the pain, his grip on her loosened enough that she was able to escape.
“Oh, my.” She gasped. “Are you alright?” Aerie came back over and reached for him.
He swatted her away. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” Exton scowled down at her. “You wanted to be free. To go home. I’m granting you your wish.”
“I know about the tree,” she shouted. “I know you didn’t kill the Memory Tree.”
Her words made him stumble. “So what?” he asked.
“Please, Exton,” she said. “I know you’re angry with me for lying about who I was, and I know that there is no escaping my heritage.” Aerie hung her head. “I didn’t want to tell you my real name any more than you wanted to tell me about the tree.”
“I was going to tell you about the tree,” Exton argued. “Eventually. It was supposed to be a surprise.”
“Well”—Aerie tried to smile—“I was going to tell you the truth, too.” Her small smile disappeared as he angrily stared down at her. “You could say it was like a surprise.”
“This surprise is terrible,” he snapped.
“I know.” She ducked her head. “After Emery told me about how my father—”
“Don’t say it,” he yelled. “You don’t get to talk about it. You lied to me! You broke our deal.”
“I lied about who I was before we made the deal,” Aerie countered. “I haven’t lied to you about anything else, I promise.”
“You let me believe it was the truth,” he said. “You let me—” Exton stopped, inwardly fighting himself and fighting her, and unable to move as the war inside him raged. When she glanced up at him, he could only glare down at her.