Polaris (15 page)

“Perfect,” Aileen said. “
Polaris
is moored at Dock Nine. Stop by as soon as you're ready.” And with that, she swung toward the door, her coat fanning out behind her again. Remi preceded her out the door, but Aileen stopped in the doorway and glanced over her shoulder at them. “Oh, and one more thing. No cats aboard my ship.” She paused. “At least, not that one.”

The outrage that rose to Lizzie's face was almost comical. She looked as if she might swallow her own tongue.

The second Aileen was gone. Lizzie stomped her foot. “I hate that girl.” She marched across the common room and scooped up Viggo. “This sucks. What am I supposed to do with him while we're gone?”

“Calm down, Elizabeth,” Marian said. “We will think of an acceptable solution.”

Lizzie started to argue, but Celeste cut her off. “So who's staying and who gets to go?” The tremble in her voice gave
Jeth pause, but only for a second.

“Why? Are you volunteering to stay?” He glanced at Shady as he spoke, hoping to find him nervous. He was, but as Jeth turned back to Celeste he saw she was, too.
Serves them both right
.

Celeste shook her head.

Jeth ignored her, addressing the room at large. “I'll have to give this a little thought.” He flashed a smile. “But first, I need a shower. Excuse me.”

He strode from the room, ignoring the look Sierra gave him as he passed. Normally that look would've made him nervous, but at the moment it had no effect on him. He supposed it had to do with the change in the implant—for the first time since waking up at Peltraz, he felt wholly like himself again.

See,
Perry said.
I told you it was easy
.

In answer Jeth closed the door to the Axis. He wasn't ready to think about that, the change too nebulous. He focused on the mission instead. Five slots. He, Lizzie, Sierra, and Marian were a given. But who would be the fifth? He knew for sure who it wouldn't be. But he would wait to make that announcement. Make him sweat. It was only a small portion of what he deserved.

The Axis, its presence still tangible even from behind the closed door, hummed once, and then went silent.

JETH EMERGED FROM THE SHOWER, WEARING JUST A
towel—and the implant. He spotted his reflection in the mirror across from the bed. It hadn't occurred to him to take it out. In truth, he'd almost forgotten about it as the need to decide who was going on the mission overtook his thoughts.

He approached the mirror, his eyes raking his reflection. For a second, he looked like a stranger. His hair was the same length it had been, the stubble on his chin a little thicker, but not by much. His eyes were the same shade of green. No, the strangeness came from the implant alone, black tentacles snaked through his hair, lying pressed against his skull as if suctioned to him.

Like a leech.

Disgust at the sight of it went through him, but he squelched it at once, afraid it would break the truce he seemed to have made with the Axis. The implant was here to stay for now. He had to make his peace with it.

Jeth lowered his hand to the towel around his waist, his eyes catching sight of the scar peeking out just above the jut of his right hipbone. The raised dark patch in the shape of a jagged circle was a souvenir from one of the more dangerous
jobs he'd ever worked—a gunshot wound that put him in the hospital for six weeks. Jeth considered Perry's scarred nose and the way he'd known the details of how it had happened the moment he saw it, the knowledge available on the link. Perry must've shared that memory.
On purpose,
Jeth decided, recalling the way the memory had felt to him. He thought he understood why. His engagement with the Axis had been limited, but already he'd sensed a sort of hierarchical structure to it, one with Dax residing at the top, of course. But Jeth wondered how the other positions were determined. Could Perry exert more influence over Jeth than Jeth could over him, because he'd been connected to the Axis longer?

A sudden urge to share the information about his own scar—one hard won on a dangerous job—came over him, and he reached for the Axis, opening the door. He let the thought loose. Off it went, catalogued at once. A general sense of appreciation came back to him.

Nice one,
Perry said.

Did you like it? Try this
. Now Jeth sent the memories of some of his other scars, embellishing the details as he did so. The minds on the Axis reflected approval back to him.

Feeling emboldened, Jeth decided to try something new. With the link still open he thought about his secret tattoo, the one no one but himself, the tattoo artist, and Sierra had ever seen. He pictured it, but then commanded the memory to stay hidden from the Axis, doing it the way Perry had been telling him to all along. He waited for a response from the Axis, but there was no reaction. He probed it, searching
to see if it was out there, data waiting to be recalled. But he found no trace of it.

The victory brought a smile to his lips.

“Admiring your new hardware?” a voice spoke from behind him.

Jeth turned to see Sierra standing by the door, leaning against the wall. He couldn't believe he hadn't noticed she was there, even if that part of his cabin was always the darkest. He supposed he'd been too caught up in his own head. It was a sobering thought, and he shut the door to the Axis.

“No,” he said, tugging loose the tuck holding the towel in place. It dropped to the floor in a wet heap. He left it there as he turned to the dresser, pulling out fresh clothes. “But I'm glad you're here. I talked to my mom about her plans for Dax and Empyria. She—”

“Wait,” Sierra said, cutting him off. “Are you sure you're ready to talk with that thing in?”

“I . . . I think so.” He touched the implant, trying to make sure he meant it. He couldn't know for certain, but he felt okay, in control. He supposed it was time to test it. For now, the door was closed, this conversation private, but he would be ready to react at once if that changed.

Sierra surveyed him with a guarded expression. She slowly nodded. “Go ahead.”

Pulling on his clothes, Jeth recapped his conversation with his mother that morning.

“She wants to take Dax to Empyria?” Sierra said, eyebrows climbing up her forehead.

“It seems insane to me. I can't figure out why she would want to take any of us there after what happened to her and Cora.”

“I don't know,” Sierra said, looking lost in thought.

Jeth shrugged. “It doesn't matter. Lizzie found a secret code hidden on my mother's data crystal. She believes it's the coordinates to Empyria. So even if Mom does try to just take Dax there in person instead of giving him the coordinates, we can step in and honor the deal ourselves.”

A frown creased Sierra's lips. “Is that what you think we should do?”

“What, you don't?” Jeth said. “Dax has promised us enough money to help us finally disappear for good. Given the choice, I'd rather honor the deal and escape than risk flying off to some dangerous planet we know nothing about.”

Sierra pursed her lips, and Jeth waited for her to come to the same conclusion. He suspected the reason she was hesitating was that they couldn't be certain Dax would honor the deal, even if they came through with the coordinates. Supposing she had a point, Jeth realized he might have a way to check. Dax's mind and will were a part of the Axis, easily accessible if Jeth had the nerve.

Summoning his courage, Jeth commanded the conversation to remain private. Then he opened the door to the Axis, forcing all thoughts of Lizzie and the secret code out of his mind, just in case. He searched the Axis for reassurance that Dax would indeed fulfill his end of the bargain. That reassurance came to him a moment later, direct from Dax himself. Relief swept over Jeth. With their minds linked in
this way there was no room for deception. He closed the door again and returned his focus to Sierra.

“What do you think, Sierra?” he pressed.

“I—” She hesitated. “I think having the coordinates ourselves is a good idea. It gives us options.”

Jeth smiled. “Agreed.”

Sierra tilted her head. “Do you think Lizzie has finished decoding it yet?”

“I don't know. I was going to ask her about it as soon as I finished getting dressed.”

“Well,” Sierra said, crossing the distance between them. “You might want to start over.” She tugged the hem of his shirt free of his belt, her fingers grazing his stomach. “You put this on backward.”

Laughing, Jeth moved in to kiss her, giddy with the realization that he no longer feared doing so.

But just as his lips met hers the door to the cabin opened.

“Seriously?” Lizzie said. “You're doing this now? With Mom on board? Gross.”

Jeth pulled back from the kiss and turned a scowl on his sister. “Did you forget how to knock?”

“Did you forget you can lock the door?” Lizzie stepped in, hands on hips and a determined look on her face.

“I shouldn't have to.” Jeth waved. “But come on in, we've got things to discuss.”

“Yeah, we do,” said Lizzie. “Like about this who's staying and who's going crap.”

“I think I'll leave you two alone to argue this one out,” Sierra said, heading for the door. Jeth didn't blame her. Lizzie
looked fired up and ready to drag them all into the fray.

Once she was gone, Jeth said, “Lock the door, please. I don't want anyone else barging in.”

Lizzie did so then turned to face him. To his surprise her temper was gone, an openly wary expression on her face. For a second he couldn't understand it, but then he saw her gaze flick to the side of his head.
The implant
.

He casually traced a finger over one of the tentacles. “Does it really look so awful?”

Lizzie continued to stare, utterly silent.

“I'll take that as a yes.” Jeth wrapped his fingers around the base of the implant and pulled it out.

She flinched.

He set the implant on the table beside his bunk. “I know you're afraid, but I really am all right. I promise. And it's going to be worth it in the end. We're going to get everything we ever wanted.”

“Even your voice sounds different,” Lizzie said, wrapping her arms around herself.

Jeth sighed, understanding her doubt. He would've felt the same in her place. Hell, he did feel the same. Maybe not as much as before, but that doubt was still present. He walked over to her and patted her arm. “It's just me, Lizzie-bear.”

“Lizzie-bear?” She snorted. “You haven't called me that in years.”

“I know. Not since Mom and Dad left on their last trip.” Their mother had given Lizzie the nickname, and the more Jeth came to accept that his parents were gone forever, the more he had drawn back from the things that reminded him
of them. Not that this was something he had ever realized on a conscious level before. The implant had brought all those memories and motivations into sharp focus. He was recalling events so old he couldn't believe the memories existed at all.

And yet they did. His oldest newly returned memory was of the time the family cat, Stubbs, had clawed him in the eye after he'd yanked its tail. Jeth was only three years old at the time, and the injury prompted the first of many trips to the hospital for various accidents. Jeth had forgotten how clumsy he had been as a boy, how prone to mischief. He'd forgotten Stubbs, too. The cat had died of old age a few weeks before Lizzie was born, and there'd been no more cats, not until she smuggled Viggo onto
Avalon
.

Jeth shook his head, forcing the memories to the back of his mind where they belonged. “Don't worry. Once we've completed the mission, I'm through with it.” He motioned to the implant.

“That's good to hear, Jeth-bow.” A smile broke across Lizzie's face.

He grinned, the abandoned nickname bringing fond memories to the forefront again. “I hate it when you call me that.”

Lizzie winked. “I know.”

“Right. Well, don't make a habit of it.” The last thing he wanted was for the Brethren to learn of it. The sobering thought brought his focus back in full force. “So,” he said. “The reason I need to talk to you is to find out where you are on decoding the location to Empyria.”

Lizzie frowned. “I'm nowhere on it. I haven't even thought
about it in days. Why should I with Mom here?”

“Why, indeed?” Jeth ran his tongue along his teeth, choosing his response carefully. He knew she wouldn't be keen on the idea of going behind Marian's back. He considered a dozen different approaches before deciding on the direct one. “Because Mom has no intention of handing over the location to Dax when we're done.” He held off telling her the full truth—that Marian intended to take him there instead. He knew Lizzie well enough to guess that she would be more than willing to trust their mother on faith alone, regardless of what the Pyreans might have done to her.

Lizzie began to shake her head, dismissing the idea, but Jeth cut her off. “She told me herself, Liz. Just this morning. And it makes sense that she wouldn't give it up, right? I mean she sacrificed everything to protect that secret. She wouldn't just give it to Dax.”

Lizzie's eyes narrowed on his face, and she put her hands on her hips. “So what if she wants to double-cross Dax? He deserves it. Look what he did to you.” She motioned to the implant.

“True,” Jeth said, “but we've both been doing this long enough to know how hard it will be to get away from Dax in our current situation. His power is as great as Hammer's ever was.”

A surly look crossed Lizzie's face. “Maybe so, but Mom must have some plan we don't know about yet.”

Jeth shook his head, the lie coming easily. “I doubt it. All she really cares about is saving the Pyreans.” He considered telling her about the deal the ITA offered Marian to see her
children again, but he held back, doubting it would go over very well. “She's not exactly in her right mind, I don't think. How could she be, with everything she's been through?”

Lizzie was silent.

“Come on, Liz,” Jeth prodded. “Tell me you haven't noticed how different she is. She's got this . . . this coldness about her. . . .” He let his voice trail off, giving Lizzie a chance to fill in the rest.

She gulped. “Yeah, I've noticed. But it's not there all the time. And she's still our mom. Having her back is . . . I wouldn't trade it for anything.”

“I know. Me neither.” He patted her arm. “But we've got to do what's best for all of us, and we can't trust Mom to know what that is. She's been gone from the real world too long, been through too much.” Jeth could tell Lizzie hated hearing it, but she didn't deny it either. “And I'm only talking about insurance here,” he pressed. “Mom doesn't understand how hard it's been for us, trying to keep ahead of the ITA. We'll only use the coordinates if we need to. Dax has promised us enough money to ditch the ITA once and for all.”

Lizzie paled. “That's just it.
Will
it be enough?”

“Of course.”

“But what about Saar?” She shivered. “The way Milton and Sierra described him, he might never give up searching for us.”

Jeth exhaled, more surprised by her question than he ought to be. He should have known better than to underestimate Lizzie's perceptiveness.

I am coming for you,
Saar had said, determination radiating out from him like some magical force. He could've captured Jeth right then. Instead, Saar had executed Vince for his crimes. He had deemed punishing Vince's desertion the more pressing of his tasks. Jeth had seen a man with infinite patience and determination, a master strategist capable of waiting years before striking if necessary.

But what would happen once they destroyed the First-Earth Harvester? If Marian was right and the Pyreans could break free of all the other Harvesters, that would mean the end of the ITA's power. They would be left with nothing. No Pyreans, no Cora and the cloned race of human-Pyreans to replace their failing metatech, and no Empyria either. But the ITA wouldn't fall in a day. They would die slowly, bleeding out across the galaxy. And the most deadly beast was a wounded one. A beast like Saar.