Starbound: A Starstruck Novel (19 page)

“No wonder Brenna’s pissed,” I murmured. “I wouldn’t want to get bumped down here, either.”

“It’s not so bad,” Molly assured me. “I spent a lot of time in Steerage on our trip to Earth, since one of my best friends was here with her family. They eat in the Commons like everybody else and they pipe in white noise at night to mask the sound of the drive downstairs so everybody can sleep. It’s not nearly as crowded now as it was on that trip, when so many people were trying to escape from Faxon.”

It still looked depressingly barracks-like but I didn’t say so, because by then a few people were coming forward to greet me, seemingly delighted by my visit. Several others hung back, though, looking wary—including Brenna and a woman I assumed was her mother. Did they think I was doing some kind of inspection? Or maybe slumming it, for appearance’s sake?
 

I’d always had a problem with the Nuathan class system, but I tried to shake off my unease at this vivid reminder of it so I could play my part convincingly.

You’re doing great,
Rigel assured me as I responded to all the bows, but I could tell he was unsettled as well.
 

For the first time, I wondered how many people on Mars thought they were better off under Faxon than under the Sovereigns. And, more importantly, how many might be reluctant to have a Sovereign again now Faxon was gone, like those men who’d protested during my speech in Bailerealta. After all, Faxon had swept to power by railing against Royals and the whole class system, so there must have been a bunch who agreed, people who’d always felt inferior under the old regime…and might feel that way again under a new one. Why hadn’t this been covered in any of those texts I’d had to read?
 

I’d learned reams of protocol, read everything to do with the Sovereigns and their role in government, plus everything
else
about how the Nuathan government was organized. But almost nothing about how Faxon came to overthrow that government or why enough people had supported him to make that possible—which suddenly struck me as a pretty glaring oversight.
 

As we were leaving Steerage, I felt an uncomfortable sensation and glanced over my shoulder to see Brenna glaring at me from just a few feet away. She immediately smoothed her expression to neutrality, but the negative vibe I got off her didn’t change. It wasn’t like the “bad guy” vibe I got off some
Echtrans
, more a sense of her actual emotion—like what I got from Rigel, though less clear. She must be
really
jealous, or pissed, or both, for me to be able to pick that up.

Sean followed my gaze and frowned, but Brenna turned her shoulder and walked away.

“Sorry,” he muttered. “She’s still kind of—”

“No, it’s okay. I get it.” I just hoped Brenna wasn’t the vindictive sort, like Trina. “Where to next?”

“As you can see, the Commons is pretty different now than it was last night,” Sean said when we reached the big room where we’d sat for liftoff. Only two rows of chairs remained in front of the viewscreen, while the rest of the big room had been transformed into a dining hall on one side and what looked like a general recreation area behind the theater-style seats.
 

Sean led us that way first. “They have lots of activities here, since space travel gets boring. Games, a full gym, exercise classes, all kinds of stuff. And they show movies on the viewscreen most nights after dinner.” We all glanced up at the image of Earth, still receding.
 

“Or you can order movies from the vidscreen in your quarters if you want to watch something else,” Molly volunteered. “Except in Steerage. They have to agree on a flick for the screen down there.”

Yet another reason for everyone down there to resent the rest of us.

We looked around for a couple of minutes, then Sean took us across to the dining area. “We don’t have to eat here, but check this out.” He went to one of several little alcoves along one wall. “You like tea, right?” He punched something into the touchpad next to the alcove, and a moment later a steaming cup rose up from the bottom. “Earl Grey, but they have a couple dozen different kinds stocked.”

I’d learned in Bailerealta that food recombinators weren’t really like the food replicators on Star Trek, since these had to use actual ingredients on hand, but they still seemed impossibly sci-fi to me. I took a sip of the tea, which already had honey and milk added exactly the way I liked—as Sean had clearly known.

“The food’s probably better in your suite, if you’d rather eat there,” he said.

“No, here is fine. I don’t want people to think I’m all elitist or anything.” I also hoped to get an idea of the general mood on board, after that unsettling visit to Steerage. Could I pick up negative emotions from others if I got close enough? Useful as such an ability might be, I almost hoped not.

If you can, you should.
I’m in favor of anything that will keep you safer, even if you find out things you’d rather not
, Rigel responded, startling me. I instinctively started to shield before remembering with relief that I didn’t have to. Not now.
 

Me too, I guess,
I thought back
. But actually
knowing
every time someone resents me or dislikes me seems creepy. And depressing.
 

I suppose. I wouldn’t want to get into Trina’s head, for example.

I was glad he understood. But then, he almost always did, I thought with a smile. If we could just arrange a half hour or so of uninterrupted silent conversation, maybe I could finally—

“Here okay?” Sean had stopped at a table. “I can get your food if you want.”

“Nope, that’s my job. Which I’ve hardly done so far.” Molly sent a mock-accusing look at me.

Sean glowered for a moment, which seemed like an overreaction, then shrugged and went with Molly to the food alcoves to get his own meal. Rigel, ever conscious of protocol, stood behind me while they were gone. Did I have time to at least
start
explaining?

Explain what?
he prompted.
 

It’s kind of a lot. I don’t want to confuse or worry you by starting when I can’t finish.

Sure enough, Molly was back in barely more than a minute, then Rigel had to taste my food before going to get his own—which he only did when I made him, since he was supposed to wait until after I’d eaten. Sean was already sitting on my left.
 

“Anything else you want to see or know about the ship?”
 

“Not right now.” I took a bite of the excellent grilled fish and steamed veggies. I couldn’t imagine anything sent to my suite would be better. As I ate, my gaze strayed to Rigel, who seemed to be having some trouble with the food recombinator.
 

Brenna and Rowena and their families entered from the other side of the big room just then, Rowena slanting a glance at Rigel as they headed to the food alcoves. Neither looked my way, and I was just as glad. With any luck, I wouldn’t see either of them again once we reached Nuath.

Rigel came back a moment later looking embarrassed, his tray heaped with food. “Took a little trial and error. Good thing I’m hungry.”

“Oh, sorry, we should have helped,” Molly said. “Some of the menus
are
a little confusing.”

He just shrugged and started to eat, so Molly asked me what I wanted to do after lunch.
 

What I
wanted
to do was find some place away from any cameras, so I could tell Rigel everything I needed to. And maybe for other reasons. “Um, I’ve never taken a yoga class, even though they sometimes had them at my Taekwondo school. I doubt the guys would want to, though.”

“You got that right. I’d rather lift weights.” Sean turned to Rigel with a slightly smug smile. “As Bodyguard, are you allowed to do
anything
she doesn’t?”
 

Rigel smiled back. “Nope, and that’s exactly how I like it. Good thing I have this job instead of you, huh?”

Sean’s smile disappeared. Looking around for something to distract them, I spotted that Royal I didn’t trust, Gordon, wandering around the Commons. He seemed to be stopping at nearly every table to chat with people.

“Wonder what Gordon’s up to?” I mused aloud. As I’d hoped, that diverted the boys’ attention before they started arguing.
 

“Schmoozing, looks like,” Rigel said after a moment. “Trying to drum up support?”

There weren’t many other teens on the ship—maybe half a dozen—but Gordon seemed to be making a special effort to talk to them. He spent a long time at Brenna and Rowena’s table, clearly interested in whatever Brenna and her mother were telling him.

I nudged Sean. “Brenna wouldn’t
really
try to cause trouble for me, would she?”

Sean glanced her way and I saw a flash of alarm in his eyes—and even felt a bit of it coming off him, which added weight to my suspicion that I might be developing a new ability. “I’m sure she wouldn’t say anything bad about you to a Royal.” Despite his light tone, I could tell he was concerned. “But I’ll warn her, first chance I get, just to make sure.”

“Good idea.” Rigel frowned over at the animated discussion that was too far away for any of us to hear. A few of them glanced our way just then and I could feel Rigel’s worry along with my own.
Probably too late,
he thought to me sourly.

Guess we’ll find out.
There was nothing I could do about it either way.
 

Finally Gordon left Brenna’s table and went to join Mr. O’Gara and the rest of the Royals, on the far side of the dining area. Suddenly, I was tempted to try out my new “power” on the ones I was most curious about. Or should I wait for that dinner tonight?

Go for it, if you want,
Rigel urged.
I’ve got your back.

You’re right. Why wait?
I stood up. “Back in a few,” I said in response to Sean’s and Molly’s startled looks and headed deliberately toward the Royal table.
 

Gordon was the first to see me coming. He nudged Devyn, next to him, and both of them stood, quickly followed by the others. Everyone bowed, but Mr. O’Gara spoke first.

“Ah, Excellency. I didn’t want to interrupt your meal, or I’d have suggested you join us. Allow me to introduce a few people you haven’t had a chance to meet yet.” He turned first to the oldest of the group. “Rory Glenn, Princess Emileia.”

Rory bowed again, deeply, and when I focused hard, I sensed strong, positive emotion, perhaps with a defensive edge. “It is my great, great honor to pledge myself to your service and assure you of my wholehearted allegiance, Excellency.”

“Thank you, Rory. I’m very happy to meet you.”

Mr. O now nodded toward a tall, handsome brunette who had clearly been gorgeous when younger—not that she looked much past forty now. “Phelan Monroe,” he said.

“I can’t tell you how delighted I am to make your acquaintance, Excellency.” Phelan’s voice was rich, mellow and reassuring, but I sensed a steely determination that belied her motherly expression. “Please feel free to come to me for
any
advice or assistance you might need when we reach Mars, as this will be your first visit.”

Irving Kennedy bowed nearly as deeply as Rory had. He also felt positive, but a bit overeager, while his brother Eamon radiated more nervousness and awe than anything else. When I thanked them both for their sworn allegiance, Eamon turned as red as his hair.

I didn’t particularly want to linger once the introductions had been made, so I excused myself and headed back to where Sean and Molly waited, Rigel still close behind.
 

Could you tell what I was sensing off them?
I asked as we walked.

Some. This could turn out to be a super useful skill, M, especially if you really have to do the Sovereign thing.

We reached the others before I could comment on that “if.” It made me even more desperate for a chance to talk privately with Rigel.
 

Both Sean and Molly seemed determined to prevent that, though, insisting we both learn a Martian version of poker, which we played with Rowena and Desmond. They invited Brenna to join but she gave a lame excuse about having to catch up on some reading. When I focused, I not only got that jealous vibe off her, but a strong sense that she was lying—though that was fairly obvious without any special powers. Still, it would be cool to develop Mrs. O’Gara’s “lie-detector” ability, along with this new emotion-sensing thing.
 

When the game ended, I stole Brenna’s excuse and pretended to read, hoping Sean and Molly would do something else so Rigel and I could finally “talk” for a while. It only half worked. The two of them did stay at the card table, but other people kept coming up to me, some just to pay their respects and others to hint about what they thought I should do once we reached Mars.

All the interruptions prevented even a silent conversation with Rigel, though they gave me plenty of chances to gauge people’s emotions and motives. I found that getting easier with practice, but it was also draining. Finally, I announced I was going up to my room.
 

Sean and Molly immediately stood up from their game to join me, but I shook my head. “I need to decompress for a while before that dinner tonight. You guys can stay down here.” Though I knew Rigel wouldn’t.

Unfortunately, Molly wouldn’t hear of it, either. “I’m your Handmaid, remember? Where you go, I go, just like Rigel.”

I couldn’t reasonably argue, so the three of us headed for the executive lift, Sean glowering a bit because he didn’t have a similar excuse to tag along.

“Mum and Dad were invited to a dinner like this on the way to Earth, our first evening aboard,” Molly commented as we were whisked to Level One. “That trip was the first time I ever saw them get treated like Royals, which was kind of cool.”

“So even when Faxon was in power, the ship captains didn’t go along with his policies?” Interesting.

She shrugged. “Guess not. I didn’t really think about the politics of it at the time, but I could tell Mum and Dad were pretty relieved they could stop pretending to be Ags.”