“Don’t worry,” she reassured her and cursed herself for forgetting that Meligorn ran on magic-powered technology for a reason. “I’ve got this.”

  “I hope so,” Wattlebird muttered, “because my controls are fading.”

  “Do your thing, girl, and make it fast. I don’t want to get that close and personal with the planet.” The captain fixed her with a hard look.

  Morgana? she asked and channeled magic along circuits designed for a different kind of power.

  It’s lucky you’ve studied how to mix the two technologies, her cohabiter grumbled. We really might have this.

  Stephanie followed the magic through the ship, altered circuits as she reached them, and dealt with the drives first.

  That’s the most important order of business, she noted. Keep the Ebon Knight flying.

  The controls were next, and Wattlebird uttered a soft whoop of relief when the Knight responded to his touch.

  “She lives,” he confirmed as Stephanie sent a mix of gMU, eMU, and MU through the communications systems and reorganized matrices and connections along the way.

  She tried hard not to think of how difficult it had been to build the matrices for BURT—or how many things had exploded. If that happened here, the results would be cataclysmic.

  It won’t, the Morgana assured her. We know so much more than we did when we first started.

  Rawlins voiced the thought that had started to haunt her.

  “We’re lucky the drives operate on MU to start with,” the captain muttered but softly so none of the crew could hear.

  Stephanie nodded and ignored the worried glances Lars and Vishlog cast at her. She couldn’t believe that everyone had forgotten the main thing that set Meligorn apart from Earth.

  It should have been the first thing she’d thought of, given that she’d helped build two companies based on it. She should not have overlooked it.

  Don’t beat yourself up about it, the Morgana reprimanded her. We have more important things to focus on.

  Like how we’ll need to patent everything on board the Knight the next time we dock? she grumbled. She guided the magic gently through the sections controlling the communications systems and the plates that covered the reinforced glass on the observation deck.

  Well, that, the Morgana admitted, with a tiny trace of glee, and what you’ll say in your next speech.

  My next what? She almost lost contact with the magic.

  You know there’ll be one.

  Don’t remind me. Stephanie groaned and Lars was beside her in an instant.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” she answered. “Why?”

  “Because I don’t know what you did, but you’re covered in sweat and you’ve gone as white as a sheet.”

  “Oh. I’ll fill you in later. In the meantime, how would you like a blaster that fires on both Meligorn and Earth?”

  “Maybe later,” he replied, “because I think if you try to do that right now, you’ll fall over and then what will our passengers think?”

  As much as she hated to admit it, the man had a point. She gave him a tired smile. “Fine. I’ll make an appointment.”

  “How are you doing?” Rawlins asked and looked up from her control boards. “I take it you’re done?”

  She nodded. “Yup. How’s she running? Is there anywhere that looks like it needs extra attention?”

  The captain shook her head. “Nope. I think you got it all. Even the pods are online.”

  Stephanie gasped. “I forgot about them. Was anyone inside?”

  “Not this time, Steph. It seems everyone was getting ready for our arrival on Meligorn—even your Marine buddies. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say the crew needs shore leave.”

  “They deserve it,” she agreed. “Do you have a roster?”

  “I do. I merely needed your approval for a general stand-down.”

  “You have it.” She grew serious. “I don’t know what’ll happen once we go after the fleet. They deserve downtime before that happens.”

  “You got it.” Rawlins turned to her console and began to pull up the leave roster.

  She wanted the orders cut and ready by the time they returned to Alerus. Stephanie was right. The crew did deserve their downtime.

  The captain remained silent for the rest of the overflight and divided her attention between ship’s administration and observing the cities of the world her ship had defended under Emil’s command. That was some legacy she had to live up to.

  On the observation deck, the Knight gave a rolling commentary on the cities below them. She described places of beauty and history and told the group when the cities were founded, what they were famous for, and how many inhabitants they had.

  She also noted which had been targeted by the Teloran meteors and which would have suffered fallout from them, but she gave credit for their salvation to the Meligorn Wanderer and her crew where it was due and didn’t mention her involvement at all.

  They flew into the rising sun and crossed an aging day. Their glittering escort changed as the smaller fighters reached the limits of their fuel and were replaced by others who were more local.

  “You know,” Trey said to Gemma, “I’m almost sorry to be going back to Earth.”

  She sighed. “Me, too.”

  Nat looked at her mother. “Do we have to, Mum?”

  “Have to what?” Cynthia asked.

  “Go back,” the little girl insisted.

  The woman echoed Gemma’s sigh. “I think we have to,” she told her daughter. “Won’t your teacher miss you?”

  “I suppose,” came the reluctant reply.

  They settled into silence as the bright lights of the capital grew when the ship swept toward it. As they approached, streaks of light leapt skyward and the fighters peeled away.

  “Uh-oh,” Trey murmured, but his fears proved unfounded as explosions of color lit the sky around them.

  A collective murmur of awe rose from the crowd as more fireworks streaked to decorate their flight path. Silence followed again as the Knight ascended slowly into low orbit.

  Captain Rawlins broke the stillness. “One R&D Development, your shuttles will arrive at oh-eight-hundred. Please be packed and assembled at Hangar Nine at that time.”

  Cynthia’s husband glanced at his watch. “Good Lord!” he exclaimed. “They’re not asking much, are they? It’s close to midnight!”

  This brought a startled murmur from those closest and slowly, the group broke up to return to their quarters. The man smiled at his wife, hefted his sleeping son against his shoulder with one arm, and held his hand out for his daughter.

  “I’m not tired, Daddy,” she told him and opened her eyes very wide.

  The effect was ruined by a yawn that snuck out and wouldn’t be stifled.

  “Of course, you aren’t, chook, but you’ll hold my hand anyway, won’t you?”

  Nat tilted her head and gave him a speculative look. “Sure, Daddy—as long as it makes you feel better.”

  Cynthia bit her lip and tried to hide her smile as her husband replied, “Lots better.”

  They reached their cabin not long after, and the girl sat defiantly in an armchair in the suite’s lounge. Neither of her parents argued with her, but neither was surprised to find her asleep while they finished their packing.

  Exchanging quiet smiles, they tucked her into bed and dreaded what she’d be like in the morning.

  Fortunately, the excitement of the day was enough to dispel the child’s temper at being woken early.

  “Don’t you want to see Meligorn?” Cynthia asked when Nat told her she didn’t want to get up or get dressed.

  The child was out of bed and in clean clothes in record time and her brother wasn’t far behind her. Together, the family hurried to Hangar Nine, where they were ushered onto the first shuttle with the Witch and their mother’s boss.

  “Are you ready for this?” he asked and smiled when he saw Cynthia.

  His assistant had her hand tucked firmly in her husband’s but she gave him a bright smile.

  “I’m not sure I believe it yet,” she informed him. “It’s starting to feel like a dream.”

  “And you?” he asked and smiled at Nat.

  The little girl bounced happily on the spot.

  “It’s like a dream,” she announced, “but I don’t want to wake up.”

  “Me neither,” he told her and let the attendant usher them to their seats.

  Stephanie surprised them by joining them.

  “I’m afraid there’ll be a bit of a fuss when we arrive,” she told them and although she addressed Marcus, she included Cynthia and her husband in the conversation.

  “How so?” The man looked worried and the scientist looked curious.

  She gave him a reassuring smile. “Nothing bad,” she said, “but the Meligornians are very glad to see you and they’ll be waiting to welcome you.”

  “You make it sound so innocuous,” Cynthia told her, and she shook her head.

  “It’s a big crowd,” she warned, “and I’d like you and Marcus to walk out ahead of me, given that it’s you they’ve turned out to see. I’ll follow with whoever you think should follow next.”

  At her words, Rimmer turned to survey the passengers settling into their seats. His gaze fell on Gemma, Trey, and Nathan, and he beckoned for them to join them.

  Gemma’s “Uh-oh,” made the Witch’s security team chuckle softly. Her, “Oh, shit, you are kidding me,” brought quiet laughter.

  “I’m not kidding,” Stephanie assured her. “Are you up to it?”

  “Gemma’s up for anything,” Trey insisted and turned crimson as he gasped. “I mean…she can handle anything.”

  Nathan snickered but made it sound dirtier than it was, and Trey groaned.

  “You know what I mean. She—” He fell silent when Gemma placed two fingers over his mouth.

  “Stop trying to help me,” she instructed before she addressed Stephanie. “I’d be honored.”

  The Witch nodded. “Good. Now that’s settled, I believe our pilots are waiting.”

  They turned to look and sure enough, Brenden and Avery leaned against the cockpit door, their arms folded, and each tapped a foot.

  “Man, they’re not mad, are they?” Gemma asked.

  “Just be glad they have to fly in formation,” Stephanie told her, “or the ride down would be way more exciting than any of us would like.”

  They took their seats and the ride was as smooth as she’d said it would be. The welcome, on the other hand, was even louder than she had anticipated.

  When he heard the cheers as they stepped to the door, Marcus turned to her.

  “Did you make sure the others were warned about this?” he asked anxiously, “Because I think this is more than any of them were ready to sign up for.”

  She gave him a small nod. “I did, but I’m sorry. I didn’t expect this.” She gestured to the crowd standing behind a line of royal guards and the cordoned route leading to One R&D Meligorn’s gates. “I probably should have, but…”

  With a helpless shrug, she indicated that Marcus should lead the way. “We mustn’t keep King Grilfir waiting.”

  The chief scientist paled and Cynthia let go of Nat’s hand long enough to touch his shoulder.

  “You’ve got this,” she reassured him. “Lead us home.”

  She hadn’t meant it to come out sounding so permanent and she had never wanted to acknowledge that she might not return to Earth, but her words had the desired effect.

  He straightened his spine, stepped forward, and walked down the stairs as though the crowd wasn’t there. His calm gave his people the courage to follow and together, they made their way toward the cars waiting to take them to company headquarters.

  The waiting Meligornians raised their voices in greeting and their cheers and cries of welcome accompanied them every step of the way.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  On Earth, a large truck rolled along the remains of an ancient road. As it rumbled forward, alarms sounded in the cockpit and registered a dangerous rise in radiation.

  These were not conditions any human could survive, and the vehicle did its best to warn the driver. Lights flashed on the dashboard and the engine faltered.

  The driver uttered a short laugh and pressed an override button that had been installed under the dash. The engine hiccupped, restarted, and built to its original rhythm as the truck drove deeper into the danger zone.

  The machine was right. This wasn’t an area friendly to humans, but that didn’t seem to bother the human driving it. Not only that, he wasn’t alone. Behind him, strung out in a long line, a small fleet of trucks rolled in his wake.

  With the alarms silenced, his posture relaxed and he began to whistle. It came out more as a metallic shriek and he shook his head and recalibrated it to produce a much more pleasant sound.

  As he drove deeper into the barrens, whistling an old Western tune, he took the cowboy hat from his head. Now he was free to show what he was, he no longer needed the hat.

  The red “R” in the middle of his forehead gleamed in the afternoon sun as he pushed the vehicle into the badlands. The coordinates of the first purifying station guided his path.

  Everything the scientists had worked toward was coming to fruition, even if they weren’t there to see it.

  Far above him, on Starbase Notaro, Todd hurried to answer the door. The rest of the team pushed to their feet and gathered their luggage as he opened it to see who was there.

  His body tensed and he stuck his head farther into the corridor. When he pulled his head in and turned to look at them, his eyes were wide.

  “Our escort is here.”

  Ka frowned, not sure why that would shock him. She understood the moment they followed him into the corridor. If Jimmy and Reggie hadn’t been hard on her heels, she might have stopped in surprise.

  As it was, only the Scotsman’s firm hand in the middle of her back kept her moving. “Don’t stop,” he murmured, “and stop looking like a frightened kitten. It’s not becoming.”

  Not becoming? she thought. Honestly, where does he come up with that shit? I’ll ‘not becoming’ him.

  She said nothing, though, but glared at him and frowned as she registered the number of Marines waiting to escort the team to the shuttle.

  The men and women from the fleet admiral’s personal security team were easily recognizable—and that was still a surprise—but there were faces she’d only seen in the mess or the gym.

  And what the fuck are you all doing here? she wondered, grateful nonetheless. Todd had been worried that they’d have to run the gauntlet of Odd Squad Marines in order to make the shuttle and, if she was honest, she’d been worried, too.

  Now, she was less anxious—overwhelmed, maybe, by the show of support but more sure the Hooligans would make the shuttle.

  And then we’ll make our world a safer place, she thought. And when we’re done with the damned Telorans, I’ll come back to hunt every one of those Odd fuckers and make the world a much safer place for us all.

  These thoughts accompanied her to the loading dock where the new ship’s shuttle waited. A very puzzled commander stood at the hatch.

  The woman looked from them to their “escort,” which filed in slowly to line the walls of the hangar bay. She frowned at the sheer number of people but relaxed when it was clear that only the Hooligans had arrived to board the shuttle.

  When she continued to scan the area, Ka realized she wasn’t looking at the number of people but actively looking for something. It was enough to set warning bells ringing in her head and she tensed and followed the woman’s gaze.

  They were too close to leaving for things to go wrong now. Still, she couldn’t see anything.

  That’s how all the best ambushes start, she reminded herself and remained alert as the woman jumped from the hatch and strode to Todd.

  He saluted. “Hooligans reporting for transport, ma’am.”

  “So, I see,” the commander replied and looked carefully at the team and its gear. “You don’t have anything else?”

  Todd followed her gaze and shook his head. “Nothing for the moment, ma’am. Not until I talk to the captain.”

  Her eyes narrowed but she gave him an abrupt nod and pulled her tablet out. “I’ll need to scan your idents.”

  Todd didn’t question the procedure, and he wasn’t worried by the Marine lieutenant or sergeant who came to join them and help the commander process them aboard.

  The only thing that struck him as odd was that she was there to greet them. If he’d done his research right, this was the ship’s second in command and neither he nor his team was anywhere near important enough for that kind of treatment.

  As soon as she’d checked and confirmed his place aboard the shuttle, he stepped back to join the sergeant. No way would he board before the rest of his team were safely on board.

  The man gave him a friendly enough nod, even if there was confusion in his eyes when he didn’t step into the shuttle.

  “Ka,” Todd said when his corporal looked at him. He gestured toward the craft and signaled that she should lead the team aboard.

  “Yes, Sergeant,” she snapped, as respectful as anyone could please.

  He wasn’t fooled and knew she wasn’t pleased with him waiting until the rest of them boarded.

  “I need to know you’re all there first,” he’d explained, and even though they hadn’t quite understood why, the rest of the team accepted it.

  Ka had disapproved. “We’re all big kids, boss. We’ll be there.”

  “I need to make sure,” he had said and made it clear that he wouldn’t change his mind.

  “What? That we’re all big kids?” Gary had quipped. “You don’t want us to prove that, do you, boss?”

  That had startled a short laugh out of him, and Todd remembered shaking his head.

  “But don’t leave me behind,” he’d told them and Reggie had snorted.

  “Exactly like any woman,” the man had snarked. “He wants to have his cake and eat it, too.”