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  “And we’d screened her. I didn’t see any early signs.” Spinner closed the mother’s eyelids. “This is so bloody unfair.”

  Reys waved two orderlies over to remove Bimi’s mother’s body. As they put her on a gurney and covered her with a sheet, Spinner couldn’t move. She found herself holding on to Bimi’s hand, unwilling to let go. “I want to stay with her. She shouldn’t be alone.”

  “All right. Her maternal grandmother is in isolation with the rest of our uninfected elderly. Once the outbreak is contained, we can reunite them, but in the meantime, she’s going to need someone if…when she wakes up.”

  “No problem.” Spinner sat down on the same seat Bimi’s mother had used and took the little girl’s hand. “How old is she, exactly?”

  Checking the chart, Reys shook her head. “Almost seven.”

  Spinner only nodded and refocused on the pale girl in the bed. Until Bimi’s grandmother was allowed to be in the infirmary, she would take the place of the girl’s relatives. If Bimi made it, she shouldn’t wake up all alone, even if Spinner was a complete stranger. Someone should sit at her side until someone came who loved this little girl.

  *

  Dael looked too collected and too normal when Spinner saw her face on the screen. “How’s it going?” Spinner asked. “What’s the situation back ho—I mean, on the Espies Major?” She was taken aback at the word home that nearly crossed her lips. When had the Espies Major become home to her? She hadn’t even called her apartment in the Oconodian capital home, and she’d had that as her base for six years.

  “We’ve screened the entire crew, found about a third of them are immune, and nobody is newly infected. We’ve passed the limit of the incubation time, which is a blessing, and I understand from Captain Vildan that the Rondos has had no new cases since they blasted the source of the contamination.”

  “Yes, they located it behind the auto-cookers. It’s been dealt with.”

  “And you? How are you?” Dael’s voice softened as she tilted her head. “You look tired.”

  “I’m hanging in there. It’s been…hard.” Spinner swallowed against the feeling of imminent tears. “I can’t stay long. I have to get back to Bimi. She’s doing a little better, and I have to be there when she wakes up.”

  “Who’s Bimi?” Dael asked, resting her chin in her hand.

  “She’s just a kid. Seven years old. Lost her mom. Everyone else in her family is quarantined. She’s all alone and I—I—” Rubbing her face with both palms, Spinner then wiped at her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m a mess.”

  “We’ve lost too many.” The mourning in Dael’s voice somehow made Spinner feel less foolish and somewhat comforted.

  “Eight children, six seniors, and four crewmembers.” Spinner bit the inside of her cheek. “Thank the Creator the infection was confined to the Rondos alone.”

  “You took the words out of my mouth.” Dael fiddled with something out of view but didn’t take her eyes off Spinner. “I’ve been so worried about you. I mean, the others too, especially your friends in the science lab. Of course.”

  “Oh, right. Darmiya caught up with me via the comm channel just before I came in here to talk to you. She says, together with some algorithms she and Calagan helped the Rondos scientists write, they might be able to shorten the screening for any type of virus, not just this one, by seventy-five percent.”

  “That’s amazing!” Dael straightened in her chair. “That’s absolutely fantastic. This will help keep the number of sick down.”

  “Yes.” Spinner knew it was ingenious, but she wasn’t quite rejoice in such findings. Not when Bimi was struggling in the infirmary and when Bimi’s young mother had lost her life just a day ago.

  “As soon as the quarantine is lifted, which will be when the Rondos hasn’t had any new cases in eight days after the last victim is no longer contagious and all register as free of infection or immune, I want you back here.” Dael tapped the screen, making Spinner flinch and refocus on her. “You’re almost falling asleep where you sit. When did you get some rest last?”

  “Um. I—I think, yesterday? An hour or two?” Spinner squinted at Dael. “And you?”

  “I…oh, hell. I should talk. I think two hours on my cot in here last night.”

  “Not even in your quarters on that lovely couch?” Spinner asked longingly.

  “Not even that. How about we make a deal? As soon as you’re back and you’ve been debriefed and checked out by Doc, you should come to my quarters. We’ll use the couch, both of us, for an entire day. Just resting. Read, listen to music, whatever you want.”

  “Whatever I want?” Spinner made her best attempt at her signature naughty grin. “Be careful what you promise, Admiral.”

  “And you should be ashamed of yourself.” Dael’s cheeks turned a faint pink, but the smile on her face was softer now, more the real thing.

  “See? You may regret such a suggestion before you know it.” Spinner chuckled weakly.

  “I don’t think so.” Touching the screen with her fingertips, Dael looked pensively at Spinner. “You know what? I really don’t think so.”

  *

  Her larger-than-life CAG looked like she was actually ill, which didn’t make sense as Spinner’s immunity had been confirmed and reconfirmed. Dael watched the spinning military crest as if hypnotized, a habit she’d developed during these last four days of video communicating with Spinner. It gave her time to digest what they’d talked about, and this conversation had gone from profound loss, fatigue, and concern to…flirtation? She couldn’t find any word more adequate for the last exchange before they disconnected the call. Was Spinner aware of how she looked at her? Dael usually didn’t think so. Spinner was an extroverted person who had made really good friends aboard the Espies Major.

  The nature of being the admiral, the one ultimately in charge, meant not having friends per se. Dael didn’t feel lonely because of that. She enjoyed spending time with her nania, and somehow she’d realized that Helden really liked Spinner. It had started with Spinner’s daredevil rescue of Gazer on the first day of their journey and grown from there. Helden appreciated directness and guts, and Spinner had all of that and more. Dael rejoiced at the sparkle in Helden’s eyes when Spinner’s name came up. It also made her wonder what her own expression looked like when she thought of her feisty CAG.

  She had asked herself many times what made Spinner return to her quarters nearly every morning to cook breakfast. They had chemistry, that much was obvious, but Dael wasn’t sure how much longer she would be able to hide exactly how she felt about Spinner. For weeks, she’d waited for Spinner to grow tired of her boring lifestyle focusing on books and old videos. Dael rarely frequented the different establishments on Espies Major, unless it was to boost crew morale, and then it was usually because the ship’s counselor carefully pointed it out as a good idea.

  And still, just now, Spinner had clearly flirted with her. Perhaps this was how she was with everyone, but if so, Dael hadn’t witnessed it. She’d thought Darmiya’s initial crush on Spinner would lead to something, as the young Gemosian woman was very beautiful and as exuberant as Spinner could be. When this didn’t happen, the two women and Calagan had instead formed an easygoing and close-knit friendship.

  Perhaps Dael wasn’t the only one who responded internally to accidental touches and lingering glances? Shaking her head now at this fruitless train of thought, Dael stood and walked onto the bridge. The Espies Major was returning to normal routines, and once the Rondos lifted the quarantine, they would be at full magnetar drive again.

  Then Spinner would be back and she might just get some answers to all these questions and thoughts. Dael wondered if she would be brave enough to handle that.

  Chapter Twenty

  Bimi slowly opened her eyes. Looking up, she smiled drowsily. “Nania.” Holding out a weak little hand, she looked at Spinner. “Mama?”

  “Mama’s not here right now, sweet thing.” Spinner tucked the soft toy in next to
Bimi and glanced at the older woman across the bed. “But your nania is. Look. She’s been so worried about you.”

  “Nania,” Bimi whispered, her worry-frown vanishing. “Nania.”

  “I’m right here, treasure. I’m right here next to you, and I’m not leaving.”

  “When will Mama come?” Bimi turned her head into her nania’s shoulder.

  “Shh. Just rest, little treasure. We’ll talk about that later. Just you go back to sleep.” Tears streamed down the grandmother’s cheeks as she clung to the little girl who was the only thing she had left of her daughter.

  Spinner’s stomach trembled and she tried to tell herself that Bimi at least had her grandmother. She wouldn’t be all alone and abandoned, doomed to live with a parent that became an abusive stranger. Her situation is different than Pherry’s and mine.

  “I don’t know how I’ll be able to tell her,” the grandmother, Spinner couldn’t remember her name, said. So many names and faces over the last two weeks.

  “You just tell her the truth in the kindest way possible. Reassure her that she has you. If it helps, tell her that she has a very, very good friend in the Espies Major’s CAG.” Smiling tremulously, Spinner patted the older woman’s hand and stood. “I’m due back on my vessel now. Please keep me updated on how Bimi’s doing. Anything you need, anything at all, you just page me. If you can’t reach me for some reason, leave a message for me on the bridge.”

  “You’ve been wonderful. I hope we’ll get to see you soon, Commander. The effort you put in on the Rondos will never be forgotten.” Bimi’s grandmother kissed Bimi’s hand. “And this little girl will be fortunate to have a friend like you. I’ll make sure she knows.”

  “Thank you. I have to go now.” Before she lost her self-restraint and burst into tears, Spinner hurried out the infirmary door. She’d already said good-bye to Dr. Reys, and now she half-ran to the closest lift. It took her swiftly to the assault craft bay where the magnetar shuttles sat waiting. Darmiya and Calagan were already on board.

  “Oh, it’s going to be great to get home,” Darmiya said. “I’ve missed having my own quarters, working at my own desk. You know. Still we did help, didn’t we?”

  “You came up with stuff that will help keep outbreaks like this to a minimum.” Spinner nodded appreciatively at her. “Dr. Reys says if this happens, or something similar, she’ll be able to run the screenings and general testing in one tenth of the time it usually takes. I’ll say you’ve earned your keep many times over.”

  “Anything we can do to help is only a small price to pay for what you and your people did for Gemosis,” Calagan said solemnly. He pulled his sister in for a hug. “And she says ‘we,’ but the truth is, Darmiya came up with the concept, and then we worked together from there.”

  “You’re smarter than you look,” Spinner said, teasing Darmiya to lighten the mood. “Pity it doesn’t translate to spin jack for you. You simply have no spin-jack face.”

  “Thank God.” Darmiya grimaced. “How would that look?”

  Snorting, Spinner maneuvered the controls, making the magnetar shuttle hover. “Espies Major CAG to Rondos. Ready to embark.”

  “You have confirmed go-ahead, CAG. Have a safe run back to Espies Major.”

  “Thanks.” Spinner moved the shuttle toward the tight-fitting airlock. Inside, she had only a few centimeters of wiggle room, but that was all she needed. Once the inner door was locked in place, the outer would open and suck them into space, well within the magnetar strip. It was a clever way to travel between the ships in the convoy but not entirely harmless. If your shuttle had a technical or mechanical malfunction and started swaying, you could be crushed against the hull of the closest ship or the magnetar strip walls.

  The launch went smoothly, and Spinner made sure the computer was set on reaching the Espies Major’s aft assault-craft bay. The hardest part of the entire flight was guiding the cylinder-shaped shuttle into the airlock. You only got one attempt.

  “How about you, Spinner?” Darmiya asked. “You must be so relieved to be back on our own ship. You had the hardest job on the Rondos of us three, anyway.”

  “It was all right.” Hedging, Spinner closed her eyes hard for a moment. She could have swiveled her chair but was glad she kept it facing the screens. She wasn’t keen on Darmiya’s perceptive eyes examining her. Not only was her friend a genius, but she was also a damn mind reader as well. “But, yes, it’ll be good to get back to normal.” She huffed inside her mind. Normal. Whatever would qualify as normal after this? She’d seen so much during her years in the service and had considered herself jaded, but these last two weeks had been life-altering. No doubt Doc, and perhaps even Dael, would suggest she go see the counselor. Another person to poke around in her past, diagnose her feelings, and chastise her for bottling them up. She already knew these things, so why would she repeat it to someone? A waste of time.

  “I heard rumors that they’re throwing us a party,” Calagan said, not sounding very pleased. “I hope it’s not tonight. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. Haven’t slept much.”

  “Me either. I’ve worried too much. About everything.” Darmiya sounded unusually muted, which made Spinner swivel her chair.

  “We’ll be fine. I trust the admiral would know we’re not in the mood to celebrate anything tonight. Perhaps in a few days we can be persuaded to have some brandy and dance on the spin-jack tables. What do you think, Darmiya?”

  “Yes, possibly.” A pale smile flickered briefly across Darmiya’s features. “Even if I’m a lousy card player.”

  “Yes, you are.” Speaking gently, Spinner took Darmiya’s hand. “But you know what? You’re a terrific friend.” She was relieved when Darmiya lit up.

  An alert pinged, making them all jump.

  “What’s that?” Calagan looked at the screens. “Something wrong?”

  “Nah, we’re just a tad off course.” Spinner grabbed the lever and adjusted the shuttle’s trajectory. “The controls are slow. This might be a bit of a bumpy docking procedure. Deploying security harnesses.” Pressing the sensor, Spinner heard Darmiya give a yelp in the back as the extra harness wrapped tightly around her. Spinner’s own harness was also enforced, and she needed the support as the shuttle began a slow spin, which wasn’t a good sign.

  “Hold on!” Tearing at the controls and hammering in new commands, Spinner tried to will the shuttle to accede to her wishes. The sleek vessel, shaped like an expensive, silver-clad cigar, bucked under her hands, and Spinner saw the transparent sparkles that indicated the magnetar strip wall had come closer. Furious now, she slammed her feet against the floor pedals, something they rarely used these days, but she found them a great help when all else failed. She was damn well going to see Dael again and have her quiet evening on the couch as she’d been promised.

  The airlock hatch was open, brightly lit, beckoning her. “CAG to Espies Major. We’re coming in hot. Prepare for emergency docking.”

  “Bridge to CAG. We know. Everything’s in place. Safe docking, Commander.”

  Somewhere in the back of her head, Spinner recognized Umbahr’s voice. She focused on not slamming into the magnetar pods; it would destroy the shuttle and cripple the Espies Major.

  “Oh, please, oh, please, oh, please,” Darmiya whispered frantically behind Spinner.

  “Just hold on, just a bit longer, just a little bit.” Praying in her own way, Spinner saw the stern of the shuttle enter the airlock and knew they were coming in way too fast. Having a sense of doing yet another repeat of the landing she’d taken Gazer on at the beginning of their journey, Spinner saw the far wall of the airlock chute approach. This was going to be painful.

  The shuttle slammed into the bulkhead, tossing Spinner against her harness. She’d have some serious bruises, but the landing wasn’t as hard as she’d feared.

  “Ow.” Calagan moaned. “Thanks for flying with Spinner Air Service.”

  “Funny.” Spinner swiveled and unbuckled her belt. “You t
wo all right?”

  “We’re fine. Rattled, but fine.” Darmiya stood and nearly tripped as the shuttle door opened and two medics poked their heads in.

  “We’re okay.” Spinner repeated Darmiya’s sentiment. “No need for any more doctors or nurses.”

  “So very unappreciated,” one of the medics muttered, but still grinned broadly at Spinner. “Welcome back, Commander. Glad to see that textbook landing didn’t cause you too much damage.”

  “Ha-ha. Someone’s been taking humor classes.” Spinner snorted. “I guess we need to swing by the infirmary so Doc can verify the screenings done on the Rondos.”

  “Yes, that was my next act. Guiding you to the fast-lift. That way you don’t pass any of our crew until Doc sees you.”

  “All right, all right.” Muttering, Spinner slipped out of the hatch and followed the medic to the small elevator that barely held the three of them. The medic remained outside, operating the controls that sent them straight up to the infirmary. Spinner was relieved when the door opened and they could step outside.

  And there stood Dael.

  Spinner stared, knowing full well how hungry her eyes were as they roamed Dael’s form. She stood there, arms at her side, feet slightly apart, so incredibly correct in her impeccable uniform, and she’d never looked more beautiful.

  “It’s good to see you,” Dael said, her voice steady and sounding entirely normal. Only the fact that her eyes sparkled with delight made the words something more than what they would have implied otherwise.

  “Likewise.” Spinner managed only one word, which was of course rather pitiful, but it seemed to please Dael.

  “Darmiya. Calagan. You’ve returned in one piece despite Spinner’s attempt to concuss you.” Dael nodded amicably at them. “I know Doc wants to get the screening and tests over and done with, and, thanks to you two, it will take only a few minutes.”