Finn nodded at Keva. “Prep the ship to be ready at a moment’s notice and finish the repairs on the sleeping quarters. Then make sure the crew gets some rest.” He gave her an encouraging smile. “I’ll call if I need you.”
“Aye, aye, sir.” She saluted and marched back toward the ship.
Bokal winked at Renna, then followed the lieutenant back through the doors.
“This way.” Aldani headed in the opposite direction, down a wide, sterile hallway. White walls lined the corridor, stretching down to meet the shiny, white tile floors. Even the grout was white.
His maid had to be spectacular.
As they walked, they occasionally passed sliding glass doors that led to various labs, all full of shiny metal machinery and masked workers in lab coats and gloves.
“What exactly do you do here, Dr. Aldani?” Renna asked. Based on the gamma particle destabilizer she’d retrieved, she had a pretty good idea, but it was always illuminating to see what someone said about themselves.
He arched an eyebrow at her but didn’t break stride. “I don’t see how that is any of your business, Miss Carrizal. You were hired to bring me my nephew, and you failed. Until he’s returned, I don’t trust either you or Captain Finn with my secrets.”
“Unfortunately, you might not have much of a choice,” Renna said with a shrug. “This is a lot bigger than just a little boy now. In case you hadn’t heard, five planets have been attacked. If you ask me, I think you know a lot more than you’re letting on.” She arched an eyebrow at the doctor. “Who knows, maybe they’ll show up here next. If they know who Myka is, I’m sure they know you’re his uncle. Maybe someone wants to clean up loose ends.”
She felt Finn stiffen beside her as they walked, but he stayed quiet.
Aldani gritted his teeth so loudly she thought she heard his jaw pop. “Not here, Miss Carrizal.”
He turned down another corridor. This one felt slightly less clinical, with an occasional picture dotting the wall or a soft chair and table stashed in an alcove. Finally, they stopped in front of a rich wooden door with a brass plate bearing Aldani’s name. He pushed it open and strode to the hulking desk in the middle of the room. It was a monstrous piece of mahogany, the surface covered in papers and books. A digital picture of him and Myka sat in one corner, while a holovid blinked on the other corner of the desk. She thought she spotted detailed plans for some medical device before he turned it off.
“Sit down,” he ordered, pointing at the two chairs in front of his desk.
Finn folded his tall form into the chair nearest the door. Renna flashed him a look of annoyance. That was always her preference, an easy escape route if she needed it. He’d taught her that.
Renna slid into the other seat, turning it so her back wasn’t to the door. Now that he wasn’t raving like a madman, she took a moment to study Myka’s uncle.
She’d never have guessed they were related except for the eyes. They were the same liquid brown, full of life and sadness, but that’s where the resemblance ended. Aldani had a sharp, hawk-like nose, bushy eyebrows, and a cleft in his chin that dimpled when he spoke. He also had an air of authority around him that even Dallas hadn’t been able to command. This man obviously expected to be obeyed. She found his self-confidence appealing, even if she didn’t much like the tone of voice he’d used with her.
Her gaze slid to Finn. The doctor was an interesting contrast to the self-contained military captain sitting beside her. Finn’s expression was relaxed, but he sat straight, feet on the floor. His posture couldn’t hide the tension she still felt rising from him. The constant vigilance was both reassuring and annoying at the same time. While some of the big things had changed, Finn’s personality was still the same: duty and honor before everything else. And gods help you if you did something he thought was dishonorable. More than one member of Blur’s gang had been kicked out for doing something not in Finn’s code.
She was pretty sure the same thing had happened since he’d gotten his own command, too.
“Dr. Aldani, I get the feeling there’s more to the situation than Dallas told us,” Finn said, leaning forward slightly. “What I can’t figure out is how Myka and the gamma particle destabilizer and this facility are all connected. Does it have to do with what Myka’s parents were researching on Banos Prime?”
Aldani steepled his fingers and stared at Finn, letting out a sigh. “Dallas was the only one who knew the truth.”
“Unfortunately, he’s now out of communication range or dead. If this mission is need-to-know, I think we need to be fully briefed now.”
“Can’t MYTH send more help?”
Finn shook his head. “Only a few commanders at the top know how to get in touch with the other branches. Keeps it safer that way.”
“So what are you supposed to do now then?” Aldani sounded dubious as he watched Finn.
The captain squared his shoulders. “Finish our mission. The universe is depending on us.”
Aldani’s interest turned to Renna. She shifted in her chair as he studied her, his dark eyes taking in her unkempt hair, her clothes wrinkled from sleeping in them. Finally he turned back to Finn. “And where does Miss Carrizal come in?”
Finn’s voice was expressionless. “I leave it to you. If I had my choice, she’d be executed for treason, but she was recruited specifically for this mission because she has an exceptional skill set. She was the one who was finally able to retrieve Myka after our other teams failed.”
Aldani’s gaze drifted back to her. His lips lifted into a smirk. “Tell me about yourself, Miss Carrizal.”
“Call me Renna, please.” She smiled at him sweetly, ignoring Finn’s glower. “Despite what the captain thinks of me, I do have principles. I always finish a job. No matter what.” She chuckled at Aldani’s expression. “Shocking, I know.”
“How did you get involved in this, Renna?”
“I was hired to retrieve your gamma particle destabilizer, but I ended up rescuing Myka, too. MYTH said they needed me, and I was strongly encouraged to join the mission. Despite the disapproval of much of the crew.” She slanted a look at Captain Finn. That was as polite as she could keep it without betraying her real feelings. Aldani didn’t need to know everything.
“You were the one to lose him to that…pirate,” Finn growled.
She rolled her eyes. “If I hadn’t scammed Viktis, you’d still be trapped in the brig. But it’s easier to stay angry at me, I get it.”