Mech Girl

by Kate Donovan

  “And my dad didn’t commit suicide. Right?”

  Zia reached across the table to grip his hand. “They bribed a guard to hang him. It’s so awful, Rem. We can’t ever make it right, but at least—”

  “At least his name is clear,” Rem murmured. “People can remember him for what he was. A decent guy who loved his country. I’ll never forget how you did this for us, Zee. And I’m sorry I ever tried to drag your mother into it.” He cleared his throat. “Speaking of your mother . . .”

  “Hmmm?”

  Rem shrugged. “Now that you know they falsified evidence once, have you considered . . . ?”

  “You think they sabotaged Mom’s shuttle? I actually asked Fuller that,” she admitted, “and it made him cry.” Zia sighed, remembering how distraught the doctor had been. “Then he reminded me how much my uncle loved Mom. He never would have done that to her.”

  Rem and Logan exchanged skeptical glances. Then Logan murmured, “I’ll have a team reopen that investigation, just in case.”

  Even though Zia knew it would be a waste of time, she was touched by Logan’s loyalty, and teased him gently. “All this presidential power is really going to your head, isn’t it?”

  “Hardly,” he muttered. “The sooner we get the Quito-Stone ticket on the ballot, the better, so I can go back to the job I signed up for. It is Quito-Stone, right? Not Stone-Quito?”

  Zia smiled. “It’s not Quito at all. I’m not even old enough yet, remember? Neither is Rem for two more years, so you’re stuck with the job for that long at least.”

  Logan shrugged. “They changed the Constitution once to let your mother take office at age twenty-four. I’m sure they’d lower it for either—or both—of you.”

  “But I’m not interested. Plus, I have other plans.”

  Rem arched an eyebrow. “Such as?”

  She felt her cheeks warm. “Promise you won’t laugh? I’m going back to Malara to train as a mech pilot.”

  “What?” Logan demanded. “Why?”

  She shrugged. “Carrak said I had potential, but it would take five or six years to really become proficient. She didn’t think I had that kind of dedication in me, and I didn’t think so either. But now, it feels right.”

  “You did fine without training,” Logan objected. “I’ve seen the vid of the battle. You piloted that giant like a pro.”

  “I need to learn on a skirmisher. And I have to study strategy. And a bunch of other things. But hopefully it won’t take as long as Carrak thinks. I figure one or two years at the most.”

  Logan’s jaw was visibly tight. “Why can’t Rem teach you here on Earth using the Quito skirmisher? The Malarans promised to repair it and return it, good as new, didn’t they?”

  “Zee’s right,” Rem interrupted. “If she really wants to learn, she has to practice with other pilots and a variety of mechs.” Turning to Zia, he added cheerfully, “When do we leave?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You know my policy. You don’t go anywhere on Malara without me to protect you.”

  Zia felt a thrill at the thought, but didn’t want him to know, so she flashed a blank look. “Won’t you be busy running the country? Logan-Stone, or Stone-Logan, or whatever?”

  “I’m a mech pilot, not a politician,” Rem corrected her. “Someday I might change my mind. But now that Dad’s name is clear—thanks to you—I can do what I really want. Pilot mechs. With you. On Malara.”

  “I’m only staying until I’m trained,” she told him.

  “Then what?” Logan demanded. “What will you ever use it for? Why not train on conventional weapons here on Earth? Wouldn’t that make more sense?”

  Zia hesitated, wondering how they would react to what she was about to say. Most likely they’d scoff, and that was okay with her for the moment. But eventually, they would have to face reality, just as she had done.

  “Here’s the truth,” she began finally. “Earth needs to get prepared for more mech battles. Think about it. When stories about our victory spread through the warrior-based galaxies, there will be backlash. Against Rem in particular, since he’s the one who really set the new standard. But against me too, because the Quito mystique is stronger than ever now.”

  The men were staring at her as though she were speaking Malaran, but she knew she was right. “The more I think about it, the more sure I am. Earth won’t be off-limits for mech challenges anymore. Not once the stories start floating from mech culture to mech culture. They’ll want to fight us—not with conventional weapons, but with robots.”

  “Is that the only reason you want the training?” Rem asked carefully.

  “I have a lot to prove,” she admitted. “But I’ve also got a lot to protect. Daniel Quito saved Earth once. We’re not going to lose it on my watch.”

  Logan scowled. “It’s a waste of your youth. You should be having fun. Dating.”

  “She can have fun on Malara. Dating me,” Rem said with an impish smile.

  Logan’s eyes narrowed. “Neither of you is going to Malara. We’ll work something else out. End of discussion.”

  Zia glared right back at him. “Don’t you have some presidenting to do? Rem and I want to be alone for a few minutes.”

  “Five minutes. After that, Captain Stone needs to report to his new squadron leader. And you need to get some rest. We’ll talk about this again in a week or so if you haven’t changed your mind. Understood?”

  Zia and Rem exchanged amused glances. Then she told Logan with a teasing smile, “Whatever you say, Mr. President.”

  “Call me sir,” he suggested dryly. “I’m still your commanding officer, Captain Quito.”

  She smiled, wondering if he knew how much she loved being called that. It hadn’t meant much until she earned it on a Malaran battlefield. Now she treasured it more than anything else in her life, other than the Quito giant. And her friends.

  And Rem.

  “Come on, Captain Stone.” She stood and took him by the hand. “Let’s go enjoy the view.”

  She led him to a balcony overlooking the ocean, then turned to smile up into his dark blue eyes. “How are your ribs?”

  “Good as new.” He nudged her back against the low wall. “We’ve got a lot to talk about.”

  “Like going to Malara?”

  “Yeah,” he said with a laugh. “It’s a crazy idea, but I like the thought of being alone with you. Without Logan bothering us.”

  “And you’ll teach me to pilot the skirmisher?”

  “Yeah.” He nuzzled her neck hopefully. “Anything you want.”

  “They really will come for us, you know.” She arched an eyebrow in warning. “All those hotshot mercenaries and greedy warrior cultures—we’ll be fair game to them now. They thought my grandfather was a fluke, but now they know Earthlings can be great mech warriors. Maybe even the best in the universe. So they’ll come. I’m sure of it.”

  Rem gave her a solemn stare. “I hope you’re wrong.”

  “No, you don’t. You hope I’m right.” When he winced, she reassured him playfully, “That’s okay. I hope I’m right too.”

  “You do? Why?”

  She slid her hands behind his neck and admitted, “Because we’re going to have sooo much fun.”

  “Yeah?” He grinned. “What kind of fun?”

  “With any luck, pure synergy. Assuming of course you can topple me.”

  Rem pulled her even closer and assured her, “Trust me—I’ve been planning this jump for weeks.”

  About the Author

  Kate Donovan was born in Ohio, moved to Rhode Island at the age of nine, and moved again during high school, this time to Northern California. She did her undergraduate work at Cal (Berkeley), where she met her future husband. After attending law school together, they settled in the Sacramento area, where she has juggled married life, children, lawyering, and writing. So far, so good!

  In her spare time, she’s hooked on TV and movies (especially science fiction), reading, traveling, and cooki
ng (mostly Mexican food, thanks to hands-on lessons from her mother-in-law).

  Kate’s books range from time travel to spy stories to space adventures. Mech Girl is her first book for the Young Adult market.