Pathfinder

by Gun Brooke

  Everyone chuckled and the tension eased some. “Let’s ask the ones who Briar is bringing,” Meija said. “All right?”

  They agreed and continued to discuss their issues, old and new. Adina was starting to get a headache when the meeting went into its third hour. When Edgram finally slapped the table with his square and declared the meeting over, she sighed in relief and stood immediately. Her injured arm stung, and her shoulder was stiff from being inactive for hours. Good thing she planned to hit the gym after her shift was over.

  “You don’t think much of me, do you?” Briar was suddenly at her side. Her slightly freckled face looked somber.

  “What do you mean? You saved my life.” Adina tugged at her bag containing workout clothes that sat under the table.

  “You know what I mean. You clearly assumed I’d take bribes, from people I care for and am supposed to help and heal. Thanks a lot.” The acidity in her voice and frost in her eyes made it clear how offended Briar was.

  “I didn’t assume. I didn’t know!” Yanking the shoulder strap of her bag over her shoulder, Adina grew angry as well. Her head pounded, and she didn’t need to have Briar confront her like that right now.

  “I was thrilled to finally get to meet you again, as this meeting was postponed forever. So we’re here and I’m excited about working together to make everything better for the people on this ship, and you just had to do your best to ruin it.” Briar sucked her lower lip in, and Adina thought for a crazy moment she was trying to stop it from trembling.

  Adina groaned inwardly at how one word, her blurting out “What?”—which Briar had interpreted as “What did you do?”—could create such…drama. She didn’t have time, or energy, for drama. Her family had turned this type of behavior into an art, which created a whole set of other flashbacks for Adina.

  “I apologize,” she said stiffly. Moving around Briar as if she were made of white garnet and about to explode into a slew of accusations and criticisms, she tried to make a quick exit. “I spoke without thinking. It will not happen again.”

  Briar frowned, which probably meant she wasn’t about to accept any sort of apology. What else was new? Adina thought of how her mother had made her grovel for days on end at any perceived misstep on Adina’s part. No excuse was ever good enough; no asking for forgiveness had ever made her mother take her back into her good graces. Only when Shabina Vantressa, the tyrant matriarch, deemed Adina had groveled enough did the ostracism end, though not the pain of her bruised heart. “Tell Caya I said hello.” Hoisting her bag, Adina was hurrying to the door when she felt a small hand on her arm. Rounding on Briar with fire in her belly, she hissed, “I said I was sorry.”

  “And you didn’t wait for me to respond.” Briar’s eyes were softer now, if a bit guarded. “I accept your apology. I realize you don’t know me. Not really. I’m flawed like all people, but I’m not preying on those in a weaker position than my own. Honestly.” She smiled carefully. “What do you think?”

  “About what?” Adina asked, dazed now. The headache drumming behind her eyes and Briar’s readiness to accept her apology added to her confusion.

  “About calling a truce. Caya has asked about you several times.”

  How did this happen? Briar had been so upset, and now she was talking about her sister like everything was suddenly all right. Normal. “Is she well?” Adina asked, knowing she sounded far too polite and rigid.

  “She’s enjoying school. Almost a little too much.” Briar shrugged and managed to smile and look worried at the same time. “I hardly see her. Guess I should’ve known this would happen. All the new friends…you know?”

  “Yes.” That was a lie. As a young woman, Adina had never had many friends as her large family didn’t let any outsiders into their midst that Shabina didn’t approve of. And most of the time, she didn’t. Even worse was when she seemed to like one of Adina’s friends—and just when everything was looking brighter and going so well, Shabina would change her mind. “Don’t make her stop seeing them,” Adina heard herself say, her voice hollow. The room was empty now, which was a blessing as Adina felt her command mask slipping.

  “I wouldn’t. She’s so happy and they’re not doing anything bad. No intoxication, but a whole lot of dancing, discussing, and jumper cruising.”

  “Excuse me? Jumper cruising?” This term was new to Adina. Then again, she didn’t socialize with young people. Or people of any age. She had somehow hoped her habit of self-isolation would change when they left Oconodos.

  “They use the jumper system to travel the different cubes, getting on and off at different gates, exploring. I double-checked. It’s not against the rules, as long as they’re being safe…” Briar shrugged. “I’m keeping you. Guess I’ll see you at our next meeting? Hopefully we won’t have to wait another thirty-some days again.”

  “Let’s hope not.” Adina thought she should say something else but came up short. As Briar nodded and turned to leave, Adina spoke without thinking, “There’s a concert in Caydoc Park next week. Classical music. I have an extra ticket. Maybe you would like—”

  “Yes, thank you. I love music. Especially classical. Do you want to meet up at the jumper gate, or…” Enthusiastically, Briar hauled her tablet from her bag. “Let me just check that I’m not on the evening shift.” She tapped with quick fingers. “Oh, good. I actually have two days off. Finally. I’ve had one day off at a time at the most up till now.”

  Somehow while listening to the words coming from Briar like a waterfall, Adina lost sight of the fact she had only intended to offer the ticket to Briar—not actually ask her to join her. And now she couldn’t very well embarrass her, especially as Briar looked so happy and surprised. Perhaps it was only Caya who had time to socialize and make friends? Briar worked a lot, Adina already knew this. Could Briar feel as lonely at times as Adina did?

  “The jumper gate at Caydoc Park, day thirty-eight, 1800 hours.” Loathing herself for sounding so harsh, Adina was amazed at how genuine Briar’s smile was.

  “Looking forward to it. I haven’t been to Caydoc Park yet. I hear it’s wonderful.”

  Named after Admiral Dael Caydoc, who had found P-105 with her advance team, the park had been advertised several times over the screens. It was located in cube one, which also hosted the parliament and high-level security quarters, and its 32,400 square meters covered the center of the deck ten and reached all the way up to deck two. That location made it possible for trees up to seventy-five meters tall to grow there, in theory.

  “It is. You’ll like it.” Adina could hardly breathe. She felt as if water was closing over her head, and she had to leave the conference room before Briar caught on to her looming panic attack. It was ironic that someone like her, so easily in command while working with her engineers or when heading up an away team, would feel so weak in private. No wonder she was married to her job. It was the only place she functioned without any of this nonsense going on. She’d even participated in extensive advance programs for combat officers and knew how to pilot everything from a hovercraft to a deep-space cruiser. Here, facing a woman with an open expression, seemingly guileless and so very, very pretty, Adina was ready to strap on her survival gear and run.

  She did the next best thing. Faking confidence worked too. Gently cupping Briar’s elbow as a farewell gesture, she said good-bye—and fled. As she hurried through the corridors leading to the closest jumper gate, Adina tried to keep her breathing even. Instead, her heart went crazy. Thundering in her chest, it fought to provide her system with much-needed oxygen.

  What had she gotten herself into?

  Chapter Seven

  Briar stopped at the gate leading into Caydoc Park and adjusted the wide gold belt that went with her knee-long white dress. Unable to quite take in how grand the park area was, she tipped her head back and gazed at the tall trees brought up from Oconodos years ago. Thriving just inside the gates, they formed an alley toward the large open lawn in the center. She could hear the musicians tun
ing their instruments and scattered strings of melodies. People entered the park with anticipation on their faces, which wasn’t hard to understand, as this was the first major music event since the launch.

  “There you are.” Adina’s husky voice startled Briar out of her reverie. She turned and—stared. Having seen Adina only in her uniform, she barely recognized the woman in civilian clothes. She wore a dark-blue flowing caftan that reached below her knees, over black, loose-fitting trousers. The caftan was adorned with silk threads in a multitude of colors. The pattern was floral—not the cute kind that Caya loved to wear on her tops, but bold and striking. Adina’s hair, normally brushed in a sleek short hairdo, was actually wavy and full and feathery—and Briar had to harness a sudden, and unwelcome, desire to run her fingers through it.

  “You look amazing,” Briar said before she had time to edit herself.

  “Thank you.” Adina smiled briefly. “As do you.”

  Briar waved her hand dismissively. “Anything but my scrubs is a step up.”

  “Same goes for my uniform.” Adina motioned toward the gate. “Time to find our seats, I believe.”

  Briar nodded, even if she didn’t agree with Adina’s comment about her uniform. In her opinion, the fleet uniform looked very fetching on the tall woman next to her.

  As they made their way over to the large lawn where seats had been placed in the center, Briar saw families and other constellations of people sitting on blankets and makeshift boxes at the perimeter. She guessed the tickets Adina had procured were the pricier ones for the seats. Most of the people resorting to blankets and boxes were young or with children, but just below a large tree, Briar spotted an elderly couple that seemed to be struggling with their blanket.

  Reaching the tenth row of chairs, Adina checked her tablet for their numbers.

  “Wait.” Briar briefly touched Adina’s arm. “What do you say we give your tickets to the couple over there and ask if we can borrow their blanket?” She pointed at the elderly couple where a man using canes tried to maneuver himself down onto the ground.

  Adina looked up from her tablet. “What? Oh.” She hesitated a moment but then nodded. “Of course. Good idea.” As soon as she agreed, Briar walked resolutely over to the couple and made it in time to stop the man from lowering his trembling limbs onto the ground.

  “Sir? Madam? Why don’t you use the seats eight and nine, in row ten over there?” Briar motioned toward the white chairs.

  “Oh, no. We don’t have tickets for those.” The woman blushed. “I’ll just help my husband—”

  “Please, madam.” Briar took the woman’s hand. “Adina and I are young and healthy. We don’t mind sitting here if we can borrow your blanket for the duration of the concert. In the meantime, you’d make us very happy if you’d accept this offer. We’ll enjoy the music so much more if we know you’re comfortable.”

  The woman looked back and forth between Briar and Adina. She then focused on Briar, her eyes clear and very kind. “Aren’t you the one they call Red Angel?”

  What? Briar blinked and sent a glance at Adina, who stood nearby. “No. I don’t think so. I’m sure you’re mistaking me for someone else.”

  “I’m sure I’m right. This random act of kindness is just like something Red Angel would do.” The woman squeezed Briar’s hands. “We gladly accept the offer of your chairs. This is so very nice of you. We won’t forget.”

  Adina escorted the couple to the assigned seats, helping the man stow his canes. Briar smoothed out the blanket and sat leaning against the even trunk of the tree. Above her, the branches moved in the artificial wind, but it was done so well, she could imagine this really being outdoors in a park on Oconodos.

  Adina sat down next to her. “Red Angel? What’s that about?”

  “Honestly, I have no idea. I’ve never heard the expression before, and nobody has ever used it around me. It sounds a bit farfetched. Sure, I have reddish hair, but angel? Hardly.” She snorted and shook her head.

  “Hmm. I’m not so sure. When you spoke to that couple just now, there was…something.”

  Just as Briar was about to question Adina about what she meant, the conductor entered and loud applause filled the park area. Briar clapped too and tried to remember when she’d been to such an event last. Normally, she and Caya used the screen to listen to music and watch performances. Caya, being younger and completely set on staying current when it came to popular music, would sometimes play it so loud on her transmitter, Briar had to flee into her part of their quarters and close the door. Racking her brain, she vaguely remembered being at a concert with their parents before they were orphaned. Her father had loved classical music, and her mother had been more about the popular songs and theatrical music.

  “Don’t know if you recognize her, but that’s Bim Hyiel.” Adina pointed at the conductor.

  “Yes. Oh, goodness. It is. I thought someone else I’d never heard of was going to be here. Wonder what happened?”

  “Perhaps they persuaded her at the last moment?” Adina shrugged, but her eyes glowed. “I’ve seen her lead an orchestra only once before. Live, I mean. Only fitting she’s the conductor for the first concert since we launched.”

  “I agree.” Wiggling a bit to get comfortable, Briar ended up sitting closer to her…companion. Her brain had almost insisted on the word “date,” but that was really taking it too far. They weren’t even friends, no matter what Briar had told the old couple. Not colleagues either. She wasn’t sure what they were.

  Adina didn’t move. She sat resting her head against the tree trunk, no doubt ready to immerse herself in the music.

  Bim Hyiel tapped her glowing stick against the music stand on the podium. The musicians held their instruments and focused solely on the conductor. She was dressed in a long, silver, shimmering dress, and her black hair reached her waist. After she raised her arms and then lowered them so quickly Briar jumped, the musicians started playing in complete harmony, a passionate piece of music that demanded everything of them. The pace was murderous and the tones climbed and fell across the lawn, in between the trees and onward.

  Sighing, Briar let the music fill her senses, letting go of everything she normally worried about. Right now, she was simply enjoying this beautiful setting and listening to devastatingly amazing music, as she sat next to the woman whom she just couldn’t quite figure out.

  *

  Adina was surrounded by the music, but not so into it she didn’t notice Briar’s presence and the soft scent emanating from her skin. Briar’s white dress, cut to emphasize her petite form, revealed that Briar was curvier than she appeared in her scrubs.

  And what was that about a Red Angel? If the elderly woman was right and the term described Briar—what was she up to? Had she gained this moniker while on duty or what? As Briar shifted closer, Adina struggled to breathe normally. This woman, hardworking and responsible for her younger sister, had a way of peeling back Adina’s protective layers. She didn’t mind being so close to her physically, but it was unwise.

  Not usually the type who sought company for casual sex, Adina didn’t know how to do anything else but stay aloof. The last time she’d had sex, it had been about fulfilling a need but had left her feeling empty and more unfulfilled than before. At one point, she’d kept trying, searching, but coming up short every fucking time. Adina loathed thinking about what she regarded as failures on her part, especially now, but something in this situation unlocked otherwise closely guarded doors inside her.

  The music, Briar’s close proximity, not to mention her scent—something sweet and fresh permeated the air around them without being overwhelming. Almost afraid to inhale, Adina chastised herself for being so dramatic. Briar wore some perfume or lotion. It wasn’t some secret pheromone that would forever poison anyone sitting too close.

  About to chuckle at herself for reading too much into the situation, Adina nearly bit the tip of her tongue as Briar leaned closer and murmured, “Doesn’t she look amazing when sh
e’s so into the music, her hair floating around her without ever landing?” She pointed at Bim Hyiel. “See?”

  Adina looked, and she did see what Briar meant. The passionate, intense conductor moved with such grace and fervor, her hair did take on a life of its own around her lithe body. As beautiful and special as this sight was, Adina could only focus on Briar’s presence and that scent. “She’s something.” Adina frowned at how choked up she sounded.

  Briar tipped her head back to look up at her. “Thank you for bringing me.”

  Adina felt guilty that she hadn’t intended to invite Briar at all. Why the hell hadn’t she just set the record straight when Briar misunderstood? Easy. Because of the openness in those transparent turquoise eyes. Briar looked at her like no one had ever done before, as if she really saw her. Not just her appearance or the superficial details, but her. From the moment Briar had insisted on staying by her side while saving her arm and her life from the white-garnet oil, Adina had been able to conjure up the image of those eyes at any given time.

  The first piece of music was over and Briar rose on her knees and applauded energetically. Adina remained where she was while clapping.

  “Amazing!” Briar called out, beaming. She turned to Adina, her strawberry-blond locks jumping around her face. “So amazing.”

  “Utterly.” Adina kept looking at Briar. She wasn’t referring only to the music.

  *

  The jumper was filled with elated people still discussing the evening’s music event in Caydoc Park. Briar held on to a handle, as there were no empty seats, and she stood virtually pressed up against Adina. As the jumper came to a stop, people pushed to get off and nearly took Briar with them, as they clearly didn’t pay attention.

  “Watch where you’re going,” Adina growled and leveled a most effective glare at three young men. “We have regulations for how you conduct yourself on the jumpers. They’re there for a reason.”