by Jamie Zakian
Reyes stared at the handheld. “Yeah. It was in my room. Must’ve slipped off the table.” He pulled up Winslow’s final transmission and handed over the device. “Those kids aren’t a part of this.”
Her grumble should have ended that conversation, but he kept chatting.
“If you’d actually talk to them instead of drilling ‘em, you might learn more.”
“I know the Matsuda family.” She lifted her stare from the device’s screen, preparing to hurl glares, but his soft gaze thwarted her plan. “The father and son are notorious hackers, the mother’s a vindictive liar, and the girl’s the worst of both worlds. They’re about as crooked as the skyscrapers of the old cities, and anyone hanging around with them is either an idiot or just as shady.” Sabrina turned toward Reyes, holding the handheld in front of his eyes. “Did you see this? Winslow came back online forty-five minutes ago.”
Reyes snatched the handheld and tapped on the display. “His signal only lasted twelve minutes. That’s weird.”
“He’s still on this bus. Is there any lead onboard? Maybe something that could block his signal?”
“No. This shuttle is made of lightweight materials.” His stare raised to the ceiling, stopping on the red light of an overhead camera. “Hackers,” he mumbled.
“What?”
“Those kids, your so-called terrorists,” he mocked with a light smirk, “they hacked the cameras after you jammed them. Maybe they can hack Winslow’s implant too.”
Sabrina pushed off the wall with her elbow. “It’s worth a shot.” She turned and marched down the passage, without a break in her steps.
“Hey,” Reyes called out, hurrying to catch up. “You should probably let me do the talking.”
“Why?” What a ridiculous notion. She had training on how to handle civilians, an entire ten-hour course. “I have excellent people skills.”
“Ha!”
The cackle flowed down the hall as they turned a corner and headed toward the elevator.
***
The moment Jesse stepped into his room, Rai peeked over the brim of his laptop.
Jesse tensed.
Rai narrowed his eyes.
Slowly, Jesse recoiled, and Rai sank back behind the display.
“So, Lena,” Rai said in a sharp, short tone.
“You know her?” Jesse walked to his bed, falling onto the mattress.
“We went to school together.”
“That girl is nuts.” Jesse hoisted his hands beneath his head, stretching out. “She pushed me into a closet, was all over me.”
Rai chuckled, glancing at Jesse. “The old supply closet trick.” He shook his head, returning to his ceaseless typing. “That’s how she got me last year.”
“You dated her?”
“I wouldn’t call it dating.” Rai flashed a sinful smirk. “More like an hour and a half in a closet.”
“I don’t think I want you around my sister anymore.”
A frown stole Rai’s lips, and Jesse let out a chuckle. He yanked the pillow from beneath his head, hurling it across the room. “I’m just kidding, man.”
Rai fumbled, scooping up the pillow and chucking it back at Jesse. “Watch the tech!”
Jesse tucked the pillow back under his head, smiling. The clack of computer keys started up again. That sound, which should pick at his mind, had actually become quite peaceful, almost like a lullaby.
“I wouldn’t do that to your sister.” Rai closed his laptop. He stared at Jesse with an uber-serious face. “She’s different.” After rising from his seat, he cracked his stiff knuckles and walked around the desk.
“Where you going?” Jesse asked, scooting to the edge of his bed.
“I gotta pick up Kami for dinner.”
“Is that, like, a requirement?”
“It is in Kami’s world.” Rai turned toward the door and it flew open. He jumped back as Sabrina and Mr. Reyes stormed into the room.
“Wow, privacy,” Rai said, stomping forward to glare in Sabrina’s face. “What if I was getting changed?”
Sabrina smirked, her eyes scouring Rai from bottom to top. “Please. You ain’t got nothing I haven’t seen before, sport.”
“You don’t know that,” Rai said, lifting his chin.
Jesse sprung to his feet, slinking beside Rai. It was a pitiful attempt at backup, but at least he tried.
Sabrina’s pointed finger raised, her mouth opening. Jesse cringed, waiting for the woman to spew fiery dragon’s breath, but Mr. Reyes pulled her back.
“Look,” Mr. Reyes said in a calm tone, “we’re sorry to barge in on you guys, but we need your help.”
Rai snickered, strolling back to his desk. “I would say come inside, but you’ve already let yourselves in.”
Jesse held back a chuckle. Since they weren’t going anywhere anytime soon, he returned to his comfy bed.
***
Joey’s smile was so wide she didn’t even see Kami beyond it. She glided across their room, opening her backpack.
“I’m sorry,” Kami practically shouted from her bed.
“For what?”
Kami swayed a sheet of paper in the air. “I took this from your notebook.”
Joey waved her hand, returning to her bag. “I don’t care.” She pulled out a white tank top and blue jeans with brightly colored stars and moons sketched along the outer leg.
“Good, ‘cause I took your pen too.”
“I don’t mind,” she said, slipping into her fresh threads. “As long as you don’t mind that I totally made-out with your brother.”
“About that.” Kami hopped off her bed, the paper gliding to the floor. She stood in front of Joey, arms crossed, her brows raised. “Why’d you do it?”
“I don’t know.” Slowly, Joey lifted her gaze to Kami’s face. Once glimpsing those firm eyes, her spine shriveled. “I think he’s kinda cool.” When Kami’s body uncoiled, her tight chest loosened. “If it’s a problem, I’ll—”
“No.” Kami trudged back to her bed and scooped the paper from the gray carpet. She plopped down, then crossed her legs beneath her. “It’s fine. But if you’re into my brother, you probably shouldn’t be running off with other guys.” Her eyes wandered to Joey, turning cold. “Like Chuck.”
“No! That was … um.” She ran a brush through her hair, catching Kami’s glare in the mirror. “He just wanted some help looking for his father.”
“Mr. Winslow’s still missing? He’s the pilot you know.”
“I know, but that Stone woman is on the job, and she don’t seem the type to give up easy.”
“Come here, look.” Kami waved her hand, and Joey sat beside her. “I’ve been making a list of everyone I recognize.” She tilted the page, scooting closer to Joey. “These are all the people I know from school, the sector, and my mom’s work. I cross-referenced them with everyone I can think of who’s been in my house—”
“Wait. Why are you doing all this?”
“Don’t you see?” Kami pulled the paper back to her lap. “Whoever planted that bomb is still here, onboard with us.” She glanced around, as if looking for somebody hidden in a corner. “I think we’re all in danger.”
Kami’s words were heavy, weighted down by fear. It made Joey’s stomach twist, and her mind whirl. “What should we do?”
“I don’t know.” Kami tossed the paper aside and jumped to her feet. “I have to think, but I’m starving.”
“Let’s go grab some grub.” Joey climbed off the bed and slipped on her shoes.
“Rai was supposed to be here ten minutes ago.”
“Maybe he’s waiting for you there.” She smoothed out her perfectly fine clothes before heading to the door.
“Uh, no. Rai escorts me to dinner every night.”
“Oh.” Joey paused. She turned on her heels, smiled, and held out her hand. “Tonight, I’ll be your escort.”
***
Rai glanced up from his lap
top, again. For some reason, Sabrina chose the spot right in front of his desk to pace. It was very distracting. Usually, he could click off the world outside his screen, but her clacky nails drumming the stun gun on her belt and her legs moving double-time irked his every nerve.
“It didn’t take you this long to hack the World Oxygen Bank.”
The tap of keys stopped, and Rai sat back in his chair. That woman had the cockiest look on her face. If they were back on Earth, he’d hack her life into a nightmare. In fact, the moment Mars established a database, he’d classify her as a janitor.
Sabrina leaned on the desk, hurling a glower over the laptop’s lid. “Didn’t know I knew about that, did ya?”
Rai lowered his gaze back to the screen. Janitor was too good; maybe garbage collector.
“Your mom made it disappear,” Sabrina babbled on, pushing off the desk and rattling the lamp. “She waited until after I investigated for two weeks.”
Ticking keys never stopped, and Rai never broke his stare from his screen. “I diverted that O² to G-Sector.”
Jesse dropped into the chair beside Rai’s desk. “Was that last July?”
“Yeah!” Rai smiled at Jesse. “The fourth. That day used to mean something.” He curved toward Sabrina, glaring. “Independence.”
“We got to go to the Unity Day dance ‘cause of that,” Jesse said.
“My mother got to her doctor’s appointment because of you,” Mr. Reyes added, unable to hide the gratitude in his stare.
A bright shade of red filled Sabrina’s cheeks. “That’s all so touching, but it was illegal.”
“Oxygen should be free,” Rai said, his fingers flying faster across the keys.
Sabrina stood over him, crossing her arms. “That’s not the world we live in, son.”
Rai moved his hands away from the keyboard, hiding his balled fists under the desk. That rule about not hitting girls shouldn’t apply in space.
“That’s the world we will live in,” Jesse said. “When we get to Mars.”
Mr. Reyes grinned at Jesse while ushering Sabrina out of Rai’s face. “I’m sure Rai’s almost done.”
“I am done.” Rai turned his laptop, pointing at a flashing red dot on an overhead map. “He’s there.”
Sabrina glanced at the computer, then curved her stare to Rai. “You pretend to be so honorable. Let me ask you something. Have you told your new friends how they really got here? Cause I know.”
Rai slowly stood, his glare locked on Sabrina. “Have you told everyone on this bus why the flight got pushed up two weeks? Cause I know.”
Without a word, Sabrina turned and darted from the room.
“Thanks,” Mr. Reyes said on his way out the door.
Rai dropped back into his chair, avoiding the glare he knew Jesse shot his way. “Kami’s gonna kill me.”
***
“I’m gonna kill Rai,” Kami said, dropping her fork onto her tray.
Joey fidgeted in her seat as yet another person came to gush over Kami. It must’ve been the ninth, no, the tenth time she heard that Kami should be commander of Mars. Not one person even said hello to her. She felt like a fly on the side of a princess’s throne.
The moment a girl stopped spewing compliments, amid giggles, and scurried off, Kami turned to Joey. She shielded her face with her hand, grumbling beneath her breath.
“Does this happen often?” Joey asked, using the split second of privacy to stuff her face with the most delicious food she’d ever tasted.
“No. Not when Rai’s around.” Kami peeked through her fingers, groaning. “Oh, great. Here comes that fat kid from astrophysics.”
Joey turned in her chair, watching a short round boy waddle over.
“I need Rai. He always scares away these butt-kissing as—”
“Hey, Kami,” the boy said through a giant grin.
Kami’s face warped into a wrinkle before she slapped on a forced smile and turned to face the kid. “Hey … you.”
“Billy!” the kid slogged forward, “from ast—”
“Astrophysics, right.” Kami flung a frown Joey’s way, then rolled back to Billy.
“Oh wow! I can’t believe I’m going to Mars with Kami Matsuda.” Billy clasped his hands together, gazing off into the corner. With a gasp, he darted his wide eyes back to Kami. “Hey, Kami, you know what would be awesome? When we get to Mars, you should be—”
Joey rose from her seat, holding her palm up in Billy’s face. Not again, she was not going to hear this tune one more time. “I’m sorry, Astroboy, but Kami’s really busy right now. She wants to talk to each and every one of you after we land on Mars.” She leaned on the table, slanting toward Billy, and he gulped. “Maybe you could pass the word.”
“S-sure,” Billy said. His chubby face lit up as he backed away. “Thanks, Kami. You’re the greatest.”
Joey snickered as she plopped back into her seat.
“That was stellar.” Kami retrieved her fork, finally able to enjoy her meal. “I should make you my liaison when we land.”
“Yeah, after you become the commander,” Joey teased, devouring her slice of apple pie. Her stomach was about to burst, but there were real apples in that pie not synthetic goo.
“Yeah, right,” Kami said, shoving back a grin.
“Is that how Rai scares them away?”
A chuckle skirted from Kami’s lips. “Right. Rai talking to people. That’s a good one.” She slapped Joey’s arm, still giggling. “No. He just sits there.” Kami motioned to the empty seat across from her. “He’s a black belt, and everyone saw him break Kyle Boeing’s arm three years ago. That’s why people stay away when he’s around.”
“Rai’s a black belt,” Joey said, louder than expected with a smile wider than she wanted. It was official, Rai was now the hottest guy on the bus.
“Oh my God, Joey, stop drooling.”
Joey chewed back her grin, slumping low in her chair. “I’m not drooling.” She snatched her milk carton, trying a bit too hard to be nonchalant. “Why’d he break a guy’s arm?”
“Dude gripped up on me, hard.” Kami smirked, her gaze drifting to the ceiling. “I don’t think anyone’s touched me since.”
“That’s … kinda sweet.” Joey pushed her tray away. She scanned the crowd, stopping to study every female face.
“Looking for someone?” Kami asked.
“No. I was just, um …”
“What? Just what?”
“I didn’t want to be that girl,” Joey said, even though she was about to become that nosey, intrusive girl whom boys couldn’t stand. “But … is she here?”
Kami glanced around the crowded room. “Is who here?”
“Rai’s ex,” Joey muttered, her eyes glued to the shining table in front of her.
“Hah!” Kami settled back in her chair, crossing her arms. “Which one?”
Joey tossed her glare to Kami. “You know. The one he was with.”
“Yeah,” Kami sneered. “Which one?”
Joey stared at Kami. The shock building in her mind must’ve shone through her gaze, because the smirk cleared off Kami’s lips.
“Girls just throw themselves at Rai,” Kami said, softening her stare. “I mean, what’s he supposed to do? Guys can’t help being stupid when cleavage is involved. I don’t think he actually liked any of them if that helps.”
First, Joey shrugged, then nodded, and then a combination of both. She was starting to understand the self-control problem, thanks to the unending supply of hotties onboard this bus. “Yeah, I … So, I guess you date a lot too, huh?”
“Please. I don’t mess with boys,” Kami said, turning up her nose.
“But you kissed my brother.”
“He told you about that?”
“We tell each other everything.” She looked at Kami, her face as serious as Kami’s was surprised.
“That’ll change if you start dating my brother.”
Her jaw dropped open, a tiny gasp escaping. “That’s not true. You’ll see. We’ll never change.”
“That’s cute.” Kami rose to her feet, head tilted toward the door. “Come on. I got a brother to flay.”
Chapter Fifteen
Rai hadn’t moved from his seat or even glanced Jesse’s way for five minutes straight. It didn’t matter. Rai didn’t need to hide his face. Guilt clung to the air, circling around him like the smog after a solar storm.
Jesse jumped to his feet, creeping around the front of the desk. Now Rai had to look at the guy, or be labeled as a punk.
“Are you gonna explain all that or …?” Jesse shrugged, as much as his tight shoulders had allowed.
The second Rai rose from his chair his brain went blank. He opened his mouth without a single clue what to say when the rush of their door and Joey’s laughter filled the room. “Thank God,” he mumbled beneath his breath, falling back into his seat.
“You’re a dead man, Rai,” Kami growled, stomping toward his desk.
One of those looks must’ve crossed his face because she scurried back.
Jesse turned the laptop, glancing at the screen. “I’ll be back,” he said to Joey, heading for the door.
“Jesse, wait,” Rai called out, but Jesse bolted from the room. His stare drifted to Joey, her gentle smile shining on him. That would change soon. His hand curled into a fist at the thought of her gaze polluted in hate, because of him.
“What was that all about?” Kami asked.
“Not now,” Rai barked. His fists crashed against the desk as he shot from his chair. Both girls flinched, backing toward the door, and shame crept into his gut.
“Come on, Joey.” Kami tapped the keypad, gesturing to the hallway. “Let’s go to our own room.”
Joey trudged away with Kami, which was just great. As always, his sister gets the glory and he gets dirty leers. Before he could stop himself, he stomped forward. He breezed past Joey, hip-checked Kami, and stormed out of his room.