***
Summers listened carefully to what Calvin had to say. Nothing lessened her resentment toward him, and what he’d done to her and her ship. But, for the first time, she wondered if he’d blundered his way into something important. If there really were unregistered alien ships this deep inside the Empire, that had serious implications.
Or perhaps Calvin “suspected” alien ships simply to try and grab some validation for his illegal takeover of the Nighthawk. It might turn out that these objects were asteroids. Or space junk. Or maybe even nothing at all. When Calvin finished speaking, Shen came in and unlocked Summers’s restraints. As he did, Summers remained silent, still wondering at Calvin’s ulterior motive. Even when Shen returned to the bridge, Summers remained in place, thoughtful. Wondering why Calvin should want her advice now. After disregarding it at every turn since she’d come aboard.
Most likely Calvin thought the image of them cooperating would help secure his hold over the ship. Make the crew think his actions were legitimate. She couldn’t allow that.
But then again … if there was any danger to the ship, her duty was very clear: her place was on the bridge. For now she’d have to swallow her pride and see what Calvin had put everything on the line for.
The Phoenix Conspiracy Page 72