‘Good,’ I said breathlessly. ‘I’d hate to shoot up the place by mistake.’
I spent five more glorious minutes playing with the attack grid, and then ended pre-flight checks.
‘Hovers now?’
‘If you want,’ said Drago. ‘Watch it though. She’s not going to respond like a standard aircraft.’
I nodded, checked the hover controls were the same as the ones I’d seen before, and engaged lifts. The fighter lifted smoothly upwards, but when I tried moving forward I pulled a face.
‘She’s very sluggish.’
‘Flies like a rock in atmosphere.’ Drago sounded amused. ‘This isn’t what she’s designed for. She comes to life out in space. Sorry you can’t try that.’
‘Not as sorry as I am.’ I carefully landed the fighter again. ‘Thanks Drago, that was very special for me. I appreciate it.’
I hit the cockpit release and climbed out. Drago followed me, and Fian came hurrying over to join us. I waited until he was standing next to me before I turned to frown at Drago.
‘Now, Drago, I think it’s time you stopped using me to make Marlise jealous.’ I saw his forehead wrinkle. ‘And don’t try to lie your way out of this, because you can’t.’
Drago pulled a rueful face. ‘How did you find out?’
‘I knew Marlise didn’t approve of you paying attention to a kid like me, so at first I thought she was deliberately appearing whenever you were flirting with me. Then I realized it was actually the other way around. We’d be having a perfectly sensible conversation until Marlise walked into the room, but then you’d suddenly start paying me compliments and kissing my hand.’
He groaned. ‘How long have you known?’
‘A few days.’
Fian joined in the conversation. ‘Jarra wanted to see your fighter before she yelled at you.’
Drago laughed. ‘You’ve been playing me along, using me, Jarra.’
‘You started it, Drago.’
‘I was a desperate man,’ said Drago. ‘Marlise is my deputy, so Military regulations put me at a huge disadvantage. I can’t so much as kiss her without a legal contract. When she warned me not to flirt with Jarra, I thought that …’
‘I don’t care what’s going on between you and Captain Weldon,’ interrupted Fian. ‘I just want you to stay away from Jarra.’
‘You’ve no need to worry,’ said Drago. ‘I’d never have flirted with her if there was the remotest risk of her falling for me. It’s perfectly obvious from the way Jarra looks at you that she isn’t interested in me or anyone else.’
He grinned and saluted. ‘Major Jarra Tell Morrath, you have my Military Oath that I will behave towards you with perfect propriety in future. I formally request a truce.’
I glanced at Fian.
‘All right,’ he agreed. ‘On condition I get to hit Drago at least once. I know exactly where I’m going to hit him as well!’
11
The day the Military first detected the sphere was officially designated Day Zero. We were now on Day Twelve, and the threat assessment from Commander Mason Leveque ticked up a little higher with each failed attempt to contact the sphere. It was now an ominous 74 per cent.
I normally slept solidly through every night, but now I would wake in the early hours, lie listening to Fian’s quiet breathing, and thank the deity that I wasn’t Colonel Torrek. I could only begin to imagine the strain of being in command of something like this, and the temptation to end the suspense by ordering an attack. Day after day, the Colonel remained an example of calm, confident and patient leadership. Respect!
Today, I was distracted from thoughts of aliens by something purely personal. I’d made a promise, and it was time to honour it. Fian and I stood at the desk in the parcel room, giving handprints to acknowledge the receipt of two tiny boxes. The young lieutenant behind the desk looked amused by Fian’s totally powered expression.
‘Something important, sir?’ he asked.
‘Our rings,’ said Fian, pride and joy just bubbling out of him.
I bravely smiled. We’d got our rings, and somehow I was going to force myself to put mine on my finger. Fian was so happy about this that I couldn’t let him down.
‘Congratulations and mutual joy,’ said the lieutenant.
‘Thank you,’ said Fian, and he turned to kiss me.
‘Chimera shred you,’ said a voice from behind us. ‘Isn’t it enough to have sex with the ape in private, must you kiss the thing in public as well?’
Fian whirled to face the owner of the voice. ‘Shut your mouth!’