Aberrant

Chapter 33

Atlas frowned then nodded. I'd like to talk to this aberrant.

Kaplan suppressed a knee-jerk, negative response. Atlas didn't play games. The second-gen was a straight shooter only interested in the security of Coalition Space. No threat to Jinx. You'll have to track her down. Her involvement in the investigation ended this afternoon.

Atlas cocked a brow. I'm sensing subtext.

Kaplan skipped over Jinx's altercation with Shau; it wasn't up for public discussion. Ms Koel doesn't remember much of her time on board the barge. Given her medical history—or at least her father's—she was declared an unreliable source and dismissed.

Atlas frowned. Xykeree vessels aren't for weak stomachs or minds. Stress could've exacerbated her disorder, affected her memory. You sure there's no getting a read off her?

Sun and I spent three days in transit with the woman and had no luck. Qua-zi Ambassador Mu, Shau, and Regina Deladi, a new first-gen, concurred with our findings earlier today.

Atlas grunted. Your word's good enough for me, Kap.

Kaplan left that comment alone. If you want any extra intel from Koel, step softly. The dismissal of her eyewitness account hasn't left her feeling cooperative.

Atlas glanced to the thinning crowd. She's a low priority. The physical evidence we gathered on the Bullhead says enough. You been up to the Dawn yet? He looked back to Kaplan, a thread of tension rising in his psionics. I heard about Cal's kid brother.

Sun's on her way back from the Silver Dawn now. She'll have looked in on Tom and have an update. Kaplan met his friend's uneasy stare. Atlas knew what the situation meant for third-gens. He was also Cal Tarak's commanding officer and friend. You know which island Cal headed to on Sann Glyth?

No, just that it was one of the low-population, low-tech ones. Cal was all for a snoozy, man-versus-mosquito, beach holiday. Atlas slanted Kaplan a speculative look. I was surprised Sun didn't request leave to hit the sand and surf with him.

She's not one for snoozy or bikinis.

Yeah, full battle kit for that woman. Atlas nodded approvingly. She doing okay? Her and Cal...

She'd be happier if he was around to shoot in person.

Atlas flashed square teeth. Never got why those two danced around one another. For the sport, maybe. His smile faded. A lot of Rha Si being recalled to the Dawn. I've got to ask...

Kaplan gave him a bland look.

The other man sighed. You're a hard bastard, Kap.

Kaplan looked over his shoulder, out at the shuttle traffic. He'd soon be heading up to the Dawn. For the next twenty-four hours—if not indefinitely—he'd be dealing with issues other than rogue aliens, whether he liked it or not.

The time for pretence had passed.

He turned back to Atlas. It's not clear how much longer I'll be on the investigation team. He felt as much as saw the man's understanding: a hard heartbeat; sudden tension. You may need to find some answers for me. Six of my team are dead, and it's still not clear how their deaths are connected to these rebel ships. I don't want them forgotten.

No one's going to forget them or any of our fallen. The look in Atlas' eyes said he wasn't only talking about those lost in action. We'll both keep looking for answers.