It took an hour to hammer out the plan.
“Right, we’ll aim to intercept them here.” Rico pointed at a spot on the monitor. “Devlin’s guys will take out the guard ships, while El Cazador concentrates on the main target. Afterward, Devlin and his pals can go off and do whatever he does, and we’ll continue on to Trakis Seven. We’ll get as close as we can, then whoever is going will have to complete the journey in the shuttle. I’ve heard Trakis Seven isn’t a pleasant place to visit.”
“No, it’s not pleasant,” Callum said. “Though you might survive. I don’t think a vampire has ever landed there.”
“I’d prefer not to test it.” He shuddered. “I’ve heard it’s not a good death.”
No. Callum had seen most of his crew die from exposure to Trakis Seven, and it had not been pretty. He tried not to think of all the people who had been sent there since they’d discovered Meridian. Sent by the Collective to work the mines and die on that hideous lump of poisoned rock.
He’d justified it by telling himself that they were criminals, but now he’d learned that innocent people had also died in the mines, their only crime being they were not entirely human.
With a start of shock, he realized that Tannis would have been one of those people if she hadn’t escaped from the research center. They would have taken her to Trakis Seven, and she would have died, in a week, maybe not for a year. He had heard of people who lasted two years, but he was sure at the end of that time they’d been desperate for death. An image of her body ravaged by poison flashed through his mind.
“What’s the matter?” she asked
He glanced up to find her watching him, her brows drawn together.
“Nothing.” What could he say? He was running the complete gamut of emotions these days. Guilt, jealousy…
Maybe it would be best if the planet was destroyed. He hadn’t allowed himself to consider that option. But what if they were to just allow this take its course and let the Church destroy Trakis Seven once and for all. Except he had promised Tannis the Meridian treatment, and he wanted to give that to her. Maybe it would make up in some small way for the past.
But there was more; he needed to find out the truth about what he was, what he was becoming, and every instinct told him the answers were to be found on Trakis Seven. Somehow, he had to find a way to get the planet to give up its secrets.
“Okay, so we have four days until we intercept the ships,” Tannis said. “That long enough for your guys to get there?”
Starke nodded. “I’m still getting the numbers in, but I should know later tonight.”
“Then I think we’re finished for now, not much else we can do until we know what firepower we have on our side. We’ll meet again tomorrow and go over the details.”
The meeting was obviously over. Callum got to his feet, meaning to get close to Tannis and stick close while that slimy bastard was on board. Hopefully, that wouldn’t be for long. No doubt, he’d be heading back to his own ship now they were done. And good riddance.
Starke approached her, and Callum’s eyes narrowed on the other man. “Captain, can I speak with you for a moment?”
Callum shifted closer so he could hear the conversation.
“Callum?” Venna spoke softly from beside him, and he turned away impatiently.
She shifted from foot to foot, casting furtive glances around the room. “Will you walk me to my shuttle?”
“Why?”
“I don’t think they like me.” She nodded toward the small knot of people by the door. The crew didn’t look too friendly.
He glanced at Tannis, who stood way too close to Starke, but Rico was still seated, so he reckoned it was safe to leave them for a minute. And it was his fault Venna was here. He supposed he couldn’t just abandon her, much as he would have liked to—it wasn’t part of his new caring image. All the same, he hustled her out of the room as fast as he could.
…
Tannis was conscious of Callum leaving with Venna and had to keep her feet firmly placed to stop from following. She sighed and looked back at Devlin.
“Is it okay if I stay on board?” Devlin asked. “I want to spend some time with Tris.”
“No problem. Though we’re pretty pushed for space right now.”
“That’s okay, I’ll bunk in with Tris.” He gave her a slow smile. “Unless I get a better offer.”
He was flirting with her, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. He was such a contradiction. The deadly terrorist who’d killed hundreds, and this man who wanted to spend time with his brother. She had a thought. “Your bodyguards aren’t staying are they?” There certainly wasn’t enough room for them.