reach DES?” I ask.
“No. On the off chance we were right, we’ve been feeding him misinformation about our security. The other science reports are being filed as usual,” Morgan says.
“Permission to speak freely, sir?” Beau asks Radcliff.
Oh boy. This ought to be interesting.
“Granted.”
“Do you really think I would have tipped Jarren off, sir? If that’s the case, then I wish to tender my resignation.”
“This isn’t about your ego, Dorey,” Morgan snaps. “It’s about survival.”
Her words hit me hard. I didn’t think of it that way before. And it’s way scarier than just being blocked. It also deflates the puff from Beau’s chest.
“You were doing your job,” Radcliff says. “Securing the camera feeds, checking for a block using conventional methods. That’s what we needed you to do. That’s what Jarren expects us to do.” He turns to me. “Why didn’t you trust Officer Dorey’s security measures?”
Now I’m on the hot seat—is that really a thing? How do I explain without sounding like I’m boasting? “I don’t want to die again. So I’m being extra careful and super paranoid.”
My mom clasps my hand under the table in silent support. But everyone else is waiting for me to continue.
“I trust Beau to do his very best, but I’ve a unique way to navigate the Q-net and it’s…more accurate, so I wanted to ensure that our messages were reaching DES.”
“Diplomatic,” Jefferies mutters.
“Did you tip off the looters?” Gage asks.
“No,” Beau answers. “I didn’t trigger anything and Ara was a ghost.”
Technically, Lyra is a ghost.
“What does all this mean for us?” Jefferies asks. “Is that Protectorate ship still enroute?”
Mom tips her head at Radcliff.
“Yes,” Radcliff answers. “It was dispatched prior to the block. Even if DES suspects we’re all dead, they are still required to confirm it beyond a doubt and make an effort to search for survivors.”
“However, if Jarren wishes to keep his activities secret, he has to…” Dad glances at me.
Mom squeezes my hand. Uh oh.
“Has to what?” Gage prompts.
“Eliminate the rest of us before that ship arrives,” my father finishes in a rush.
I suspected as much. Yet hearing it said aloud lends it more weight. The news sinks to the bottom of my stomach with a sickening thud.
Gage is clasping her hands so tight her fingertips turn red. “That means we have…”
“Less than six hundred and thirty-eight days,” I say. No one remarks on the speed of my math. Tough room.
Jefferies pales. “To live?”
“No. To find Jarren and stop him,” Radcliff says with confidence.
“What about the HoLFs?” Gage asks in a shaky voice. “He let them do his dirty work for him on Xinji. That’s why he destroyed so many Warriors.”
“That’s still a theory,” Dad says. “We haven’t proven that the arrival of the HoLFs is due to the destruction of the Warriors.”
Unable to keep quiet, I say, “That’s not quite right. Jarren didn’t destroy the Warriors to release the shadow…HoLFs. He wasn’t expecting them when he attacked Xinji. Now when he attacked us, he knew what would happen. But Jarren didn’t particularly care if we survived or not.” A shudder zips up my spine as the memory of his words, they might survive until the Protector ship arrives repeats in my mind. “He also didn’t indicate that he was counting on it. In fact, he was going to send you all the information he had about the shadow-blobs.”
“However, at that time, he thought he had you in his custody,” Radcliff says. “It was probably a lie to keep you calm and cooperative.”
True. Yet it felt genuine. It was only when I was rescued that our deal was broken, which was why he returned to kill me. I clutch my mom’s hand with both of mine at a sudden realization. “I’ve killed us all!”
Mom leans toward me until our shoulders are touching. “Nonsense. None of this is your fault.”
“It is. As part of the deal, Jarren made me promise not to tell anyone, including his thugs, his real name. I had enough time to tell you before he came back to kill me.”
“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” Radcliff says in his Security Chief voice or his I-must-be-obeyed voice, depending on who you’re talking to. “We stick to the routine, keep sending out reports. The only thing that changes is we search for a way to contact DES without alerting Jarren’s organization. Is that possible, Ara?”
Everyone stares at me, including Beau. Although his expression is flat, he can’t hide the sparks of anger in his amber eyes. Thanks, Radcliff.
I relax my death grip