Galleon. She was an adult now. “Well,” she said to her reflection, “You’re probably going to asphyxiate or crash into a million pieces very soon, but at least you look amazing.”
With two hours to go before she could suit up, Jessamyn began to worry that her ability to concentrate was fading. She checked the ship’s oxygen levels—dangerously low—and grabbed one of the suits off the bunk. Sinking down where the suit had rested, she looked into the share-mask. She found her new tiny wrinkle reflected upon the share-mask. She wondered if she should get up and do something to stay awake.
And then she drifted to sleep.
32
YET HERE WE BE
Pavel Brezhnaya-Bouchard was regretting he hadn’t attempted to perform surgical facial alterations upon himself while he had the chance. His claim that despite being Lucca’s nephew, he was only in Yucca to build satellite dishes sounded implausible to many of the residents.
“This whole group of strangers is part of an elaborate trap put into play by the Chancellor,” said Roy to Yucca’s leading citizens, gathered to examine Pavel and his friends. “She makes everyone think her nephew’s been abducted by placin’ that reward on his head, but really she’s got him doin’ her dirty work findin’ dissenters.”
The Shirff frowned and tugged at his moustache.
“It’s true my aunt wants me back,” said Pavel. “The reward is real. But the kidnapping claim is ridiculous. Does it look like I’m with these friends because they kidnapped me?”
Brian snorted in laughter.
“Brezhnaya looks weak if word gets out that her nephew’s run off of his own accord,” muttered the enclave’s oldest citizen, her pipe between her teeth.
“Exactly,” said Pavel. “But it’s also not the case that I’m doing secret spy work for her. My aunt knows the truth about me—that I have no interest in supporting her goals or her government.”
Harpreet’s clear voice rang out. “With all due respect, I believe it might be better to ask why Lucca Brezhnaya would send her highly-recognizable nephew to trap dissenters when an unknown face would surely garner more trust. Not to mention the fact that had her government been made aware of your existence, Red Squadron might have put an end to all of us by now.”
The woman with the pipe nodded. “Yet here we be.”
The Shirff cleared his throat and addressed the five strangers. “We need time to discuss this situation. I’m sure you’ll understand if we place your party under protective custody for the remainder of the day.”
Harpreet spoke for the group. “Of course you must be allowed to consider what you have learned. It changes nothing for us, however. We remain grateful for your hospitality and hopeful that it will continue.”
But the discussion continued long into the night, and the party of five were told to expect word the following morning. Harpreet graciously accepted the information, passing it along to her companions.
Pavel felt restless.
“I’m going outside,” he said.
“Are we allowed?” asked Dr. Zaifa.
“Guess I’ll find out,” replied Pavel.
He wandered up the set of stairs leading outside. The old woman sat just outside the entrance, chewing a pipe and blowing smoke rings to the night sky.
“Is it okay if I take a bit of a walk?” asked Pavel.
She gazed at him. “I’m to notify the Shirff if you don’t return,” was all she had to say.
Pavel nodded and strode out and away from the small streaks of light leaking from the dwellings. He raised his eyes to the heavens, searching the east-west arc of sun and planets until he found Mars. The red planet glowed a faint yellow, approaching the months when the two worlds would be farthest apart. Pavel had told himself not to hope for Jessamyn’s return when the planets drew near once again. He had repeated it often. But he hoped and ached and dreamed anyway.
He squatted, lowering himself onto the desert floor, still slightly warm, a memory of the day’s heat. Running his hands through the sand—cooler on top, warmer below—he remembered the night he’d spent at Jessamyn’s side. She would understand Yucca better than he did, fit in better. His weeks in the desert had fed a small flame inside him, a twinkling of an idea, half-glimpsed. He’d learned that another sort of community was possible. Camaraderie existed among these people who lived each day uncertain whether or not their most basic needs would be met. They needed one another. And they knew it.
It made him sad, in a way he didn’t understand. Now that he knew he might be expelled from