High Flyer - Michelle Diener Page 0,97

he realized was his usual suite when he came to Touka.

The code appeared in his head before he even reached the door. He tapped it in and burst through into the room, taking two running steps and then tackling Geral Hui, Touka City liaison to the Faldine military.

Iver heard the air explode out of Geral as he landed on top of him. He pulled himself up into a crouch, leaned over Geral's prone form, and snatched up the SAL before he had a chance to move.

“I knew you were ex-military,” Admiral Valerian said from the door. “But I didn't realize how proficient you were.”

Iver rose to his feet, SAL pointed down at Geral, and looked over at Hana, who was standing watching him with bright, humor-filled eyes from beside the bed.

“You have a good reason for tackling the military liaison?” Valerian eyed Hana with surprise, and stepped into the room.

“Besides the fact that he broke into my room and was pointing a SAL at me, threatening to 'eliminate me' to cover his tracks and give him time to escape?” Hana's voice was almost sweet.

Valerian really looked at her now. “Those are good reasons, but how did Iver know them?”

“I put a few things together while I was waiting for you to finish your discussion with your aide.” Iver lifted his shoulders, but his gaze went to Hana, and he saw the surprise in her eyes.

She was working something out.

And he realized that everything he'd seen in his head had been from her perspective.

It wasn't that she had contacted him.

It had been her upgrade to his upgrade.

They were able to share information.

The potential of it made him want to look for a chair to sit down in.

Behind Valerian, two grim-faced Special Forces soldiers hovered in the doorway.

He used the SAL to gesture to Geral Hui. “Come collect a new prisoner. He can go with the others Captain Donaldson's people rounded up. He's part of the Bret group, not the Craven group.”

“Craven group?” Geral finally had his breath back and he struggled up into a seated position. “What are you talking about?”

Iver looked down at Geral's red face and was suddenly done.

He stepped back, and the soldiers took it as their cue to grab their prisoner and march him off.

His shouted questions were still audible, even through the door to the stairwell, although Iver realized only he and Hana could probably hear that.

“You up for more of a debrief?” Valerian asked as Iver walked to the door and held it open.

“No. I'm going to bed now, and I'll speak to you again when I'm not running on no sleep or food.”

Valerian nodded. “Which room is yours, in case I need to get you in an emergency?”

Iver waved his hand around the suite. “You're looking at it.”

Valerian's eyebrows rose, and she gave Hana a final perusal.

“And Admiral.” He waited until she was out the door, and it was half-closed.

“Yes?”

“Make sure there aren't any emergencies.”

Chapter 34

“This is some high-level surprise.” Hana followed Iver through the military complex she had called home during the war, and nodded to a few of the guards she recognized as they were ushered through two security points.

Finally, they were led into a room that was almost a let down after the build up of the journey, and she took a careful look around.

Her former base commander, General Yarne, stood at the head of a long, oval table. Seated at the table was a woman and two men in civilian clothing, and then a few of the general's aides standing against the wall.

When the room's occupants noticed them, they all smiled in a very friendly way.

Hana glanced at Iver for an explanation, but it came from General Yarne.

“Lieutenant Farwell. Planetary Commander.” He gestured to the free seats in an invitation to sit. “The VSC wishes to thank you for finding what is turning out to be the discovery of a lifetime.”

“More than a lifetime,” the man who was beaming at her said. “This is the discovery of the shared history of the Verdant String.”

Hana lowered herself into a chair, but she couldn't help the spike of nerves at the formality of the setting.

If they had found out about the upgrade . . .

Iver's hand snuck across and grabbed hers, and squeezed it.

It was comforting.

They were in this together.

The man looked over at the general, received a nod, and stood. “You might have heard about the ship discovered by Tally Riva several months ago. A ship the Caruso were trying to