Between Burning Worlds (System Divine #2) - Jessica Brody Page 0,93

untarnished flesh. Not even a scar. A Défecteur born outside the Regime. Outside the cruel laws of the Ministère.

“That’s not fair,” she said. “They implanted this thing in me when I was a child. I didn’t have a choice. Besides, you don’t even know me.”

“I know you’re gullible enough to believe what the Regime wants you to believe about us.” Chatine opened her mouth to argue, but the man interrupted her once more. “What was it you called me again? A Défecteur? Now, let me see, who came up with that word?”

She crossed her arms. “Fine. What do you call yourselves?”

The man smiled, clearly enjoying the question. “Well, we don’t really like labels. We’re more of a you-be-you type of people.”

Chatine snorted. “Why am I not surprised?”

“But,” he went on, ignoring her snide remark, “if I had to pick, I would say you could call us”—he began to count on his fingers—“renegades, bon vivants, zealous nonconformists.”

Chatine fought hard not to roll her eyes. “Or … how about … I don’t know … Défecteurs?”

Annoyance flashed across the young man’s chiseled features before he quickly composed himself.

“It’s as good of a name as Marilyn,” Chatine jabbed.

“What wrong with Marilyn?” The pilote was clearly insulted.

“It’s …” Chatine searched for the right word. “I don’t know, kind of stupide.”

Etienne made a choking sound and pounded his fist against his chest as though trying to dispel something caught there. “Marilyn happens to be a very beloved name on the First World.”

Chatine unfastened her harness and, with effort, pushed herself to standing and limped over to the console. She gazed out at the view of her home planet growing closer. “Oh, right, I forgot you people have an obsession with the First World.”

Etienne twisted his mouth to the side. “I wouldn’t call it an obsession. I’d say it’s more of an appreciation. There were a lot of things they did well on the First World.”

“The First World died,” Chatine reminded him. “In a fiery explosion. Of their own making.”

“Okay,” Etienne allowed. “So, they didn’t do everything well. But there were some beliefs and traditions held by different people on the First World that we happen to like upholding.”

Chatine glanced back over her shoulder. “Like eating wood chips?”

He snickered. “Hey, don’t knock it until you try it. With a little salt, they’re pretty tasty.”

Chatine allowed herself a chuckle. “Well, I have to say Marilyn is …”

Etienne leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “Yes?”

“Interesting,” she finished with a smirk.

Etienne considered. “Interesting good or interesting bad?”

“I’ve never seen anything like it, that’s for sure.”

“That’s because she’s one of a kind.”

“Hmm.” Chatine reached out and ran her fingertips lightly across the console.

Etienne hastily shooed her away. “Whoa, whoa. Time to set some ground rules. Rule number one: Only I touch the controls, okay?”

Chatine theatrically tucked her hands into her armpits. “And rule number two?”

“There is no rule number two. There doesn’t have to be. Because rule number one is everything. Marilyn is my ship. I am the only one allowed to fly her. And you don’t touch anything unless I tell you to. Understood?”

Chatine intentionally ignored the question. “What class of ship is this, anyway?”

Etienne folded his hands contentedly on his lap. “There is no class. Like I said, she’s one of a kind. The only one. My own invention.”

“Wait a minute, you built this ship yourself?”

Etienne opened his mouth to reply but then seemed to think better of it. “You know what? I’ve told you too much already. And you don’t exactly strike me as a super trustworthy type of person.”

Chatine gasped in mock offense. “Me? I’m completely trustworthy.”

Etienne spun around and faced out the front window, adjusting a few dials.

“So, you built this ship yourself, huh?” Chatine sidled casually up to the console. “And it actually flies?”

Etienne flashed her another warning look. “It has excellent ejection capabilities as well, in case you want to test out that feature.”

She smirked. “That’s okay. I trust you.”

He sneered at her obvious jab. “Good. Because Maman says trust is the building block of all good relationships.”

Chatine instinctively backed away from his chair. “Okay, I’m going to stop you right there. We don’t have a relationship. Good or otherwise.”

Etienne exploded in laughter. “Wow. Your buttons are, like, displayed right across your face.”

Confused, Chatine glared. “What buttons?”

He gestured to the series of colored dials and switches on his console. “You know, your push buttons. Your hot spots. You press them and bam!” He slammed his palm down. “Instant outrage.” He looked up at Chatine’s face,