way to deal with them—and maybe free her sisters in the process.
“Captain Laser,” Casmir said. “I’m not suggesting a frontal assault, but perhaps if we gather some intelligence on the Druckers, an opening will present itself. Why were two Drucker warships in this system to start with? Had they planned to attend Dubashi’s meeting but then were detained? Where are their other three ships? Were their forces split when the gate closed, or does this represent some schism in the organization? Qin has an inside source. Perhaps she should communicate further with her. If that’s not dangerous for her sister.” Casmir stroked his jaw thoughtfully. “Rache has intelligence people. Maybe he has information on the Druckers and we could convince him to share it.” Casmir extended a hand toward Kim, who hadn’t spoken yet and frowned at being singled out.
“Why do you say we when you mean me?” she asked.
“I’m happy to try,” Casmir said, “but Rache was unmoved by my offer of a kiss.”
Bjarke stared at him. “I hope that’s a joke.”
“Desperate times require flexible lips,” Casmir said.
“You better focus on using your lips on Shayban for now,” Kim said.
That earned several nods from around the room.
“Once everything with the Kingdom is resolved,” Bjarke said, “perhaps we can help Qin and her sisters.”
Casmir wore a determined expression and was probably still mulling over ideas, but he allowed the others to lead him out. Soon only Qin and Asger remained in the lounge.
“I guess Casmir forgot he wanted to use a treadmill,” she said.
“I think he forgets that often unless Kim is there to prod him.” Asger squeezed her shoulders, then released her. “If he figures out a way to get your sisters off that ship without it being suicidal, you know I’ll help. I wonder if he’s envisioning recruiting your sisters as allies against Dubashi.”
“If they were suddenly free for the first time in their lives, they would have to find employment. That could be for the Kingdom. If they’re like me, they would find working for almost anyone preferable to the Druckers.”
“Casmir must have something like that in mind. He’s an altruistic guy, but he’s also a man on a mission. As we all are.”
Qin wasn’t, but somehow, she’d gotten wrapped up in their mission. She reached up and touched Asger’s face. He lifted his eyebrows and laid his hand on hers, and she decided she didn’t mind.
It was a foggy morning when Oku left Basilisk Citadel for the first time in weeks, slipping out with only her bodyguard Maddie. She hadn’t checked in with her father or security before taking one of the government vehicles parked near the exit, and she’d had to order the gate guard twice to open the secured entrance before he’d relented and done so. At least he’d seemed overly protective rather than overly suspicious. It hadn’t been long since automated ships on a kamikaze run had slipped past orbital defenses and damaged one of the main cities on the southern continent.
As Maddie drove them through the foggy streets, detouring around work crews, Oku stared bleakly at their own city. Before leaving, she’d commed the clinic where she went for her beta cell treatments to make sure the building hadn’t been damaged and that it was open. The receptionist had assumed she had a health concern and made an immediate appointment.
Not a health concern. A security concern.
Oku’s fingers strayed to her temple, to the chip that had been implanted when she was five years old and had been there ever since. To the chip she now suspected was monitored by Royal Intelligence.
She wished Casmir were here so she could ask him if getting a new one would truly solve her problem. What if Intelligence had workarounds? She would ratchet down the security settings before it was implanted and hope for the best.
Oku also would have asked Casmir if Intelligence would be alerted when she removed the old chip. People did have them replaced—after decades, they grew obsolete and sometimes before then, they malfunctioned and couldn’t be repaired in situ—but they typically had all their software and data transferred over first. She couldn’t risk reinstalling Intelligence’s monitoring program. She planned to have her old chip saved so she could do that later, but not now.
“Are you all right, Your Highness?” Maddie asked.
Oku realized they had arrived, and she was staring at the glass windows. “Yes. Thanks for driving.”
Unlike with the busy hospital they had passed on the way, the parking lot was empty. Nobody