Home Front (Star Kingdom #7) - Lindsay Buroker Page 0,8

tension hanging in the air. “Hi, guys. What’s going on? Lieutenant, mind if I help myself?” He waved at the espresso machine.

“Your interview isn’t until after Scholar Sato’s,” Meister said.

“No? Why don’t you just do us both at the same time?” Casmir waved Kim to the side and sat on the stool, placing himself between the two of them. He wasn’t even remotely an intimidating or inhibiting presence, but then Zee strode in, his bulk making the lab feel claustrophobic. “It’ll save time,” Casmir added. “Back home, we’re roommates, you know. We tell each other everything. We don’t have any secrets.”

“Maybe you’re the one I should drug.” Meister grabbed his tablet off the counter and stepped back, glancing warily at Zee.

“With what? Most drugs give me seizures. Or put me into anaphylactic shock. Cashews and pomegranates also do that. You wouldn’t want to be me, Lieutenant. Going through life in my shoes means constantly dodging bullets.”

“Cashew bullets?” Kim asked, hoping Casmir’s blatant attempt to diffuse the tension—and sidetrack Meister’s train of thought—would work.

“Just so. Fortunately, I’ve got Zee now.” Casmir waved at the crusher, giving him the warmest and most authentic smile a killing machine had ever gotten. “He steps in front of a lot of bullets meant for me.”

“It is my duty to protect Kim Sato and Casmir Dabrowski from all threats,” Zee said in his typical monotone. “Including bullets, energy bolts, and highly allergenic food projectiles.”

“And he’d naturally step in if someone wanted to drug me. Or drug one of my friends.” Casmir’s voice didn’t do cold and menacing, not the way Rache’s did, but he did lose his usual affability as he gave Meister a pointed look.

He must have stopped to chat with Grunburg and get the gist of what was going on.

“I would do this,” Zee agreed.

Meister glanced at him again, then squinted at Kim. “We’ll continue this later. After I discuss with Dr. Sikou if you’re as integral to solving this virus problem as you’re telling me you are.”

Meister stalked toward the door, the gesture less imperious than he surely intended, since Zee didn’t step aside for him. Why he’d thought Zee would, Kim didn’t know, but he stopped short just before crashing into him. Swearing under his breath, Meister went around and strode out.

“Dr. Sikou should vouch for me,” Kim said quietly. “My expertise anyway. I’m not sure she’ll agree that I’d withhold my help simply because they drugged me.”

About Rache? Casmir asked, switching to chip-to-chip contact. The lab—the entire ship—was probably monitored.

Yes. They’re suspicious of that supposed kidnapping. Kim sighed. And I’m afraid I’ll admit to how I feel about him and that’ll be enough to condemn me to a firing squad.

I’m sorry. That kidnapping was my idea. Casmir grimaced. Come to think of it, I’m the one who suggested you flee the Osprey instead of going to work for Jorg.

You are. Later, when Zee isn’t around, I’m going to pelt you with pomegranate seeds.

Casmir didn’t smile. His face was contorted with grief and regret.

It’s not your fault, Casmir. I chose to go along with your ideas. And if I hadn’t, I would have ended up in Jorg’s brig weeks ago. And probably questioned weeks ago. I couldn’t have made that man a bioweapon. She hoped Jorg didn’t still have it in his head that she should.

How did we both end up as criminals in the eyes of our people, Kim?

I don’t know, she replied, though she could have made a bullet list of all the things they’d done to irk the king and the Fleet. We should be heroes after risking our asses to stop Dubashi. Or at least pardoned of any crimes.

I wish we’d actually caught him. Then our heroness would be less up for debate. Is that a word?

It’s not.

No wonder we’re in trouble.

Grunburg knocked on his way in. “Professor?”

Ugh, what now? Casmir messaged Kim, but he forced a smile for his former student. “Whatcha need, Davy?”

“Remember that virus we worked on?” Grunburg glanced at Kim’s display. “The computer one that knocked out the ship, not a human one.”

“I remember it well. So do the pirates we used it on in System Hydra. Or they would if any had survived.” Casmir’s face was grim at the memory of how he’d inadvertently caused all those deaths.

“Ah.” Grunburg hesitated, not appearing certain how to respond. “Better pirates than our people.”

Casmir’s hand wave connoted helplessness rather than agreement.

“While all this other stuff has been going on—” Grunburg gestured vaguely toward the ship, or