“Configure the settings to open on Arcadia for three travelers.” Dad retrieves a black device, the one on the table I noticed from previous visits, and then places it in his pocket. “Leave the entry open. I can activate the portal from Arcadia when we need to return. Beda will be doing a turnaround.”

  A crackling sound sparks from behind as the room lights up in brighter blue-green. I turn and spot an electronic portal on the opposite side of the lab.

  Dad eyes Beda and me. “You two ready?”

  I tilt my head at Dad and cock an eyebrow. “I think the question is—Are you ready? Because stepping through to Arcadia brings you back from the dead.”

  Chapter 21

  Javen appears before us, and his eyes immediately flit to Beda. He tips his head with a quizzical look, as if sensing something has changed within her.

  She gives him a tight smile, turns to the still-active portal and walks back through the opening. After she disappears, the crackling and glow of the opening fades into nothing.

  My heart skips and I hurry to him, taking his hand. His smile is warm like sunshine and the heat of his gaze flushes through me. I kiss him on the cheek and then bring his attention to Dad before Javen decides to deepen our affection. And then I freeze, remembering myself. I kissed his cheek in front of Dad!

  “This is my dad, Richard Foster,” I say.

  Javen approaches Dad and extends his hand. “Dr. Foster, I’m pleased to see you once again.”

  “You’re Vihann’s son, right?” Dad asks.

  Javen bows his head slightly. “Yes, sir.”

  The corners of my lips tip up at his evident respect for my father. Javen is too honest for me to ever think he is simply putting on a show. Dad’s gaze flits my way and I try to remain sturdy beneath the questions burning in his eyes.

  “I saw you several years ago when my wife and I were first on Arcadia.” Dad’s face takes on a serious expression, I’m sure with the recollection of those memories. But then he turns his sharp attention back to me and raises an eyebrow. “You haven’t told me anything about Javen.”

  A blush snakes its way up my neck. “Sorry. It’s complicated and there was—is just way too much to share . . . right now.” I have no desire to tell him that the Starfire bonded Javen and me together. Its sounds crazy and I don’t even know what to make of the story myself. I continue to meet Dad’s searching gaze, hoping my features are schooled into innocence.

  Dad flattens his lips into a straight line.

  “Dad, I’ll explain everything later. We need to find Owens’s contact, okay?” I re-direct his attention away from my fluttering pulse and reddening face.

  “Fine,” Dad says and taps on his Connect. “But I’m making it a point to stay alive so I can hear this story.”

  “Deal.” I let out a small, nervous chuckle while rolling my eyes, relieved that he’s not pressing for answers. But then I remember there’s not much right now to laugh about and my smile fades.

  I return my attention to Javen and fill him in on everything that has happened.

  “So, you can’t use the Starfire?” he asks, concern filling his eyes.

  “Not until my body makes the adjustment.”

  Javen curses under his breath. “I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of this before now. This sort of sickness can happen to us as children when we learn to control the energy, if we progress too fast. I should have warned you.”

  “I don’t think it would have mattered if you had. I would have tried to save those people anyway.”

  Javen brushes flyaway strands off my face and tucks them behind my ear. “I know.”

  His touch sends a thrill through me, even more so when I realize Dad hasn’t noticed. I quickly attempt to change the subject before he does. “What about Vihann?”

  A muscle in Javen’s jaw twitches.

  “Still? He won’t budge?”

  “The earthquakes are picking up on Paxon, too. This means the mining process is still happening.”

  This time I curse under my breath. Not that I believed Hammond would halt production but because we’re running out of time. “Are you going to call on your people? Let them decide for themselves?”

  Javen straightens. “When it’s time, I will.”

  “I have all the information uploaded,” Dad interrupts us. “I don’t have a contact name yet, but I have a location and a map to get there.”

  “Where?” I ask.

  “Smack in the middle of Primaro,” he says.

  Javen studies the map, lines appearing between his dark brows.

  I glance around in search of the Rover. By some weird luck, the vehicle is still there, hidden next to a clump of trees across from where Dad’s lab used to be.

  “Javen can’t transport all three of us without draining too much of his Starfire energy. It’s too risky. So, we can take the Rover closer to the city and then walk the rest of the way in.” I glance at Javen. “Will you be able to cloak both of us in Primaro?”

  “Hammond is intermittently using the Starfire Inhibitor to keep Alku away from the city. But I knew you may need to return to Primaro, so I visited the city on foot and was able to cloak my presence. It appears she moved the Inhibitor to the mining area since that site needs her protection most.”

  “There are less guarded areas in Primaro?” Dad asks.

  “Yes, and unless those areas have changed over the last several days, I believe I know where we can go and which places to avoid.”

  “Okay, let’s go.” I wave Javen and Dad toward the Rover and then race ahead. My legs are growing much stronger, and I actually feel nearly healed. But there’s no way I’m taking a chance on using the Starfire before I’m confident that I can handle the energy exchange.

  I make it to the Rover and hop in the front seat. Dad rides shotgun and doesn’t even say anything about me driving. But he’s the one who taught me how to run manual overrides on a vehicle last year, and I scored one hundred percent on my driving test. Javen hops in the back, directly behind me.

  I activate the controls and bring up the coordinates to the city from here. The engine lightly hums as I swipe my hand over the dash, and then the tires spin, moving us forward. I peer over my shoulder quickly at Javen and ask, “First time in a car?”

  “New experiences are a good thing,” he says.

  ∆ ∆ ∆

  I bring the Rover to a stop a half-mile from the city and hide the vehicle in the trees as best as I can. I mark the location on my Connect to easily relocate our ride when we return. As of yet, we’ve seen no ships overhead or scouts out in the forest. But one can never be too careful.

  Dad opens the map on his Connect again. “I have a building and a suite number. Owens had access to a series of encrypted messages calling for a meeting in person with his contact. I’m replying now. If we don’t hear anything back, best we can hope is that our contact is there when we arrive.” Dad taps across the hologram and hits send. A second later the device beeps, and automatically the hologram disengages. “Okay. I told them we’d meet in twenty-five minutes. That’s our estimated time of arrival.”

  We make our way toward the city, and when we’re just on the outskirts, Javen takes my hand and clasps onto Dad.

  “We have plenty of time,” Javen says. “There’s no need while we’re cloaked to make any sudden moves or try to run. To remain invisible to the humans in Primaro, I need to be touching you at all times.”

  Both Dad and I agree, and we set off.

  Inside the city, it’s as if a black cloud hangs over everything. Instead of the beautiful, partially organic but cosmopolitan atmosphere Dad designed for this place, the city feels more like a prison. Guards are dotted among the pedestrians on the street, and at least three times already, I’ve seen vehicles drive past with the World Senate logo on the side. Even the citizens’ faces seem solemn, and conversations we pass by are in hushed tones.

  Dad checks his Connect and indicates for us to take the next right, and as we do, the buildings all start to look familiar. This is the street the Capitol building is on. My heart picks up speed. The last time we were here, Irene and I were captured by Hammond and then jailed.

  Luckily, Dad gestures to a building across the way. By the address, we must be seven blocks from the Capitol. I’m not sure if I could handle going back there again. Plus, I’m sure the building is protected from anyone who is using the Starfire nearby. We cross the street inside a glowing cyan cloud. Thankfully, no one has yet noticed our presence.

  We wait for a pedestrian to enter for the automatic door to slide open. When someone approaches, we race through as quickly as possible, all while holding onto Javen. I spot the stairwell. I breathe in deeply, and then we begin our climb to the ninth floor. My legs burn as we reach the landing, and I check on Dad, who’s winded. For a man his age, he stays in shape, but nine flights is a lot, especially when coupled with the stress of getting here.

  “You okay?” I whisper.

  “Will be in a minute,” he pants.

  As we wait, my chest tingles with nervousness. Who knows whether we are walking into a trap? But it’s a chance we need to take. “I think I should reveal myself first, and after we assess the safety, you can, Dad.”

  “No way, Cassi. I’m not putting you into any more danger than necessary. I’m the one doing this. You and Javen hang back. You may not need to reveal yourselves at all.”

  I close my eyes for a second. I want to argue but instead lean into his ear. I reach for and grip my gun. “I’ve got your back. Team Foster, okay?”

  Dad’s lips curve into a sad smile. “Team Foster.”

  Javen releases Dad, and the cyan glow around him dissipates. Just seeing it disappear from him forces my breathing to increase. Gripping Javen’s hand, I follow Dad as he strides directly toward the unit. I check the time, and we are right on schedule. I draw in a deep, fortifying breath as Dad types to the contact.

  I’m here.

  Dad straightens his back and drops his shoulders while approaching the door. A rustling sound comes from inside and then the door cracks open. A man I haven’t seen before peers out.

  Javen grips my fingers tighter, and I squeeze the handle of my weapon with my other hand.

  The man, who has dark wavy hair and appears of Indian decent, raises his eyebrows when he sees Dad but says nothing. Instead, he opens the door more widely and gestures Dad inside. Dad glances around and doesn’t move his feet, and I know he’s giving us a brief second to get inside. Javen and I rush through the opening. Then Dad follows the silent instructions.

  When the man shuts the door, he crosses his arms over his chest. “Dr. Foster? Aren’t you supposed to be dead?” His voice still maintains the slightest hint of an Indian accent.

  Dad presses his lips together. “I have heard this rumor.”

  The man bows his head slightly. “I apologize, but I must scan you for weapons.”

  “I understand,” Dad says.

  The man taps on his Connect and extends his wrist toward Dad. The device beeps and then a beam extends from his Connect. The man runs it up and down Dad’s body, then indicates for him to turn. Dad obeys, holding his hands in the air. Good thing that I’m the one with the pistol.

  “Thank you.” The man nods and taps twice on his Connect. “He’s clean.”

  Javen snaps his head toward the front door as if he heard something. Or someone. Before I hear anything, the lock clicks and in walks one of the last people I had expected to see.

  Luca Powell.

  My heart leaps into my throat. Was Matt Owens a double agent? A traitor, too?

  I flit my attention to Dad as his face turns ashen. He knows what I told him about Luca and his traitorous behavior. He also saw him on the spy video from General Atkins. Dad has no idea where I am in the room, but he holds his hand up slightly as if to tell me to hold my ground, but not enough to alert them that Javen and I are here. I squeeze Javen’s hand so tightly I think I might hurt him, but he does nothing to stop me.

  Another person follows behind Luca. Alina. She peers around the room and back out into the hall, then closes the door behind her. She walks to the other man and stands beside him. Anger burns in my core against her. This girl has tricked me too many times. Why does she have to be here now? Part of me wants to shoot the lot of them and be done with this sordid business. But I know I could never do so in cold blood.

  My eyes waver among all the people in the room. No one is speaking and it’s driving me crazy.

  “Dr. Foster,” Luca says and walks toward Dad with his hand extended. Dad doesn’t take it and Luca drops his hand to his side. “We had no idea you were alive.”

  Dad narrows his eyes. “You know I’m unarmed. If you’re going to kill me, I would rather skip the formalities.”

  Luca tips his head and his eyes widen in surprise. “I’m not going to kill you. I’m simply surprised you’re here. When we received Owens’s encrypted message to meet, we weren’t quite sure what to do as we’d gotten word he was killed in the city bombing the other day. That’s why I sent Madan in here first.” He looks to the other man.

  I look back to Javen, but he seems no less confused by this than me.

  “Are you needing asylum?” Luca asks. “It will be difficult, but I believe we can get you off Arcadia eventually, if need be.”

  “Asylum?” Dad asks. “What are you talking about?”

  My mind spins with all I know about Luca, and I can’t stand waiting anymore. I release from Javen, and the blue-green glow around us vanishes. “What are you talking about, Luca?” I growl and point my weapon at him.

  “Cassi!” Dad scolds.

  Luca takes a step backward and throws his hands up chest-high. Alina and Madan inch away in surprise. Luca stares at me and then to Javen, whose right hand now glows cyan.

  “Whoa,” Luca says to me. “This obviously is not what you think it is.”

  “Then what is it?” I snarl. “I saw you, Luca. I saw you more than once. You are a snake.” I whip my attention to Alina. “And you . . . you are no better.”

  “You only think you know what I am, Cassi,” Luca says. “And you have me all wrong.”

  “Then how are you still alive when Hirata and Cooper are dead?” I glare at him, clenching my pistol.

  Luca grits his teeth together.

  “Because he was ordered to plead, if he had the opportunity,” Alina says. “Luca is one of the only insiders left who Hammond trusts.”

  I look at her. “Who ordered him?”

  “That’s not something we can reveal,” she says. “But you’ll need to trust us.”

  “I’m not trusting either of you,” I say.

  “There aren’t a lot of options in this situation, Cassi,” Luca says. “Hammond is calling in more battleships from Earth. The fleet is moving through the Space Fold now. My people want to get anyone of high rank to safety, and there’s not much time.”

  “Listen,” Alina says. “I get your lack of trust. But if Dr. Foster is alive, we need to at least get him out of Primaro.” She holds an object my way, and it’s not a weapon.

  It’s my mom’s journal.

  Chapter 22

  Fuming, I march up to Alina, pistol still in hand, and snatch the leather-bound journal from her grasp. “If you’re giving this back to me, why would you steal it in the first place?”

  Shame blankets Alina’s face. Her demeanor is entirely different than the girl I knew at the dorm. That girl seemed immature, careless, and self-absorbed. “It was a spur-of-the-moment type of thing,” she says. “Our people were looking for solutions in using the Starfire to help us. I saw the journal and had a hunch it might be Dr. Foster’s, and that it might contain data we could use. But when I discovered what it really was, I felt terrible. I didn’t mean to take something belonging to your mother. I’ve carried her journal with me ever since I took it, so her words never fell into the wrong hands. I didn’t even tell anyone but Luca that I had it.”

  “How did you know it’s hers? Did you read it?” I snap.

  So much has been stolen from me.

  Javen touches my shoulder and I glance at him. The glow around his hand is gone, but fire still burns in his eyes.

  “I could never get the lock open,” Alina interrupts and I turn my attention back to her. “But I was able to see the name under the strap.”

  I pry my finger under the piece of leather and see the tiny inscription of my mom’s name.

  Isabel Foster

  “I shouldn’t have taken it. But we have been grasping at straws for data.” The emotion in her eyes makes me want to believe Alina. But this entire situation is completely unbelievable.

  “So, you want me to tell you what’s inside?” I snap.

  She arches a brow. “If the information is useful to our cause.”

  Dad steps toward Luca and the others. “Thank you for returning the journal, but can one of you please explain who you really are and what is going on?”

  “There’s not a lot of time,” Alina says. “But essentially, I was sent to Arcadia by the group I work for to keep tabs on certain people. Meeting Cassi in the dorm was only a happy accident. But living next to her changed my mission entirely.”

  “What are you talking about, Alina? You’re like sixteen . . . maybe seventeen,” I sneer. “Is Alina really your name?”

  She shrugs. “I know it’s difficult to believe, and this is the last setting I wanted to be in to convince you. But I only look young. My appearance is part of my cover.”

  “And you?” Dad says to Luca. “What are you? Forty? And do you work for these people, too?”

  Luca smirks. “No, I’m definitely not forty. After Hammond told me what she was doing and how the plan would affect this planet and the Alku, I knew I couldn’t follow her. But I needed to bide my time and play along. I hoped being on the Board would help me influence the way situations played out. I’ll admit that I was weak, though. Then Alina became my assistant and Hirata came into power. Afterward, Alina approached me in secret to feel out my intentions. When Hammond returned and made the arrests, we planned for me to make a plea. It was a longshot, but I was able to convince Hammond I was only there to spy for her. She bought my lie.”

 

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