Jack eyed his old friend. “Aye. It is.”
“It is, indeed. This time it’s your heart at stake, my dear. I know that look. I had it once myself. I just want you to be careful,” said Quinn.
Jack’s expression softened. “Thank you for that. I know you have loved and lost. I was there to pick up the pieces, remember?”
“How could I ever forget,” murmured Quinn and laid a hand on Jack’s arm. “When I lost Romain, I thought that the world was over. At least for me. That I would never find joy in anything ever again. I’d save you from that pain, if I could.”
“But the love that came before the loss,” ventured Jack, “would you have given that up as well?”
Quinn sighed and finally said, “A hard question, for which I have no answer.”
“That’s the spice, Quinn. The spice that makes life worth living. That’s what I’m chasing, and I think I’ve found it. I’ve got to try,” said Jack.
Quinn examined him for a long time then said, “Maybe you have. Either way, you’re right. You have to try.”
“You know, Quinn, it’s been a long time since Romain. You might want—”
Quinn raised up a hand to cut him off. “Lovers always want the rest of the world to be in love,” she said, and her laughter held a hint of bitterness. “Tend your own garden, and don’t worry about anyone else’s.”
Jack looked Quinn’s compact body up and down in such an obvious way that Quinn laughed, more freely this time, and punched him in the shoulder. “Oh, stop it. You’re bloody impossible, you are.”
“So have we heard from Ilich?” asked Jack.
Quinn was instantly all business. “Yes. He says that everything’s fine, green across the board. If a cross is coming, he hasn’t shown his hand yet. Our contingencies are in place if he decides to play it funny.”
“All right. Then we go in as discussed. And, Quinn?”
“Yes?”
“How do I tell the crew about Aria’s new status as their newest member?”
Quinn grinned. “Do it like you usually do. Just charge ahead, and leave the rest of us to catch up in your wake. Trust us, we always do.”
Jack nodded. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”
“Besides, she’s not so bad. They’ll grow used to her.”
“Was that actually something nice that you said about Aria?” asked Jack in mock astonishment.
“Don’t get used to it,” said Quinn.
***
Fully prepared, Aria stepped up to the door. She still lacked any real clothing options, so had opted to continue with the peasant blouse and skintight black leggings. She had managed to combine it with a wide black leather belt that cinched her waist and a pair ofdrezza-skin that fit well enough.
She took a deep breath and hit the button to open the door. Sure enough, it whooshed smoothly aside.
Aria let her breath out. Part of her had been afraid that the door would still be locked, she would still be a prisoner, and that she had imagined her conversations with Jack.
Never mind that. The door was open, and she was free. Aria strode down the corridor, trying her best to remember how to get to the command deck.
“Milady!” She heard a familiar voice from behind her. She turned and looked down to see a beaming Felipesegundo. “This one is happy to see you again. This one had feared…”
Impulsively, Aria reached down and enveloped the diminutive Treb in a big hug. “I’m happy to see you, too, Felipesegundo. I was worried you would be angry with me.”
The creature accepted her hug gladly, hugging her back with surprising strength, and then stepped back to look at Aria in surprise. “Angry? Why would this one be angry with you?”
Aria remained crouched down at eye level with the Treb. “Did you not hear how I tried to signal for rescue? I broke my promise.”
