Justyn got to his feet. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
Fifteen minutes later, they were settled in the lab. Nissa bent over the enclosed synth-glass case. The leather-bound book sat inside, open, its delicate pages on display. It was being sprayed with a mist of plas-coating.
She tapped her fingers against the bench. “You think the book might tell us what happened to theNero? Or have any clue to where the real Constitution might be?”
He was watching her, not the machine. “We’ll know soon enough.”
The machine beeped and the glass door opened. She looked at him, drew in a deep breath, then reached for the book.
“Okay, let’s see what we have.” She set it on the workbench and turned to the first page. “Diary of Anderson Chan, Science Officer of theNero.” She blinked. “A diary!”
He smiled at her. “Did you run the dating tests?”
A nod. “A thousand years old. It dates to the time of theNero.”
He savored a shot of excitement. “Then it’s the real deal. We can’t tell a soul.”
“Of course not.” She stroked the paper page. “It’s so beautiful.”
He thought old paper was no match for her skin. “It’ll take some time to read it.” He squinted at the handwriting. “Man, it’s damn hard to read handwriting. Can’t believe anyone thought writing with ink was a good idea.”
She turned the page and read the words scrawled there. “I bought this diary to record every moment of my first deep-space voyage. I am excited and scared all rolled together. I’ve of course logged my hours on in-system trips, and spent several months on Jupiter Station. But now I’ll be headed far beyond the Milky Way, traveling on theNerounder Captain Griffin. Our route is a secret, our cargo beyond precious, and I, Anderson Chan, am getting to be a part of history.” She gave Justyn a sad smile. “He was so excited. Completely unaware he’d die alone on a jungle world beyond the galaxy’s edge.”
Justyn gripped her shoulder. “Always knew there was marshmallow under your smooth skin. He was right though, he did become a part of history. We’ll make sure he’s remembered.”
She nodded. “You’re a bit marshmallow too, Phoenix.”
“Shh, don’t tell anyone.” He flicked her earlobe. “You’ll ruin my hard-earned reputation as a rogue smuggler. I mean,allegedrogue smuggler.”
As she rolled her eyes, the comms panel beside the door chimed. Justyn strolled over.
“Go ahead.”
Rynan’s voice came through the speaker. “Coming up on Hydrae, Justyn.”
“Got it. Thanks.” He looked at Nissa. “You keep reading. I’m going to help Ry bring the ship in at Meni.” He checked his timepiece. “It’ll be dinnertime by the time we get dirtside.”
“Okay.”
“The caravanserai usually puts on a good show for new arrivals. Bonfire, feast, music, dancing.”
She tilted her head, a soft smile on her wide mouth. “You asking me out on a date, Justyn?”
He moved fast, sweeping her into his chest. He saw delighted shock skitter over her stunning features. God, he loved the feel of her. “I’m asking if you’ll let me feed you before I fuck your brains out.”
Her tongue darted out to lick her lips. He swallowed a groan.
“Well—” her voice was a little breathy “—with an offer like that?—”
He nipped her bottom lip, but forced himself to keep at that. Or else he’d be fucking her on the workbench behind them. Or the hard floor. He wanted a soft bed, and he wanted to stay there all night. “Let me feed you—” another nip of her lips “—because you’ll need the energy, Sander.”
She nipped him back. “Ditto, Phoenix.”
Nissa carefully placedthe diary in the wall safe in theSky Nomad’sscience lab and shut the door. As she coded in the lock, she shook off the sense of despair that had settled over her.
She’d finished reading Anderson’s diary.
It didn’t tell her the location of the wreckage of theNeroor the US Constitution.
