“You think something or someone survived in here for a thousand years?” There was amusement in his voice.
“Okay, laugh it up, but I heard something.”
“Probably some part of the ship keeping this room pressurized is starting to fail since there’s no one here to do maintenance.”
He was probably right. Her Sync beeped. “There’s something under the floor beneath the desk.”
Justyn shoved the heavy desk aside. Under the plush rug, they found a rectangular door set into the floor.
It was protected by an old-fashioned code lock.
Nissa knelt and set her Sync to work. It whirred quietly as it worked to decipher the code. The lock beeped and the door popped open an inch.
Her heart pounding, she stared at Justyn for a second.
He nodded. “Go on, Captain. You’ve earned this.”
“We’veearned this.” She wouldn’t have made it this far without him. She grabbed his hand and placed it beside hers on the safe door. “Together.”
“Together.”
They yanked it open.
She shone her light directly inside.
The safe was empty.
“No.” Her stomach dropped to the floor. “It can’t be empty!”
“Wait.” He reached in and gave the bottom a knock with his fist. It gave a hollowthunk. He grinned. “Old smuggler’s trick.” He gave the fake floor a hard punch and it broke away.
Nestled beneath was a long metal cylinder.
“Goddess.” With trembling hands, she pulled it out. Swallowing past the knot in her throat, she waved the Sync over the cylinder. “Scan says it contains paper that appears to be over a thousand years old and is covered in protective plas.”
“Open it, Nissa.” His tone was solemn.
Her hand still shaking, she pulled the cap off the end.
She pulled out the document and simply stared.
The fake had been good, but this was clearly the real thing.
“The US Constitution.” Justyn laughed, tugging her to his side. “We did it!”
The document exuded a sense of age and history and importance. Nissa couldn’t wipe the silly smile off her face. She,Captain Nissa Sander, had found the US Constitution. Well, with a little help from a rogue smuggler.
She slid it back inside the cylinder. “We need to get back to theNomad.”
He was still grinning. He bumped his helmet against hers. “Damn, if we weren’t wearing these things, I’d kiss you.”
“Well, hold that thought and I’ll kiss you once we get back.”
“You’re on, sweetheart.”
She was still smiling at him when something rammed into her legs from the side, knocking her to the floor. Her light swung wildly. The cylinder flew out of her hands and rolled across the floor.
The skittering noise was back.
