Ten minutes later, they were on the road, headed to the rental house and then on to the next stop. Jack didn’thave a clue as to where they were going next, just that he needed to be able to pilot a ship and speak for Madelaine on less progressive planets.
He and his brothers had all learned to pilot during summer vacations on Alpha-Prime when they were teens. He was confident he could still do it, though it had been a couple of years since he’d had the opportunity. He’d have to get some practice in on the way there.
Madelaine wanted privacy to open the package of further instructions. Seeing his brother Axel as they exited the JOP’s matrimonial suite had been bad luck, but neither Madelaine nor Seraphina mentioned it as they drove to the rental house.
He was secretly glad that at least one of his family members had seen him before he embarked on this time-sensitive journey with Madelaine, his new bride.
Jack toyed with the gold band on his ring finger, sliding it round and round. He couldn’t believe he was married.
To Madelaine. Forever, if it was up to him.
For the time being, if it was up to Madelaine.
He chosehisforever plan.
Seraphina told Madelaine as they exited the car that she would be staying in Alienn at the rental house, in case Madelaine needed her.
“As I agreed to from the beginning, I’m available to you until your errand is complete.”
“Thank you, Seraphina.”
Madelaine excused herself to the bedroom with the odd accordion file tucked under one arm, leaving Jack alone with Seraphina.
“Are you her assistant or a fixer or something?” Jack asked while they stood in the front room.
“Or something,” she said with a smile, which told him she wasn’t explaining herself further.
Jack sighed out his displeasure at her answer, but it didn’t make her spill any information.
Madelaine read the note inside the accordion file folder. She’d almost asked if it was a joke, but knew it wasn’t. This was serious business. She hadn’t had the opportunity to stow the accordion file in her backpack before they ran right smack into the personal space of Jack’s older brother, Axel.
Unfortunate, but it had worked out.
It did save time for Jack, since he’d been able to secure time off for his “honeymoon” without having to visit the Big Bang Truck Stop before they left the planet. It was one less stop to make on this fraught journey and that was always good news.
As she had been in yet another disguise, she wasn’t worried about being recognized. She’d been born a blond-haired, blue-eyed baby. Now she’d been a brunette for the bank and a redhead to elope with Jack in a matter of a single day.
The parchment paper in the accordion file provided details about the planet she had to go to, Malvoraxis Veil, located on the border of the Caldera Forte Galaxy and the Tri-Spiral Galaxy. The two galaxies were considered one, as far as galactic law was concerned. Once separate, Caldera Forte and the Tri-Spiral Galaxy had been aligned a hundred years ago or more, although no one remembered why all these years later.
The accordion file included a curious black stone, which she set aside for closer examination later.
For now, she needed to focus on the rules that needed to be followed during her next package retrieval. Strict rules. For a visit to Malvoraxis Veil, there was a lengthy list of what she and Jack would be required to do and not do.
They had to pilot thePaladin Seekerthrough a wormhole to their destination. Once they were in range, Jack would have to be the one in the pilot’s seat answering any communication.
Madelaine had never heard of Malvoraxis Veil. What she did know from reading all the dos and don’ts on the parchment paper made her think she was going to hate it there.
The vast distance they would have to travel made her grateful she had Jack with her for the rest of this mission.
It would certainly not be a honeymoon adventure, but it was comforting to be with someone she trusted. She knew he would always have her back, just as she would protect his.
Malvoraxis Veil was likely to be a challenge for Madelaine’s new husband. That designation was going to take some getting used to.
She’d have to let him read the instructions, as he’d have to do all the talking at their next stop. The harder part was hers. Keeping silent in the face of bias regarding her feminine gender was never going to be her strongest skill. Not even close.
Jack would have to memorize lots of rules and she would have to learn to keep absolutely silent.Space potatoes, Jack definitely had the easier job.
