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Chapter Fifteen
“It shouldn’t be sent directly from the Troubadour,” Vujcec argued. “There’s a chance they could find the Celerity’s transponder code.”
“It will be on an open channel. Wouldn’t it drawmoreattention if there wasn’t a code?” she argued.
“But it shouldn’t be the Celerity’s,” Vujcec continued to argue.
Things were still tense between the cyborgs on the bridge, and Taly knew that wouldn’t end anytime soon, but she trusted Ganesha’s words. She had to. She refused to become like Shui, who murdered anyone who gave him a moment of doubt.
“What are you talking about, Taly?” Ranvir remained close to his cymar while keeping an eye on Ganesha. “You said you and Nas had access to an encrypted channel.”
“We do, and we’ll be using it, eventually, but to let Nas know I need to contact him, I first need to send out a message on a specific channel he continually monitors.”
“What kind of message?” Ganesha asked.
Ranvir tensed when she turned to look at him.
“Just something ordinary like, ‘Hi, Big Brother, things are good here. How’s it going for you?’“
“That’s it?” Vujcec questioned, giving her a shocked look.
“Yes. I send it, then I wait.”
“Has he ever not responded?” Ranvir asked.
Taly shook her head. “No, but once, it took several days because he was on a mission.”
“So when he responds, how does he know where to send the message?” Vujcec asked.
“We have a prearranged account it goes into, also encrypted. I enter the code for a safe channel I can be reached at, as does he. Then it’s forwarded to both of us, and voila, we’re in direct contact.”
She took in the disbelief on everyone’s faces, including Vujcec’s, and sighed, “What?”
“Not even I used that intricate of a way to communicate when on a mission,” Ganesha said quietly.
“How long have you and Nas been communicating like this?” Ranvir asked, pulling Taly’s attention away from Ganesha.
“Since I was sixteen,” she told him absently, giving Ganesha a considering look before turning back to Ranvir. “It was usually only once or twice a year until I told him I was considering getting a private transport. After that, he began contacting me monthly, making suggestions and giving me advice.”
“He must have suspected something like this would happen and wanted to make sure you were protected,” Ranvir murmured, silently thanking Nas as he pulled her in close, gently kissing the top of her head.
If Nas hadn’t, he wouldn’t be holding this incredible female in his arms. Hopefully, he’d get the chance to do it in person.
“Which is why I have to get this message out.” Taly tipped her head up, her eyes pleading with his. “I have to make sure he’s okay, Ranvir.”
“And you will, but Vujcec’s right. It shouldn’t be sent directly from the Troubadour, even with a different transponder code.” He placed a finger across her lips, stopping the argument he knew was coming. “I’ll send it from a public terminal once we’re on Yelmurn. That way, there’s no chance it can be traced back to us.”
Taly pulled back to frown at him. “What do you meanyou’llsend it?”
“You don’t think I’m letting you get off this ship on Yelmurn, do you?” He gave her a disbelieving look. “You might be recognized.”
“Imight be recognized?!” Taly pulled out of his arms to glare at him. “Me? I’m not the one with the brand on my cheek! As forlettingme offmyship, I’ll come and go as I please! Thank you very much.”
Ranvir knew he wasn’t acting logical, but where Taly was concerned, he couldn’t be. She was his entire world now and if keeping her safe meant she was pissed at him, so be it.
“Be that as it may, you will remain on the ship. It’s too dangerous for you on Yelmurn.”
“Why? Because I have a bounty on my head? Oh, wait,” she threw her arms up in an exaggerated motion before jabbing a finger in his chest, “that’syou.”
