Read Online Lana's Comet (Outer Settlement Agency) by Lyn Brittan - Free Book Online Page B

he typed some more. “You’ll have one of the older training shuttles. Do I have to remind you to keep your hands off one another?”
    Cyprus’s feet skidded to a stop and he had the nerve to smile. “No and thank you.”
    “Yeah, well, my name’s all over this now. As for you, lady, make sure you’re right before you go ruining all of our lives.”

Chapter Ten
    I t was a four-person shuttle with the back seats removed and a sleeping cot built for one. She dragged up the rest of her things and tossed them in the rear. He wanted to help, but couldn’t. Such an action would be noted. He couldn’t risk anything out of character.
    They played it safe during the load up, take off and had to continue to do so. To be this close and so artificially removed qualified as excruciating. For the first time in modern memory, he was sick and tired of OSA.
    “Systems check complete?”
    “Yes, sir. We’re closing out on the mesosphere, shifting for the thermosphere.”
    “Looks good. Kagen. Expect a bump.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    To her credit, she didn’t jump or scream as many did when they hit the bubble. Then again, this wasn’t her first time. The craft glided under the hands of a pure natural. She settled into a smooth resting point and sighed, falling back into the seat. “Clear.”
    Of all the inventive ways he wished to congratulate her on a job well done, he simply nodded and uploaded the flight stats to her files. Without a word, he handed her the unlocked omnitablet and passed the time reviewing files of other trainees.
    The urge to rest a hand of support over her shoulder was there and strong, but anyone at any time could look in on their shuttle. It wasn’t worth the risk. Unable to stare, let alone help, he left her to her espionage and worked on what suddenly felt trite and inconsequential.
    Hours passed and he fought off sleep. She still worked, fingers darting across the screen, a million kilometers a second. She’d sigh every so often, but otherwise worked in silence.
    “Sir?”
    The second he looked up at her smiling face, he knew. “What is it, Kagen? You’ve completed the assignment I gave you?”
    “Yes.”
    “And everything is in order?”
    “Completely.”
    “And backed up?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Good.” He set the alarm on his omnitablet for one hour. “Take your break. Calorie tabs are in the back, if you need them.”
    “I’m fine.”
    “That wasn’t a question, Kagen. A rest is required. Go.”
    Fleshy hips brushed against his shoulder as she went. It was no accident. The jolt of it was hot, immediate and gone too soon.
    He ached to turn and watch her sleep each time she shifted on the noisy sheets, but didn’t chance it and redirected his focus. The overhead switch panel provided a poor substitute, but he used the time to check what she’d downloaded from Meash.
    It wasn’t that she’d been right that shocked him. Rather, the degree to which she’d been that had him shaking with rage. Evidence of a virus called Telni brought bile scratching at the back of this throat. Each file contained endless pictures of test subjects with scabbed faces and dehydration so advanced that their skin was damn near see through. There were videos as well, but he didn’t have the stomach to watch them.
    Hadn’t they learned anything from Meash Five? The bastards had created a new species and now another branch of the Corporation meant to kill ‘em off? All of it done in the name of profit.
    No wonder Lana got out of there. The last woman who turned on a Meash Corp group nearly lost her life for it. He pulled up the files on Dr. Solia Calian and Lunar Sheriff Giancarlo Sable. Everyone knew they’d liberated the first Kin-Humanoids on Enceladus from Meash. How they’d managed it may be the key he and Lana’s survival.
    It wasn’t an issue of going to the authorities. Without knowing whom to trust, Calian and Sable had the scenes of horror broadcast to everyone in the system. Public outcry forced