Fall of Icarus

however, being one of the only war veterans onboard would allow me quite a bit of influence on a decision like that.”

Though Keryn’s smile still lingered, Yen could sense the pain behind her eyes at the mention of previous wars in which Keryn had lost a close loved one. Cursing himself silently at making such an obvious gaff, Yen casually tried to change the subject.

“It looks like this is your room.”

Keryn nodded softly, as she looked at the nondescript door sitting amidst a dozen others on a very nondescript hall. As Yen entered the access code, the door slid open, revealing the rather barren kitchen and dining room areas. Two bedrooms extended from the main common room. Keryn’s roommate, Yen already knew, had not yet arrived on board. For all intents and purposes, Keryn had her own room; another perk that Yen had coordinated specifically for her.

“It’s everything I could have hoped for,” Keryn joked, her sense of humor returning as she observed the empty room.

The air around Yen began to shimmer and dance, as though he were surrounding himself with a desert mirage. The cabinets in the kitchen opened and a pair of plates, glasses, and utensils floated out. Drifting across the room, they set down in their proper places on either side of the dining room table.

“Oh, yes,” Keryn laughed. “That makes it much better.” She turned toward Yen, arching an eyebrow. “You really have gotten better at controlling your abilities. What else can you do with that power of yours?”

“That’ll have to be a discussion for another time,” Yen chuckled, not letting Keryn know about the sharp pain he felt behind his eyes after using his powers. Ever since pushing his powers beyond their limit during his escape from the Seques, Yen suffered from headaches nearly every time he used his powers for anything more than mundane activities.

“So what do I have on my agenda for the near future?” Keryn asked.

“I wish I could give you a few weeks to really get comfortable with your new Squadron and find all the hidden nooks of the Revolution, but you’re coming in at a bad time.”

Keryn nodded, suddenly serious. “I had heard that we’re going to be going to war with the Terrans. I’m glad you got me this assignment, Yen. I want my chance at revenge.”

“Before you get your shot at the Terran Fleet, you have to go through the more mundane pre-combat training exercises,” Yen explained. “We have another rehearsal tomorrow, then a real time ship-on-ship combat scheduled for the day after. If the Squadron Commander blesses off on it, I’d like to put you in control of a Cair for that exercise.”

Keryn seemed surprised. “You have a Cair ship available for me already? I heard it usually takes weeks before a new pilot’s attached to a specific ship.”

“Normally, you’re right. But this ship happens to be special. Don’t worry, you’ll get to meet the Cair Ilmun tomorrow. Over the next few days, you’ll have plenty on your plate.”

Yen turned and started walking toward the door, not eager to overstay his welcome. Before he could leave, however, he had to try one last gambit. “Speaking of plates. I know you’re still getting settled, but once you’re comfortably established on the Revolution, I’d love the chance to take you out to dinner. My treat, of course,” he hastily added.

Keryn smiled warmly. “I think I’d like that.”

“Thank you for showing me around,” she said as she followed him to the door. As they reached the hallway, Keryn placed a gentle hand on his arm. “I know you put your neck on the line to get me this assignment, get me into a Cair ship right away, and really help get me settled. It hasn’t gone unnoticed. I won’t let you down during the next few days’ training exercises.”

“Believe me, Keryn. It was nothing.”

“Whether or not you think it was ‘nothing’, thanks again, for everything.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Goodnight, Yen,” Keryn said, giving his arm a gentle squeeze before stepping back inside her quarters.

“Goodnight, Keryn. Sleep well.”

The door slid shut between the two. Yen smiled broadly, feeling exuberant as he walked down the winding halls toward his own room.

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER TWO

Keryn’s head no sooner hit the pillow than she was awake again, going through the next day’s training scenarios on a ship simulator. Introductions to the rest of the Squadron had been rushed, leaving Keryn nervous about her first tactical outing with the other pilots. She had performed remarkably, though, and received accolades from Garrix on her piloting skills. Not all of the praise was hers alone, however. Yen sat in the copilot’s seat during the entire simulation, giving her pointers and advice. In the end, though, it was her own piloting abilities that helped her stand out.

“You did great today,” Yen praised as they walked back to their quarters. “I think you surprised a whole lot of the senior pilots.”

“Yourself included?” she asked.

Yen laughed. “Yes, me too.”

“It wasn’t really that hard,” Keryn explained. “The simulator here isn’t much different from the one at the Academy, and I was top of my class when I graduated.”

Yen’s smile disappeared, her words acting like a trigger for a more serious conversation. “Don’t start getting too arrogant. One of the reasons you did so well was because you were willing to take some uncalculated risks today. In a simulation, that’s fine because you can fly fearlessly, knowing that the worst that could happen to you is a flashing sign telling you that your game is over. The same risks that you took today may not work when your opponent is a flesh and blood Terran, one who might be just as crazy as you are.”

“I didn’t mean anything by it,” Keryn replied softly. Her tough demeanor transformed, revealing the younger girl that Keryn truly was. “I’m just trying to do my best.”

Yen stared at her, unsure if her new attitude was a ruse to make him feel sympathy or if she truly hid a more sensitive personality behind her strong, abrasive exterior. As they stared at each other — Yen wondering if she were acting and Keryn longing for understanding — Yen finally smiled and slipped an arm around her shoulder.

“I made a promise to your brother that I would do everything in my power to keep you safe. I may come across a little harsh at times, but everything I tell you will keep you alive in the long run.”

Keryn smiled, the confidence reasserting itself. “I’m not going to let you down.”

“We’ll see tomorrow,” Yen replied. “Get some sleep tonight, because tomorrow we’ll be pitting our pilots against another Alliance Squadron.”

Visibly relaxed as they walked, Keryn latched onto the new conversation, eager to help Yen forget about her moment of weakness. “Do you know who we drew to fly against?”

“We’re taking on the Defiant. Both their pilots and their Crewmen are tough, so even if we make it to their Cruiser, we’ll have a tough fight during the boarding.”

Keryn elbowed Yen hard in the ribs. “What do you mean if we make it? I’ll get you there. Whether or not you can manage to make it as far as the first hallway before getting your team slaughtered is a different story.”

Smiling broadly, Yen shoved Keryn playfully. “You talk a big game, little girl. We’ll see how well you do tomorrow.” He paused, realizing they had already reached Keryn’s room. “Get some good sleep tonight. I need you on your toes come tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Yen,” she said coyly over her shoulder as she slipped into her room. Yen waited a couple moments after the door had closed behind her. Shaking his head in amazement at the strange Wyndgaart woman, Yen turned and walked to his own room. He had teased her incessantly, but he knew that she was right. Even if she could get them to the Defiant, the harder job was boarding a ship full of volatile