“And assuming Jared survives,” Humberreminded him. “He might go to Malara too, remember. Come along. Mylimousine is right over there.”
As they began walking again, Rem forcedhimself to strategize logically, rather than emotionally. If bysome miracle Jared’s DNA matched Quito’s and he went to Malara,shouldn’t Rem stay behind? Seize the opportunity to woo the voterswhile simultaneously earning so much credit with the military,they’d back him if force was eventually needed to achieve his truedream—regaining the presidency for the Stones.
Or had that dream changed? Just becauseMalara was at war?
“What if Jared doesn’t match, but Zia does?”Rem demanded suddenly. “You wouldn’t really ask her to fight, wouldyou? I don’t think we’d allow that, to tell you the truth.”
Humber laughed. “Have you ever tried to tellZia Quito what to do? If she wants to go, she’ll go.” Sobering, heinsisted, “We would never ask her to fight. But to join forces withus? Absolutely. That is the point I was trying to make in theAtrium. Zia may seem harmless to you, but on Malara and Alluva, hermystique is strong. She is a direct descendant of the only pilot toever crush a giant with a skirmisher. It would give us a powerfulpsychological advantage—one we desperately need at thisjuncture.”
“If that happens, then I won’t have achoice,” Rem told the ambassador. “I promised her grandfather I’dprotect her. So if she goes, I go too.”
“You promised him? When could that havebeen?”
“Not in person. But—well, in spirit,” Remexplained, kicking himself for the reference to his experience inthe hangar with Zia and the robots.
“Interesting.” Humber arched a hairy eyebrow.“You would protect her despite your resentment toward herfamily?”
“Because of it, actually.” Rem grinned. “It’scomplicated.”
“She’s very attractive by humanstandards.”
“It’s not that,” Rem said quickly. “I justhave a lot of respect for her grandfather.”
“Of course.”
They had reached the limousine, and Humbermotioned for his guest to get in first. “We should deliver you tothose parties Zia mentioned, so that you can celebrate your threemedals. I imagine the females will be anxious to commune with youafter such a triumphant award.”
Rem flushed. “I guess I’ll find out.”
“None will be as attractive as Zia. But theywill be safer.”
“Yeah. Much safer.” Rem laughed. “You’ve gota knack for mind grubbing, Ambassador. I’m glad we’re on the sameside.”
“As am I.”
Rem noted that Humber’s tone had gone flat,and he reminded himself that Malara’s future hung in the balance.“Don’t worry, sir. We taught the Alluvans a lesson once, and we’lldo it again. And this time, we really will crush them.Right?”
Humber straightened and nodded. “Yes, we willcrush them. The alternative is too terrible to consider.”
They rode in silence until the limo reachedthe hotel’s circular driveway. Then the ambassador’s mood lightenedagain. “What will your rank be now?”
“As of midnight, I’ll be a lieutenant. Mygrandfather started that tradition when he was dean of theacademy.”
“Well then, Lieutenant, go and celebrate yourtriumph. Enjoy it without reservation. Tomorrow, our new alliancebegins in earnest.”
Chapter4
DNA testing of Jared Quito was scheduled forten the following morning, and Zia was secretly relieved when hedidn’t want her to accompany him to the infirmary. She needed toget her mind off her troubles—the politics, the testing, the war onMalara, the blue-eyed pilot who would probably be killed there—soshe called an emergency meeting of the “gang of five,” as her unclehad dubbed her closest girlfriends. She had collected them over theyears, and at times like this couldn’t imagine life withoutthem.
They assembled that morning on the beach, butwere careful to stay in sight of the Hacienda, knowing that if theymoved out of range, the guards would follow them. It was more funthis way in any case, pretending to be normal and unchaperoned, asthough the watchtowers didn’t really exist, and the Coast Guardwasn’t positioned one hundred yards offshore, following their everymove through high-powered binoculars.
Everyone had brought their sky paddleequipment, per Zia’s instruction, but Jenni Messina, thesmartest—and sweetest—member of the group, was quick to suggestthat they just visit and gossip instead of playing the rigorousgame.
“We want to hear about the ceremony,” Jenniwheedled. “Please?”
Jenni was Zia’s favorite friend, and the onlymember of the group who was completely trustworthy. Zia could tellher anything, and usually did. Jenni’s father was a diplomat, hermother a physician, and they had a beautiful beach house abouttwenty miles south of the Hacienda. The Messinas hadn’t sent theirdaughter away when she was little, but the girls had spentvacations together for as long as they could remember.
Friends forever—but that didn’t stop Zia frommaking demands. “Strap those boots on, wimp. I’ve had a rough weekand I need the stress release.”
“Rough? Swooning in the arms of a hot-bodiedsoldier?” Bea, a friend from boarding school, rolled her eyes. “Idon’t care if he is the son of a traitor, he’s stillgorgeous. We want to hear every obscene detail.”
“I took a calmative right before theceremony, so I don’t remember a thing. That’s a secret, by the way,so don’t blab it around.”
“That’s why you fainted?” Jenni asked,nodding. “You seemed different in the vids. I guess that’swhy.”
“Are you saying it wasn’t romantic?” Beademanded. “It sure looked like it was. Like he was about to sackyou right there on the stage!”
Charlotte, another boarding school refugee,told Bea, “Well, you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you? Cadetsare your specialty, right?”
It was true, but Zia arched an eyebrow insilent warning so that things between the two girls wouldn’t getout of hand. She liked Charlotte, but knew she could be mean. Butnot too mean around Zia for fear of being kicked out of thecoveted Quito entourage.
Meanwhile, all of Zia’s friends were staringat her, waiting for an answer about her experience with Rem. Inparticular, Merry and Jaycey, whose family lived right next door tothe Hacienda, and who were the youngest and most sheltered membersof the group, seemed intrigued. They loved living vicariouslythrough their free-spirited neighbor.
Zia would have gladly shared details, butcouldn’t actually remember much about the medal ceremony exceptwhat she had seen in the vid. Still, she had to agree—it didseem romantic. Although Rem had felt the need to apologize foradding to her stress, which was a little confusing.
Maybe he meant the stress of feelingattracted to
