“I hope it wasn’t anything I said,”Zia quipped.
“Zee . . .” Humber gave a rueful laugh. “Youwould do well not to anger Carrak. She has a temper.”
“But not with our honored guests,” the primeminister protested. “She treats you with great respect, does shenot, Quito? And also you, Captain Stone?”
“Yes, sir,” Rem said quickly. “She’s beengreat. Right, Zee?”
“She’s the best,” Zia agreed. “But enoughabout Carrak. Prime minister, tell us more about that brilliantwife of yours.”
* * * *
“Oh, no. The giant nightgown again?”
Zia walked out of the bathroom and twirled sothat Rem could admire her. Then she crossed to the bed and climbedunder the covers. “I didn’t want to shock the Malarans, so I onlybrought clothes that cover up most of my baldness. And now it hasthe added advantage of not distracting you.”
“Yeah.” He walked over and sat on the edge ofher bed. “What a day, huh?”
“You’re still thinking about your mechbattle?”
He nodded. “I can’t stop thinkingabout it, actually. Even during dinner, it was on my mind. Oh, andthanks for getting Carrak even more mad at us, by the way.”
“Mad at me. You were appropriatelykiss-ass, don’t worry.”
He grinned. “Good. I can’t afford to get onher bad side. It’s unbelievable that I might have a shot at one ofthe challenges. It’s disloyal, but I hope the first one’s a draw.And the second one too. So I can have my shot. Especially aftertoday.”
She smiled at the radiance in his eyes. “Wasit the way you always dreamed it? The way you dreamed it duringsuspension?”
“Like I said, I don’t remember those dreams.But I’ve fantasized about mech combat for years, and thisafternoon—well, I never could have imagined that.” He arched aneyebrow. “Was it the way you thought it would be? You said Ifought in your dreams, and you remember all the details. So?”
She laughed. “In my dream, you startedturning into a mech. One minute we were playing sky paddle,then suddenly these patches of silver metal started forming on yourlegs and arms and chest.”
“Wow. Very cool. What happened next?”
She couldn’t wait to see his reaction. “ThenCommander Logan showed up, and he started getting metal patchestoo—golden ones, not silver. And you two started fighting.”
“Me and Logan? Why would wefight?”
She shrugged.
“Over you?”
“I really don’t know.”
His eyes narrowed. “Who won?”
“It was pretty even, I think. I neveractually got to the end of the dream.”
“It’s an interesting question, though,” Remsaid, half to himself. “Me versus Logan. He’s got experience on hisside.”
“And size.”
“Huh?”
“He’s huger than you.”
“But I’m younger. Better reflexes. And heonly won one Exemplar. So if he and I actually fought, I think I’dwin.”
“Well,” she drawled. “Just in case you’rewrong, don’t ever fight him.”
“Yeah.” Rem eyed her thoughtfully. “He saidsomething interesting to me right before we left.”
“About me?” She groaned. “He’s prettyprotective.”
“He said if I bring you back from Malarasafely, he’ll back me if I decide to run in a presidentialelection.”
Zia stared, truly shocked. “Against myuncle?”
“Yep.”
“Wow. That is interesting. He’s beenpart of the Quito administration since Grandpa was alive. That’ssuch a compliment, Rem. He must really admire you.”
“It means a lot.”
Zia licked her lips. “Is that what you’replanning? To run in the very next election? Instead of waiting forUncle J to finish a second term?”
Rem cleared his throat. “My plan was to waitanother term. To the same age your mother was when she ran. Butthis changes things. If I come back from Malara as a celebrity—evenif it’s just based on protecting you, but particularly if I fight amech battle—and if I have Logan’s support. Then I don’tknow. It’s not what I planned, but it might be my bestopportunity.”
“Wow.” She thought about her uncle’sprediction—that Rem wouldn’t be happy with just the presidency.He’d want to use that office to destroy Elena Quito. “Hey,Rem?”
“Yeah?”
“I had a crazy thought today. When I saw thatsecurity vid from the Vekzori attack, and realized I had actuallyshot a guy and then blocked it completely from my memory, itmade me think about your dad. About how he was so sure he didn’tshoot that guard. And I’m not saying he did. But what if the memorywas so repugnant to him, he blocked it out, the same way Idid?”
Rem’s expression grew cool. “You’re right,that’s a crazy thought. You know what? We should get some sleep.It’ll be dawn before we know it.”
“Wait!” She jumped out of bed and blocked hispath to the cot. “Don’t be mad at me.”
“I’m not. I just don’t see the point indiscussing this, especially with you of all people.”
She stepped back, hurt by the impersonallabel. “I guess you’re right.”
He nodded, then crossed the room and switchedoff the light. “Good night, Zee.”
She climbed back into bed, still hurt, butalso annoyed with herself for blurting out her stupid theory whenhe wasn’t prepared for it. They had had such a great day together,and it was sad to see it end like this.
“Hey, Zee,” he said from his cot. “Sorry forbeing such a grouch.”
“That’s okay. I’m an idiot.”
“True. But I’m touchy on this subject. Sothis time, it was my fault.”
“Thanks, Rem.” She exhaled loudly. “I’ve justbeen struggling to find some way where we can still be friends whenwe get back home. I even watched an old recording of the trialyesterday, searching for some resolution.”
“A resolution where your parent isblameless and mine is a murderer?”
Her mood soured. “You’re right. Youare touchy on the subject. So let’s never talk about itagain. Okay?”
“Yeah. I think that’s best. G’night,Zee.”
“Good night, Captain Stone.”
* * * *
They managed to stop by the hospital for abrief visit the next morning and still made it to the practicefields on time. Carrak rewarded Rem by allowing him to take askirmisher on maneuvers with the other pilots, a process that wouldoccupy most of the morning. Then she tried to convince Zia to spendanother session in the student simulator, but Zia wasn’t in themood for that or for anything else.
Carrak finally gave up and focused herattention on watching the maneuvers from the observation deck whileZia and Maryak visited together—close by
