Zia bit back a laugh, imagining how filthyair had to be for a Malaran to find it disgusting. Making a mentalnote to share the joke with Rem later, she moved to where he wasstaring out at Jairqua, probably imagining how he’d deal with thatdifficult terrain were he lucky enough to pilot a skirmisherhere.
He turned his attention to Zia. “How’sMaryak?”
“It’s hard to tell, but don’t discourageGannor from flirting with her today. She probably needs thedistraction.”
“Okay. And if you need anydistraction, just let me know.”
She felt her cheeks warm. “Shouldn’t you beobsessing about robots?”
“You’re tough competition for them.” Hestepped closer and murmured, “Now that I know what youreally wear to bed—”
“Hey, Rem!” Gannor shouted. “The Alluvans areunveiling their giant.”
Zia couldn’t miss the blaze of excitement inRem’s eyes. “Once again, upstaged by a mech. Go ahead,” she addedwith a laugh. “I forgive you.”
“Come on. You need to see this too.” Hegrabbed her by the hand and pulled her over to where Gannor wasstanding. “Oh, man, look at that. It’s a new model, isn’t it,Gannor?”
“Yes. Roughly the same size. But still verydifferent.”
Zia noted that the expression on thebronze-and-white mech was pure evil, contrasting sharply with thestern but unemotional look she had grown to love on the face of theQuito giant. “Talk about overdramatizing the whole thing. I likeours better.”
“It doesn’t seem as heavily armored,” Remmurmured. “More titanium, maybe? Or something else?”
“I cannot be sure,” Gannor admitted.
“The cannons are mounted right into theshoulders,” Maryak said, peering over Rem’s head. “Is that betteror worse, Gannor? Oh, look. There is their prowler. I know moreabout those.” Her tone turned hopeful as she studied the yellowAlluvan mech. “Maybe when I finish my training, I will choose themas my specialty.”
“Really? Why would anyone do that?” Rem said,then he grinned to show he was just teasing.
Zia winced, remembering that it was her faultprowlers had gotten involved in this particular challenge. Theprime minister and Carrak had decided on a one-two configuration.Then Zia had opened her mouth, really just to annoy Carrak.
Now it would be Zia’s fault if Malaralost.
“I’ll bet Alluva didn’t bother trying toimprove on the skirmisher design,” Rem was insisting, oblivious toZia’s distress. “It’s been the standard for over fifty years,right, Gannor?”
“See for yourself.” Gannor pointed toward thethird robot being moved into view. It was indeed a traditionalskirmisher, and had been painted black with gold trim.
It reminded Zia of the armor Commander Loganhad worn in her dream. The effect was powerful—brilliant,really—and she found herself worrying again about Malara, andCarrak, and everyone. “Maybe I’ll go sit with Humber for awhile.”
“Are you okay?” Rem asked, urging her awayfrom the others. “You look a little green. From the cheese?”
She ignored the teasing remark. “If things gobad, and they have to rush us out of here and onto the transportback to Earth, we might never have a chance to talk in privateagain. And then we’ll be home, and it’ll be feud time, and you’llnever know how I really feel about you.”
“Zee . . .”
“So I’ll tell you now. I think you’re a hero.Just like my grandfather. Just like your grandfather. And soI’ve made a decision.” She gulped for a deep, fortifying breath,then announced, “If you run in the next election—or anyelection—I won’t campaign against you.”
Rem stared. “Pardon?”
“I won’t campaign for my uncle. I can’t takesides against either of you, but I can stay silent. And so I will.I’ll refuse to support anyone. And you’ll have Logan. So . . . Ihope you win.”
“Jared can’t win without your support,” Remtold her, his voice hushed with disbelief. “You’re his secretweapon. The one the people really love. The one they really want tovote for.”
“I know.”
He licked his lips, then leaned his faceclose to Zia’s. “You’re so amazing—”
“Hey, Stone,” Gannor complained in a loudvoice. “No public displays of affection. You humans areembarrassing us.”
“I’m going to strangle him,” Remmuttered.
Zia laughed sadly, then wrapped her armsaround Rem’s waist and laid her cheek against his chest. “It’ll beover before we know it.”
“Zia!” Maryak chided her. “You are missingthe best part. The Malaran transport has landed! Come andwatch.”
“Don’t worry,” Rem said, stroking Zia’s back.“Carrak can’t lose. Think about it. She’s a force of nature,right?”
Zia looked up at him and nodded.
“Come on then. Let’s go see what’shappening.” He gave her a confident smile. “We’ll definitely havethis talk. Tonight, after the victory party, when we’re back at thehotel.”
“Right.” Zia followed him back to the windowand watched with dread as the cargo bay doors of the Malarantransport opened. A jaunty orange-and-blue skirmisher strode intoview, followed by a green prowler that moved stealthily down theramp and off to one side.
Unlike the Alluvan mechs, which had beenoffloaded by workmen, these robots were moving under their ownpower, driven by their own pilots. Which meant the colossus wasn’tgoing to be lifted onto the sand of Jairqua the way the Alluvangiant had been.
“She’s going to make an entrance again,” Ziamurmured, and despite her sense of doom, she couldn’t help but feela tingle of excitement.
Carrak didn’t disappoint. When her giant bluemech appeared, it was already in motion, thundering down the ramp,then pounding the sand with its powerful legs. The giant strode tothe center of the landing site, then turned to look directly up atthe battle cruiser, and raised both cannoned arms in an exuberantsalute.
“Oh, my God, Rem! She’s going to doit. She’s going to obliterate them!”
“That’s what we keep trying to tell you,” hesaid with a grin. Then he wrapped his arm around Zia’s waist. “Thisis it, babe. Pay close attention, because someday, your grandkidswill want to hear every detail.”
* * * *
During her hours at the rec center, Zia hadbeen introduced to almost every rule of warrior combat, and knewthat the Alluvan robots were being positioned exactly fiftyeppits from the Malaran mechs, a distance of approximatelysixty yards. At any moment now, the Malaran sun would reach itspinnacle, and a hoverbot would flash the signal to begin. Afterthat, the battle would rage until all three mechs on one side hadbecome incapable of moving and firing. At that point, if any roboton the other side could
