Rem arched a disapproving eyebrow. “Giantscan’t jump, Zee.”
“Why not? They’ve got jets on theirlegs.”
“Those are for balance. To help them rightthemselves in a collision. But there’s not enough power in thoseboosters to get a giant off the ground. That’s why skirmishers arebetter, like I keep telling you.”
“We should have done three skirmishers. Nogiants, no prowlers,” Zia agreed.
“No. We should have done a one-on-one.Skirmisher versus skirmisher. That’s the only perfect match.It’s how your grandfather saved Earth, remember?”
Maryak turned to them and announced sweetly,“My mother is not finished yet. Do you see?”
“Oh!” Zia strained her eyes and saw it—theslightest movement on Carrak’s part. For a moment, it looked likeher blue giant was swiveling to face the skirmisher, but then itwhirled and fired on the motionless Alluvan giant with suchprecision that Zia knew the truth—Carrak had identified afunctional cannon remaining on the giant. And she had destroyed itas calmly as if she were eliminating an ant at a picnic.
“And now, their giant really is dead.”Rem grinned. “Unbelievable. Maybe she can—damn! The friggingprowler!”
The pilot of the Alluvan prowler must haveknown what Carrak was planning, or else he had amazing reflexes,because before the Malaran colossus could lower its firing arm, theprowler fired on it at an angle that blasted the forward cannonstraight into the air. At that same moment, the Alluvan skirmisherjumped and fired down on Carrak, who fired back at it with her goodarm just before it crashed right into her.
Carrak swayed, and every mammal on thecruiser—every mammal on Malara and Alluva—held their breath. Shefired her jets and righted herself, but not before the prowler andthe skirmisher blasted her with all the power at their command.
Her final cannon blazed at the prowler,ignoring the skirmisher completely. There was so much smoke, it wasimpossible for the spectators in the cruisers to see what hadhappened. The overhead screens were useless as well, which meantthat the cameras imbedded in the mechs had been disabled.
Disabled? More like annihilated, Ziarealized shakily.
Then a mechanized voice announced, “Alluvahas called for a status check.”
Zia turned to Rem, who explained, “We havethirty seconds to prove that one of our mechs can move and shoot.This is their admission that all of theirs are out of commission.This is it,” he added softly. “We know we didn’t lose, which isfantastic. But . . .”
“But did we win?” Zia turned back to thewindow and waited for the smoke to clear.
Carrak’s mech was still on its feet, and Ziawilled her to fire. But nothing happened.
And then the mechanical voice announced, “Wehave a draw.”
* * * *
Once the news sank in, the battle cruiserwent wild, and the party atmosphere lasted for the entire two-hourtrip back to the launch site. Everyone descended on the buffet,decimating it. Music played, mammals danced, and Maryak finallyadmitted that she had been scared to death about losing hermother.
It was the most amazing afternoon of Zia’slife. She had never felt so much a part of any victory—not hermother’s administration; not her uncle’s election landslide; noteven her own small successes with boys or extracurricularadventures. And while she had heard amazing tales about DanielQuito—his famous Battle of the Canyons, where he had toppled acolossus with a skirmisher, or his decisive success in defeating anAlluvan skirmisher in a one-on-one battle—she had never reallyidentified with such triumphs. Sure, he was her grandfather, but hewas also a stranger. A wonderful hero whom she had never, evermet—much like her father. A ghost. A story. A fantasy she only halfbelieved.
This was different.
“We’ll be landing soon,” Rem told her,pulling her from the dance floor and guiding her to a secludedcorner. “Then we’ll pick up where we left off this morning.”
“Pardon?” She laughed as he began nuzzlingher neck. “All because of an innocent little wardrobeadjustment?”
Rem’s blue eyes were bright withanticipation. “I can see why watching that practice fight got youso aroused the other day. I never knew mech combat could beforeplay, but damn. I’m a convert.”
“Rem, don’t,” she insisted, although shedidn’t struggle too hard to get away. “Humber might see us.”
“Humber understands these things. His wifehas four breasts, remember?”
She laughed helplessly as Rem’s hand begansliding up her side.
“Let’s skip the victory party at the reccenter,” he murmured. “We can have our own, back at the hotel.”
“We can’t. They’d feel insulted.”
“Okay, then. They can have fifteen minutes.After that, you’re all mine. We never celebrated your birthday, youknow. We’ve gotta take care of that too.”
“Oh, Rem! I can’t believe you remembered. Noone else . . .” She bit her lip. “Wow.”
“Captain Quito?” an unfamiliar voiceinterrupted. “Captain Stone?”
Startled, they turned to stare at a furrydiplomatic messenger, who told them curtly, “General Carrak wishesto meet with you immediately upon your arrival in Pangua.”
“Don’t worry. We wouldn’t miss the party forthe world,” Zia assured him.
“You misunderstand. She orders you to meether at the home of the prime minister.”
“Even better,” Zia said with a laugh. “I’vebeen dying to meet his wife. I hear she’s a genius.”
The messenger shrugged his massive shoulders.“Come with me. My orders are to ensure you are the first to leavethe cruiser.”
“Wait a minute.” Rem pulled Zia behind him,then glared in cool displeasure. “What’s going on?”
The messenger shrugged again. “My orders aresimple. You will be the first to leave this cruiser. You will tellno one else about it. You will accompany me to the minister’sprivate transport, and then, you will meet with GeneralCarrak.”
“And if we refuse?”
“General Carrak assures me you will obeyher.”
Zia groaned. “That sounds like her, doesn’tit? I think it’s legitimate, Rem. And”—she eyed him unhappily—“Idon’t think it’s good news.”
Chapter14
By the time Zia and Rem were ushered into theprime minister’s mansion on the outskirts of Pangua, it was nearlydusk. The home was stunning, with high ceilings, expansive windowslooking out onto a sparkling lake, and splashes of red and goldthroughout, both on the walls and the furnishings. There was aparty going on somewhere with loud music and even louder cheering,but the two Earthlings were apparently not invited. Instead theywere hurried through a side entrance before anyone could catch aglimpse of them, then taken by elevator
