“Playing games?” the reporterdemanded. “He was supposed to take care of her. He braggedabout keeping her safe.”
“His mission is to pilot a skirmisher,” Jaredcorrected the reporter. “Given his obvious animosity toward myfamily, I specifically did not give him the job ofprotecting my niece. And a very good thing too, as it turnsout.”
“Oh, my God. Humber, turn it off,” Ziapleaded. “Rem, I’m so sorry. That was completely unfair.”
Rem’s fists were clenched at his sides. “Itwas rigged. You saw that, didn’t you? That bastard from OmniVid wasworking with the press secretary, just like everyone says. Theadministration feeds information to the reporters, and in return,they sling Jared’s propaganda for him.”
Humber started coughing again, and Zia gothim a glass of water from the kitchen, talking as she moved. “Itlooked that way to me too. Uncle J was obviously prepared for thatquestion. He can’t possibly expect people to believe you wereplaying vid games at a time like this. How dare he say sucha thing.”
Rem nodded. “I’m not going to wait six years,I’m going to run against him in the next election. And I’m not justgoing to beat him. I’ll annihilate him.” He walked over to Zia andsaid bluntly, “I’m not asking you to take sides. You know that,right? Which of course plays beautifully into his hands. He evenpredicted it.”
“What does that mean?”
Rem flushed. “He talked to me after the pressconference. Told me he hoped I’d get squashed like an insect onMalara. Then he dared me to tell you about it, because he was sosure you’d never take my side over his. What he doesn’t realize is,I’d never ask you to take sides.”
Zia’s stomach knotted, remembering the day inher uncle’s office when he had blithely suggested that if Rem dieda hero on Malara, then the Stone line would end, and it would be agood thing for the Quito administration.
It had sounded so cold. So calculating.
But this—this was so much worse. Outrightcharacter assassination of a young pilot who was willing to givehis life for Earth. For Malara. For honor.
For Zia.
“I’ll campaign for you, just like Logan,” sheblurted. “If this is an example of Jared Quito’s campaign tactics,then he has to be stopped.”
“You’ll campaign for me?” Rem’s angerdissipated before her eyes. “Actively?”
“Of course.” She stepped up to him andtouched his cheek. “You’re the bravest guy I know, and the mostdedicated bodyguard a girl could ever have. I’ll tell that to thevids the minute we land back on Earth. And they’ll eat it up,because as we all know, I’m their most precious naturalresource.”
Humber patted them both on the shoulders.“Well now. The situation is somewhat contained, is it not, CaptainStone? With Zia on your side, and your record of brave service—onEarth and on Malara—you will attain complete victory in theelection.” He began wheezing slightly, but that didn’t stop hisenthusiastic outpouring. “I was concerned that this politicalposturing might weaken the alliance. But I should have known. Yourtwo grandfathers forged that alliance. You would never letanything happen to it.”
“Don’t worry about the alliance, worry aboutyourself,” Zia scolded him. “Do you have pneumonia or something?You sound awful.”
“There’s something going around,” Rem toldher. “A couple of the pilots have it too.”
“A simple virus,” Humber agreed. “Nothing toworry about.”
“Too late. I am worried. We’re takingyou to see Dr. Annur. Right, Rem? We’re already late for maneuversanyway.”
Rem nodded. “Yeah, whatever you want. Let’sdo it fast, though, or Carrak will burst a valve.”
“My driver is outside. He can take me to thedoctor,” Humber assured them. “You two should proceed to thepractice fields. Tell General Carrak the delay was my fault.”
“You did the right thing, bringing this to usright away,” Rem assured him. “I appreciate it, Mr. Ambassador.And,” his tone grew ominous, “I will remember your loyalty.”
Zia winced, realizing he was still upset. Notthat she blamed him. Her uncle had slandered him in front of thewhole world, just to gain political advantage. And after all hisfine talk about appreciating Rem.
Uncle J deserves whatever he gets now,she decided grimly. And you’re free to help Rem, which is whatyou really want anyway. So maybe this is a good thing. Assuming Remcan let it go before we start fighting about thistoo.
* * * *
As it turned out, Rem couldn’t let it go. Hebarely paid any attention to Zia during the transport ride, staringout the window instead.
Planning his campaign, she toldherself. And guess what? It’s a full-out feud again. Thismust have been the shortest truce on record.
Then Rem surprised her by moving to a seatbeside her and embracing her warmly. “I’m sorry about your uncle,you know. I guess he’s the closest thing to a father you ever had,right?”
“Hardly.” Zia gave him a sad smile. “It wasnever that way between him and me. We’re family, but it’s all veryformal and uninvolved. I had my grandpa on my father’s side when Iwas little, and supposedly he loved me like crazy. But hedied when I was five. After that, I started spending most of mytime at boarding school, so even if I had had a father, Iwouldn’t have seen much of him, I guess.”
“If your real dad had been around, hewouldn’t have let you go off to school at all. You’re too cute. Hewould have wanted you around the house all the time.”
Zia bit her lip. “That’s such a sweet thingto say.” Taking his hands in her own, she murmured, “I know youhate my uncle. I don’t blame you. What he did was despicable, butmaybe we can learn from it. This vendetta between our families ispoisonous. It makes people do and say hideous things. But we have achance to change that, right? With Logan’s support, and mine, andyour amazing record, you’re going to win by a landslide. You mighteven get two-thirds of the vote, right?”
“A life term?”
“Exactly. What could be more validating—foryou and your whole family—than that? Maybe then you’ll finally beable to look toward the future, instead of living in the past.”
Rem’s shoulders stiffened. “You think that’swhat I’ve been doing?”
She nodded. “And it’s not healthy. Look whatit did to Uncle J. Turned him into a monster.”
“Don’t compare me to him,”
