“At least his name is clear,” Rem murmured.“People can remember him for what he was. A decent guy who lovedhis country. I’ll never forget how you did this for us, Zee. AndI’m sorry I ever tried to drag your mother into it.” He cleared histhroat. “Speaking of your mother . . .”
“Hmmm?”
Rem shrugged. “Now that you know theyfalsified evidence once, have you considered . . . ?”
“You think they sabotaged Mom’s shuttle? Iactually asked Fuller that,” she admitted, “and it made him cry.”Zia sighed, remembering how distraught the doctor had been. “Thenhe reminded me how much my uncle loved Mom. He never would havedone that to her.”
Rem and Logan exchanged skeptical glances.Then Logan murmured, “I’ll have a team reopen that investigation,just in case.”
Even though Zia knew it would be a waste oftime, she was touched by Logan’s loyalty, and teased him gently.“All this presidential power is really going to your head, isn’tit?”
“Hardly,” he muttered. “The sooner we get theQuito-Stone ticket on the ballot, the better, so I can go back tothe job I signed up for. It is Quito-Stone, right? NotStone-Quito?”
Zia smiled. “It’s not Quito at all. I’m noteven old enough yet, remember? Neither is Rem for two more years,so you’re stuck with the job for that long at least.”
Logan shrugged. “They changed theConstitution once to let your mother take office at agetwenty-four. I’m sure they’d lower it for either—or both—ofyou.”
“But I’m not interested. Plus, I have otherplans.”
Rem arched an eyebrow. “Such as?”
She felt her cheeks warm. “Promise you won’tlaugh? I’m going back to Malara to train as a mech pilot.”
“What?” Logan demanded. “Why?”
She shrugged. “Carrak said I had potential,but it would take five or six years to really become proficient.She didn’t think I had that kind of dedication in me, and I didn’tthink so either. But now, it feels right.”
“You did fine without training,” Loganobjected. “I’ve seen the vid of the battle. You piloted that giantlike a pro.”
“I need to learn on a skirmisher. And I haveto study strategy. And a bunch of other things. But hopefully itwon’t take as long as Carrak thinks. I figure one or two years atthe most.”
Logan’s jaw was visibly tight. “Why can’t Remteach you here on Earth using the Quito skirmisher? The Malaranspromised to repair it and return it, good as new, didn’t they?”
“Zee’s right,” Rem interrupted. “If shereally wants to learn, she has to practice with other pilots and avariety of mechs.” Turning to Zia, he added cheerfully, “When do weleave?”
“Excuse me?”
“You know my policy. You don’t go anywhere onMalara without me to protect you.”
Zia felt a thrill at the thought, but didn’twant him to know, so she flashed a blank look. “Won’t you be busyrunning the country? Logan-Stone, or Stone-Logan, or whatever?”
“I’m a mech pilot, not a politician,” Remcorrected her. “Someday I might change my mind. But now that Dad’sname is clear—thanks to you—I can do what I really want. Pilotmechs. With you. On Malara.”
“I’m only staying until I’m trained,” shetold him.
“Then what?” Logan demanded. “What will youever use it for? Why not train on conventional weapons here onEarth? Wouldn’t that make more sense?”
Zia hesitated, wondering how they would reactto what she was about to say. Most likely they’d scoff, and thatwas okay with her for the moment. But eventually, they would haveto face reality, just as she had done.
“Here’s the truth,” she began finally. “Earthneeds to get prepared for more mech battles. Think about it. Whenstories about our victory spread through the warrior-basedgalaxies, there will be backlash. Against Rem in particular, sincehe’s the one who really set the new standard. But against me too,because the Quito mystique is stronger than ever now.”
The men were staring at her as though shewere speaking Malaran, but she knew she was right. “The more Ithink about it, the more sure I am. Earth won’t be off-limits formech challenges anymore. Not once the stories start floating frommech culture to mech culture. They’ll want to fight us—not withconventional weapons, but with robots.”
“Is that the only reason you want thetraining?” Rem asked carefully.
“I have a lot to prove,” she admitted. “ButI’ve also got a lot to protect. Daniel Quito saved Earth once.We’re not going to lose it on my watch.”
Logan scowled. “It’s a waste of your youth.You should be having fun. Dating.”
“She can have fun on Malara. Datingme,” Rem said with an impish smile.
Logan’s eyes narrowed. “Neither of youis going to Malara. We’ll work something else out. End ofdiscussion.”
Zia glared right back at him. “Don’t you havesome presidenting to do? Rem and I want to be alone for a fewminutes.”
“Five minutes. After that, Captain Stoneneeds to report to his new squadron leader. And you need toget some rest. We’ll talk about this again in a week or so if youhaven’t changed your mind. Understood?”
Zia and Rem exchanged amused glances. Thenshe told Logan with a teasing smile, “Whatever you say, Mr.President.”
“Call me sir,” he suggested dryly.“I’m still your commanding officer, Captain Quito.”
She smiled, wondering if he knew how much sheloved being called that. It hadn’t meant much until she earned iton a Malaran battlefield. Now she treasured it more than anythingelse in her life, other than the Quito giant. And her friends.
And Rem.
“Come on, Captain Stone.” She stood and tookhim by the hand. “Let’s go enjoy the view.”
She led him to a balcony overlooking theocean, then turned to smile up into his dark blue eyes. “How areyour ribs?”
“Good as new.” He nudged her back against thelow wall. “We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
“Like going to Malara?”
“Yeah,” he said with a laugh. “It’s a crazyidea, but I like the thought of being alone with you. Without Loganbothering us.”
“And you’ll teach me to pilot theskirmisher?”
“Yeah.” He nuzzled her neck hopefully.“Anything you want.”
“They really will come for us, you know.” Shearched an eyebrow in warning. “All those hotshot mercenaries andgreedy warrior cultures—we’ll be fair game to them now. Theythought my grandfather was a fluke, but now they know Earthlingscan be great mech warriors. Maybe even the best in the universe. Sothey’ll come.
