“Wonder what they’re doingwith all the money?”
“They’re not putting itback into their home, that’s for sure.” Kennedy reflected on theirrecent confrontation with the Intabet. “I bet they’re spending itoff-world. That would explain why those guards are so anxious toget their turn. And why Intabah is so empty – most of the Intabetprobably live off-world.”
“Yeah, that makessense.”
“It also explains whyTievas was easier to understand than the rest of the Tolutay. TheIntabet must interact with off-worlders on a regularbasis.”
Deck nodded. “Hey…now thatyou mention it, the translation for Tievas was better.All the rest of them, too. Good catch.”
Con rolled his eyes atsuch undeserved praise. “No – it would have been a goodcatch two hours ago.”
Tossing him a sad smile,Naiche quickly changed the subject. “Who do you think they’retrading with?”
“It could beanyone. We aresitting on top of what has to be the biggesttreasure trove of kiatilium in the galaxy.” He contemplated thatfact for a moment and then expelled a huff of bitter amusement.“Ironic, isn’t it?”
“What?” Deck’s eyes roamedaround the chamber, still seeking a weakness in their improvisedprison. She faced him, venturing, “That after all we’ve beenthrough with aliens and space anomalies, we’re gonna end up stonedto death?”
“True,” Con admitted, “butI was thinking about the fact that we came on this mission to pickup a little bit of kiatilium – and now we’re gonna be crushed by aton of it.”
Decker laid her forehead onher bent knees, groaning, “I’m sorry I dragged you into thismess.”
“You didn’t drag meanywhere. I insisted on joining you – remember?”
“I remember.Still…it was allmy idea.” She lifted her head and looked at him. “I get so excited– wanting to explore the unknown and right all the wrongs, that Inever bother thinking things through. I just assume I can facedown any challenge that comes my way. Guess this kind of end wasinevitable for me – being that goddamned reckless and cocky.” Witha mirthless laugh she added, “Just like my father.”
“Hey, that’s not fair.”Kennedy wasn’t entirely sure if he meant she was being unfair toRicci – or herself. Both probably.
“Yeah, you’re right.” She nodded. “I can’t put it all on him – there’s alsoshichúand her father.” When he cocked his head inpuzzlement, she clarified, “My Chiricahua grandmother andgreat-grandfather.”
“Thefirefighters?”
“Yeah. They both diedfighting a wildfire long after it was time to retreat.” Deck stoodup and started pacing restlessly. “So, I have the reckless andcocky genes on both sides. Look where it’s gotten me. I’m not even gonna get thechance to tell Tal that I want to go with him to thesettlements.”
Kennedy jumped up and put agentle hand on her shoulder to arrest her pacing. “You do? Sincewhen?”
With a shrug she admitted,“Okay, I don’t actually wantto go to the settlements, but if that’s the onlyway we can be together – then that’s what we’ll do. I’ve beenthinking it over, you know, like Ricci asked me to? And I realized– I love Tal more than I love my dream about returning toChiricahua territory. But now he’ll never know.” Kennedy wasdesperately searching for something wise or comforting to say butcame up empty handed. Deck finished with a whisper, “I wonder ifTal has any idea how much I love him.”
“Of course, he does.You’ve told him so – haven’t you?”
“Yeah, but he almostalways says it first. And I’m not romantic like he is, and….” Deckheaved a great sigh, and in a far-away voice reported, “I keepthinking back to this conversation we had – back when we firstheard the message from Maddox. Tal suggested that we’d made contactwith a parallel universe – one where the Valiant was neverdestroyed.” Shelooked at Con with teary eyes. “Myfirst thought was about my mother – that maybeshe was still alive in that reality. Tal’s first thought wasabout us.”
“I’m sure Tal understood.Something like that wouldn’t make him doubt your love. Everyoneknows your mom’s death left a hole in your heart – one that’llnever heal.” In that moment, a sudden truth broke over Con,riveting him in place. “Oh, shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Decklooked up at the ceiling. “Is the rock coming down?”
“No, I just figured outthat Aqila is right. It’s not fair to have a child if we’re notalso willing to adjust our lifestyle. To have at least one of ustake an Earth-side post for a while.” Con didn’t say the rest outloud: that he didn’t want to risk leaving his child abroken-hearted orphan, carrying the pain of that loss forever –like Deck.
She followed his train ofthought anyway. Naiche put both hands on his arm, urging, “Youcan’t think that way, planning for the worst to happen. You gottahope for the best.”
He smiled down at her.“What did Cat used to say during the war – when I’d come up withone of those rash and risky battle plans of mine?”
Naiche tilted her head inthought for a second. “‘That fool Kennedy is gonna get us allkilled?’”
“To me! What did she usedto say to me?”
“Ohh.” Deck managed acredible imitation of their late friend Caterina Xavier, as sherecited, “‘Hope is not a strategy, Lieutenant.’”
“Exactly. And especiallynot when it comes to something as important as a child. Aqila isright – I want the idea of having a kid more than the reality.Otherwise I’d have come up with a more solid plan, something betterthan – ‘it will all work out somehow.’”
Their philosophizing wasinterrupted by the dreaded rumble of approaching rocks – the soundof imminent death. Kennedy proposed they use their final moments torecord messages for their loved ones on their hand-held computers.Deck asked, “What’s the chance anyone’s ever gonna hearthem?”
“Slim to none – but whatawe got to lose?” She nodded in cheerless agreement, suggesting hego first. Con stared at his computer, wondering how to start, whensomeone burst into the room. He didn’t have time to wonder if itwas good news or bad – when he looked up, Kennedy still wasn’tsure. Kayatennae stood before them, wagging his tail, with no humanhelp in sight.
***
“Touch, Kay! Touch!”Naiche pointed at the button on the wall, her voice shrill withurgency. The dog stared at the spot on the wall, then looked backat
