“We said no more secrets.So tell Burn about Layla or I will.”
I glanced at Burn, unsurprised to see a hint of distrust returning to her questioning gaze.
“When we were kids, my sister thought she saw theQueen of Stars.She’s been searching for it ever since.”
I was ready for the questions.The excitement.The accusations.What I hadn’t expected was the blank look on Burn’s face.“The what?”
“TheQueen of Stars.The missing treaty ship.”
“The fairy tale ship,” Dax chimed in so helpfully.
Burn shook her head.“Sorry.I have no idea what you’re talking about.If they didn’t teach it in the military’s remedial classes, I didn’t learn it.”She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed defiantly.
I remembered what she said about the lack of education for women on her home planet and my heart ached for the little girl she’d been.
Instead of making her feel bad about her lack of knowledge, I quickly told her the story.Dax chimed in, repeating his belief that it had never existed.
“So it’s full of treasure?”Burn asked, a gleam of interest in her eye.
“No one knows for sure,” I admitted.“It’s more likely to be ore, maybe other supplies for building.Or maybe it doesn’t exist,” I added, shooting Dax a sharp look.“Regardless, my sister has spent her adult life looking for it and I think that’s why she was taken.”
Burn leaned forward, utterly engaged in the story.“Because she found it?”
“I don’t think so.”Based on everything I’d read in her files, I didn’t think she had the location yet.“But someone might think she did.Or is about to.”My money was on the second option.“She’d agreed to meet with someone from a history forum who said they had new information.”
“So we’re going treasure hunting?”Burn’s excitement bled into her words.She leaned over to give Dax a one-armed hug.“You take me to the best places, Sarge!”Then she bounded to her feet, pausing to look at me.“I’m glad we’re going to rescue your sister and all, Lacy.But you really should have led with this.A treasure hunt is badass.”
She left the room and I swear I heard her say, “What do you wear to a treasure hunt?”
I shook my head as Dax and I watched her leave.
He shifted to face me, his hand grasping one of mine.“I’m going to tell the others when they come on board, Lacy.I meant it when I said no more secrets.”
Exhaling slowly, I nodded, while still mulling over his words.“Do you think it will be a problem?”
Dax didn’t say a word and I started to worry.
“Not as much of one as Finn,” he said finally.“If we’re upfront with them, everything should be fine.”
Famous last words, I thought, and gave him a weak smile.
42
Lacy
I choseto remain in engineering while Dax and Burn docked at the spaceport on Justin.Listening to the engines as we landed soothed my nerves.I wasn’t sure I was up to several more days of Finn-level abuse.
Both Dax and Burn had assured me that things would be fine, but I was still fragile from experiencing how close Dax’s crew was.No matter how much I wanted to be a part of it, I was still an outsider.
The engines wound down, then stopped.We were here.I checked the gauges and other instruments.Everything looked within the proper parameters.I made a mental note to remind Dax that we should fuel up.
With nothing else to procrastinate on, I sighed and left my happy place.
Burn was waiting for me at the door to the cargo hold.“Any weird rituals we need to be aware of here?”
I laughed.“Not every place has them, Burn.But no, as far as I know, it’s business as usual here.Plus, we’re not picking up cargo, are we?”
Burn shook her head.“Mercer and Orion are shopping for the ship.”
