“Didn’t you say they blamed Linao for their ship being blown up?” Velda asked, turning to Brink. “Some kind of accusation that she’d told the Caruso that Demeter was a safe zone before the Cores had actually managed to secure it?”
Linao went still.
“I mean, they might be interested in that information, too, don’t you think?” She turned to Ethan, as if asking him a genuine question.
He flashed her a quick grin.
“Fine. I’ll keep my mouth shut, you keep yours shut.” Linao crossed her arms over her chest and glared.
“And let’s hope no one here is tortured, because they’d give us all up in a heartbeat,” Ethan said, keeping his voice very soft.
Linao had obviously not considered that. Her head came up and she glanced at the huddled group at the larger table.
Velda saw her slide a look at Brink, and lean back.
That’s right, Velda thought.You better hope Brink isn’t tortured. Or even questioned. Because she could turn on either of us just as easily.
“So, what’s the story?” Ethan asked. “You met them to hand over the ore, and they what? Just took the ship?”
Brink studied him with dislike, then seemed to collapse. “Pretty much.”
Velda was sure Ethan was holding back from asking when the Cores would ever learn.
“Not like they haven’t done that before,” he said eventually.
“You’re talking about Garmen?” Brink asked.
“And Lassa,” Velda said.
“And Lassa,” Brink agreed. “And a couple of other times, as well.”
“So, why?” Ethan asked.
“We take orders, we don’t make decisions,” Linao said.
“Sure.” There was sarcasm in Brink’s voice. “Except you, Linao. You don’t seem to take orders. Or not very well.”
Linao didn’t answer. She shot Brink a look and then laid her head down on folded arms on the table.
“Who’s Sylvester?” Velda asked.
She noticed Linao froze. If she were to guess, she only just stopped herself from lifting her head.
“Where did you hear that name?” Brink asked, a little too casually.
“Ritter told the Caruso that his experiment was happening on board this ship because Sylvester wanted to see it, and the Caruson soldier said that was good, because Sylvester was the next stop on the journey.” Velda watched Brink with interest as she tried to keep a neutral face.
“That’s interesting information.” Brink cleared her throat. She got up and walked over to Ritter. Slid down opposite him at the table where he was sitting on his own.
Linao finally lifted her head and stared at them both.
“You found that information interesting, as well,” Ethan said. “But Brink didn’t answer the question. Who’s Sylvester?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Linao said. “There’s no way Sylvester will let the Caruso near him.”
“Unless they’re in a stolen Cores runner, with the captain at the helm, under duress or not, flying them in.” Velda didn’t know if the captain was dead or under guard on the bridge, but from Linao’s quick in-breath, she guessed it was the latter.
“Why would they burn your alliance like this?” Ethan asked.
