“It’s business,” he continues with a shrug. “You’re a gunner now. The Sixth fights for the galaxy. Surely you can handle a few overzealous reporters?”
“That’s not the point.”
He finally catches my anger and holds up his hands. “You’re right. I shouldn’t make excuses. You get into this business and you forget…” He makes a face that seems genuinely regretful. “We could do better.”
“I’m glad you think so,” I start, “because I’m going to need you to delete all the pictures you took of my partner.”
I’ll give Rivon credit, he doesn’t flinch. “Delete them?”
“Lament doesn’t consent to photographs.”
“Well.” He gives an uncomfortable laugh. “Technically, we don’t require his consent.”
“It’ll mess with our mission,” I press, which is at least half true. “It’s important we keep his face out of the media. You must have some protocol for that, right?”
“Of a sort.” He sets loose hands to his hips. “But yes, okay. For you, Keller. If that’s what you need.”
“Also,” I continue coolly, “I need you to get all your reporter friends to delete their photos, too.”
Now hedoesflinch. “These people aren’t my friends. We work for competing networks.”
“I’m asking as a favor.”
“You’re requesting something I can’t give.”
“I think you can.” Behind us, Avi is still ranting at the reporters. The crowd has drawn back. Several of the cameramen look like prisoners contemplating escape. “I’m not the only one who’s come a long way in my career. You’re one of NewsNet’s top correspondents now. You’re telling me you don’t have any influence?”
“That’s… not what I’m saying.”
“So you’ll do it?”
“How about,” Rivon says, in the careful tone of someone striking a deal, “I get the others to wipe the photos if you grant me an exclusive interview.”
I try not to stiffen. “An interview about what?”
“The usual. Your new position, the Legion, how it’s going with the Sixth.”
“I don’t think people would be interested—”
“I think people would beveryinterested,” Rivon interrupts. “It’s unusual for a cadet to land a spot in the Legion straight out of the Academy,let alone a position in its most famous fleet. People want to know how you managed it, Keller. They want to hear your story.”
I think about what Lament said about the media turning us into celebrities. How it distorts our purpose. Then again, if an interview is what it’ll take to wipe Lament’s photos, it’s an easy choice to make. “Fine.”
“Excellent.” Rivon claps his hands. “I have your information. I’ll be in touch to set up a time.” He starts to turn away, then pauses. “How has Mr. Bringer been, by the way? Off the record. Don’t think I’ve forgotten how you came to me looking for information about your new flight partner. Is he what you expected?”
I glance at Vera’s spacecraft behind me. The sun reflects off the rounded nose, the craft’s four wings split like a dragonfly. If I squint, I can just make out Lament’s silhouette inside the cockpit. “No,” I say, echoing Lament’s words from my first day. “Nothing at all like I expected.”
15
By the time Imake it back to Vera’s split-wing, Lament has emerged again and is pulling a duffel bag from the trunk of his skimmer. He tracks my approach, his face partially obscured by the skimmer’s wing. I have a strong mental image of a rabbit watching the sky for hawks.
“Done,” I say.
His shoulders droop in relief. “Thank you.”
He doesn’t offer anything more than that, and I’m glad. I don’t want Lament thinking I’m trying to step into Bast’s shoes, or be Bast, or replace him. I don’t want to replace Bast, but I do want to be Lament’s partner, and I have this wormy sort of feeling (intuition?) that maybe Lament might be starting to want that, too.
Once Vera dismisses the reporters (“We’re done taking questions, and if you have a problem with that, you can take it up with the Legion”), Caspen unloads an overland rover from the back of the cargo craft. It looks like an off-roader with four wheels and no roof, the glossy sides painted gunmetal green. At Caspen’s thumbs-up, all ten Sixers pile inside. It takes a bit of rearranging (Toph requires at least two seats, and Avi refuses point-blank to sit on anyone’s lap), but soon everyone’s situated and ready, and Vera gives Caspen the go-ahead.
