Everyone’s eyes turn to me, but I’m already nodding. The despair isn’t gone. It’s still there, lurking darkly under the surface. But mercifully, there’s anger there now, too. Purpose. “I’m up for it.”
This elicits a general murmur of appreciation, the excitement that comes from a plan being made. Of the ten of us, there’s only one person who doesn’t seem pleased by this turn of events.
Lament has grown quiet. He isn’t looking at me. At anyone, really. He’s just standing there with his arms tightly crossed, radiating heavy vibes of… pissed-off-ness.
“Just so we’re clear,” he says slowly, “we’re talking about sending Hartman onto an enemy spacecraft we know nothing about, to trick the Determinist leader into spilling his secrets, while evading detection and possible capture, while tricking his absent mother into believing he forgives her, while grappling with the reappearance of said mother, all to find answers regarding a computer simulation that may be able to predict our entire plan?”
Avi holds up a finger, “Alone.”
“Right,” Lament growls. “Alone.I agree with Youvu Hum. This all feels too easy, whichdoesmakes me worry about the possibility of a trap.”
“A trap to do what?” I ask.
“Doc Min could kidnap you,” Lament says.
“Kidnap me?” I start to laugh but stop at Lament’s glower. “Oh. You’re serious.”
“He could hold you hostage and start making demands.”
“I doubt he’d go to the trouble.” I make the sort of motion that suggests this is already obvious. “I’m not worth anything.”
“You’re worth something tome,” Lament snarls, and the room goes deadly silent. Avi hiccups. Vera’s mouth forms a littleo. Lament jerks hisgaze away, like he’s just realized how loud his voice had grown. I stare at Lament. My heart is a bird beating against the cage of my ribs.
“Do you two, um”—Avi points between us—“need a minute?”
“Avi,” Vera scolds, in the tone of someone who is determined to at leasttryto herd the wayward sheep back to the flock, “what have I told you about discretion?”
“That was discreet!”
“All I mean to say,” Lament continues in forcibly calmer tones, “is that when I suggested confronting Ran Doc Min, I meant we wouldallgo. Together. This… isn’t that.”
We’ll wire Keller.Jester scratches his neck thoughtfully.We’ll be able to hear everything that happens while he’s on board The Parallax, and we can intervene if things get out of hand.
“And,” Lament starts in his most sardonic voice, “do you really think they won’t catch a wire? The Parallax isn’t some flimsy starship. It’s remained entirely off the map, foryears. The Legion can’t track it. The Randomists can’t track it. Even you, Jester—arguably the best intelligence officer in the galaxy—haven’t managed to unearth a single lead regarding the ship’s coordinates. Doc Min isn’t a rookie working out of his uncle’s basement. He’s a highly specialized mastermind who’s managed to grow his entire movement without ever once showing his face in person. They’ll check Keller for wires as soon as he steps onto that ship, and when they find them, the game will be up.”
This speech is followed by another silence.
“Well,” Toph tries, “does he really have to go by himself? Maybe one of us could tag along. Provide backup.”
“Unfortunately, I think that’ll only raise suspicions,” I say. “Nina’s offer was for me alone.”
Still, Jester says,that doesn’t mean you have to go unprepared. They’ll send you the coordinates to get to the ship. Once they do, I’ll be able to draw up a heat map of The Parallax.Everyone leans in as Jester continues, concentrating so as to not miss the words scrolling acrosshis visor.I’ll plot the interior, estimate where the simulation room might be, as well as all the exits. You’ll memorize it. That way you’re not going in unprepared. And in the meantime, he raises his brows at Lament,seeing as I’m the best intelligence officer in the galaxy, I’ll work on creating an undetectable wire.
I nod at this. “So I’ll have a floor plan of The Parallax and a way to signal for help in case things go wrong. Then, once I’m…” I trail off. “Oh.”
Vera frowns. “What?”
All the wind leaves me, like air leaking from a balloon. “This plan won’t work.”
“Why not?”
“Because even if Doc Min decides to let me aboard his ship, how are we supposed to get there? Lament and I are still DNA-barred from unsanctioned missions, remember? And Moon Dancer isn’t finished.”
Everyone turns to look at Lament. They’re all waiting for him to speak, but he doesn’t. Just clenches his jaw and glares.
“Lament,” Avi prompts.
“What?”
