I manage not to laugh as I think about how much he might like that. I’ll get him a shirt that has that written across the chest.
“Looks like a bomb went off while they were in the lower atmosphere,” Drift says.
“Arc said it looked like the nose had been pulled inward while it was still in the air.”
“Where is Arc?” Breaker asks, looking behind me like he expects the other Sian to pop up out of nowhere.
“Not here.”
That gets me a smile. Breaker is one of the few other brothers who likes Arc… sometimes.
“CSS is going to want to elbow in on this,” I say, pretending like it’s a guess. “You may want to get a hold of Riann to jump past the other irritations in that department.”
“Thank you for telling me what I already know.” Drift always sounds annoyed unless Kimba is around to temper him.
“Just trying to help. If you don’t want me here…” He’s been even crankier the last few weeks. I know it’s because Kimba’s pregnant, but I’m notsupposedto know.
Just like I’m not supposed to know that Breaker is about to join the list of brothers with weeuns on the way, too.
I’m not even sure he knows; I hate when the knowledge doesn’t come to me with disclaimers.
I glance back over my shoulder and wonder…
But that’s not a future Shock has shared with me.
“So,” I say, “Ship goes boom. Everybody’s dead… what else do we need to know?”
“Why they were flying this low over the caldera for a start?” Breaker looks up at the sky like he’ll see the answer written in the smoke.
They were delivering Chrys to someone.
But why fly over the caldera… it didn’t make any sense.
“Where isArc?”Drift finally looks at me.
“He discovered a mechanical issue and went back to the outpost. I came along instead.”
Eyes narrowed, I wonder if Drift is looking for the lie. He can’tseewhen I’m lying, but he can see the little ticks and tells. So I don’t lie to him anymore.
I just don’t always tell the truth.
“Do you see any signs of possible survivors?” I ask, even though one look was enough to tell me it was impossible. “Or a computer core to get us some kind of a clue about where they came from and where they were going?”
Drift looks irritated. Because the answer is no and yes.
I can’t see it, but there is a big enough chunk of a console in the middle of the wreckage that gives him some hope.
“Getting to it is going to be a pain in the ass.” Breaker sighs, picking up a handful of snow that melts as his hand sparks.
“Just get Kilo out here with his drone. Pull it out from above and you’re fine.”
Drift’s expression sours, and Breaker tries not to laugh.
“That’s not a bad idea.” Drift grimaces. He doesn’t want to agree with me.
“No, it’s not.” Kilo steps between Drift and I, and all three of us flinch.
Sometimes, Ihatethe power his mutation has given him over all of us—except Arc, not that Kilo knows that.
