Em nodded, then delved into a detailed explanation of how Jack Tar had found baby Alara in an escape pod while looting the wormhole. He’d repurposed the escape pod’s tech aboard Gilamede and raised the baby as his granddaughter, Ana, for seventeen years. Ana had no idea who she really was or that she was actually from the future. At least, not yet.
AJ fidgeted. What she wanted to say was,I didn’t agree to this.
Instead, she said, “Wait, if Rho only followed her into the wormhole a few minutes after, why have seventeen years passed when he arrives?”
“The space-time continuum isn’t linear,” said Em as Ian said, “Because fictional time travel.”
“Oh, right,” said AJ.
“We’ve had our eye on you for this from the start, AJ,” said Em, giving her a nod that made AJ’s heart skip.Em Tynerknew her name. With that, he left AJ and Ian in the Time Pagoda.
“I know it’s a lot to digest,” said Ian.
AJ blinked. “Thanks for the heads-up yesterday,” she said sarcastically.
Ian shrugged, unapologetic. “You never would have agreed to it if you’d known.”
“Right,” said AJ. “BecauseI am not an actor.I’m only doing this because I—”
“You what?” Ian squinted at her. “You want to get in with Em? Get in line. You’re not the only one who wants out of unscripted, and I’ve been at thisa lotlonger than you.”
AJ’s jaw clamped shut.The fuck?
As she gazed at Ian, eyes smarting, an unpleasant thought occurred. In the last five years, they had never really disagreed. Always, what AJ had wanted for herself was what Ian had wanted from her. She had no idea what Ian was actually like when he wasn’t on her side.
Ian wiped his brow, then slowly approached her. Together, they surveyed Em’s koi pond.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Working with someone from your past—it dredges up a lot of shit.”
ThatAJ understood. She said as much, feeling slightly appeased by his apology.
“I get that you don’t consider yourself an actor,” said Ian. “But I’ve seen what you can do. When you’re with Noah, it’s…good, Age. So I guess I’m wondering…what do you have to lose?”
My pride. My heart.
Toni.She had shut herself in her room straight after the sleeping sickness shoot; AJ’s knocks and texts had gone unanswered.
AJ looked at her feet. “I just want to write,” was all she could think to say.
Ian’s expression was neutral, but his eyes were steely as he said, “If you really want it, then you’ll do whatever it takes to get it. Period.” He clapped a paternal hand on her shoulder. “Even if it means playing a mutant time traveler with chronic pain.”
When AJ left the Time Pagoda a few minutes later, Toni and Dave were waiting outside.
“Well?” said Dave, bouncing in place. Toni stood ramrod beside him, and AJ knew at once that Dave had cajoled her into coming.
AJ forced herself to say it. “I’m Alara.”
“Yay!” said Dave, rushing forward to embrace her. “Of course you are.”
“Not of course,” said AJ, breaking the hug. Her eyes sought Toni’s. “I didn’t want this. They completely blindsided me.”
Toni’s gaze hardened. “Really?” she said with false lightness. “Youneverhad a scene with Rho?” Before AJ could respond, Toni hugged her. “Congrats,” she added, not meeting AJ’s eyes.
Today’s shoot was on Em’s property, whose verdant landscaping and artfully situated detritus matched the vision for Endora IV. When AJ, Dave, and Toni found their castmates gathered by a crumbling stone chimney, Toni headed for Anjalee without a parting nod.
Noah was standing in the shade with Andy, Elmore, and Xiaobo, a camera bobbing before them. This was Rho’s first day out of his cell. Similarly, Noah had actually emerged from his room last night with Bud, but AJ had been too preoccupied with Toni to speak with him.
“Wanna…” Dave cocked his head toward the captain and Rho.
