T’arq nodded. “I take it you want to use my ship to test Krystal’s new cloak?”
The chief nodded. “Yes, yours is the only ship not under maintenance right now. Something about already being checked over after…engine trouble,” she enunciated the words pointedly, one eyebrow raised, “on Irith’s Moons.”
Krystal tuned out their conversation, instead running some mental calculations. It sounded like they were relying on her. She supposed she could work on the changes. She’d worked out what she needed to do, had even made a test copy. It just needed to be updated on the stealth ship and tested. It should be ready in time.
“I could try to get it ready for this afternoon,” she muttered, distantly acknowledging that the chief and T’arq were still talking, but as Krystal pulled out her tablet and began completing calculations, she slid into her own world.
“Would that be all right with you, Krystal?” Larelle asked.
“Huh?” She spun to face her boss. “Sorry, I missed that.”
A quirked eyebrow and pursed lips had Krystal blushing and dropping her gaze. She felt a big, warm hand settle on her shoulder.
“Will you have the cloak ready to test on my ship this afternoon?” T’arq asked softly, his breath a whisper against her ear.
“I think so.” She tilted her head to one side, considering. “Yes, it will be ready.”
“All right, then let’s get to it.”
“Get to what?”
T’arq’s lips twitched, but he kept from smiling. Krystal stared as his tongue darted out to wet his lips.
“You cloaking my ship.”
How had he made that seem naughty? She pursed her lips, not wanting to accuse him of flirting while in front of her boss.
Krystal turned to Larelle. “Who will run the testing?”
“You, of course.”
“Me? On one of those tiny ships? Out there?” Krystal gaped. It was bad enough that she wasn’t on a planet, but was stationed on an actual starship. That had taken some getting used to. But a tiny little stealth ship? Oh no. No way. That would not happen.
T’arq gripped her shoulder in one big, warm but surprisingly gentle hand. “Krystal, I can’t test this on my own. I need a flight engineer. And you’re the creator of this cloak. If you want it tested, you’re going to have to do it.”
“But those ships are so small and—”
“Krystal? I need you. Will you do this for me?”
Her heart pounded. What a decision. Could she actually do this?
