She made a sound, shaking her head even though she knew he couldn’t see. “It’s ambitious. I admire that.”
“It’s foolish. Impossible.”
“Only impossible in that you haven’t found the way to do it yet. Have you considered the technology used in the food synthesizer?"
“Of course, I have. It wouldn’t work.”
“No, not as it is. But if you made a few adjustments to the technology, tweaked the programing, changed a few parts…” Haven let her voice trail off. She didn't have any concrete ideas. It took her a while to even figure out what he was trying to do. And even when she did, she hadn’t really done more than admire the attempt.
She really didn't care for the squishy sciences. But…
“You want some help with that?”
Alred hesitated again before asking quietly, “You would help? Even if it were impossible?”
“Nothing is impossible. We just haven’t figured out how to make it possible,” she said, reaching down to her belt. The control panel she had hidden within one of the pockets reacted even to her gloved hands. Her termites responded immediately, releasing their hold on the ship’s systems. The block she had over herself eased so when she leaned out of the cubby hole and looked down, Alred was staring back up at her, surprise on his figure’s face. “It just takes a little creativity and the right application of technology, and anything can be possible. Even your ambitions.”
Alred threw back his head and began laughing, earning a glare from Vytln.
“What are you two talking about that’s so amusing?” He grumbled.
Alred bowed to him with a flourish. “I was just complimenting Haven on her ingenuity and skills. Truly, she is an asset to our team.”
“A what to our what?” Vytln started.
“In fact, I think I’ll go talk to the captain,” Alred came back up, grinning at her. “I do believe keeping you around would be to our benefit, especially with all your secrets, and I’m sure I can get him to agree.”
Haven saluted him happily, giggling when he vanished in a shower of sparkles. That had been a bit of a gamble. She wasn’t sure how well Alred would have taken to her knowing something he clearly was trying to keep hidden from the others, but it had paid off.
Vytln looked from the space Alred had just been up to her, frowning. “What was that?”
She laughed, dangling her feet over the edge. “Catching me!”
She pushed off with a yell of joy.
Vytln cursed, scrambled to drop his not-wrench, and reached up. She didn't know if he caught her so much as he snagged her out of the air. He frowned as he clutched her to his chest and she laughed, patting his chest.
“Good catching.”
“That was reckless,” he snarled.
“Not when I’m knowing you will catching me,” she countered.
His eye twitched and mouth moved, but no sound came out, like he wanted to argue with her, but hadn’t yet figured out what points he’d be arguing with.
“Putting me down now,” she said, wiggling her feet in the air.
He did not. Just stared at her face. Haven frowned.
“I’m wanting to working now. Putting me down please.”
“No,” he said simply.
She blinked. “No?”
“No. You let Alred see you, didn't you?”
She didn't ask how he knew. It probably hadn’t been too hard to figure out. He might not understand exactly what they said to each other, but he got that part just based on how Alred reacted.
