The new Phoenixes were silent, then finally Dare gave a nod. Everyone relaxed. A fraction.
“Take a seat.” Dare nodded toward their booth. “And let’s talk.”
Everyone settled in and Mal found herself wedged between Xander and Dathan. The stars save her from overprotective men.
“Where’s the fighter pilot?” Dare asked.
“He stayed with the ship.”
Dare lifted his chin and gave a grudging nod. “Smart. So—” he leaned back “—how can we help you?”
Mal opened her mouth, but Xander beat her to it.
“We’re looking for a rogue planet.”
Something flashed in Dare’s mercury-colored eyes. “Really? Why?”
“None of your business. We just need to know where the planet, Technis, is located.” Xander’s voice was as welcoming as a tub full of icy water.
Mal barely resisted rolling her eyes to the ceiling. “Boys. We’re asking them for help, so I suggest we all try and be nice.” She waved down a server. “Ales, please. For everyone.”
With a nod, the woman strolled away. Moments later, they all held icy mugs filled with dark, frothy ale.
Dathan took a sip of his. “Mmm, nothing quite like Beduan ale.”
“It’s always smooth,” Justyn agreed. “I like smooth.”
Xander simply ignored his drink, his focus on Dare.
The tension had dropped a notch, so Mal waded in. “Dare, we know Technis passed here several months ago. We were hoping you might know where it went or better yet, where it is now.”
Dare sipped his drink, his gaze thoughtful. “This is important.”
“Yes.” She glanced at Xander’s closed face. “Xander’s planet is under attack, and something was stolen, something important. He needs to find it in order to save Centax.”
Justyn whistled. “Centax under attack?”
“Who’s dumb enough to attack Centax?” Rynan asked.
“A Centaxian on a power trip,” Xander answered darkly.
Dare sipped his drink. “So this ‘something important’ is on Technis?”
“Yes,” Xander said.
“Technis is not a nice place.” Dare took another measured sip of his ale.
“You’ve been there?”
“No. Heard from people who have.”
And Mal knew Dare heard lots of interesting things. Perks of being a convoy master. “We know its surface isn’t hospitable?—”
“I’m not talking about its environment.” Dare lifted his drink and looked at Justyn.
Justyn tapped his fingers on the table in a quick rhythm. “Technis is run by a guy called Forge. He calls himself a technomancer.”
“A what?” Mal asked.
