“We will be by the time we depart, sir,” she assured him.
The Admiral narrowed his eyes at Mace, then looked to Cache. “Do not make this a suicide mission. I would be extremely irate if it turned into one.”
“Yes, sir,” they said in unison and turned to leave.
The Admiral’s voice stopped him as they made their way to the door. “Commander Mace, one more thing.” Cache paused mid-step, then continued out while Mace stood before the Admiral.
Chapter thirty-eight
Oncealone,Krispingavehim a hard stare, then took Mace by the shoulders and into a fierce bear hug, slapping him on the back.
“It is good to see you, son.”
Mace returned the gesture, throat tight. After everything that had happened, the truly affectionate embrace almost did him in.
One more slap on the back and Krispin pulled away, scowling at Mace from arm’s length. “Now, tell me the truth of it. How long have you known you were leading this offensive?” Krispin let his arms drop.
There was no reason to lie. “When Cache announced it at the table, sir.”
The Admiral’s eyebrows rose. “Cutting it a bit close, aren’t we?”
“I wasn’t able to make the rendezvous.”
Something in his tone tipped off the Admiral. “What’s happened?”
He cleared his throat. “Lexi’s been taken into CORE custody.”
Krispin swore, hitting the holotable with his fist. The image ofOriondisappeared. “How long?”
“Since yesterday.” He clenched his fists, his thoughts going to Justice in the brig. Mace owed him a slow, agonizing death. The man’s screams would fuel him throughout his upcoming mission.
“There’s still time then,” Krispin said. “I’ll contact my people, see where she’s being held.” The Admiral’s eyes bored into his. “We’ll get her back.”
“I know.” The thoughts of what could happen in the meantime were what tortured him.
With a nod, Krispin turned to go, but Mace stopped him by saying, “Sir?”
His superior turned around with his eyebrows raised.
Mace ran a hand through his hair, positive he shouldn’t be even asking this question. “Is there a way a captive could be protected if it were found out they were from the ruling class?”
Tipping his head to the side, Krispin narrowed his eyes. “Context?”
Mace let loose a frustrated breath. The more he talked about Nia’s circumstance, the more danger she would be in. But he trusted Krispin with his life. More than that, he trusted him with the lives of the people he cared about.
“Does a ruling class captive always have to get sent back to the CORE in pieces?” Saying it aloud made his stomach churn with acid.
Krispin crossed his arms over his chest. “I’d heard you’d taken a captive and didn’t believe it, told the person they were a dirty fucking liar, actually. Are you telling me she’s part of the ruling class?”
Mace clenched his fists. “She’s no longer with us, sir.”
“Ah,” he said, like it explained everything when it really didn’t. “This is a theoretical question, then?”
“Yes.”
“Theoretically, yes.” Those two words lightened the oppressive load on Mace’s shoulders. Krispin went on. “Violence against the ruling class is a more recent development, relatively speaking. It wasn’t until Chancellor Feering’s rule, when he started making public executions, we wanted to return the favor. But I do remember a time when CORE citizens could ask for amnesty, choosing to join Tellusians in our fight to regain the resources taken from us. I do believe the law can still be invoked, even for the ruling class, especially if someone influential were to sponsor the individual.”
Mace’s mind raced. He could have given Nia the choice to stay. He almost wanted to return to her right now and tell her. But since the beginning, she’d said she wanted to go home. He couldn’t take that away from her, no matter his feelings.
