Talon looked at Jessica. Her face wore an expression of both hope and anger. His heart ached. He knew she would be angry before he ever pulled that trigger up on that rooftop, but he had done what he had needed to do, and now he had an asset he had never planned on having—an invaluable one at that.
He said, “Then let’s talk about that warship. It’s not far. Twelve hours from here.”
“We don’t have that much time,” Jessica said in a strained voice “The Gorlites—”
“We will have two ships and two crews which will be better to fight them with. I am hoping that when the Federation troops on the warship realize an entire planet is about to be taken and their precious Federation toppled, they will join with us.”
The deck went silent again. Talon said, “I know that for many of you, my crew, this is not your fight. If you want out, then I will have Caleb send you out on the pods to the nearest planet where you can enjoy your credits and lives. Or at least you will be able to until the Federation falls and the tyrannical despot who wants to take it over takes full control of the universe. What will happen then is anyone’s guess.”
Caleb said, “Well, you’re right about it not being my fight, boss, but I have to tell you something. The Federation is a shit thing that should die, but not if it means something worse comes in its place.”
Agreement rang out. Heads nodded. People voiced their support, as he had known they would. What else could they do? The enemy of their enemy was not their friend—not this time anyway.
Talon said, “Then we agree. Caleb, head us toward that Federation ship. Seven and Five, I need to talk to you, but not yet. Right now, I need to see you in my chambers, Jessica.”
Mutiny showed in her eyes, but she gave him a curt nod.
He turned and headed off the deck, wondering just what the hell he was thinking.
Taking a Federation warship was not at all like taking a small Federation supply ship.
And Jessica was angry as hell at him right then.
They stepped into his chamber in the same silence that had stalked them as they walked down the hallways to his chamber.
The door slid shut. He asked, “Is it because you fear Yori will be killed that you are so angry?”
Her eyes flashed. “Of course, but it is not just him. I have family down there, Talon, and people I hold dear. That is my planet and those people below have suffered for so long—I know it had to happen. I just always thought we were going to be able to effect change by doing something else, something besides bloody civil war.”
“That civil war won’t last long, and you know it. They will unite once the Gorlites hit the atmosphere.”
“Or the above grounders will simply kill off all the below grounders they can in an effort to save their sorry asses,” she retorted bitterly.
“Then nothing will have changed except that they had a chance to save themselves they might not have had otherwise.”
Jessica stared at him. He was right, and she knew it, but that anger within her was not just made up of rage at the system or the fact that he had fired those shots. It was complicated by her own complicity in so many atrocities that the above grounders had committed. She had done so much to help those below, but she had also done so much to keep them down there and starving and oppressed.
Tears spilled down her face. “You will never understand.”
“That you feel guilt over being a Capo? That you wish you had done less of what you did that was harmful?”
Surprise hit. “Are you reading my mind?”
“No, I am reading your face.” He came closer. His eyes bored into hers. “Jessica, I want more than just this. I want a life beyond this fight and whatever other fight we have to fight. I won’t lie to you; I am sick of war and blood and fear and despair. I want more. I want children and a life. I want you. If your heart belongs elsewhere, then please tell me that and—”
“I love you.” The words came from her mouth in a rush. “I do. Oh my God, you have no idea. I want peace and happiness and a life that isn’t torn by war too.”
She did. She wanted it desperately. Her chin quivered as she told him the rest of it. “I just don’t know if I deserve it.”
Talon said, “Jessica, I have far more blood on my hands than you do. I had good intentions when I started this whole thing. I had a real reason to need revenge, and I still do, but…but I am tired of it now. This: all of it. I still love to fly, but I don’t love the rest of it. Not anymore.”
His arms came up and around her. Her body sagged against his, her breasts flattening against his chest. Their mouths met. There was a promise in that kiss and heat too.
Jessica whispered, “We don’t have time…”
They didn’t. The entire universe was falling apart all around them, and they had to get out there and fight that fight or watch it all fall.
Talon’s fingers stripped her clothes away. “We will make the time. Right here and now because there might not be time later.” She knew that. They might die taking that ship, and they might die fighting the Gorlite fleet, and they could even possibly die down on the planet now in the first grip of a civil war, a war that Talon had started.
