“Okay, everyone,” Avril said. “In two days, we’ll reach Earth. I’ve assessed all of the proposals, and as per Nik’s suggestions, we’ll start in the ruins of New York. We’ve sent probes through to Earth, but radioactive interference has made getting reliable intel problematic.”
“How are we going to survive on the surface?” Solomon asked. “Can you vaccinate us?”
Avril shook her head. “Due to the nature of the radiation, we can only treat it after you’ve been exposed. Depending on the location on the planet and the radiation levels, the exposure times will vary. After you reach the limit, you have to get back to the ship and receive the antidote.”
Nik didn’t like the sound of that. “You’re saying that if something goes wrong on the planet, if we stay on the surface too long, we’ll die.”
“It is ofprimeimportance you do not stay on the planet longer than the exposure time and receive your treatment.”
“Can we take the shots with us to the surface?” Nera asked.
“You could, but it won’t help. You need to be away from the exposure source for the treatment to successfully remove the radiation from your system.”
Great. Nik frowned. If there was one thing he knew about treasure hunts, it was that the unexpected always happened. Despite precision planning, things often went wrong.
“So, after New York, we’ll head south. Both Mr. Solomon and Ms. Darc made some good suggestions. We’ll make for New Mexico City in what was the country of Mexico. It was an arearich in ancient history in Terran times, with some world-class museums. There have always been rumors some of the museums were not evacuated, and it is quite possible that some artifacts remain in place.”
Mexico. Nik had studied what he could on the Aztec and Mayan civilizations. Unfortunately, so many records had been lost, and he only had tiny jumbled and damaged bits and pieces about the vast pyramids and complexes they’d built. To see anything of their historical artifacts would be amazing.
Avril clapped her hands together. “So, ladies and gentlemen, as of this moment, you have two days to rest, relax, research, and prepare. As soon as we hit Earth, it’ll be go time.”
Nera was startingto like the library. She was watching Niklas working—it was becoming a favorite pastime—but this time, she wasn’t wearing her camouflage. She flicked through her own book, every now and then looking up to watch him mutter about something, grunt when he found something interesting, or let out a long breath when he didn’t find what he was looking for.
She’d also spent some time trailing Gunn. An unpleasant task, but if he hurt Niklas, if he even breathed too close to Niklas, she’d gut him.
“What are you reading?”
She glanced up and saw Niklas watching her.
“The Lost Treasures of Earth,” she said.
He nodded. “A good read. Dr. Dalzarro is a bit prone to hyperbole.”
She knew. “I was reading about the Lost Inca Gold.”
“An interesting legend. But I think it was just that, a legend, and certainly exaggerated.”
“A treasure hunter who doesn’t believe in a lost treasure?”
He tilted his head. “You only go after verified treasures. I don’t see you chasing the Lost Treasure of Hesperia or the Hoard of Ramun-dal.”
“And I never searched for the lost colony of Star’s End.”
He smiled. “Touché.”
“I’m a businesswoman. So yes, I agree that verified treasure is best.”
“Is that all it is for you? Business?”
She thought she detected disappointment in his tone. It bothered her. Then she straightened. She didn’t care what Niklas Phoenix thought about her motives. “Yes. The past is gone, thank the stars, so why not profit off it?”
“You hate your past that much?”
Before she could answer, there was a commotion in the hall. A man’s voice raised in anger. A woman’s frightened cry.
Nera shot to her feet, and by the time she reached the door, Niklas was beside her. For a big man, he moved fast.
Gunn was moving through the corridor, tugging a woman behind him. She was dragging her feet, cowering. She was barely dressed, wearing only a flimsy wisp of white fabric that left her too-thin arms and legs bare. She had a beautiful face that was all angles and large gold eyes.
