Page 166 of Aviatrix

“No,” he groans. “I’m not into grandmas. The young chick. She’s built like a stealth bomber. Quiet, but deadly.”

“I don’t need a visual,” I cut him off, holding up a hand.

“How was your nap?” he asks, one brow cocked in amusement.

How was my nap? He’s really going to play it that way? Like he didn’t help trick me into flying VAL?

“Sobering,” I say flatly, narrowing my eyes.

“Listen,” he clears his throat, picking up on my tone. “I knew the Colonel was going to tell you about my dad and Glitch sneaking VAL onto that desert base. And yeah, I should’ve been the one. But I wasn’t involved, Nova. I swear. I was too busy digging through intel at Langdon. I didn’t know they were moving VAL. I promise.”

Even if it’s true, I’m still pissed.

“You should’ve told me anyway.”

He nods, conceding. “I know. But things have been a little hectic with the, you know… aliens and shit.”

“If you’ve had time to sneak around with Nurse Mary,” I grumble, “you had time to tell me that Atlas and Glitch were using me—”

“No,” Scooter interjects. “They weren’t using you. Besides you, Glitch is the only other pilot with clearance to fly a VAL-X. And VAL didn’t respond to her.”

I falter. Did I just hear him right?

“Thea’s cleared to fly a VAL-X?” My thoughts are racing.

“She was tested a few months ago by some higher ups in the government,” Scooter divulges. “I don’t know the details and neither does my dad. If he did, I know he would have told you.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying my dad didn’t want to involve you, but he didn’t have a choice,” he says. “The rest, you’ll have to ask him. That’s all I know.”

“Swear it.” I lift my brows in warning.

He rolls his eyes dramatically.

“Swear it,” I repeat with both my eyebrows raised.

“I swear on our friendship I didn’t know anything else.”

“You better not be lying to me, Fox,” I warn.

He smirks. “I may be a lot of things, but a liar isn’t one of them.”

He’s right about that. Scooter can’t lie. He crumbles under the pressure.

“You heading up to the mess hall?” I ask, switching gears.

He shakes his head. “Still trying to make contact with the alien ship over D.C. Something about it gives me the creeps. Like it’s watching all of us.” He cocks his head. “I think that’s the one we need to keep our eyes on.”

“Any movement at the warehouse?”

“The D.C. site’s been quiet,” he says. “Too quiet.”

“Thanks for the update.”

He salutes, an exaggerated, theatrical gesture. “Anytime, Captain.”

Then, he’s gone.