Page 69 of Aviatrix

Eli lifts a brow, unimpressed. “Pretty sure there’s not a buttload of aliens in those ships.”

“If that’s what you want to believe,” I echo, throwing his words back at him, “then believe away, Major.”

“How about we just try to get there in one piece?” he counters.

“Lead the way,” I say, squaring my shoulders.

“I will,” he shoots back without missing a beat.

Our eyes lock again, something electric buzzing between us. I want to ask why he was so moody in our room earlier, why he slammed that door, but I hold back.

We’re only given so many sunrises. And I don’t want to waste this one arguing.

SIXTEEN

LET’S GO HOME

“Quay, what's your status?” Eli’s voice crackles through the comms.

I press the mic and sigh. “Still wings-level and holding altitude. No change from the last two times you asked.”

“Copy that,” he says, a bit too quickly. “I still don’t trust that… thing you’re in.”

“Maybe keep your eyes on your own six, Major,” I fire back. “VAL and I are cruising smooth over here. Right, VAL?”

“Affirmative, Captain Kinley Quay,” VAL responds. “We are stable at flight level three-three-zero. Cabin pressure nominal. ETA revised to minus three minutes.”

“Appreciate the update,” I say, my eyes scanning the clear path in front of us. Blue sky above. Clouds below.

“Still don’t trust her,” Eli grumbles again over the radio. “We need to figure out who dropped her off.”

“What if she was already parked when we got there?” I counter.

“Then ask her,” he says.

“Ask her what?”

“If she was deployed. Or if someone sent her.”

Huh. That’s a good idea. “VAL, were you deployed to that base by someone?”

“Negative.”

“Were you sent to me by anyone?”

“Negative.”

I smirk. “There you go, Major. Mystery solved.”

But then, VAL chimes back in. “I chose you, Captain Kinley Quay.”

Chosen? Jets don’t choose people. They’re machines. Tools. Not… deciders.

Goosebumps ripple down my arms. “You chose me?”

“You still trust her now?” Eli chimes over comms, smug.

I ignore him. “VAL, who built you?”