Valorie watched the pair of technicians make their way towards Quinns. They were getting close - only five minutes away now. Quinns said she should warn him at one minute but that didn't seem like nearly enough time.

Valorie glanced over at Jovic’s scans of the Helianthus, hoping to get an idea of the progress so far. Only Jovic could see the clear display, but Valorie could make out a few details. It appeared about halfway done. Jovic’s frown had turned into pursed lips as his eyes followed the information. Biological scans were indeterminate. The imperial fleet relied on the skills of the SCT to differentiate meaningful data. Before the scans started, Valorie and Seda had agreed on what data she could ignore. Seda fed only the valid targets into the scan data. At the very least, this deception was going well.

Dupont paced across the room, startling her out of her thoughts. His hands had moved to his hip, and his jaw clenched. He turned back to Gareth in a moment of clarity.

“I am not here without reason. We have a solid source that places the fugitives on your ship.” Dupont said. Straight to the point this time.

“That may be, but your inspection will prove that source wrong.”

"Ah-ha, such confidence.”

“I would be more concerned for your source. The emperor does not suffer liars.” Gareth said. Dupont nodded, pacing back to the right. He glanced over Jovic’s displays as he moved, nodding to himself as he returned to the middle.

“Indeed. Nor fools. A soft captain, for example, convinced that the Empire is going too far. I mean, marking a mere political rival and her assistant fugitives. What danger could a couple of low ranking figureheads pose the Emperor in his glory?” He said. His eyes traveled over all three of them. Valorie did not notice his lingering attention. Half of her attention was still on Quinns.

The techs were zeroing in on the server room. They were in no hurry, but they were getting close.

Evie

One minute.

You should hide.

Quinten

Yeah, I hear you.

She balled her hand up, squeezing her fingers together in a fist. Why wasn’t he taking this seriously? Dupont was talking again.

“Perhaps you could turn them in - get a bonus in recognition. We could set up a meeting with your family. A little persuasion from a noble would go a long way for both of us. This inspection need never have happened.” He said, possibilities spilling forth.

Leon’s eyes narrowed at Dupont but Gareth held firm, following Dupont with a stoic gaze. Dupont avoided his stare and continued talking.

“You have to remember, those girls would not be harmed. Merely... dissuaded from challenging the Emperor’s greatness.” This line caught Valorie’s attention, she refocused on Dupont, even as she felt Quinns on the move again. Dissuaded - this was a lie Valorie had heard before. It was violently untrue. Her chest squeezed and she glanced at Gareth. Dupont wasn’t getting to him. His steady expression calmed her.

Dupont took a step towards her. Not right now, she needed to focus. She looked to the floor, desperate to collect her thoughts.

“You seem awfully concerned, little miss. You didn’t sneak in a rat behind your captain’s back, did you?”

She opened her mouth to respond, but the words stuck in her throat.

Quinns was in the duct, about to spill out into the hall. The same hall the techs were currently walking down. They were only feet away from each other - if it wasn’t already too late, she needed to -

STOP

And for a moment, everything did. The command ran through the ship. Every person on board would have felt it in some way.

Quinns could have sworn he heard it out loud, but the message was right there on his screen. Had he imagined it? The hatch door was open a sliver in his hand, and he could hear footsteps beyond it.

“Did you hear that?”

“Uh... for some mechanical issue, it sounded kinda... human?”

“I told you this place was haunted... You gotta stop...” Their voices faded around the corner. Quinns watched them go, letting it sink in how close he had come to being discovered.

Quinten

Thanks.

Valorie did not have time to appreciate the message. Captain Dupont was hovering over her, red-faced. To those around her, the sensation of the message would register as if she had outright shouted it. Without trying, she could feel the fury radiating off the captain in front of her. Embarrassment made him even angrier. Anger he was about to take out on her. Her eyes stuck to the floor.

The floor. She had promised not to do this. Promised Gareth, who asked her to act as herself. Who faced Dupont without flinching - without fear. She closed her eyes for a moment, and then dragged them away from the floor to face Dupont. His eyes promised violent discipline. She barely breathed as she tried to keep steady on her feet. The longer she held his gaze, the smaller he seemed. He was no longer the threat she had felt before. He must have noticed the change, and puffed himself up even more.

“Who do you think you are?” His tone dripped with the wish to strike. Violence her sisters had faced before. She did not want her body harmed, so logic demanded retreat. Even so, she felt her Captain at her side. Gareth was watching - what did he expect from her? To act like herself? Well, she thought, Dupont had asked a question.

“I am Valorie Davis, sir. Currently communications officer for the FL Helianthus.” She said, her voice even and clear as her training dictated.

It threw Dupont off balance and the air in the room began to change. She felt a lightness from Gareth and Leon that eased the tension in her shoulders.

“That was not what I asked.”

“I’m sorry, sir. What did you ask?” Her voice polite, and her eyes intent, Valorie made sure she would hear every word.

“No - forget what I asked. You cannot,” He began but faltered. He huffed and turned his glare on Gareth. “This is your comms, Hughes? I see all the mercenaries get is the chaff.” He continued, his face red. She kept her eyes on him until Leon spoke up.

“Captain Dupont.” Leon lingered on the title, capturing Dupont’s attention. “I apologize. Her behavior was unacceptable. I’m afraid the mistake of hiring her was mine. As you say, it is difficult to find good help.” His voice was serious as he flashed Valorie clear look of disappointment. Her gut twisted tight with embarrassment. She had no idea how to smooth this out.

“So you say,” Dupont said. His tone was still angry, but he was listening.

“You can be sure this is our first - and last - flight with her.” Leon offered. Dupont nodded, licking his lips as he regained his composure.

“A matter of course, I should think.”

“Why waste our opportunity to speak with you, sir. I am sure we could learn a thing or two, if you would allow it,” Leon said.

“Ah-ha. What makes you think that?” Dupont asked. There was a flicker of irritation in Leon's eyes before he saluted and it was gone.

“I served as the senior officer of the 2nd gunnery aboard the MRH Araya, under Captain Hughes. I followed him to the Helianthus, but work in the private sector is... uncertain. I can still see how well the Hayes carries herself. Her captain must be an intelligent man.” He explained. As Leon spoke of his service, Dupont’s face lit up.

"One of our own. You have a sharp eye, young man.” Dupont’s smug smile had returned, his hands clasped in front of him as he started a lecture. Leon smiled and gave his rapt attention.

As Leon drew Dupont’s attention away, Valorie felt a hand on her shoulder. She flinched at first but turned to meet Gareth’s concerned gaze. He was confused but mostly worried. When he touched her, she picked up only a few seconds of direct thought. “Was she talking to Quinns?” The worry that flowed forth made her wish she could give him a direct answer.