Vai

My okulus beeped with an incoming message from Owen addressed to both me and Esther.

«Security was just here asking about the missing people. Vai, I told them you had a date with Alessandra because there would be witnesses at the Museum Delectables. Esther, I don't know where you are, but if you went to Vai's quarters, get out. Security might go there next.

"And to finish today's class," Teacher Miller said, "I need to regretfully inform you that the field trip has been cancelled."

Some of the students groaned. Shel and Minmin were silent as they watched me closely.

"And I have another announcement. Some of you will know this already." Teacher Miller looked to Spencer's empty seat. "There have been disappearances onboard both the Shadow and now on the Armstar. Security on all ships would like you to be on watch for anything unusual and report to them right away if you suspect anything."

She ended class and left. Shel and Minmin turned to me.

"Did you get a message from Owen?" Minmin asked. "What happened to him?"

I put the blocker around us so none of the other students would hear. I wasn't sure it was really a big deal, but I didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea about Owen. Especially after the smuggling incident. Actually, it would be the right idea, but the wrong interpretation. I didn't want anyone to think he was the bad guy when in actuality we were saving the Gathering from an invasive alien species.

"He says Security just asked him about the missing people. He thinks they'll come to me next. Especially since he told them I had a date with Alessandra. I guess we couldn't really avoid that one. There were witnesses at the Museum Delectables that saw us together."

"What about Esther?" Shel asked. "Isn't she normally in Owen's quarters? Did security catch her?"

"I don't know the details, but I don't think she was there. Owen sent a message to her too telling her if she was at my place to leave. She's clever. More clever than me and Owen. I'm sure she'll be fine."

"If Security is going to your quarters, you'd better sign out and be ready for them," Minmin said.

I nodded and logged out. I took the okulus off my head and reshaped it to my wrist. Warpaint waited by my bed with an algae bar.

"Security is on their way, sir," Warpaint said. "They asked your father permission to speak with you, but he won't allow it without his presence. He is on his way too."

"Thank you, Warpaint." I took the algae bar and bit into it.

"This would be a good opportunity to tell security and your father about Esther and Owen and the Corruption, sir," Warpaint said.

I got off the bed. "No. Remember Officer Hansi had the Corruption inside him. What if these ones do to? And if my father knows, he will try to stop me from destroying the Corruption in an effort to protect me."

"You should be protected," Warpaint said. "Especially after my failure last night."

"It wasn't a failure, Warpaint. It was a learning experience. And if anything that should prove that I need to be able to take care of myself against the Corruption and my father will try to stop my personal training."

Warpaint didn't argue with me further.

"If security or my father asks you about last night, only talk about the actual date, not about what came before and after. Understood?"

"Understood, sir."

We went into the living quarters. I took another bite of the algae bar. I heard my father's voice from the corridor.

"Six of you to interview my son? I don't think so. Unless you have a warrant, which you wouldn't, you can't come in."

"Don't worry, Lieutenant Commander," a male voice said. "Your son isn't under any suspicion. By accounts, he was the last one seen with Alessandra Garcia. We just want to ask to see if he noticed anything strange."

"I'll allow you in," my father said, "and you can ask him. The rest of you should go back to the security office. It doesn't take six of you to ask questions."

"That is agreeable, Lieutenant Commander," the male voice said.

There was a pause and a great deal of shuffling beyond the door before my father opened it and stepped inside followed by a male Bundu-Jo.

"Vai," my father said. "Finished with school already?"

"Just barely," I said. I finished the last bite of the algae bar. "What's going on?"

"You know the disappearances on the ship?" My father asked. I nodded. "Alessandra Garcia didn't show up to the labs today."

"What? But I just saw her last night."

My father raised a dark eyebrow at this. "Did you? Why? Why didn't you tell me about it?" He addressed the questions to me, but when he finished he glanced at Warpaint.

"I asked her to dinner," I said.

"A date? She's much too old for you," my father said.

"She's only 4 years older than me," I said. "And it wasn't a date. I'm underage. It was a precursor date until I turn 18."

"Semantics," my father said. "It was a date and I'm very disappointed she agreed."

"I thought you'd be happy I was interested in a scientist," I said.

The male Bundu-Jo looked from me to my father and back again obviously not quite sure how to interject himself into the conversation.

"I . . ." That stumped my father because normally he would have been glad I was interested in a scientist instead of a girl like Callie. The problem was he knew about the Corruption and knew that Alessandra had been infected by them. He couldn't tell me or the security officer that.

"They were never alone together," Warpaint said. "They met at the Museum Delectables and left when the date ended. I was always by his side. As were...other people."

"I can confirm that is what the witnesses at the Museum Delectables told me." The male Bundu-Jo finally found a place to speak. My father glowered at him. The security officer swallowed under my father's glare, but continued to speak. "Vai did meet Alessandra at the restaurant. He was there and already seated when she arrived according to witnesses. They left at the same time, but that was were witness accounts end." He turned to me. "Can you tell me what happened when you left?"

"We parted ways," I said. "She wanted to take a walk behind the Museum Delectables, but I am only 17 so I left her and came back home."

"Have you checked the security feeds?" my father asked. "There should be something there."

The security officer paused a moment until he saw my father's eyes. "Strangely, Vai doesn't show up on the security feeds at all."

My father frowned.

"It is the same as when that unknown girl doesn't show up on the camera," the security officer said. "We think she somehow distorted Vai and his mechatronic and met with Alessandra behind the Museum Delectables. We don't know how or why she distorted Vai and the mechatronic."

"Thank you, officer. That will be all," my father said.

The officer looked from my father to me and back again. I didn't think he had asked all the questions he had wanted. My father had led the conversation. But the officer also didn't want to argue with my father who had already dismissed him so he left quietly.

"Warpaint, have you been tampered with and not informed me?" my father asked.

"No, sir."

"How could he have been when he is with me 24/7," I said.

My father looked at me and then dismissed me as easily as he had the security officer. "Warpaint, let's go into my room and I'll take a look at you to see what has been tampered with."

"Yes, sir."

My father's okulus beeped with an incoming call. He frowned and answered as voice only.

I didn't recognize the voice but it said, "Lieutenant Commander Ma'amaloa. Your presence is requested on the bridge."

"Understood." My father disconnected the call. He looked at Warpaint, looked at me and then left.