The trip back to District Twelve’s spaceport was simple enough the shuttle’s computer could have handled it alone, but Dante left it in manual mode. It had been too long since he’d piloted. Being back in the cockpit helped smooth the ragged edges off his mood and let him focus on the mission ahead. At least, that was what he was trying to focus on, but every few minutes he’d be back to thinking about Tyra. He knew the team would take care of both her and Nico, but protecting them had been his assignment, first. Leaving them behind had unsettled him in ways he hadn’t expected.

He’d found Nico in the galley and explained that he needed to go dirtside for a bit. The boy hadn’t been happy to learn Dante was leaving, though he hid it behind an unending litany of questions. In the end, Dante had given the kid a one-armed hug and left, feeling an unfamiliar sense of guilt as he ran the whole way to the shuttle to make up for lost time. There’d been no time to talk to Tyra. He’d have to send a note soon and apologize for that, but she’d understand. She was part of this investigation because she wanted answers more than anyone. She’d be happy to know things were finally in motion.

His comm alerted him to an incoming message from Magi. He transferred it to the main console, read it, and winced.

In briefing right now. Rossi thought you’d briefed the doc before leaving. She didn’t even know you were gone. Not your best move, Buttercup. Suggest you fix it.

He drummed his fingers on the console as the surface of the planet grew larger in his displays. He’d screwed up.

“I’m an idiot,” he muttered and reached for his comm. “Computer, take over piloting the shuttle.”

“Yes, Sergeant Strak,” the ship’s computer replied.

He typed out a quick message, read it over, and deleted it. It took four attempts to come up with something he hoped didn’t sound completely pathetic.

Shortcake,

Sorry I left without saying goodbye. I meant to, but time got away from me.

Take care of yourself and Nico and watch your back around the Bellex reps since I can’t be there to watch it for you.

D.

PS I know I still owe you a drink and a chat about my tattoos…and anything else you want to know.

He sent it before he could change his mind. Once that was done, he pushed all thoughts of the dark-haired doctor aside and set his mind to the task at hand. If he wanted to have that drink with Tyra, he needed to find a sample of cobalt and enough evidence to bring down whoever was making and distributing it.

Lt. Aria Jessop popped her head into the cockpit a few minutes before they breached the planet’s atmosphere. “Ready to give up the stick?”

“Not really. I’ve missed this part of my job.” He might not be ready, but to protect his cover he needed to be out of sight before they made contact with the spaceport, so he grudgingly rose from his chair.

Aria moved back, giving him enough room to clear the door and ease past her so she could take over as pilot. “I’ll see you once our boots are dusty and we’re in the clear. Sabre and I will make sure you have a nice, smooth ride.”

“Appreciate it. This is not my favorite part of the plan.”

Aria laughed. “Just do what I do. Take a nap.”

“I did not just hear you say that, Blink,” Lt. Commander Kurt Meyer barked from his seat. “No sleeping on duty.”

“If I’m locked in a box, my only duty is to pretend to be cargo. I can do that awake or asleep, sir,” Aria retorted with a grin.

Kurt just shook his head. “Are you going to be this full of sass for the whole damned mission?”

“Very likely, sir. It’s been a while since I got to breathe anything but recycled air. I’m looking forward to spending time in a place with gravity, atmosphere, and natural light.” Aria ducked into the cockpit whistling a chipper tune that had both men share a look of dawning horror. Aria Jessop was a woman of many skills - a first-rate interrogator, a brilliant investigator, and a fierce fighter. There was only one thing she had no talent for: music. She didn’t let that stop her though. When she was in a good mood, she sang, hummed, and whistled constantly.

“It’s going to be a very long mission,” Dante said with a groan.

“Quit complaining. You’ll be in a nice, soundproof box for the start of it. Right now, I’m tempted to trade places with you.”

In order to protect his cover, Dante wasn’t arriving as part of the team. He’d be arriving as cargo. No one was allowed to search a Nova Force officer or their equipment, so he’d be carried in on a hover-sled with the rest of the team’s gear. It wasn’t a fun way to travel, but it gave him the best chance of returning to Bellex with his cover intact. It meant he’d be operating on his own again, but this time, his team wouldn’t be far away if things went sideways. Not that he expected that to happen.

Now that Tyra and Nico were safe in orbit, there wouldn’t be any more distractions. It was time to get to work.

Tyra walked out of her meeting with the Bellex representatives feeling like she needed a long hot shower and a very large drink. They’d kept her in the small, uncomfortable room for hours, hounding her with the same questions asked a dozen different ways. Dr. Downs had started off being professional and courteous, but as time passed the doctor had become increasingly difficult, questioning everything from Tyra’s recollections of events to her medical credentials. The Bellex corporate rep, Chad Everest, had played the role of ‘good cop,’ speaking kindly, offering to fetch her a drink, and generally making a show of being an ally in the room. It had been an almost laughable display. Downs was all business, from the severe cut of her clothes to the tight bun that held back her dark hair. while Everest was an easygoing blond with a ready smile and a slightly rumpled suit.

She only got a few steps before Eric appeared in the corridor in front of her. The entire team had changed into fresh uniforms before meeting the new arrivals, and the switch had transformed them into the sort of soldiers she was used to. Sharp salutes, brisk movements, clipped sentences, and perfect posture.

Eric was still in uniform, but his sympathetic smile told her he was his usual self. “You survived the grilling?”

“I did, but barely. I’ve already told them they can’t speak to Oran until tomorrow. He needs another day of rest before dealing with them.”

“I know you can’t be in the room with him while he’s being interviewed, but what about Lt. Caldwell? He’s got both the medical credentials and investigative authority to make sure they behave themselves and don’t push Dr. Castille too hard,” Eric suggested.

“That’s a great idea, thank you, Ensign. Do you think the lieutenant would agree to do it?”

“I think Trip would be happy to help, and you don’t need to call me by my rank. You’re officially on the team, now, so it’s Magi unless there’s a VIP in earshot.” His dark eyes lit up with amusement. “We don’t bother with protocol on this ship unless we absolutely have to.”

“I noticed. I ran my team the same way.” It hurt to refer to them in the past tense. Her friends were gone. There’d be no more late-night sessions or early morning banter over breakfast. Jessica had told her last bad joke, and Riku would never brew up another pot of green tea. Veth, she was going to miss them all so much. How was she going to go on without them?

“You okay?” Eric asked.

She shook her head the slightest bit. “I think it just hit me that I don’t have a team anymore. I’ve been keeping myself so busy I haven’t let myself really process the fact they’re gone.”

Eric’s eyes darkened to almost black, and he gave a small nod of his own. “Yeah, I know how that goes. You put all those feelings in a box and think you’ve got it handled. You convince yourself everything’s fine, and then boom—grief grenade—no more box.” He flicked his fingers out to mimic an explosion.

“Exactly.”

“We’re going to find the ones responsible. That will help. So will the occasional application of ice cream and alcohol. I’m not a doctor, but after what you just went through, I’m prescribing at least one of those. Come on, we’re going to the galley. If we’re lucky, Nico left us a few scraps.”

“I should really get back to the medical center and check on Oran.”

“Trip’s there with him.” Eric pulled a sleek piece of tech out of his pocket. “Besides, I’m supposed to be giving you a quick lesson on how to work this little beauty.”

“That’s my new communicator?”

“It is, but it’s so much more than that. It’s got everything from encryption functions to an emergency locator beacon.”

“I can see the need for encryption, maybe, but why would I need an emergency beacon? I’m not going anywhere. Dante and the rest of your team are the ones headed into danger.”

“And now, I really need ice cream. I still can’t believe Bellex won’t let me set foot on their precious planet. Mercs, pharma dealers, and criminals, sure, but a cyber-jockey is not to be trusted?”

Eric held out the comm and started walking backward. “Come on, Dr. Li. Ice cream and new toys. You know you want some of that.”

She laughed and followed after him. “Okay. But only because I want to know how to work this new communicator. I’m not really much for ice cream.”

“You’re not? Well then, more for me and Nico. What’s your poison, then? Cookies? Cupcakes?” His grin turned wicked. “Shortcake, maybe?”

Oh no. “How the fraxx do you know about that? I’ve tried telling him not to call me that, but he won’t stop. Please tell me the others aren’t going to start using it, too.”

“Nope, I’m the only one who knows. I was transferring your data onto this device when a message came in from Dante. It was addressed to Shortcake. Is that really what he calls you?”

“Yes! Because I’m short and he thinks it’s funny. Which it isn’t. And I’m not that short.” It was hard to resist the urge to demand Eric hand over her comm immediately

Eric looked down at her, brows raised. “You’re not exactly tall, either.”

“No one is tall compared to that walking mountain of muscles!”

The young ensign whooped with laughter. “Damn, I think you just gave Dante a new nickname. I cannot wait to tell the others.”

“That’s not the only thing I’ve been calling him,” she muttered.

“No? Please, do tell.”

This would be her revenge for calling her Shortcake. “Sergeant Stubborn.”

This time, Eric didn’t stop laughing for a full minute. “This keeps getting better,” he said when he could finally speak again.

“It wasn’t very nice of me, considering he saved my life and all, but that man is just so…so…”

“Yeah, I know.” Magi set off again, and a short time later they were in the mess.

He didn’t say much more until they were seated across from each other. The table was battered, dented, and worn, and the chairs were unpadded metal, but what the area lacked in comfort, it made up for with the quality of the food. The dispensers’ menus were impressive, with items from different world and cultures, as well as a vast number of basic comfort foods.

Eric had ordered a massive bowl of chocolate ice cream half buried in hot fudge sauce, while she’d opted for a slice of apple pie that reminded her of Dante.

She figured she’d waited long enough. “Can I see the communicator while you eat?”

“Sure.” He pushed it across the table to her. It didn’t work too differently from the one she’d already been using, and she had it activated by the time she took her first forkful of pie.

Dante’s message was at the top of the list, and she read it over between bites of dessert.

“Is he always like this?” She asked, waving her fork at the screen.

“I didn’t read the message, but judging by the number of times I saw him dodge you since he got back, and the fact he didn’t talk to you before he left, I’m going to guess he’s doing his stoic, ‘no distractions, the mission is all’ schtick.”

“So, that wasn’t my imagination? He’s avoiding me?”

“Definitely. Which isn’t normal for him. Dante’s a good guy, but he’s not very subtle.”

She scoffed. “That might be the understatement of the year. He had no problem bossing me around before we got here. He was in my face, telling me what I needed to be doing and then glaring at me if I didn’t do it fast enough.”

“Did he do that thing where he thumps his fist against his thigh like he wants to hit something?” Eric asked.

“All the time.”

“Yeah, he does that when he’s worried. Keeping you safe was his prime directive, and from what I hear, you didn’t make that easy.” He held up a hand. “Not blaming you for that. You had a job to do, too. But Dante takes it personally when someone he’s responsible for is at risk of getting hurt.”

“I can’t see that happening very often. He’s like a mother hen on steroids.”

Eric sighed and put down his spoon. “A few months ago, he was assigned to keep an eye on a certain cyber-jockey who was messing around with some dangerous software. It wasn’t his fault, but things went sideways fast.” He pushed up the sleeve of his uniform, revealing a mass of scar tissue on the dark skin of his arm. At the center of the scarring was a data port.

Intrigued, she reached for his arm, stopping short of touching him as she remembered he wasn’t her patient. “What happened? Those look like electrical burns.”

“They are.” He turned his head and pushed back his tightly curled hair to show her more of the same scars around a second data port behind his ear. “Dante was there when this happened. He’s the reason I lived, but I don’t think he’s forgiven himself for letting me get hurt. It doesn’t matter that there was nothing he could have done to stop it. So, if he was tough on you, it’s because he was trying to keep you safe.”

“He did keep us safe, even Nico. And I was wrong to make it so difficult for him. I’m the reason they found us.”

“Maybe. Or maybe they found you some other way. The people hunting you were well-equipped, focused, and determined. We got confirmed identities on the men Dante took down in that alley. They were mercs, the kind that do their job well and don’t ask questions.” Eric tugged his sleeve back into place and resumed eating. “I didn’t tell you my story to make you feel bad. I just wanted you to know that Dante’s got his reasons for being the way he is.”

“That still doesn’t explain why he was hiding from me and then sends me a message telling me he wants to have a drink when he gets back.”

Eric chuckled. “I’ve known him a few years. In all that time, I have never heard him call a woman anything but her given name. I think you’ve gotten under our Buttercup’s skin.”

“He might have gotten under mine, too, but it’s a little hard to do anything about it when he won’t stay in the same room with me.

“He’s got a one-track mind. Right now, he’s all about the mission. Later…” Eric winked. “I bet when he gets back, he’s got a different goal in mind.”

Her cheeks heated and she dropped her gaze to her dessert. “We’ll see.”

“You know my name means wise man, right? Trust in the Magi, for he is wise and all knowing.”

She looked up and was met with a cheeky grin. “I make it a point to never trust anyone who speaks about themselves in the third person.”

“That’s a terrible policy.” He gestured to her communicator. “Tell him you’ll meet him for that drink when he gets back. I bet he answers you before you finish your pie.”

“Do they only hire pushy people for Nova Force, or do you learn the attitude after you get the job?” She set down her fork and typed out a short reply to Dante.

Hi,

Don’t worry about me. I’ve got Trip and Magi watching out for me, and Nico, too. Finished my interrogation with Bellex. Unpleasant, but nothing unexpected. Stay safe, and I’ll see you when you’re back on board.

T. (and quit calling me Shortcake!)

She sent it and went back to her dessert. He’d sent his message hours ago, and despite Magi’s assertions, she didn’t expect to hear from Dante any time soon.

Less than five minutes later, her comm chimed. She ignored it long enough to take the last bite of her snack, but her pulse was racing by the time she glanced at the screen and confirmed the message was from Dante.

“Told you so,” Eric said, picking up his empty dish and stepping away from the table.

“How’d you know it was from him?”

He chuckled and placed his metal dishes into the cleaning receptacle. “Your expression made it pretty obvious. It’s kind of adorable. I’m headed out. Come see me later, and I’ll show you how everything works on that device.”

“I will.” She waited until he was gone to read Dante’s latest message.

Shortcake isn’t going away. Get used to it.

Are you on an encrypted channel? I don’t want Magi reading our messages.

D.

She laughed. Somehow, she didn’t think something as minor as military encryption would stop Eric if he wanted to read something.

Magi just gave me one of your team’s fancy communicators, but he left without telling me how to use the advanced functions. You’ll just have to behave yourself until he shows me how to encrypt our chats.

T.

She was blushing when she sent the last message, and when the minutes stretched out without a reply, she wondered if she’d gone too far. She’d cleared her dishes and was heading for the door when the chime sounded again. She didn’t look at the message until she was in the small but comfortable room she’d been assigned.

Let me know when it’s safe for me to misbehave. I need to go. I’ve got a lead I need to follow up. I will talk to you again, soon. I promise.

D.

“And he’s gone again.” She sank down onto the edge of her bunk with a tired sigh. At least he wasn’t hiding from her anymore. After the way this day was turning out, she’d consider that a definitive win.

A quick check of the time told her she had an hour or so before the team normally met for the evening meal. She had enough time to shower, change, and then check on Oran and Nico. After that, she was going back to work. There were still a few blood samples left to test. Maybe one of them contained traces of cobalt.

Missions like this were why she’d signed on with Boundless, and why she stayed year after year. When Axion’s negligence killed her mother and poisoned her father, no one had come to help them. There were antidotes. Treatments that would have allowed her father and scores of other survivors to make a full recovery. Instead, they’d been abandoned while Axion hid behind walls of denial and tried to cover up the entire tragedy. She wouldn’t let that happen to someone else.

Eventually, Axion had paid for their mistake. One day soon, Bellex would, too.