The Star Thief (20 page)

“Open planet map,” she ordered her implant. A moment later, the surface of Banos was laid out for her, the facility blinking red. She turned to Finn and Keva, who were whispering about something or other. She didn’t much care. “We need to head north. Looks like there’s a line of rock outcroppings we can follow to stay out of sight.”

They both nodded, and Renna started north without a glance behind her. Let them follow if they wanted. She’d spent way too much energy worrying about Finn and his crew already. Ever since they’d left Aldani’s lab that morning, everyone had been acting strange. They’d greeted her in the passageways by name, acknowledging her for the first time since the missions had started. Their sudden friendliness made her twitchy.

It also made her wonder what exactly Finn had said to them.

The group walked in silence for a few minutes, the whistling of the wind across the sand the only noise until Finn’s long strides caught up with her. Even then he didn’t speak.

She definitely wasn’t going to be the one to break the sudden awkwardness between them.

“Any hint yet as to what’s out there?” he finally asked, shooting her a sideways glance.

“This area of Banos seems to be completely deserted. No life signs anywhere, not even at the colony to the north.”

“That’s where Myka’s parents were stationed. MYTH had a small team posted there for years, investigating the area. Dr. Theia Prince led the expedition. She’s one of our best scientists.” He frowned. “It wasn’t the hardest hit, but everyone was killed. They didn’t even find most of the bodies.”

Renna paused, then said, “I wish I knew how the colony and this facility were connected because I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”

Finn didn’t comment, just kept pace with her for a few more minutes before glancing at her again. “MYTH lost a lot of important people in that attack. Thank gods Dr. Prince escaped with much of their research or we’d have no idea what our teams had found.”

“And what’s that?”

“Banos has special minerals deep in the soil. I wonder if the facility was created so someone else could continue that work.”

“But who? Only MYTH knew the real reason the team was here, correct? Do you have enemies? Could someone have found out what you were doing?”

He shrugged. “I have no idea, but that’s what I’m hoping to find out.”

They walked a few more moments, Finn slanting glances at her from the corner of his eye. She felt his gaze like pressure against her skin. She couldn’t decide if it was pleasant or annoying.

“Out with it, Captain. Why do you keep looking at me?”

“How long have you had your implant?” Finn asked.

She looked at him warily. He wanted small talk? Now? “Five years. I knew someone who cut me a deal. Best investment I ever made.”

“Is it one of the nucleospatial models from Stagg Industries? I hear they’re exceptional for mapping and schematics.”

Renna blinked at him. Since the ban fifteen years ago, cybernetic implants were forbidden in Coalition territory. A few of the richest mercenaries she knew had them and a few dirty politicians, but the military absolutely forbade them and had implemented random body scans to keep everyone compliant.

“I didn’t know you’d kept up with them. No, it’s a Compass X-3. I wish I’d held out for the nucleospatial model, but mine’s been extremely helpful, so I can’t complain too much. And the upgrades Aldani installed are amazing.”

“Must have cost a lot of money, even with a deal.” Finn walked with his hands swinging easily at his sides, his shoulders relaxed and at ease, but she got the sense there was something else on his mind, something worrying him.

“What’s going on? Want to make sure it won’t hamper me from being able to do the job?”

A frown tugged the corners of his mouth down and caused the skin between his eyebrows to pucker. “You know, you could ease off a bit. You think everything I say is a criticism.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Look, Renna. I’m trying to apologize. I’m sorry for everything that’s happened, but it was a long time ago. We need to work together here, not be enemies.”

“I already have plenty of enemies. What’s one more?” She threw the words out like a slap and instantly regretted it as Finn’s jaw tightened. She sighed. Evidently, she wasn’t very good at apologies either. “Look. I’ve worked alone all my life. It’s how I operate. And yet here I am, blackmailed into helping a big group of military do-gooders. And to top it off, you made it perfectly clear I was more worthless than the shit in the vacuum sewer. It’s going to take a while to get used to the change.”

He rubbed a hand over his face before looking at her, and she noticed how tired his blue eyes looked. “Can you? Forgive me, I mean?”

She shrugged. “I haven’t shot you yet. That’s always a good sign.”

Finn chuckled and looked slightly relieved. “Truce?” He held out his hand, large and capable and strong.

There was an instant where she wanted to ignore it. If she forgave this man, everything would change Was she really ready to take a step in that direction? Before she could talk herself out if it, she took his hand, the warmth from his fingers soaking into her skin.

Something shifted inside her, something that felt almost like friendship. Or at least respect.

“Truce, Captain.”

His expression cleared. “And just think, if you hadn’t joined up with us, you never would have gotten Aldani’s upgrades.”

“Trust me, if Dallas had given me any other choice, I would gladly give them up.”

He nodded. “I know. It was kind of a shitty thing for him to do. But I know Aldani feels better that you’re going to help us find Myka.”

“And what about you? Ready to put your money where your mouth is?” She gave him a wicked smirk. “If you’re so happy to have me on the team and willing to forgive and forget, how about a little wager on how long it takes me to get inside?”

Finn shook his head, a twitching smile on his lips. “I make it a point to never bet against a sure thing.”

“Smart man.” Their gazes locked, and she almost forgot the job she was here to do. Dammit. She could not let herself go down that road again. Being involved with Finn and his team already broke every rule she’d set for herself, and the job was suffering for it. But something in her was still drawn to this man—the way the muscles in his chiseled jaw clenched when he was angry, the blue eyes that seemed to cut past her barriers.

“The facility is over this ridge,” Keva said, stalking past them with a glare to crouch against an outcropping of burgundy stone. “Are you coming?”

Renna snapped back into job-mode and called up a map of the area with her implant. “I’m detecting heat signatures from inside the building, but I can’t get a read on how many or where.” She frowned at the rough rock surface as if it could answer her. “Usually my implant can get a better sense of numbers.” Maybe Aldani’s upgrades had affected something else. Or maybe the heat signatures weren’t actually human. Whatever it was, they’d have to be careful going in.

“Is there a place where we can get inside without anyone spotting us? We need at least four minutes to use the destabilizer to open a door,” Finn said.

She peered over the ridge at the facility below. It sat in a wide, sandy valley, with jagged hills surrounding it. The place was a lot bigger than she’d expected, maybe almost as large as a city block back on Hesperia. She had no idea how it had gone unnoticed for so long. Especially when the dull metallic material of the building stood out against the golden sand like a scar.

The sun shimmered off the walls, highlighting the perfectly smooth façade. There were no doors, windows, or blemishes standing out anywhere.

“Download schematics,” she ordered.

“Error. No schematics available,” her implant said in its soft, robotic voice.

“Download area map.”

“Error. No map available.”

She tapped her foot against the sand. “Download building material list.”

“Error. No list available.”

Renna gritted her teeth. What the hell was going on? “I can’t get any information on this place,” she said, turning to Finn. “I hope Aldani’s upgrade didn’t break my implant.”

“I suppose there’s nothing else we can do but take our chances. At least MYTH surveillance hasn’t found any trace of people going in and out of the place.” Finn ran a hand through his hair. “Keva, Doyle, get back to the ship and prep for takeoff. I don’t want you hanging around here too long. Just because we haven’t seen anyone doesn’t mean we’re not being watched.”

“But sir…” Keva’s face twisted with indecision. “I’m not leaving you behind.”

“I’m not important; the mission is. If we’re not back within six hours, get back to Aldani’s lab and contact MYTH HQ on Preill. They’re the closest branch to this system. They’ll send backup.”

Keva’s jaw tightened, ready to argue, but Renna interrupted. “Captain, this isn’t necessary. I can go in alone. There’s no reason for both of us to risk it.”

“I’m going with you. There will be no discussion.” He pinned both women with a steely gaze, and Renna threw up her hands.

“Whatever you want, Captain. It’s your call.” Part of her was relieved, but she couldn’t ignore the other voice that whispered suspiciously at the back of her mind. Was he really coming with her because he still didn’t trust her?

“Be careful, sir,” Keva said. She opened her mouth as if she was going to say something else, but shook her head.

Beside her, Sergeant Doyle saluted. “Good hunting, sir. Ma’am.”

EIGHTEEN

Finn and Renna snuck down the dune toward the building. As they got closer, the building seemed to tower over them, at least two stories high. It was a lot bigger than it had looked from a distance, and the closer they got, the more the strange material threw her off.

She rubbed at the prickling skin on her arms. “Do you feel that?”

Finn pulled his gun from its holster. “What the hell is it?”

“Some kind of force field. I think they’re blocking all communication in and out of the place. Probably why my implant isn’t working.” But there was something else there, too, just below the low hum. Something simmering at the edges of her mind.

They crept toward the building. Finn scanned the area, his gun at the ready, while Renna studied the structure in front of her. She scooped up a handful of cold sand and let some of it stream between her fingers. Then she threw the fistful at the side of the building.

Nothing happened. The sand slid off the strange material as if it was perfectly smooth. Not even a grain left behind.

“What do you think it is?” Finn asked, peering at the wall.

“I wish I knew. I’ve never seen anything like it before.” Whoever had built this facility had gone to a lot of trouble and expense to create this material. But why?

“We’re not going to figure out what’s going on by standing here. Are you ready?”

Renna moved closer to the building, trying to ignore the energy that cobwebbed against her skin. She pulled the particle destabilizer from her pack. The globe was smaller than her fist, and the silver metal seemed to move and shiver the closer it got to the building. She gripped it and twisted the top and the bottom away from each other, pulling it apart to reveal a core of glowing elemental antimatter.

“Here goes nothing.” She pressed it against the strange metal wall. Surges of electricity ran up and down her arm, and she forced herself not to jerk away.

“What’s wrong? Are you all right?” Finn moved closer, but she stopped him with the shake of her head.

Slowly, the point at which the device touched the wall started to glow blue, the light moving in circles from the center outward, growing larger by the moment.

“What is it doing?” Finn asked, peering over her shoulder.

“It’s agitating the molecules. Aldani said it could take up to three minutes to burn through, depending on the material.”

Finn’s lips tightened, but he simply nodded and glanced back toward the hill where Keva and Doyle were hiding.

The strange blue ring was almost as big as a plate now, and the energy shimmered just enough that she caught a glimpse of the facility beyond. “I think it’s working,” she said, leaning forward.

Finn’s presence was warm against her back as he moved to stare at the wall. His MYTH uniform was covered in a fine dusting of the sand, dulling the navy fabric. Her own clothes were probably covered in it, too.

The ring of light was as large as a person now, and it had finally stopped expanding. Slowly, the molecules of the wall started to go translucent.

“Looks like there are some large boxes and crates on the other side. I think they’re hiding our entrance.”

“No sign of an alarm?” Finn asked.

“Not yet.” She paused and said, “Facility schematics please.”

“Facility schematics not found.”

“Still nothing.” She let out a sigh in frustration. “Whatever this building is made of, it’s still blocking any signals.”

Finn shifted his weight. “This whole situation feels wrong.”

Renna nodded. For once, she was in complete agreement with the captain. Then she froze. The wall had gone completely transparent. She could see into the facility like she was gazing through a window.