Chaos Station: MM Space Opera Second Chance Romance by Jenn Burke & Kelly Jensen

Author:Jenn Burke & Kelly Jensen [Burke, Jenn & Jensen, Kelly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ghost Ship Books
Published: 2024-07-23T00:00:00+00:00

THIRTEEN

Zed really didn’t want to have this conversation lying down, but the spike of pain that flared as he tried to sit up again convinced him that lying down would do. His brain felt scrambled, slower than usual, a reaction he’d experienced the last time he’d seized following a phase-shift. At any rate, staying still seemed like a good idea, and falling back asleep and avoiding Flick’s questions, an even better one.

He didn’t want to have this conversation, period.

He should refuse to talk. That’d make Flick’s choice pretty easy, wouldn’t it? Because as sloppy as his thoughts were right now, he recognized that Flick did face the choice of where his loyalties lay. The fact that he was in the med bay, again, and not lying on a dock with the Chaos long gone said that Flick had stood up for him. Again.

He didn’t deserve that sort of loyalty, not from anyone, but especially not from Flick. The fact that he had it made his throat tighten.

Zed opened his eyes—when had he closed them?—to see Nessa standing behind Flick, examining the medical monitor’s output. Her gaze shifted to him briefly from the display and back, then she looked at Flick, who clutched a sandwich in one hand and what might be his temper in the other.

“His vitals look…well, normal for him, I guess.” Nessa regarded Zed. “I haven’t told Eli you’re awake yet.”

Foggy memories of his actions slipped through his mind. “Is he okay?”

“His throat’s sore, but he’ll be all right.”

“Zed.” Flick’s voice was urgent, hopeful. “C’mon, man, you’ve got to give me something.”

Zed redirected his gaze to the ceiling. It provided no new answers, just the same options that had always lain before him. Stay silent, hurt Flick, lose him again. Or open up, hurt Flick, lose him again—but maybe he wouldn’t be as hurt. Maybe he would understand.

“It was called Project Dreamweaver,” he whispered. His heart lurched against his breastbone at the betrayal of his oaths. What did it matter? The AEF couldn’t do anything but make him disappear sooner than he would on his own.

“Uh…” Nessa cleared her throat and shuffled in the direction of the door. “I’ll just…”

“Stay. Please.” He didn’t want Flick to be the only one with the knowledge. He wanted someone they both trusted to hear it, too, so Flick would have support. Understanding. And yeah, he was a little selfish in that telling Flick alone felt like…confessing his sins. Or something equally stupid.

He let out a sigh. “Just don’t repeat this. Or be careful who you tell. This is…It’s the sort of information that makes people disappear.”

“Black ops.” Flick leaned back in his chair. “Not just covert.”

Nessa breathed in sharply. “Christ. Okay. Project Dreamweaver.”

“The biggest advantage the stin had over our forces in ground combat was the phase-shifting. Tough to hit an enemy with weapons or fists when they can slip into…elsewhere,” Zed explained. “I don’t know a lot about what led up to the project. Lots of research, lots of testing POWs.

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