Kaine's Rebellion by D.M. Pruden

Author:D.M. Pruden [Pruden, D.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub

After Emma returned, triumphant, with the prize, Hayden got to work.

For the first hour, she sat at the table that served as Hayden’s workbench, watching everything he did. As time went by, she interrupted his concentration often with questions. He did his best to answer them in the simplest way possible, but as they continued to interrupt his train of thought, he more than once squelched a sarcastic response that would betray his growing annoyance.

But when he found an error in his logic when forced to restart a process she’d interrupted, he realized her questioning had prevented a disaster. Afterward, he didn’t mind answering her queries in as much detail as possible, since it made what he was doing all the clearer to him.

After a few hours, out of the corner of his eye he saw her yawn.

“Tired?”

She stretched her arms over her head and straightened her back. “Mmm, my shift starts in a few hours. I should go.”

He could tell those words came reluctantly, so he said, “You can grab some sleep on my bunk. I’m too engrossed to quit until I’m finished.”

Her brow crinkled. “You’re okay with that? You don’t want people to get the wrong impression about us?”

Hayden smiled but retained his focus on the delicate connection he worked on. “I’m okay with it if you are.”

“You mean that?”

He put down his tools and looked at her. “I’ve found that people will believe what they want. Whether you stay or go only depends on what you want them to believe of you.”

She became thoughtful. “In that case, I think I’ll return to my quarters. I don’t want anyone to think of you like a dirty old man who seduces young women.”

Taken aback, he stared at her until she broke into a broad smile. Then they both laughed.

“I deserved that,” he said.

“Damn right you did.”

She stood and put on her jacket. When she reached the door, she said, “Promise you’ll call me when you get this stuff running, okay?”

“Are you sure? It may only be a couple more hours.”

“I’m sure. Promise?”

He nodded. “Yes, I won’t start it up unless you are here to see it.”

“Great.”

She cracked open the door and peeked outside before she smiled her goodbye to him and slipped out.

Hayden smiled to himself as he returned his attention to the delicate task at hand.

After what seemed like a few minutes later, he heard noises in the corridor. Checking his chronometer, he was shocked to see he’d worked through the night.

He rubbed his eyes and stretched the stiffness from his shoulders. Fortunately, he had no active duties and was free to sleep whenever he wanted.

He turned to admire his work, proud of himself. All that remained to do was to connect the Glenatat battery to Cora’s crystal. He hesitated, recalling his promise to Emma.

She would be starting her shift in the infirmary in a few minutes and wouldn’t be available until it was over.

As eager as he was to turn on the apparatus and speak to Cora—assure himself she was all right—he was also fearful.

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