Starlight: The Z Team: Book 2 by Chris DeSantis

Author:Chris DeSantis [DeSantis, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: TriWorld Publishing
Published: 2023-10-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 35

The hatch to Sam’s quarters chimed, her desk display flashing a notification Commander Anwarr arrived.

Sam straightened in her chair. “Enter,” she said, steadying herself.

The hatch opened. Anwarr stood in the narrow passageway. “Captain, I have Captain Dash Anderton of the Stardancer, as you requested.”

She nodded to her XO. Anwarr slid aside, revealing the captain.

Dash began to step forward when his deep brown eyes met hers. He halted, his lips parting a sliver. The musculature of his face shifted as a wave of emotions roiled beneath the surface. After a few seconds, the emotional freefall—like a marine dropship on an orbital insertion—came to a head. He settled on an icy expression and stepped to the desk.

Anwarr entered and stood to the side of Dash.

Sam had already suffered through her emotional reckoning and remained calm. She gestured to the seat opposite her. “Captain Anderton, welcome. Please have a seat.”

Dash hesitated, eyeing the chair as if it might be a trap. He accepted the offer only when Anwarr aimed a stern eye at Dash. Settling in the chair, he straightened his utility top, then peered up at her.

Sam nodded at Anwarr. “That will be all, XO—“

“You did all this so you could see me again, Sam?” Dash said before Sam could dismiss her XO.

Anwarr snapped at Dash. “Captain Anderton, you will address Captain Maetheson as ‘Captain’ or ‘ma’am.’”

Dash turned to Anwarr and took in the XO’s impeccable uniform, precision haircut, and rigid posture. The captain’s eyebrows arched like he was laughing at a joke only he understood. Facing Sam again, he grinned. “It’s amazing when you think about it. Humanity has starships, habitats, and channel drives. And yet, the big blue machine still keeps churning out boot-licking assholes for officers.”

Anwarr blinked as if he couldn’t believe what Dash said. The XO’s expression soured, his upper lip pulling into a sneer. He opened his mouth, but Sam raised a finger to him. “You’re dismissed, Commander.”

Anwarr’s mouth snapped shut. He peered at Sam. “Yes, Captain.” He strode out of her quarters, tension riding his shoulders.

As soon as the hatch slid closed, Sam said to Dash, “That was rude.”

“He deserved it. And you know it’s true.” Dash nodded at her rank insignia. “Present company excluded.”

Sam said nothing, studying Dash’s face. He’d aged gracefully, picking up a few dignified wrinkles and slivers of gray in his brown hair. He still radiated a perpetual hint of defiance, a stubborn contempt of authority masked by a charming frown. “What are you doing in Nibryn, Dash?”

Dash swiveled his head in a slow arc around her quarters. “I see you finally got your own ship. Congrats on getting what you always wanted.” He rubbed a hand over the edge of her desk. “Is this frame real wood? Don’t tell me Command paid for this.”

“Answer the question.”

“I’m here working. What are you doing here?”

“Where are you coming from?”

“Sanctum.”

“There was a shootout there. Then, a day later, the senior dock operations supervisors were replaced. That’s odd timing. Know anything about any of that?”

Dash’s face pinched at the news but he simply shrugged.

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