The Hyperlight Project by J A Mortimore

Author:J A Mortimore [Mortimore, J A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sperrystone Press
Published: 2024-05-05T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The last thing Zetta needed when she had the universe’s worst hangover was a meeting with the captain, the lord chief justice, and Ashwood. When her alarm had gone off that morning, she’d honestly thought for a moment that she was dying. That merchant liqueur was devil juice, she’d told herself, clambering weakly into her project safesuit and sitting on the edge of her bed, waiting for the built-in health monitors to identify her problem and release the right combination of pain killers, stomach settlers and system boosters so that she could at least look like she was able to string a sentence together.

The worst of it was, although she must have been exceedingly drunk, she remembered everything that had happened – she’d blurted out the circumstantial evidence they’d thought they had against Kelan, and then confided her woes to him, admitted that she’d run away and even hinted that she was glad she’d done it. His response had been to confess that he desired her, just the way she was. And whilst she hadn’t encouraged him, she hadn’t pushed him away.

He’d been the perfect gentleman – he hadn’t forced anything on her, he hadn’t tried to kiss her, all he’d done was offer support and tell her how he felt – and then that if she chose, they could pretend it had never happened.

No matter how much she told herself she shouldn’t find herself preferring Kelan to her match, she had to admit she wasn’t convincing herself. The tall, dark-eyed merchant stirred her in a way her match never had.

After all, if she’d really wanted to stay with Assim, she’d had every opportunity. It was entirely her own fault that they weren’t together on Sol, and in all honesty, she had to admit that she was glad they weren’t. She loved her job. She enjoyed the support she was able to give to people, to ensure they got the most out of their own roles. It made her feel worthwhile, doing her best for people and looking after her team.

She had no idea what she was going to do about Kelan.

She’d been halfway to her office when her wristcom pinged and Ashwood’s holo popped into existence above it. “Zetta, the captain has requested that we meet with him in his ready room.”

“When?” she squeaked, leaning against the wall.

“As soon as you can get there.”

Zetta seriously considered telling him she was too ill – she wasn’t entirely sure it wouldn’t be true. The last time she’d gone to the captain’s ready room, it had been when he summoned her to ask her why she was on his ship. Was this going to be another lecture?

To access the ready room, she had to pass through the bridge, and despite her nervousness about the interview and her still slightly out-of-focus vision, she paused for a moment to admire the quiet efficiency with which alpha watch manned their stations. The fleet holo hung at the centre of the room, several people standing around it discussing the disposition of the various ships.

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