Mission: Mistletoe by Brocato Gemma

Author:Brocato, Gemma [Brocato, Gemma]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Gemma Brocato
Published: 2014-11-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Althea and Rhayne made it to Griffin’s quarters thirty minutes late. Rhayne had already received three streams from Griffin, each one more urgent than the last, asking where they were. She’d gotten his last stream as they stepped off the personnel lift that had elevated them to the perm-res section of the station.

“We’d better hurry,” she told Althea. “He’s threatening to come after us.”

“That boy has been impatient since he was in the womb. He has never understood the concept of fashionably late. It won’t kill him to wait for us. Once we show him what we’ve found, I believe he’ll agree it was worth it.”

Rhayne hitched the strap of her satchel higher on her shoulder as they sped down the brightly lit corridor. “Genetic engineering has been around for centuries, but this is a sick new twist. This whole plot is so scary and devious, I still don’t believe it.”

Althea just grunted as they turned the corner and kept walking. Rhayne wistfully eyed the festive Solstice decorations lining the passageway. The temp-res area of the station was definitely lacking in the holiday spirit department. Restrictive weight limits were only one of the hazards of deep space travel when you were on a short rotation. Rhayne had to argue with the baggage-droid to bring the satchel she was currently clutching. The extra bag had put her over the limit and the droid had refused her admittance until she complied with regulations. Fortunately, she’d been able to remove an extra pair of shoes and some antique books from her luggage and put them in a storage locker. There wouldn’t have been any leeway for a Solstice wreath, even if she’d had one to bring.

Seeing how station residents had embraced seasonal traditions made her miss her father even more.

Would the ache ever go away?

Some of the happiest times in Rhayne’s life had been the holiday celebrations they’d shared with their neighbors and friends. She recalled a treasured moment from her childhood when her dad had made a big fuss over carving out time from his busy academic schedule to stay home with her to decorate their quarters and make seasonal treats together. Her dad’s insistence that the measures of the ingredients for their winter biscuits and Solstice tea were simple science formulas. That time with Dad had been a major influence in her career decision.

And now, during the station’s Solstice celebration, Udon Truser and Raster Claymont were preparing to destroy decades of progress fighting the disease that had robbed her of her father. They were going to unleash the antithesis of a cure. Rhayne quickened her pace, spurred on by the horrible thought as she approached Griffin’s door.

She couldn’t let Truser’s plan happen.

“Rhayne, slow down. Have some sympathy for this old lady,” Althea panted.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m so angry. How could they do this?” Rhayne paused in front of Griffin’s door, which slid open before she pressed the visitor alert button.

“Thank Titan!” Griffin exploded through the door and hugged Rhayne first and then his mother.

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