Page 61 of Rebels Rising

‘Ellie was just teaching me a lullaby her mama used to sing for her as a kid,’ she informed me, and I nodded mutely in response.

‘She’s got an incredible voice,’ Eloria complimented.

‘Not as good as yours,’ she replied. The soft way they spoke to one another proved that I’d missed something in my absence. Something was developing here, and I was so here for it. I knew that Libby had the other women back on the Forbidden Planet, but it was nice to see her making friends.

Or maybe it was more than that.

‘How is everyone, Libs?’ I asked, my train of thought reminding me of Francesca and the others.

‘They’re great. They’re excited to see their kids again, but most of them understand that it will take some time before they’re reunited. I was just brainstorming with Ellie how to let them see their kids. We’ll need some sort of schedule at least.’

‘Sounds like you two have been busy,’ I observed.

Bromm’s arms brushed mine and I remembered his news about the stowaway. Possible connections started trying to piece together in my mind at a rapid-fire pace, a dim light bulb flickering hopefully to life as I look at Libby.

‘Hey, Libs. Can you described your contact from The Program? You never really talk about him.’

‘Oh, um… I didn’t really think it was necessary. I don’t know what happened to him. For all I know, he died when you destroyed their facility.’

The sadness in her tone caught me off guard, but if I was correct then we needed confirmation. ‘I’m sorry, Libs, but bear with me. Can you just describe him?’

She frowned. ‘Do you think he could be alive?’

‘It’s more than possible,’ I admitted.

‘Okay, well… He had dirty blonde hair and dark blue, almost grey eyes. He was kinda skinny and about our height. Oh, and he had a scar bisecting his right eyebrow in a sort of wiggly C shape.’

‘Holy shit,’ Bromm muttered beside me.

‘What?’ Libby asked him, catching his words.

‘Is it him?’ I asked him.

‘It might be. We’d have to bring him in for Libby to identify, but I think that’s our guy.’

‘The stowaway?’ Xander asked, catching on. ‘So he’s not a danger to us? He’s on our side?’

‘Wait, hold up,’ Libby called. ‘What’s going on?’

‘What was his name, Libs?’ I asked her. I had never figured out the nature of their relationship, but I knew that she had developed some sort of relationship with him. She cared about his wellbeing, even if only vaguely. I sensed it was more than that, though.

‘Cameron. Doctor Bryce Cameron. All the other scientists just called him Doctor B.’

‘Bromm, can you identify the guy you saw and bring him in?’

‘Can do, Captain,’ he gave me a two-fingered salute.

‘Do you know where to look?’

‘Actually, I do. I was watching the surveillance cameras to keep myself occupied, I’ve caught him in the cafeteria as one of the volunteers a few times now.’

‘Why there?’ Cadmus mused out loud.

‘If he’s one of the scientists from The Program, he’ll most likely want to be monitoring them,’ I deduced.

‘But why? That would mean he’s a spy rather than a turncoat, but why would he help you and Libby if he was still loyal to The Program?’ Xander asked, his expression pinched in concern.

‘He’s no longer loyal to The Program,’ Libby stated matter-of-factly.

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