Page 23 of Zayrik
Ofthis ship.
I didn’t like how Nyla watched the time stamps on our course. I knew she’d probably run the second we hit the outpost.
I didn’t like how shebarely reactedwhen I mentioned we were running on damaged engines.
And I really didn’t likehow much I wanted to figure her out.
Or how her eyes had darkened when I stepped closer. How she hadn’t backed away.
I dragged a hand down my face. This wasn’t professional. This wasn’t even rational.
The corner of the holo screen flickered—subtle, almost imperceptible. But I knew that glow.
Nav.
Watching. Listening. Probably tracking my eye movements for statistical amusement.
“I think you like a challenge, Captain.”
I scowled. “I think you talk too much.”
“I merely observe patterns. The way your voice changes in Nyla’s presence suggests—”
“That’s enough,” I cut him off.
Nav didn’t reply. But the silence felt smug. Like he was grinning behind the code.
I tapped a sequence into the panel, pulling up the ship’s previous registrations.
My eyes narrowed. “Nav?”
“Yes, Captain?”
“Run a deep scan on this ship. I want to knoweveryplace it’s been flagged.”
“Ooh. Suspicious. I like it.”
“Now, Nav.”
“Already on it.”
“Also, cross-reference with any data on major crime syndicates in this quadrant.”
There was a brief pause. “Looking for someone specific?”
I hesitated. “Maybe. Vask.”
“The crime lord? My, you do aim high.”
I ran a hand through my hair. My classified Protectorate mission had been to gather intel on Vask’s network. A mission I’d buried. Thought was done. Until now.
I exhaled, staring at the console.
“And one more thing,” I added. “See if there’s any record of a data crystal that could compromise his organization.”
“Now we’re getting interesting.”
I pushed away from the console, moving to the viewport. Stars streaked by, blurred and distant.
