Page 93 of Beyond The Maples
"To answer your question, that family got away because they damn well deserved a chance. Do whatever you want with that information,Lieutenant."
I move underneath him now, and he lifts up and off of me, flopping beside me with a defeated grunt.
"See? Fuckingmenace," he whispers through a heavy sigh.
We are silent, laying in the dark, consumed by our own whirling thoughts, when a loud thump sounds above us. The hatch cracks opens, covering us in falling dust and blinding light.
"Found them! Oh, hey––don't you two look cozy," Leo says, reaching for my hand with a grin.
"Ok, but did you have to basically admit to everything?" Farra groans quietly, as we wait outside in the courtyard to be called.
We're waiting for Captain Dickhead and several higher ups to finish their meeting, and most likely call us for our punishment. Tane and Vera went in about an hour ago. He didn't even acknowledge my existence as he passed, which is fine, doesn't bother me at all.
I scowl down at my feet.
"I know, I know. It was a moment of weakness provoked by being trapped in a confined space with a complete ass," I grumble back at her.
She sighs, and I feel guilty. She has every right to worry. She was the one to bear the consequences the last time we did something risky. I've tried to assure her about a dozen times that that won't be the case this time. This is all on me, and I'll be the only one going down for it. I almost marched right in there when we got back and admitted everything, but Berkley physically held me back. His way of apologizing, I suppose, for knocking me out so aggressively with his baton.
My insides twist as we wait, and I wonder what Tane’s saying––if he's arguing for or against, my impending doom. I wonder if they'll let me say goodbye to Linden and Willow before they hang me.
Just as my thoughts plummet into a familiar despair, the door opens, and a pair of dark green eyes meet my own.
Tane turns to a few others behind him and shakes their hands, nodding at something they say. Our crew waits at attention as they walk towards us. The Captain takes the lead, a look of resentful discontent sitting on his features as he marches towards us.
"Lieutenant Valo has briefed us on your assignment. We are disappointed, to say the least." He gives a lazy sigh. "We expect better results next time, or there will be consequences for all of you. You are dismissed," he says before walking away with several others.
Tane and Vera stand there for a second longer than the others, before turning and leaving. My brain sputters. Nothing? No punishment, other than a half-hearted scolding?
"What happened?" I ask, loudly enough for them to hear.
Tane pauses only briefly, and I try to catch up with them. I have to know if this is some kind of sick joke. Should I expect to be woken up in the middle of the night with a bag over my head?
Vera stops abruptly, leering over me with pure malice in her eyes and grabs my arm roughly. Tane doesn't stop walking, and he doesn't bother looking back.
"That little stunt you pulledcost us, Treow," she hisses under her breath.
I shake my head, searching her almond eyes, silently begging her for an explanation.
"He's your commanding officer. He took responsibility for the failed mission.That'swhat a real leader does. None of this is a game." She gestures behind us at the vast hallways. "Your actions have consequences you don't fully understand," Vera gives me one last furious look and drops my arm, jogging to catch up with Tane, who has disappeared into the shadows of a long hallway.
In my relatively short life, I don't think I have ever felt so thoroughly chastised. Or maybe I have, but this is the first time I felt it.
I turn back to my crew, who are all looking at me with varying degrees of bewilderment.
"I am very confused," Leo confirms.
Breathing out through my nose, I mumble, "Same."
Leo is laying on my bed with his feet up on the wall, throwing a wad of paper in the air like a ball.
"Woah, where'd you get that stuff?" he asks, flipping over and admiring the outfit I used to wear to swindle people out of money.Gods,that seems like a lifetime ago now.
My hair is loose, falling in heavy waves down my back. It's the healthiest it's ever been, and even though I keep thinking I should cut it, I can't bring myself to do it. It helps that Loretta made me some sort of fancy hair ties that hold it in place better. I'm finally able to run and spar without my hair coming loose and smacking me in the face. I found them in my locker; the rings in a neat little package. Which reminds me, I should go thank her soon.
"Is it too much?" I ask, suddenly self-conscious.
"No, no. It's perfect. The goal tonight is recon, right? And to finally let loose with your buddies." Leo's giddiness is infectious, I can't help but smile.
