\u201cI can\u2019t believe we\u2019re doing this,\u201d Sephora murmured, her fingers tightening around Ben\u2019s hand and clutching the case Frederick had given her so many years ago. The boarding tube for their transport felt like it was a hundred miles long rather than a hundred feet. \u201cThis is crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben\u2019s lips brushed against her ear. \u201cThe universe has gone crazy,\u201d he said softly. \u201cThis is the only smart choice right now, our only chance to get to the bottom of all of it, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
She swallowed hard and tried to will some steel into her spine. When had the fear taken such a strong grip on her? \u201cYou\u2019re right. And it\u2019s my job to sort it all out.\u201d Mine and no one else\u2019s. If that makes me a pariah, makes me expendable to the government\u2014well, then I suppose I was on the wrong side all along then, wasn\u2019t I?<\/em><\/p>\n She shivered at the thought.<\/p>\n \u201cI still wish Padraig was coming, too, though,\u201d Sephora said, then sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cHe had his reasons for staying and he was right to do it.\u201d Ben let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist, giving her a brief, tight squeeze. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t hurt to have someone here to keep us posted, Seph.\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean I have to like it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t like it either.\u201d Ben let go and nodded to the tunnel. \u201cLet\u2019s get going. We\u2019re likely holding up the transport.\u201d<\/p>\n Sephora snorted. \u201cDoubtful. There\u2019s more than just us that they\u2019re waiting on.\u201d She squared her shoulders and started walking again, down the boarding tube toward the transport\u2019s airlock. The trip out to the outer reaches would be long, but she was prepared for that. It had been a long time since she\u2019d been away from New Earth. At the very least, this trip would let her see what was happening beyond the narrow confines of her environment\u2014to see what she\u2019d been sending her inspectors out into for years.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you mean it?\u201d Ben asked her abruptly as they walked away from the attendant minding the airlock, the one that scanned their tickets and welcomed them aboard. Sephora looked at her husband, startled.<\/p>\n \u201cDid I mean what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat you said about a family,\u201d Ben clarified as they found their way to their cabin.<\/p>\n She stopped dead in her tracks and stared at him. \u201cWhy wouldn\u2019t I mean it?\u201d<\/p>\n He turned, brows knitting. \u201cI just\u2014Seph, I never thought we could. I never thought that you and I would…\u201d<\/p>\n She shrugged. \u201cWell, I did. I\u2019m sorry that it didn\u2019t happen.\u201d<\/p>\n One corner of his mouth lifted slightly. \u201cThere\u2019s still time.\u201d<\/p>\n Maybe there was. They\u2019d have to make it through this mess first, though.<\/p>\n She took his hand. \u201cI guess you\u2019re right about that.\u201d She smiled. \u201cCome on. I\u2019ve got a lot to catch you up on before we make it to the colony.\u201d<\/p>\n Her husband smiled and dutifully trailed behind her in her wake.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cI can\u2019t believe we\u2019re doing this,\u201d Sephora murmured, her fingers tightening around Ben\u2019s hand and clutching the case Frederick had given her so many years ago. The boarding tube for their transport felt like it was a hundred miles long … Continue reading