First Contact - Part 2

Nev's face hadn't said no yet.

Harko had already expressed his thoughts, but he wasn't the one facing a useless stat that was "Flagged."

The system had been telling me to engage for four years. Tonight I would.

Nev's blue eyes stayed focused on my face. "You'll go alone if we don't come with you, won't you?"

I hadn't expected that question. At least not from her.

I nodded, my mouth suddenly dry.

"Don't tell me you're actually considering this, Nev. He won't go if we don't. He's not that dumb."

She ignored him. "When would you go?"

"Tonight. There's a gap in the sensor field. I watched to see if the patrol covers it. They don't, not consistently. We'd have at least forty minutes after a sweep to clear the personnel gate." I'd timed them and double checked the schedule.

"Forty minutes to cover two kicks to the forest and not leave an obvious trail? You're trying to kill us."

We could all travel farther, faster. "You're not that out of shape, Harko. Nev could cover it in ten minutes."

She likes to run.

"It's a class two rift? We're just kids. Class two has killed adults, Kes."

Nev's lips pursed. "Harko, when was the last time a person died in a class two? It sounds like you've studied them."

He was surprised to have to defend his position. Me challenging him, he would expect. Nev questioning was new ground.

"I can look it up."