I roll my eyes. “No. Since the explosion, you’ve done nothing but stick by my side whenever you could.”

  Max lowers himself next to me and I instantly catch his clean scent. Like the soap he must have used this morning.

  “I told you before on the Pathfinder. I've followed Dr. Foster's work for a long time. Every time an update was sent out about the progress of Arcadia, I was on it right away. And in the process, I got a little caught up in the stories released about your family. You see, my family was never close. It's why I immersed myself in work once I was old enough. And I told my father I wanted to travel on the first ship here. He agreed because my parents knew coming to Arcadia was prestigious and would look good for us.

  “Are they still on Earth?”

  “They had planned to come out in six months. But right now, the passenger ships are delayed . . . for obvious reasons.”

  “But why are you helping me so much?”

  Max looks down. “Cassi . . . I've had a crush on you since the first time I saw you on TV.”

  His admission takes me aback, and I sit up. Heat spreads up my neck.

  Max wrings his hands together on his lap and stares at a spot on the ground. “But I know you don't feel that way about me, and that’s okay. I still feel like you’re an old friend.” He returns his attention to me, his eyes full of sincerity. “That’s why I want to be here for you. I've been living the political game my entire life because of my parents. Might as well put it to good use. When I had the opportunity to work the Gala before we arrived on Arcadia, I jumped at the chance. Never thought the shift would mean more than seeing you there— maybe meeting you. And when we did meet? It was like I had always known you. Sounds stupid, I know.” He rakes his hands through his hair and blows out a quick breath.

  My vision of Javen kissing Yaletha swirls through my mind. The memory tightens my chest. Max has been there for me at every turn. He didn't have to, but he was, and he's willing to keep helping me with unrequited feelings. I like Max so much. I have since the moment I met him at the Gala. I chance a look his direction and take in the rumpled blond hair, gray eyes, and the frown lining his mouth. A mouth that is normally always ready with a smile my way. Warmth loosens the knots in my chest and I relax a notch. I, too, feel as if I’ve known him forever, and I trust him completely.

  Moved by his confession, I snake my arms around his neck and find his mouth. He gasps and tenses at my unexpected actions. Until now, even I didn't know that I would be kissing him. But in a snap, he relaxes and pulls my body close to his, as if he never wants to let go. I drink in the spicy scent of his skin and allow his kisses to engulf me. All I want is his strong arms and soft mouth right now. And my stomach flutters with excitement.

  A clopping sound echoes down the hall and I flinch from Max's arms. The footsteps grow louder, and I know they belong to Irene and Beda—as if Beda needs one more reason to dislike me. But the steps continue away from my door. I let out a held-in breath and muster the courage to face Max.

  A tense smile plays on his lips, the ones I just kissed. I open my mouth to speak, but he cuts me off.

  “I know what you're going to say.” He folds his hands and leans his forearms on his knees. “That was a mistake—” He glances at me and then away again. “Please don't tell me the kiss was a mistake.”

  I take in a long breath and gather my thoughts. “Max, I don't understand my feelings these days. Everything going on is so confusing. I was supposed to come to Arcadia and finish up school . . . make a life here with my dad. Nothing about Arcadia is what I thought. Nothing.”

  Max tries to talk, but I hold my hand up.

  “I liked you from the second I met you. Because you seemed kind . . . and thoughtful . . . and clever . . . and cute.” My cheeks flush as I say these words. My mind is still torn. Since the Starfire revealed parts of his life through the visions, my ache for Javen has grown stronger through our connection. I’ve seen his past and present, caught a glimpse of the person he is—in his soul. And there’s no doubt I need him. But how much of these feelings are real is the question. My feelings for Max seem so much more organic . . . like I expect falling in love to be. Slower.

  “A good personality isn’t something you can fake for very long,” I continue, “even if you did want to meet me because you idolized my dad or had a childhood crush on me. You didn't bail when life got hard, and it wasn't because of some crystal. I think it's because of who you are.”

  Max twists his head my direction and gives me a lopsided grin. Then the smile fades.

  “So, what does that mean?” he asks.

  “I don't know. But I am one hundred percent positive kissing you was not a mistake.”

  Max straightens. “So, should we try kissing some more, then?”

  “I wish.” I chuckle. “But right now, I need to find someone, and right away. Maybe you can help me?”

  “Of course.”

  I proceed to fill Max in about everything that happened last night. How Irene and I took the quad out to the coordinates Dad gave me. I tell him about the AI version of my mother and that a man, who I believe is Matt Owens, showed up.

  “And you were able to use the Starfire to transport yourself out of the lab at will—just like the Alku?”

  “I've done it before, but I didn't know how.” I think of the night Luca invited me to dinner and tried to kiss me, and I cringe. I only got away because I transported myself to Paxon—to Javen. My heart flutters with guilt as I think of Javen, but I push the feelings away and redirect my attention to Max.

  “This time I focused on exactly what I wanted, and it happened.”

  “Think you could again?” Max asks, appearing to have forgotten all about kissing.

  I contemplate the question. Considering what is happening to Dad, how he's changing, I have no idea if transporting myself is safe. Transporting multiple times caused Javen to deplete his energy completely. But the Starfire seems to work differently for the Alku than for me. They need to charge themselves with the gem. I seem to simply be able to harness the energy by having the crystal on my body.

  “I'm sure I could make the transportation work again. But I don't want to overuse the power. Who knows what the long-term effects could be?”

  Max nods. “And you have the name of your father's team member?”

  “Yes, Matthew Owens.”

  He stands and holds his hand out to me, and I take it.

  “Let's go find him, then.”

  I rise and gaze into Max's silver-gray eyes. Then I lean in and steal one more kiss from him.

  Chapter 12

  It would be safer to transport. But Beda refuses since the ability should only be used in case of emergencies, and the Alku don’t use the ability just because they can. But mostly, she can’t transport all four of us without depleting her Starfire energy. In the end, as much as it annoys me to say she’s right, I do. No vehicles are available. So, we walk down the streets of Primaro, each armed with a laser pistol under our shirts.

  Since Hirata’s swearing-in yesterday, tension within the city has picked up. People aren’t happy that news of the war on Arcadia isn’t reaching Earth. No one wants full-blown panic on Earth. But I think a lot of the travelers are starting to feel like cornered animals. And triggering fight-or-flight is never a good thing. Scared animals attack with little warning.

  A group of people head toward us in a hurry. From their speed and intensity, I wonder if they’re traveling somewhere important. Even before they reach us, I sense their nervous energy and avert my eyes. A woman, maybe in her twenties, has her gaze fixed straight ahead with fists clenched tight. As she passes, her shoulder collides into Beda’s. Fire lights in Beda’s eyes and Irene snatches her arm before she has the chance to say or do anything stupid. The other woman says nothing and only moves on.

  “You behave,” Irene growls. I smile inside at her scolding. Irene is like a mother to everyone.

  Beda tenses but surprisingly relents—mostly. “Humans are so rude.”

  “Well, right now you are pretending to be a human, so you should fit right in,” Irene snaps.

  Beda is now wearing clothes we gave her and a pair of dark glasses to hide her potential eye color shifts. Even my hair is tucked under a cap. People may recognize me. Most of Primaro saw my broadcast, and if they didn’t watch the feed live, they've probably seen a recording. So, I’m keeping my head down as much as possible. The walk isn’t too far. Hopefully, people are too wrapped up in their own business to notice me or Beda. So far, so good.

  My chest tightens when a few gray patrol ships fly overhead and then out of sight. High on the building to my right, an Agrobot tends to the vines growing up the side as if this day is like any other.

  Irene tracked down Dr. Owens apartment but couldn’t get hold of him. After the explosion, apparently Dad’s entire team was disbanded. So, we’re headed to his last known address.

  Another group of rowdy people passes us, but this time we keep our distance and walk closer to the building to stay out of their way.

  “Where do you think they’re all going?” I ask Max.

  “I received updates from Hirata this morning, and there are a few rallies today for both sides. Since many of the city jobs are on hold for fear of possible attacks, people are free to let their minds wander. And it’s getting some of them in trouble.”

  I think of the group of people Javen and I overheard before Max picked me up.

  “Don’t they remember Hammond was lying to us? I don’t get why people are blindly following her plans. Why would anyone trust her?”

  “Most of these people haven’t even seen the Alku in person. Only a handful of Alku have come to the Arcadia side and shown themselves. The talks between them and the World Senate have been mostly closed-door. All these people know is that Earth is in trouble, the problem isn’t getting solved, and they’re not even allowed to talk about the issue. No one wants their family to die, and they don’t know the Alku. What Hammond had to offer sounded pretty good to them. And although I don’t agree with her solution, I can see why they're willing to go along with it.”

  Guilt stabs at me. Scaring people is partially my fault for making the announcement. Finding another way to stop the mining would have been better. But when Starfire harvesting began, it felt like there was no other way. The announcement had to be made or Hirata and Cooper never would have acted in support of the Alku.

  “This is the one,” Irene says while viewing a map on her Connect, interrupting my thoughts.

  I gaze up at the grand building covered in foliage. In between the greenery, the building face is flecked with black and gold. I remember Dad showing me images of the apartment we were supposed to be assigned, and this looks a lot like the images of ours I saw online. Could be the very one.

  We hustle through the open glass doors. I’m the last through right as a boom rumbles from the street—followed by an explosion. I turn to see if the fight is close.

  But I see something else. Someone else.

  Walking across the street is a short blond. Alina. My heart shudders. The last time we spoke, Hammond was searching for me. I dashed from my and Irene’s dorm, accidentally leaving behind Dad’s thumb drive with his video account of coming to Arcadia for the first time, which also included a portion of his plans for the Starfire. So, either she has the drive or Hammond does, if our dorm was searched.

  Part of me wants to speak to Alina, but I have no idea if I can even trust her. And either the video is in the wrong hands, or it’s not. There isn’t much I can do about it now. I’ll try to figure all the details out later. So, I turn to the others and let the glass doors slide shut behind me.

  Beda is already inside the elevator. Max waves me over, and I sprint to him and smile. Inside, the floor is chosen, and the metal cab door shuts.

  “He’s on the sixth floor,” Max says to Irene.

  “And if he’s not here, we’re heading to the lab next?” Beda asks.

  “Let’s focus on one thing at a time,” I answer.

  I wouldn’t mind taking Max to the lab, but I’m not sure I want Beda there, not yet anyway. I don’t trust her enough.

  The doors to the elevator open on our chosen floor, and we head straight toward Owens’s apartment.

  “Why don’t you all step back?” I say, looking at the surveillance camera above the door. The viewing range is typically limited to the area right in front of the door and a little to the sides. “If he just sees me, he might be more likely to open up.”

  The rest of the group steps to the side, and I knock on the door and wait for footsteps or any other indication that he might be inside.

  Nothing.

  I wait for a moment before trying again. But still no sounds reach me from inside. I sigh, and my heart sinks into my stomach. Maybe he’s not even living here now. If he wanted to fall off the map, it wouldn’t surprise me. I turn toward the others.

  “And you tried to contact him?” I ask Irene.

  “Of course. That’s the first step I took,” she answers. “But no one has seen him.”

  I sigh and my shoulders slump.

  Beda gives me a sour expression.

  “What?” I ask her.

  “Why are you just giving up so easily? Transport inside and see what you find.”

  I glance between Irene and Max. The last time I broke into a building, Javen and I were nearly killed. I don’t want a repeat of that night.

  “She’s right,” Max says. “There might be information we can use. Why waste the opportunity?”

  My spine tenses at the thought of using the Intersection Starfire’s power. But I hover my fingers over the face of the door and close my eyes. Slowly, I reach my hand to the collar of my shirt and touch the gem on the chain. As I visualize the opposite side of the door, the space around me compresses my body, and I gasp while opening my eyelids.

  I did it. My hands touch the door’s surface from inside the apartment, mirroring my actions from the opposite side before transporting. The room is mostly dark, but I can make out a few shapes of furniture. Only a tiny shred of light streams through a crack in a window shade. I reach toward the nearest wall to activate the lights.

  “Hold it right there,” a deep voice growls from behind me. “I have a gun.”

  My stomach flops.

  “Dr. Owens, is that you?” I slowly rotate toward the voice.

  “Who wants to know?”

  “Cassiopeia Foster.”

  “Cassi? Richard’s daughter?” The voice softens. “How did you get in here?”

  I face him with my hands raised. I make out the silhouette of his bald head and body coming around the corner. His fist lowers, holding what does appear to be a gun.

  I search my mind for an answer to his question, but all of them take too long to explain. “I need information, and I think you have what I need.” I activate the lights from the panel by the door.

  The man standing in front of me is older than my father. The skin around his eyes is heavily crinkled, and the overhead light reflects off his bald head. His brown trousers are rumpled, a style that coordinates with his stained white shirt. Under his eyes are dark circles, which give away his stress and lack of sleep. He stares at me for a moment and then his shoulders slump.

  “I’m very sorry, Cassi. But I don’t have any information for you.” Dr. Owens turns from me. “I apologize that you came out among all the chaos and wasted your time. It’s not safe on the streets today and you should return home as soon as you can.”

  I knit my brows at him. “You’re lying. Why? I know you have information.”

  “My dear. I’ve been completely removed from your father’s team. When the explosion happened, everything was disbanded.”

  “But Hirata has been elected. Surely you have the option to return to the project. I’m positive she wouldn’t object.”

  Noises sound from the hall, and Owens lifts his weapon again.

  “Those are just my friends,” I say. “Can I let them in so they’re not standing out in the hall?”

  Owens lowers the gun again and steps forward to push me aside. “You really shouldn’t have come here.” He reaches for the door handle. “I need to ask you to leave.”

  Well, I’m not going to. “I saw you last night at the lab.”

  Owens recoils. “What lab?”

  “Dad’s lab. I watched you go through the entrance last night.”

  A confused, pinched expression washes over his face for a moment, and then his nostrils flare with a sigh.

  “Let your friends in.”

  I crack the door and find Beda, Max, and Irene waiting.

  “You're okay?” Max asks.

  “I’m fine,” I say. “Come in.”

  “Something is happening on the street,” Max says. “I just got a message. If you’re fine, I think Beda and I will check it out.”

  I look to Dr. Owens and nod to Max. He knows I don’t want Beda here. “We’ll only be a few minutes. Make sure to stay close.”

  “Anything to get out of this building,” Beda mutters and turns.

  “I’ll stay with Cassi,” Irene says.

  Max offers me a tentative smile. “Message us if there are any issues.”

  Irene steps into the apartment and gazes at Owens but doesn’t say a word.

  “Can we please ask you a few questions?” I say to him. “It’s important.”

  He gestures us into the living room. I follow him and Irene and I sit on the couch. Dr. Owens stands, hands stuffed in his pockets. I don’t know if I want to tell him that Dad is alive and that I got the directions from him. I’m pretty sure I can trust Dr. Owens, but he’s not exactly forthcoming, and I’m not sure sharing the information is necessary at this time, anyway. Still, I press forward. I need to say something, and Irene is giving me a pointed look that says to start already. So, I do.

  “Last night, Irene and I followed coordinates I . . . found when I came across a portion of Dad’s back-up data. Both Irene and I watched you use the hand scanner, and you went inside the lab.”

  Owens raises an eyebrow, not speaking.

 

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