The officer’s voice broke her fall down the voyeuristic tunnel she’d tripped into. Blaize could visit Director Glinchart later in her office and find out more about Cifer. That was the point of following him—not stalking, not jealousy, and certainly not getting arrested, but finding out everything she could about who he really was before they began the next leg of their journey. For now, she would hole up in the minuscule housing unit she leased, clean up, and get some rest in a place that didn’t require her constant attention.
“Blaize, it so nice to see you.” Niquola Glinchart rose from her utilitarian chair and held out her hand over the plain metal desk with a warm smile plastered on her face. She wore the same navy skirt suit from earlier, her blond, nearly white hair still in its perfect updo. “I didn’t know you were back on the station.”
“It feels like I was gone for years.” Blaize shook the woman’s hand, the same one that had touched Cifer.
“Please, sit. Tell me about your travels.”
Blaize gave her a brief summary of the planets they’d visited, leaving out a lot of details. She was here to get information, not expose her own emotional mess.
“Sounds like you’ve been busy, but what an amazing job.”
Blaize basked in the approval from the woman she greatly admired. “I love it.”
“The students in the academy seem to enjoy it as well.”
“Really?” Blaize’s chest lifted, filled with a warm glow. “That’s wonderful news. When you let me start it, I wasn’t sure. I mean, not all girls feel about engines and systems like I do. But I’d hoped.”
Niquola nodded. “It’s the academy with the fewest absences and the longest waitlist. We’ve only had one drop out.”
“Who?” Blaize had met all the girls in the class.
“Elaya.” The director shook her head. “She fell in with some unsavories. We tried to talk her into coming back, but she couldn’t be persuaded.” The director straightened and smiled. “But we need to focus on the girls who are committed. We have a small class who will complete the training by the end of the galactic year.”
“Excellent.” Blaize swallowed hard. The plan for the academy had come together easily. But for the next level—working on live systems as apprentices—she hadn’t made the progress she’d intended.
“We do have one apprenticeship spot. Voyagetech is willing to hire on one of the graduates as a junior tech full-time. We are using that as a reward for our top graduate. I have two females who are vying for it and working their tails off—one of them literally.” The director chuckled at her own joke.
“I… That’s great. I don’t have anything else lined up,” Blaize confessed. “But I can make some inquiries while I’m on station. I thought I would have…well, it doesn’t matter what I thought.” She’d thought she’d still be captain of her own ship. “It didn’t work out. But don’t worry. I’ll line up more opportunities. It’s the next step. My job has just been more intense than I expected. It’s an older ship with unique design features, and I never expected to go as far as Kolben. Since I’m here, I’ll make some inquiries, because as the plan stands now, I’ll be going to Hiargus. And that’s nearly as long a journey as Kolben, especially because our captain is not fond of ER bridges. We’ll likely have to take at least one. And now that she has her mate, she seems…” Blaize stopped herself before she started rattling on about Cyra’s love life.
“You know, I met with another sponsor who’s been traveling. He might have some connections or be willing to sponsor an internship. He’s very active with the organization.”
Was she talking about Cifer? “That would be great. Who is this sponsor?”
“I need to talk to him first, but I think he would be willing to meet with you to talk about the program. He’s dedicated to seeing our charges safely through their transition to independence.” The director clicked on the screen of her personal comp. “In fact, I’m supposed to meet with him shortly to review some repairs and improvements we need at the juvenile facility.”
“I’d like to meet with our academy students while I’m on station if that would be possible.” Blaize was embarrassed. Normally that would have been the first thing on her agenda. Instead, she’d been focused on Cifer.
“Do you have time to do a presentation? Nothing formal. Maybe an insight into the daily life of an engineer during long flights or special techniques for facilitating ER travel? I know they would be fascinated.”
“I’d be happy to do that. Soon. I only have a few cycles on Cassan.”
“I’ll schedule it with the principal.” Niquola tapped on her data pad.
“In the meantime, I’ll reach out to my contacts to find additional jobs or internships.” Maybe Rhysa would have some ideas.
“Blaize, I don’t know what we would do without you. Thank you so much.” The director reached out and patted her hand, exactly as she had done with Cifer. Maybe they weren’t lovers. Their relationship shouldn’t matter to Blaize, but it did. More than she was comfortable with.
She left the director’s office and went across to a diner, facing the building. Cifer would be at the director’s office later. Losing his trail because of the stupid security officer had been frustrating. If she learned more about him, she’d feel more comfortable about agreeing to take him to Hiargus on the ship she lived on. It was only about the next journey, not the fact that she was falling for him. Not at all.
She didn’t have to wait long. Her beverage was being served when she glanced out the screen and saw Cifer exit an expensive hired sled and duck into the orphanage. If she hadn’t been looking out the screen, she would have missed him, he moved so quickly.
Before Blaize could finish her drink, Cifer and Niquola came out of the offices and waited on the edge of the pedestrian platform. Blaize swiped her credit chip and ran to the exit. They got into the director’s sled, being operated by one of the students probably in training as a professional hack. Blaize raced to the underground tram entrance, bolted down the stairs, and boarded the crowded vehicle that connected all the parts of the huge station. She arrived at the juvenile facility in time to see Cifer and Niquola clear security. With no authorization and no story, she couldn’t go in. She looked around for a place to settle in where she could see them when they left.
Time dragged on. At this rate, she’d never make dinner with the crew. How long did it take to look at a home for little ones? It wasn’t like they had a lot to say, not like the females she sponsored, who were interesting and curious and intelligent. They were touring a facility for children who couldn’t even deal with their own bodily functions. Blaize pushed her weight to the left side and rotated her right ankle. If they didn’t come out soon, she would have no choice but to leave; others were taking note of her presence.
Finally, the doors opened. The director left in her private sled. Alone. Cifer crossed the thoroughfare, darting between crowds of beings and dodging the occasional jet-scoot driver. He walked directly to where Blaize had hidden.
“You could have joined us for the tour.” His teasing tone set her on edge.
