Chasing the Stars by Malorie Blackman

the engine by almost thirty per cent.’
    ‘Really? Just you and Aidan?’ I asked.
    ‘Well, it was more me than Aidan. I just used him to confirm my calculations and to see whether or not my changes would be feasible.’
    ‘And . . . you’ve communicated your engine changes back on Earth?’ said Anjuli.
    Vee stiffened, immediately on her guard. ‘There’s no two-way communication with Earth, or any of Earth’s outposts, this far. Once I’m home and docked, they can download all my modifications when they uplink to this ship’s computer.’
    ‘What made you want to modify the engine in the first place?’ I asked.
    ‘I want to get home as fast as possible. My maternal grandparents still live on Earth,’ Vee replied. ‘Plus, after the crew died, I didn’t have much else to occupy my time, so it was either watch films or tinker with my ship.’
    ‘Any chance you’d let me see the schematics of your changes?’ I said as casually as I could.
    If Vee was on her guard before that was nothing to the expression on her face now. She was right, she had absolutely no poker face. ‘Why?’
    ‘Spacefleet design is my hobby,’ I shrugged. ‘There isn’t a ship that I haven’t studied in detail. None of the other settlers were much interested in the inner workings of ships, except Anjuli. And maybe Sam. And possibly Darren. Anyway, that’s why I’m so fascinated to learn more about the modifications you’ve made.’
    Vee took a last mouthful of her food, considering my request. ‘What are your other hobbies?’ she asked.
    ‘Weapons design, military tactics throughout the ages, inventing stuff. I’m a hands-on kind of guy,’ I said. ‘So can I see your modified schematics?
    ‘What does your mum think of your hands-on hobbies?’
    It didn’t escape me that Vee still hadn’t answered my repeated question.
    ‘She’s still trying to figure out where she went wrong,’ I smiled. ‘Not that she knows half the stuff I’m into. What about Aidan? Is he into the same kind of things too?’
    ‘Depends how you look at it.’
    ‘What does that mean?’
    ‘Aidan is interested in anything and everything to do with this ship.’ Vee shrugged.
    I waited for her to continue. Vee smiled but said nothing else. She watched me. Now it was my turn to force myself not to look away. Out the corner of my eye, I saw Erica nudge Mike whilst all eyes were on Vee and me.
    ‘I really am interested in your modifications, but for interest’s sake – nothing more. I’m not spying for my mum or anyone else. You can trust me,’ I said.
    ‘I don’t know you,’ Vee pointed out.
    ‘You will. And you’ll trust me.’
    Vee raised an eyebrow. ‘You can guarantee that, can you?’
    ‘Of course! Just look.’ I waved my hand around in front of my face. ‘Isn’t it the most reliable, dependable, honourable face you ever saw?’
    Vee raised an eyebrow. ‘Er . . . compared to what?’
    Ouch!



15
    The look on Nathan’s face made me laugh out loud. He was so cute when his ego got slightly and lightly stomped.
    ‘Thanks!’ said Nathan drily. ‘I think I’ll let that slide.’
    ‘As opposed to doing what?’ I asked silkily.
    Nathan looked at me, a slight smile playing at the corner of his mouth though he didn’t answer.
    ‘So how come this ship and your brother have the same name? Which came first?’ asked Erica.
    ‘My brother.’ I said. ‘This ship was commissioned and built eight years ago and named after Admiral Adam Aidan.’
    ‘The one who died during the Barrington uprising?’ said Nathan.
    ‘That’s the one. He and his crew died saving the lives of the rest of the fleet. It took the Authority a while to acknowledge their sacrifice though. I guess naming this ship after him once he was posthumously exonerated was their way of trying to make amends to his family for calling him a traitor and a coward in the first place. When Mum was given command of this ship, she said the fact that it had the same name as