Stone in the Sky by Cecil Castellucci Page B

“I’m good at strategy and force, but I forget codes,” he said. “I need to concentrate here.”
    It was frustrating to not be able to see what he was doing. I imagined that if I could see, I could help. But that wasn’t necessarily true. I had social skills, but I had never learned computer programming. Heckleck had taught me a few basic override commands. How to overide a simple door was one of them. It’s always good to know a few ways in and out of a place.
    But this was a brig. I couldn’t lock pick myself out of this one.
    â€œLook you need to know something. This whole station is completely under the Imperium’s thumb. They’re coming for the alin. Tournour is with them right now,” I said. “Just leave me here. He won’t be able to help you if you get caught.”
    Reza stepped back from the console and sang himself a little tune. Some mnemonic device and after a moment, he punched the numbers in slowly. The door that jailed me slid open.
    He stuck his hand out for me to take. That electric spark was still there. It was nice to touch a Human.
    â€œWho do you think called me back up here, came up with the plan, and gave me the code?” he asked glancing up at me with that look that I loved most about him.
    Tournour . Of course. This was his plan. He told me to trust him. He was always going to get me out of here.
    I laughed.
    â€œThe guard didn’t struggle, as though he knew he was going to be attacked.”
    â€œIt was all theatrics,” Reza said. “This station isn’t completely under the Imperium’s thumb. You’ve got friends. But Brother Blue has all his papers to order an execution after your trial. We have to go. Now. ”
    We exited the brig, and standing guard at the door was Trevor.
    â€œYou brought Trevor,” I said. “How did you get it to work?”
    â€œTournour activated it,” he said. “He thought you’d need it.”
    I was so happy to see the robot that I threw my arms around its metal body and hugged it even though it could not care less that I was feeling anything.
    â€œWe don’t have time for that,” Reza said, pulling at me. I instructed Trevor to follow us.
    It was the quiet cycle, the time when most aliens were asleep. But even so, there was always something going on. Aliens should be present and walking around. The station functioned around the clock. But the station was especially eerie this time.
    â€œWhere is everyone?”
    â€œThere’s been a power grid glitch. Everyone is to stay inside,” Reza said.
    â€œReally?” I said.
    â€œNo,” Reza said. “Tournour.”
    â€œWhat’s the plan?” I asked. “Where am I to go?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Reza said. “We didn’t have time to think that far ahead.”
    It was strange to think of Tournour and Reza plotting my fate together. Although if my fate were in anyone’s hands, I was glad that it was both of theirs. They approached problems differently, but together they would likely think of almost every angle.
    Despite the clear path, we weaved through sections that while it seemed to be the long way around, I knew were the safest, sneakiest way to get to the docking bay.
    When Reza diverted from the way I would have gone, I knew that likely it was because he had information that I did not. I had to trust him even though I knew the station better than he did.
    â€œTournour and his guards could chase us and never catch up,” I said. Confirming why I thought we were going the long way.
    â€œThat’s the idea,” Reza said.
    But even I could tell that it was taking too long. We were only halfway there when the all-clear sounded.
    â€œWell, it couldn’t have lasted forever,” Reza said.
    I turned cold as panic flooded me.
    The halls were filling up, making Reza agitated, and Trevor more alert, but everyone who passed us averted their