Page 21 of Rogue Starfighter

“I've heard that before. So, General, what does this mark on my neck really mean?”

Aryk looked at me. I stared straight ahead. The general sidestepped her question. “Your world has already given us three extraordinary Elite Starfighters. Jamie Miller was the first. Mia Becker and Lily Wilson followed. Their bonded partners, and their abilities, changed the course of this war.”

“They’re all alive?”

“Very much so.”

“And Queen Raya?”

“Still alive as well, unfortunately. Her allies abandoned her, but we believe she is rebuilding. We need scouts capable of entering her territory without detection. You are the first reconnaissance recruit from Earth to graduate.”

“Why me?” Priya asked. “There have to be experienced scouts here.”

“There are,” Aryk said. “Most fly single-seat reconnaissance craft. The Wraith was designed for two linked pilots. Vesh has flown her alone since his last partner died, but that is not how the ship was built to operate. The training program identified you as compatible with both him and the Wraith.”

Priya glanced at me. “His last partner died?” Every muscle in my body locked. Aryk saw it.

“That discussion belongs to Lieutenant Vesh.”

“Understood.” She did not push for answers, but I saw determination settle in her jaw and shoulders. I wouldn't be able to evade her questions for long.

The general brought up a tactical display, the hologram hovered in the air above his wrist. A section of Queen Raya’s territory appeared between us. “Raya should not have enough resources left to threaten Velerion. Unfortunately, someone is supplying her with ships, weapons, and construction materials. We have lost three unmanned probes trying to identify the source.”

“You want us to go where the probes couldn’t.”

“Eventually. First you train.”

“How long?”

“As long as Vesh says you need.”

Priya looked at me. “The General doesn’t think I’m ready.”

“You are not.”

“You could soften it a little.”

“Would that make you ready faster?”

“No.”

“Then it would be inefficient.”

Aryk covered what might have been a cough with his fist. Priya looked around the docking bay. Fighters. Armed warriors. A military base carved into an alien moon. For the first time since I walked into her tower, she appeared uncertain. I wanted to take her hand. I did not. She glanced at me.

“If I do this, we fly together?”

“Yes.”

“And you think I’m ready?”

“No.”

Her brows rose.

“But you will be.”

“Charming.”