Page 174 (1/2)

"Sure, Captain" The soldier tucks the e-filer under one arot to search the shuttle"

I freeze, heart stopping for a split second

"Search the shuttle?" Jubilee echoes, her voice sharpening "Why? There’s no point; if anyone had stoay, they’re going right back to the surface"

The soldier on duty shrugs "It’s coht before you landed"

"Before--before I landed?" Her head half turns, but she catches herself before she can look at me They know Somehow, they suspect I’itive Maybe soot on board

"Yes, sir" The soldier regards her with respect, but shows no signs of wavering

She hesitates "Fine, fine, search it But make it quick" She stalks back up the aisle, footsteps tense and quick She co behind, her body further concealing h the seat cracks Instead I can hear their booted feet clanking up the grid floor, the dull click and sla closer

Jubilee’s grip is white-knuckled on the armrest beside my head The soldiers--I can make out three distinct sets of footsteps--are nearly on us

"Satisfied?" she says, interrupting theet stuck up here on the wrong side of a blockade"

The footsteps halt "Yeah, yeah, okay," says the one who insisted on the search "You’re good Move out, guys"

I let out a slow, silent breath as the footsteps start to retreat I can see Jubilee’s shoulders relax a fraction, and with the soldiers in retreat, she spares a glance at me; her eyes are wide, but there’s relief on her features She turns to make her way up the aisle and head for the cockpit