“Is this the kind of sparkling humor I can look forward to for the next week?” she asked. Her momentary panic vanished. Maybe she ought to be thanking Walters for sobering her up so fast. “You know, I’m senior on this trip, mm? And it would be my pleasure to pull rank.” Rosalyn allowed herself a cool smile. “Because I’m sure they can find a replacement.”

Walters put his hands up in surrender, cackling. “All right, all right. Fuck. If you’re over your cheddar sweats, everything is green on board.”

It was good that he was there. She couldn’t panic now, not in front of him. Rosalyn nodded and pushed away from the wall. Serene. Calm. Totally in control. She didn’t want Walters to find out this was her last chance at keeping her job, or he would just find a way to sabotage her. Hasty footsteps came from the other direction now, from outside the bay doors attached to the campus launch wing. The sliding doors hissed open and a young woman rushed up to them. She wore the crisp, simple blue uniform of the courier service that pinged between bases, delivering messages from as far away as Earth itself if signals were iffy.

“What’s this? Nobody is allowed in here this close to launch,” Walters said, crossing his arms.

The courier was out of breath. She nodded her head a few times, then shoved a small, silver package toward Rosalyn. “Just following orders. Control gave me the go-ahead to find Devar.”

“It’s fine,” Rosalyn replied gently, taking the package. Her urge to stay friendly wilted when she read the sticker in the upper left corner. “Shit.” And then under her breath, “Great timing, Dad.”

“Oooh, Dad?” Walters popped up over her shoulder, catching a glimpse of the sticker before Rosalyn could jerk it out of his view. “Whoa. Maximillien Belrose? He’s your dad? What the hell are you doing working this crappy gig?”

“It’s a long story,” she said softly. And I wouldn’t share it with you, anyway.

The courier held out a digital pad to take Rosalyn’s signature and confirm delivery. She waited until the courier had disappeared back out the bay doors before turning her head toward Walters. Her father had certainly gone to a lot of trouble tracking her down. Apparently, cutting him off from all social media and communications wasn’t enough.

“It’s complicated. Family stuff. Can I have a minute? I’ll be right behind you.”

To his credit, he nodded and backed off, then shook his head from side to side. “Damn. Devar’s got a famous daddy. You just get more interesting by the second, don’t you?”

I certainly hope not.

“I’ll be right there,” she reiterated with a thin smile.