The same muffled voice came from the other side. She assumed it was the boy, Fred. “I say we make her tell us about the aliens and guns! It’s the least she can do after we broke her out today.”

This was how, when his suggestion was met with wild agreement, that Romy found herself talking about space soldier life—in what she hoped was a voice void of sourness—for the entire drive back.

* * *

“I was pretty hungry after the person meant to bring breakfast skipped out on us.” Phobos glared at Romy over Elara’s head as she walked into the bungalow.

She covered her mouth with both hands.

Romy looked over the three of them. Phobos was angry, Elara suspicious, and Thrym—well, he seemed a little peeved as well. “I’m so sorry. I completely forgot!”

“Forgot? How, Rosemary?” Thrym stood up in an angry movement. “I went by the storage room five times today. You weren’t there at all. I was beginning to think the Mandate had captured you!”

He was using her full name. Definitely annoyed.

Earth wasn’t like space, where if you couldn’t find someone, you knew they’d only be minutes away, available at the touch of a button. If the others disappeared on Earth, they could be anywhere in the world, never to be found. If Romy couldn’t find one of the others, she would be upset, too.

She sat down on her bunk. “I’m sorry. I went off target shooting with some humans today. I didn’t even think to let you guys know where I was going.” Her relief at escaping the soldier, Lucas, for the day had taken first priority.

Thrym regained his seat, still tense. Phobos came to sit next to her.

“Next time, let us know, okay?” Phobos said, pulling her in for a hug.

“I will,” Romy sniffed. She hated when they were mad at her. “Were you hungry all day?”

Phobos leant in to whisper loudly, “Thrym won’t want you to know that we left twenty minutes after you did to get our own food.”

Romy smiled, and they fell into an awkward silence.

Elara was looking around the group, a bewildered look upon her face. “How about the bit about the target shooting? You guys don’t want to know about that?”

Romy gave a quick recount of her day with the Earth teens. Phobos was up and pacing the room as she finished. Thrym sat, arms folded, one finger tapping on his elbow. A small smile graced his face.

“Of course you hit the target.” Thrym winked.

She exhaled in relief. He’d forgiven her.

“Yeah, yeah. You’re proud of her,” Phobos interrupted. He sat backwards on his chair. “I’m more interested in the fact that Romy knows the location of a car full of weapons.”