“And no one has jobs, really. They just help out with what they can, when they can.”

Romy’s thoughts drifted as the others continued their excited chatter. The settlement was more tightly run than they’d thought: sentries, strict accountability, and the loyalty of the Earth humans to the Mandate.

That was their biggest disadvantage—not knowing exactly how everything ran.

And if the Mandate could find out about a woman littering from another country . . .

. . . then how long would it take for the Mandate to learn of the sudden appearance of five space soldiers?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Deimos was washed and dressed in fresh clothing by the time his knot trailed in early the next day. He looked mildly more focused, though his cheeks still held that gaunt, near-death look.

Phobos carefully gathered his brother in an embrace. In a rather gruff tone, he simply said, “About time.”

Romy visited Deimos a few times as the day moved on. As much as she wanted to see him, he was still exhausted and not up to talking too much.

Gathering her boredom was distracting Houston from his work, she moved to the wooden bench outside Atlas’s office. It gave her a view of the entrance area where the four offices branched off. One was Houston’s; one was Tina’s. The third belonged to Atlas.

As the seconds ticked by, the unknown fourth office caught her attention. She assumed it was an office like the others, but in two days, not one person had entered or exited the room. At least not while she was there.

Romy swung her legs down and pushed her blonde hair behind one ear. Even a couple of weeks on Earth had seen her locks grow longer than ever before. Not that she would have ever told anyone, but she'd secretly wished for long tresses like a fairy-tale princess.

She approached the locked door, looking around to see if anyone lurked in the entranceway. No one had told her the office was “off limits”, but instinct told her she shouldn’t be opening that door.

But it was in plain sight. Unguarded. Romy reached out and turned the knob.

“It’s locked.”

Romy tensed at the sound of Atlas’s voice. Now he chose to come out of hiding!

“What’s in there?” she asked, heart galloping in her chest.

No answer came. Why didn’t that surprise her? Romy crossed her arms. Annoyance bubbled up within her and she shoved it down to the best of her ability, knowing part of it was puberty.

Why couldn’t he just give her one straight answer?

“Atlas. . . .” How did Romy begin to ask everything she wanted––no, needed to know? “What is going on?”

She felt such a rush when she looked at him, those loose strands of hair falling over his eyes. He was enigmatic and reserved. Romy couldn't decide if he was good or bad.