Breaking Sky(44)

He looked from Tristan to Chase. “But since you have all had a taste of each other’s styles, we’ve seen fit to change the trials. You’ll be facing a different sort of combative test. Not even I know what it will entail”—he shot a look at Chase—“so don’t pester me.”

Kale continued. “One element of the trials will be based on your maneuverability at high speeds. This might be the most important factor in determining whether or not the Streakers will be accepted as a large-scale military investment, particularly because we still don’t know the redlining speed of the drones.”

Chase raised her hand. “Permission to speak, General?”

“If you have to, Harcourt.”

“I do.” She glanced at Sylph. “Are you taking one of the Streakers out of the trials?”

Kale narrowed his eyes. “Who said that?”

Pippin was looking around like he wasn’t interested. Like he hadn’t been the person to tell her exactly that. It made Chase redden from the neck to the cheeks. “No one. It just felt like that’s the way things were headed.”

“You’re all factored into the trials,” the brigadier general said. “All three teams.”

Sylph’s relief showed in the way her shoulders released. Tristan was at the far end, his hair tied back tight and his eyebrows sunk into a v. He looked distinctly uneasy.

Kale noticed Chase’s stare and snapped his fingers in her face. Romeo and Pippin laughed together, while Sylph looked pleased. Riot examined his bandaged hand.

Tristan didn’t notice. He really was out of it.

“What’s the hop today, General?” Sylph asked.

“You three are going to…” Kale sighed. “The easiest way to explain this is that you’ll be racing. But it’s not a competition.”

“Buuullshiiiit,” Pippin sang. Everyone laughed.

Kale’s eyes couldn’t hide their delight. “It’s a bit of a competition, but we’re collecting speed records, not ranking you. Stay safe but also let loose.” A whoop came from several of them, including Chase. It was exactly what she needed: to get in the air and open up. “The three of you will be linked via shortwave radio. It won’t connect you past a few dozen miles, so stay close. It should be clear from hacking.”


“Espérons que,” Romeo muttered. Pippin muttered something back in French. Apparently her RIO had found his nerd brother in Romeo. It stung a little. She wasn’t used to seeing him joke with anyone other than her.

“One more thing,” Kale said over the chatter. “Stay out of the gray zone. If you begin to lose your colors, throttle back immediately.” He looked at Chase again. “The satellite restrictions needed to fend off Ri Xiong Di’s overrides also mean that we cannot control the jets remotely. Should a team lose consciousness…” He didn’t have to say it. They all knew the “crash and burn” gist. “Is that understood?”

Chase nodded.

“Trust each other up there. Work together. Help each other. That’s an order. Dismissed.”

Everyone except Tristan and Chase climbed the ramp stairs into their cockpits. Tristan was stiff. He took a little too long getting his helmet on, and Chase secured the strap for him.

“You ready?”

He didn’t respond. His eyes were glassy and downcast.

“Don’t make me kiss you again,” she muttered.

He looked at her, his expression beyond serious. “Don’t play with me, Chase.”

“I was trying to help you.” She avoided his apology by slamming her helmet over her ears. “Don’t care. Just fly.”

Chase pushed past him, her chest strangely hot. Tristan headed to Phoenix, and Kale touched her shoulder. He had been watching them talk.

“Did you notice Powers, Harcourt?”

“Riot?” She couldn’t stop herself. “What? That he’s a child?”

“He needed a few stitches. You wouldn’t have anything to do with that, would you?”

“Oh yeah. I hypnotized him and made him punch a mirror.”

“I don’t doubt it,” he said too knowingly. Had he been talking to Ritz? Christ. Chase panicked, looking everywhere but at the brigadier general. “Harcourt, I do try to keep my head above the teenage gossip of the academy, but there are certain lines we should observe.” He cleared his throat. Chase rushed with embarrassment, feeling like she was about to get the Star’s version of a sex talk. “There are some concerns…”

“Spit it out.” Chase pulled too hard on her leather gloves and gave herself finger wedgies.

“I’d rather you not get friendly with Router.”

If she’d thought she was red before, she was scarlet now, and Kale’s neck flushed to match. “Right.” She hurried to her cockpit.

“What was that about?” Pippin asked as she swung into her seat.

She fastened her harness. “A dose of mortification.”

“What?”

“Like you care,” she muttered. She switched the mic connect between their helmets and revved the engines. Dragon was warm and ready. It was exactly what she had been missing this past week. It would help her get past everything.

Pegasus headed onto the runway, followed by Phoenix. Chase left the hangar last, watching Sylph shoot into the air, her whole being glittering with impending lightness.