“And I’m guessing someone needs to be in charge,” Dylan murmured from beside him. “And Mr. Kinross no doubt believes he’s the man for the job.”
Kinross was welcome to it as far as Milo was concerned. He wasn’t looking to be in charge of anything. He just wanted to get this job done, return to Trakis Two, and start work on that new world. His version of it.
Was it possible? A world where he and others like him didn’t have to hide their true natures? Certainly not on this planet, where clearly the Church already had a foothold.
Kinross was still talking. Hopefully Dylan was paying attention, because Milo had tuned the voice out. He wanted to go and have a look around. Part of their job here was to work out exactly what Kinross wanted and whether they were going to at least make the pretense of going along with him. But he suspected Kinross was hardly going to reveal his true endgame at this meeting. They’d have to discover that some other way.
The other—more interesting—part was to determine what, if anything, Kinross was capable of if they refused to play his game.
Who was he exactly? Milo had done some research, but there was very little to be found out about the man. He wasn’t crew. He was one of the Chosen Ones, so how had he managed to be woken up and seemingly take charge in the span of four weeks? It must have been well organized. Likely he had Captain Sekongo of the Trakis Four on his payroll or at least somehow under his control. Maybe with promises that the Church would play an important role in the leadership of the new colony.
That had presumably taken some detailed planning. So what else had Kinross planned? What did he have to back up his bid for leadership?
Dylan nudged him in the side. “Are you listening to this?”
“No. Give me the highlights.”
“He wants confirmation of everything on board the Trakis Two so they can evaluate where those items can be most effectively utilized. I’m guessing Rico isn’t going to be too happy about that. He’s not really into sharing.”
“He can always lie.”
“Apparently, Kinross has the manifests for all the ships. Where the hell did he get that information?”
Damn. “Likely paid someone for it.”
“But how? This must have been arranged even before he left Earth. That’s scarily efficient.”
Milo had come to the same conclusion. He shook his head, then realized Kinross had stopped talking. Milo glanced across to find his attention, and the rest of the room’s, on him and Dylan. Had they heard anything they were saying?
“Is there something you would like to share?” Kinross asked.
God, it was like being back in school, or how he imagined that would be. He’d never actually gone to school—one of the results of being brought up under the guardianship of a vampire. “Not right now,” he said. “But if I do, you’ll be the first to know.”
After that, he tried to pay attention, but there was a lot of stuff about waking up the Chosen Ones…who should be woken and when. Rations and equipment to be handed out. Blah, blah, blah. Work rotas and building schedules.
Milo bit back a yawn. Christ, this was boring. He needed to get the hell out of here. His mind drifted to the woman he’d spotted that morning watching him from the Trakis Four.
There had been strength to her features. Short blond hair, strong cheekbones, a wide mouth. She’d been staring at him as though she wanted to jump his bones right then and there. And she was welcome to—after all, he hadn’t been laid in over five hundred years.
Maybe he’d look her up. There must be someone who would know who she was. She’d been with a woman in a red shirt. A scientific officer? He could start there.
“What are you smiling about?” Dylan asked.
“Nothing. Interesting meeting.”
“Liar.” He grinned. “You’ll tell me later.”
“Actually, I won’t.”
At that moment everyone around them stood up and started clapping. Hopefully, that signaled the end of the meeting. He stood up as well and clapped so he blended in—no one could say he wasn’t making an effort.
“We can go now?” Milo said.
Dylan shook his head. “There’s a dinner. Time to get acquainted with each other. Don’t you want to get acquainted with your new friends, Milo?”
“No.”
Dylan laughed then broke it off. “Look out, the big man is heading our way.”
Kinross came to stand beside him. He shook Dylan’s hand and then Milo’s. He tried to get a sense of the man, but Kinross wasn’t giving anything away.
“Good to meet you,” Kinross said. “But I’m interested, Mr.…?”
“Call me Milo.”
“I’m interested, Milo, as to why you were chosen as the representative for Trakis Two. As you can see”—he waved a hand around the room—“most of the representatives are crew members. Except for yourself.”
“And you,” Milo felt he had to point out.
Kinross smiled, though his expression was thoughtful. “All the same, I’m interested to know why you’re here.”
Nosy bastard. “You’ll have to ask the captain that.”
“Captain Sanchez, I believe? I’m afraid I don’t know the man. And I thought I knew all the captains.”
No doubt he had a list of them as well. “I’m sure he’d be delighted to talk to you.”
Dylan coughed at that, to hide his laughter, and Kinross’s eyes sharpened.
“And you, Mr. Kinross,” Milo said, “how did you find yourself not only on the council but seemingly in charge?”
The man smiled. “Just luck, I guess.”
Milo seriously doubted this man left anything to luck.
“Now, I must talk to the rest of my guests,” Kinross said. “Please make yourselves at home.”
“Gracious, isn’t he?” Dylan said as they watched his retreating back.
“I don’t like him,” Milo replied.
“I heard you don’t like anybody.”
“Maybe…” He thought about it but was unable to come up with a name of anyone he truly liked. “I’m going to take a look about the place. See if I can find out what’s going on around here. If anyone asks, tell them I came over all faint and had to lie down.”
“Okay. I’ll have a chat with the captain of the Trakis Four. Perhaps he’ll talk about Kinross. Don’t get caught.”