Revolution: The Ship Series // Book Two Read Online Free PDF Page B

her through a series of tunnels and
eventually back through the main passageway until they reached compartment
51-F. She watched over his shoulder as he removed an access panel and got to
work.
    The relay which Zax suspected was misfiring displayed
the same aura the small vehicle had during his Plug training. He focused on the
device and was excited to be presented with a series of options including one
that allowed him to see the inside of it as if it was transparent. After a few
mins of poking around he announced his findings.
    “Well—this time I did actually use my Plug and confirmed
we’ve got a misfiring relay here. I think I’ve got it successfully
recalibrated, so let’s have your team reset the system and see what happens.”
    Imair walked across the room, lifted a communicator off
the bulkhead, and passed along Zax’s instructions. She put the communicator
back down after a moment of listening to the response.
    “I’m sorry, sir, but the reset cycle on that circuit
takes 321 secs. Would you mind waiting with me to see whether it’s really
fixed?”
    “Not a problem. I’ve got a short piece of reading to do,
so I’m going to focus on my Plug while we wait.”
    Zax had been reading for 148 secs when Imair’s voice
drew his attention. He was so taken aback by a civilian having the temerity to
interrupt him that he didn’t initially comprehend what she said and was forced
to ask that she repeat herself.
    “Why the apple?”
    He was momentarily stumped but deciphered she must be
asking about his gift to Nolly. “Why not?”
    “I’m sorry, sir, we just don’t typically experience acts
of kindness from members of the Crew. Most of you treat us like interchangeable
cogs. In fact, I would be shocked if Lieutenant Salmea even knows my name.”
    Zax thought for a few moments before replying. “We had
been talking a few days earlier, and Nolly mentioned he had never eaten a piece
of fruit. I was reminded of it when I walked by a pile of apples in the Crew
mess earlier, so I grabbed one for him to try.”
    Imair stared at him for a few uncomfortably long beats
before she answered. “All the same, sir, I would respectfully request that you
not do anything like that again. He’s so young and I don’t want him to get any
wrong ideas—about food availability or about what kind of behavior he should
expect from Crew he interacts with.”
    “What’s the big deal about one apple, Imair?”
    “Sir, do you know how long it’s been since there has
been any fruit available in the civilian mess? I wasn’t that much older
than you are now the last time I ate an apple.”
    Zax was stumped for a reply. Imair had no reason to
concoct a story like this, but her words made no sense. He couldn’t begin to
count the number of times he had thrown away some random piece of fruit he had
decided he didn’t actually want after taking one bite. How could there not be
enough fruit to go around if there was enough for the Crew to waste? He was
trying to figure out a coherent response when Imair laughed and spoke again.
    “Look at your gears grinding, sir. It appears you may
have a misfiring relay of your own. You folks in the Crew really don’t have the
slightest clue what our lives are like, do you, sir?”
    “How could we, Imair?” Zax was exasperated and felt no
compunction to hide it. “Most of us don’t ever get a chance to interact with
civilians directly. I’ve been able to over the past year only because I’ve been
stuck working here, but even then I can’t get anyone to actually talk with me
about anything. It’s clear you civilians don’t like the Crew very much, but no
one will give me the slightest hint as to why. Any questions I ask generally
end the conversation.”
    Imair stared at him thoughtfully for a while before
finally speaking. “Honestly addressing questions about sensitive topics is a
great way for a civilian to find herself on the short list to being Culled,
sir. The fact you can’t