Free Lost Planet 02 - The Stolen Moon by Rachel Searles

ship—they headed back down to the soldiers’ level, to exit where they came in by the maintenance offices. Analora went first so she could open the right panel, but she was halfway out of the wall when Chase heard her say a surprised “Oh!”
    Tapping footsteps approached in the hallway. By the time Chase climbed out of the wall, the ambassador’s colleague Ksenia stood before them, a half-smile on her face. “Well, this is interesting,” she said in her rich voice. “What exactly are you doing?”
    Analora’s face was scarlet. “Just playing around.”
    Pushing aside his first impulse, which was to turn and run like a chicken, Chase went on the offensive instead. “What are you doing down here? These are the soldiers’ quarters.”
    â€œAh, the young Trucon survivor,” Ksenia said with a curious smile. “Hello again. Perhaps you can help me—I seem to have gotten lost in my search for your utility officer. My translink is malfunctioning, and we don’t have any spares of this particular model on the Falconer .” She smiled and tapped her ear as she said this.
    Chase had no idea what she was talking about, but Analora pointed down the hall toward the elevator and told her, “Utility office is on the sixth floor.”
    â€œAh, there’s the problem—I always mix up six and seven. They sound so similar to me.” She smiled, but Chase felt like her dark eyes were examining the two of them. He glanced away, uncomfortable. She waved a graceful hand at the panel that still hung half open on the wall. “We can keep your little adventure to ourselves. Thank you for your help.”
    As Ksenia strolled back down the hall, Analora lifted the panel again, and Chase helped her fit it back in its place. “Well, that was embarrassing,” she said. “I didn’t even hear her footsteps.”
    â€œDo you think she was really looking for the utility office?” asked Chase.
    Analora frowned. “What else would she be doing?”
    They walked back toward the staircase that Analora would take down to her quarters. Chase kept his voice low as they passed his room, and didn’t point out that that was where he lived. They had nearly made it to the stairs when the door to the officers’ lounge slid open, and Parker stepped out. Chase clenched his teeth and uttered one of Maurus’s curses in his mind.
    â€œHey, I was looking for you! I think I found—oh, who’s your friend?” A smile curling across his face, he extended his hand toward Analora. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before?”
    â€œYou must be Parker,” she said, smiling sweetly as she shook his hand. “I’ve heard about you.”
    Parker frowned. “Unfortunately, I can’t say the same.”
    â€œWell, I’m Analora and I need to get home to dinner.” She stepped backward out the door.
    â€œNice to meet you, Analora who needs to get home to dinner.”
    â€œSame to you!” She stopped before she headed into the stairwell. “See you tomorrow, Chase!”
    â€œYou bet!” he called in a cheery voice, not looking over at Parker until the door closed.
    â€œFound a new friend?” asked Parker, leaning against the hallway wall.
    â€œI met her a few days ago.”
    â€œHuh. Interesting.”
    â€œYou’ve made some friends on the ship too.”
    â€œNever said I hadn’t. I was looking for you so I could tell you I finally got a pingback on my chip this morning. I wasn’t able to trace the location, but it’s something.”
    Excitement immediately washed out Chase’s irritation. “Really? That’s awesome.”
    â€œYeah, well, don’t get too excited just yet. It’s still not enough to find Asa.”
    â€œBut you’re closer now.”
    Parker nodded. “He’s out there somewhere. We’ll find