Free Lost Planet 02 - The Stolen Moon by Rachel Searles Page B

“I figured it was standard.”
    â€œThat’s a lie.” The colonel’s eyes traveled over the messy desk and scattered equipment. “What are you building in here?”
    â€œYou know all this.” Parker swept his arm around the room in frustration. “I’ve been working on reverse tracking my microchip. You know, the one that was just stolen.”
    But Forquera was already on his communicator, calling the master-at-arms for MPs and a software specialist. Parker’s eyes were angry laser beams, fixed on Chase.
    Master-at-arms Poliski, a brutish man with a tiny nose and floppy blond hair, showed up personally with three members of his crew. Feeling ill about what he’d caused, Chase watched them standing tight-lipped around Parker’s desk as the specialist went through his files, uncovering just how much Parker had hacked into.
    â€œDo you think his hacking might have caused the blackout?” murmured Poliski to the specialist.
    The specialist nodded. “Most definitely. He got into nearly every system.”
    â€œOh, that is such garbage!” shouted Parker. “I’m the only one on the ship who was investigating the blackout!”
    â€œHow did you break into the mainframe of the ship?” asked the specialist. “Who was helping you?”
    â€œHelping me?” asked Parker indignantly. “I knew more about hacking by the time I was five than you ever will.”
    Shut up, shut up! thought Chase. Did Parker really need to brag about how easily he was able to break the rules?
    â€œYou’re completely oblivious to what’s really going on,” Parker continued. “There’s a hacker on the ship, a really good one—almost as good as me. That’s who caused the blackout. Ask Chief Kobes, I’ve been helping him. I’m the only one who can help you find who it is.”
    â€œI’m supposed to believe a kid is the best hacker on this ship?” asked the specialist, smirking, as the MPs swept everything from the desk into boxes.
    Parker whirled around on him. “You learned about software code, what, from teachers, from books? I learned from an android. When I was two. I think in code.” He stepped up in Poliski’s face. “Aren’t you even going to do anything about my stolen chip?”
    The master-at-arms gave him a sardonic nod. “We’ll look into it.”
    Forquera, standing at the back of the room, shook his head as the crew carted away their boxes full of Parker’s equipment. “I’ll take this news to the captain. He’ll decide what to do.” The door closed behind Forquera as he left, and Parker looked back at his empty desk, clenching his fists.
    â€œYou’ll get it all back,” Chase reassured him. “The captain will—”
    â€œWill what?” snapped Parker. “Will take time out of organizing the peace talks between two planets to make sure I get my way? Why did you have the bridge on the screen? You knew I was going to look for help!”
    â€œI just … forgot,” Chase admitted.
    Parker ran his hands through his hair and squeezed his skull, groaning. “Chief Kobes won’t even let me in the engine room after he finds out about this. I need to go talk to him before someone else does.” He dropped his hands and turned on Chase. “You’re coming with me this time.”
    Chase had to hurry to follow Parker’s swift march to the elevators, and when they’d taken them down to the bottom floor, Parker walked so quickly on his long legs that Chase practically had to run to keep up. In the engine room, a group of green-badged ensigns sat gathered at a cluster of consoles. Chief Kobes paced behind them, hands clasped behind his back, and watched them work with his standard dissatisfied expression.
    â€œI have to talk to you,” said Parker in unnaturally loud, strident tones. “I need your