Free Independence Day: Crucible (The Official Prequel) by Greg Keyes Page B

that thing you flew up into space,” she said. “The one you crashed and nearly died in.”
    “Pretty much exactly like that,” he said. “Since I’m the only one that’s ever flown one, they thought I might have some valuable insights.”
    She leaned back and folded her arms.
    “You mean you’re going to be the monkey they put in their experiments,” she said.
    “No,” he said. “Well, yes, eventually—but it’s gonna be years before we have anything ready for a test flight. Meanwhile I’ll be working with the program, helping with development, working out training programs for pilots and all of that.”
    “And where will all of this be happening?” she asked.
    “Nevada, mostly,” he said.
    She sighed.
    “I know,” he said. “You’re in school here. That’s great—”
    “It’s not about me,” she interrupted. “I can get my nursing degree anywhere. But Dylan—he’s in a good school. There aren’t many of those these days, what with everything going to the military. I want him to get into one of the STEP schools, and here he has a shot at that. I don’t know about Nevada.”
    “Well, I checked,” he said. “It’s not a good situation for kids his age. They say there’s gonna be a STEP school near the base, but that’s a little down the road.”
    “Steve—”
    “I know,” he said. “I’m not suggesting that you move, at least not now. Look, you dated a military guy. You married one. I think you knew what you were getting into. The fact is, I might see you guys more this way. No more long deployments. I can take three-day weekends.”
    She looked away, and when she looked back at him, her gaze was intense.
    “I was fully prepared to be a single mother,” she said. “I worked hard, I didn’t complain, I kept my eye on the prize—and the prize is that boy, grown to be a good man. A successful man.”
    “Baby, I want that too,” he said.
    “I know you do,” she said. “I also know you want to be a damn astronaut. Even before you got that one little taste of space. Now…” She trailed off.
    “Here’s the thing,” Hiller said. “I didn’t say yes.”
    She paused and looked at him, her gaze softening.
    “What did you say?” she asked.
    “That I would think about it,” he replied.
    She was silent for a moment.
    “Tell them yes,” she said.
    “I don’t think—”
    “No,” she said. “Don’t start. When you asked me to marry you, I promised myself one thing—that I would never give you cause to regret it. And I stand by that. You tell me that we can make this work, and I’ll believe you. Then you have to do it, you understand?”
    “Jasmine, I need you to be sure about this.”
    “Do I sound sure?”
    “You sound like you want to beat my ass,” he said.
    “Well,” she said, placing her hand over his, “I don’t. Or maybe just a little.”
    He started to make a quip, but instead he laced his fingers into hers.
    “I love you, Jasmine,” he said. “I don’t regret a second I’ve ever spent with you. Or with Dylan.”
    “I know that,” she said.
    * * *
    Dikembe was at his father’s bedside when he awoke. The older man’s eyes searched restlessly for a moment before fixing on him.
    “Bakari?” he whispered.
    “No, Papa,” he said gently. “I am Dikembe.”
    “Dikembe,” he said. “My dear boy.” Tears welled in his eyes. “They told me Bakari was dead,” he said.
    “Who told you, Papa?” Dikembe asked. “You’ve only just awakened. You’ve been asleep for more than a month.”
    “
They
told me,” he said, his voice rising. “
Mapepo
.
Les diables
. They…” He trailed off.
    Dikembe knew—he had felt it. In their final assault, the aliens—every one of them—had fixed their terrible will toward his father, to try and kill him, extinguish his mind. In the end, it had been their single goal.
    Having felt their touch, he could not believe they hadn’t succeeded, even though none of them got close enough to the elder Umbutu to