Free Decay by J. F. Jenkins Page B

near the window and sat down. “Last night I was up late strategizing. While you have the sun to help monitor the passing of time, on my ship, I do not. I must have lost track and−”
    â€œIt's cool man,” JD said.
    â€œWhat were you working on?” Cadence asked. “I'm assuming it has something to do with why we're all here today?”
    The alien nodded and ran his fingers over the edges of the vest he liked to call a shirt. “Yes, I have a number of items to discuss with you. For the past few weeks, each of you has had a minor assignment to work on. Some of you have been more diligent with them than others.” He gave a pointed look to Orlando before continuing. “But you've been doing your part all the same, and with little pushing on my part. It pleases me that you want to take such an active role in the cause.”
    Orlando shrugged. “We need something to do to keep entertained. Please, tell me you have something interesting for us to do.”
    â€œYes,” Alan said. He cracked a small smile. “And it is a task in one of the more northern cities of your state. We'll be gone for a few days.”
    â€œField trip? Rock on!” JD cheered.
    â€œQuestion,” Orlando said. “How exactly are we going to go anywhere for an extended period of time without our parents getting curious?”
    â€œThat's why I was awake last night,” Alan explained.
    â€œWell?” Orlando pressed.
    Alan's smile faded. “You will be going for a school related club. The trip is all paid for of course, and we have two weeks to prepare for it. We will be working with the yellow tribe. There is a piece of Alturan technology we need you to find and retrieve. There's more, though.”
    â€œOoh goodie,” Orlando dead panned.
    The alien was getting good at letting the guy's sarcasm roll right off his back. Alan didn't even glare, which was a step up from their last meeting. “With this new technology, we'll be able to do some incredible things. I'm not even sure what all will happen. However, I've also been given permission to come up with a plan to capture prisoners of war, namely Bean and Sprout. Our other task will be to devise a plausible way to make them go unnoticed for a few days. It hasn't been declared a priority, but I want it on the back of your minds all the same. You know the culture so much better than I.”
    â€œThat shouldn't be too hard. All Orly has to do is ask his ex out on a romantic weekend vacation,” JD said while wiggling his eyebrows. Angela wanted to punch him for the suggestion. Thankfully, Orlando didn't take it too seriously.
    â€œI'd rather kiss a cactus,” he muttered.
    JD shrugged. “Just an idea. She's hot, so maybe I'll find a way to ask her instead.”
    Idiot. Sometimes Angela wished she could put duct-tape over his mouth or find some way to filter his brain, so he actually thought before speaking. Cadence's eyes glistened with tears, and he didn't even seem to notice.
    Right when Angela was about to say something, Orlando spoke up. “I'm sure your girlfriend would be all for that.”
    â€œWe're not labeled, actually, and if it's for the cause...” JD nudged Cadence playfully. She didn't reciprocate the fun attitude. “Oh come on, I was joking. I wouldn't actually ask her out. You know that right?”
    Cadence shook her head and scooted away from him. “Not labeled, huh?”
    â€œI don't like them. I thought you knew that already.” JD narrowed his eyes.
    â€œYour opinions on dating change a lot,” she said coldly. “Or maybe I was an idiot and thought things were different with me, when they're actually not.”
    â€œWhat is your problem?”
    Once again, Orlando's mouth opened, but Angela shot him a warning glare. This was not a fight he wanted to get in the middle of, especially since Orlando was so difficult to read. Sometimes he liked to antagonize people for