Coalescence (Dragonfire Station Book 3)

recommend against blows to the head, of course. But that’s pretty standard advice for all my patients.”
Fallon and Brannin smiled.
“I’ll do my best,” she promised.
“I think this calls for a celebration,” Brannin said. “Would you two care to join me for dinner? I’m technically off shift.”
“That would be great,” Brak said, “but I have plans with Kellis, Jerin, and Trin already. Why don’t you two join us?”
“That sounds perfect,” Brannin said. He looked to Fallon, questioningly.
“Absolutely. When are you supposed to meet them?”
“Now. They’ll be having drinks already.”
A drink sounded good to her. “Great. I’ll buy the first round.”
“I’ve never been much of a drinker,” Brannin admitted.
“Oh, well that’s perfect. This is absolutely the right night to start.”
They laughed as they left the infirmary.
“What a lovely surprise,” Jerin said as Brannin sat next to her. Fortunately, they’d chosen a large table in the back of the room that easily accommodated two extras.
Brak and Fallon sat, with Fallon next to Kellis and Brak on Jerin’s other side.
Fallon enjoyed the meal. Not only did she have good news for her team when they returned, she also had an opportunity to catch up with her friends.
She’d never seen Brannin so relaxed and engaged in a social setting. She recalled him hovering around the edges of such gatherings, cordial, but slightly formal. He seemed more confident, more animated. Happier. He and Jerin talked most of the evening, often quietly having side conversations while the rest of the group discussed something else.
All in all, it was a lovely evening.
But Fallon couldn’t wait for her team to return so they could move their plan forward.
Brak joined Fallon for a run the next morning. Despite not being able to exercise for the past two weeks, Fallon kept up with Brak as they ran around the track above the gym. Brak made her work for it though. As always.
“So your team will be back in a day or two?” Brak wasn’t even winded. She simply looked fantastic, with her strong body and her iridescent scales.
Fallon was sure she did not look fantastic. She was soaked with sweat and probably red-faced. “Yes.”
“Can I assume that whenever they get done with whatever they’re doing, you have plans to do things I shouldn’t know about?”
“Fair assessment,” Fallon agreed.
“Ah.” Brak said no more, and Fallon appreciated her discretion.
“I do have plans that involve the Onari, though. I’d like to talk to you, Jerin, and Kellis privately at some point today.” It took some effort to spare enough of her lung power to get such a long sentence out.
“Ahhh.” This time, Brak sounded satisfied. “I can coordinate that, if you like.”
“That’d be great.”
“Okay. Are you ready to get serious about this run?”
Fallon wondered how much more serious they could get, but she wasn’t one to pass up a challenge. “Let’s go.”
Fallon invited her friends from the Onari to her quarters. Once they’d settled in the sitting area, she launched right in. She looked from Jerin to Brak to Kellis as she talked.
“You know that I’m working an off-the-books mission. I’m also pretty sure you know that I’m working directly against all official and unofficial PAC departments.”
She saw no flickers of surprise. She continued, “Anyone who wants to know nothing more of this should say so now.”
Silence.
“Okay.” She forged ahead. “Anyone who doesn’t want to get involved with espionage and, possibly, treason, should say so now.”
Still not a peep.
“Really? I’m talking about some bad shit here, and once you know about it, there’s no not knowing it. You’ll be in, whether you like it or not.”
Kellis spoke up. “Could you move on? We didn’t have you on our ship for months because we thought you were selling muffins.” She glanced at Jerin and her cheeks grew pink.
Jerin waved a hand at Kellis. “You said what we’re all thinking.”
Fallon took a breath, preparing to say words that no BlackOp ever did. “My team and I, as you may have suspected, are part of Blackout. Someone corrupt has taken it over, and we’re trying to take control. If we don’t, every treaty the PAC has ever signed will be publicly broken, and we’ll be embroiled in war for decades to come.”
She gave them a moment to process that, then dropped another bomb on them. “We’re setting up a rebellion, right here on Dragonfire. And we want the Onari to be part of it. I want you to make Dragonfire your home port. I’ll ensure that you’re properly funded, and in return, you’ll be our allies and, perhaps, run missions for us.”
“What could we do to help? You already have a top-notch infirmary and CMO here on the station,” Jerin said.
“We do,” Fallon acknowledged. “But we need Brak. Whatever Krazinski is planning, it involves the kind of dangerous technology that blew a chunk out of my brain. I need her, ready and able to analyze any data, or any medical technology I discover. Possibly to look after other test subjects, if we find them.” She shifted her gaze to Kellis. “Kellis has already expressed a strong desire to be of help, because of her abhorrence for corruption and the suffering it causes. She brings technological and mechanical expertise that could be invaluable to us.”
Kellis nodded.
“And me?” asked Jerin. “What do I have to offer?”
Fallon smiled. “To be honest, I’m not sure. Yet. The Onari is a heck of a ship though, with a heck of a crew, and I need all the allies I can get.”
“Fair enough.” Jerin looked satisfied. “Who all is in on this?”
“My team, including Ross. Nevitt. Arin and Endra know something’s up, but none of what I’ve told you here. Wren knows I’m a BlackOp, but little else.”
“That’s it?” Jerin’s eyebrows arched high. “That’s a pretty small rebellion.”
“I guess I’m conservative when it comes to gambling with people’s lives,” Fallon returned dryly. “I’d like to bring Arin in, but I’m not certain he’d want to be involved, and once I reveal the situation, I can’t just let