I glanced at Kass. He was following the action just like everyone else in the room, and on the comms, but his gaze was on Sponder and Kass wasn’t even trying to hide his hatred.
This was different. Kass’s jaw was clenched, and he looked not just livid but shocked. Outraged.
“The captain has shared his concerns with me, and I have inspected the data core records reviewed this MCS’s access.”
“How did the captain access the data core records? A captain doesn’t have that level of clearance,” Jennix countered.
“I do,” Commissioner Gaius said, eyes narrowing. Clearly he didn’t like to be doubted. “I looked into the matter personally.” He turned to Kass. “Starfighter MCS Kassius Remeas not only accessed the training program to include himself, but he falsified the training mission data. The accuracy and validity of their training scores has come into question. I, personally, do not believe Kassius Remeas completed the training program, and have asked the military commissioners to initiate a full review of his service record.”
Kass held up a hand, looked from Gaius to Jennix. “I openly admitted to hacking in, but I deny the rest. We completed the training.”
Gaius didn’t seem to care what Kass had to say. “Kassius Remeas, you are under arrest for violating the breach of secrets, accessing data core information beyond your rank, violating a commanding officer’s direct order, and more.”
Jennix stepped forward, blocking the guards who entered the room at the flick of Gaius’s wrist. Over the commissioner’s shoulder, I saw Sponder’s smirk.
“Not until the mission is complete,” Jennix said. “Commissioner, you have to be aware of the IPBM threat to Velerion. MCS Remeas and Becker discovered the location of the factory and how the Dark Fleet is controlling it. Keeping him from the mission will hurt us.”
“He has been of service,” Gaius said. “But to allow him to breach protocol in such an egregious way, and then lead all these teams? No. I will not take that risk. Can you personally guarantee they have the skill necessary to lead such a crucial mission? Cheating means they did not do the work. They did not complete the training. Therefore the lives of all team members would be in jeopardy.” He flicked his wrist toward the comms behind her. Jennix didn’t turn.
“Arrest him after the mission. Have guards in the docking bay waiting for his return.”
She had more faith in Kass than anyone else.
More than I did, apparently.
While Kass denied Sponder’s claims, he had hacked into the training system. It would make sense for him to also be able to manipulate the game itself. Had he felt the need to cheat because I wasn’t actually good enough? Had I completed the levels of the game not because I’d been gaining skill, but because Kass had been hacking the game to guarantee our success?
I looked at Kass. He was still glaring at Sponder.
Gaius stepped toward me, looked me over from head to toe. As if he were searching for—and expecting to find—weakness. “MCS Becker, unfortunately your status as a Starfighter is now in question. Do you deserve to be here? Are you any good?”
I lifted my chin and met his gaze. Refused to look away. I’d felt like this before, when my abilities were doubted. When I’d trusted an informant, believed his lies, and led a team into an ambush. We’d lost two lives that day. I’d blamed myself, and I wasn’t alone. Everyone else had blamed me as well. I’d been demoted, put on a desk job. Nearly fired.
My skill with a computer had saved my career, if not assuaged my guilt. But this time I had no answer. I had no idea if Kass and I had actually completed the missions and won on our own merits, or if he’d cheated and dragged me along for the ride.
Was I good enough? Or was this another lie I’d swallowed, told by another liar I’d trusted with my life as well as the lives of others?
I hated myself a bit for doubting Kass, but I’d been in this situation before.
Gaius looking down his nose at me was the icing on the cake, and I had nothing to say to him. Not. One. Word.
“Take him away. He is a disgrace to the Starfighter uniform,” Gaius said with another flick of his wrist.
A pair of guards surrounded Kass.
I didn’t know what to do. What to believe.
Had he really done it? Cheated to be an MCS? It had nothing to do with me, his ambition. I didn’t blame him for wanting to be away from Sponder, but had he really taken it to this extreme?
I was hurt. Not physically, but was I here because Kass had cheated instead of for my abilities? Was this Berlin all over again? Was I just collateral damage of an alien male’s power trip?
Kass was swiftly cuffed, but he didn’t make it easy. Sponder stepped close to Kass. While the captain was shorter, he must have felt as if he had the upper hand. Especially since Kass’s hands were restrained behind his back.
“Not much of an MCS now,” Sponder said. “You’ll go down as a Velerion without honor.”
Kass glared, then whipped his head forward, headbutting the fucker right in the nose. Holy shit. Blood spurted everywhere, and I stepped back. Sponder howled in pain and clutched his—most likely broken—nose.
The guards yanked on Kass and started to push him out of the room.