Science has not yet mastered prophecy. We predict too much for the next year and yet far too little for the next ten.

  -- Neil Armstrong

  Luca pushed eggs around his plate and tried not to meet Karen's eyes. The hotel restaurant had given them a private corner booth with a view of the street below, which would have been nice if Karen wasn't currently staring down the entire crew like a disappointed parent.

  She wasn't yelling. That was somehow worse. Just sitting there with her arms crossed and a look on her face that walked the line between amused and annoyed.

  Emily sat next to him, working through her breakfast with careful focus. Zoe picked at her fruit across the table. Danny and Ryan had both gone very interested in their coffee. Chris and Joey were doing slightly better, but even they looked like they wanted to sink into the booth cushions.

  Karen let the silence stretch out. Then she leaned forward and fixed Luca with a look that made him feel about twelve years old.

  "Do you know what a honeytrap is, Luca?"

  He blinked. "Uh. Yeah?"

  "Care to explain it to the group?"

  Luca glanced sideways at the others. No help there. He cleared his throat. "It's when you set up bait to draw someone out."

  "Exactly." Karen's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Funny thing about honeytraps. They work best when the bait doesn't know it's bait. That way everyone acts natural and the whole setup looks genuine."

  Luca's stomach dropped.

  Karen gestured toward the window. "Those painfully obvious IFC and UER vehicles you spotted last night? The ones practically screaming 'we're important security details, please don't look at us'?" She paused for effect. "Those were part of the trap."

  Emily winced beside him. Zoe muttered something under her breath that Luca didn't catch.

  "We wanted to see who would make a move," Karen continued. "Draw out anyone planning sabotage or surveillance. Let them think they'd found a vulnerability." She tilted her head. "And it was working beautifully until two of my Alpha Centauri celebrities decided to go hunting."

  "We got the guys, though," Luca said. The words came out more defensive than he'd intended. "Two of them. They were setting up for something."

  "Oh, you got them alright," Karen said. Her tone went dry. "One's still in the hospital with a fractured skull. The other is hanging by a thread in a coma." She let that sink in for a moment. "They were setting up for something, yes. And yes, you took them down efficiently. But the point wasn't just to catch two operatives. The point was to map the entire network. See who else showed up. Who gave orders. Where the money trail led."

  Erik cleared his throat from his spot near the wall. Luca hadn't even noticed him there. The big Swede looked vaguely uncomfortable, which on Erik meant a slight shift in posture.

  "To be fair," Erik said slowly, "at least they got results. Could have been worse."

  Karen shot him a look.

  Erik's throat-clearing intensified. "Not that it was ideal. Or recommended. Just... acknowledging the outcome."

  "Thank you, Erik." Karen turned back to Luca. "Look, I get it. You've been fighting and making your own calls for years. But you're not in a portal overflow or a combat zone right now. You're in the middle of a intelligence operation with a lot of moving parts."

  "We didn't mean to mess up your operation," Emily said quietly. "We just saw what looked like a problem and reacted."

  Karen's expression shifted again. "I know. And honestly, if the situation had been what it looked like, you would have been right to act." She sighed. "But that's exactly why we had watchers on the watchers. Backup for the backup."

  Luca glanced at Erik, who was suddenly very interested in the ceiling.

  "We're not looking to be babysat through this whole tour," Zoe said. "We're adults. We can handle ourselves."

  "I know you can handle combat," Karen said. "I'm less convinced you understand how to handle reporters, politicians, and intelligence operatives who are very good at creating public images of people."

  "So what are you saying?" Luca asked. "That we need people hovering over us the entire time?"

  "I'm saying you need to trust that we have things under control. And if something feels off, you come to me or Erik before you start taking down surveillance teams in parking garages."

  "Fine," he said finally. "We'll check in before going off-script. But we're not going to just sit back and smile for cameras while people take shots at us."

  Karen studied him for a long moment. Then she nodded. "Fair enough. Just remember that taking shots doesn't always mean blasters and explosives. Sometimes it's a planted story or a rigged interview or a photo taken at exactly the wrong moment." She glanced around the table at all of them. "You're celebrities now. That comes with different kinds of dangers."

  "Fantastic," Ryan muttered. "I preferred the kind that tried to eat us."

  "Those were simpler," Danny agreed.

  Karen's expression shifted to something that might have been sympathy. "I know this isn't what you signed up for. None of you wanted to be poster children for humanity's expansion into the stars. But that's what we need to navigate." She paused. "That said, I'm not going to lock you in hotel rooms and only let you out for scheduled appearances. You want some freedom, you've got it. Just be smart about it."

  Luca caught the slight smile on Karen's face and felt some of the tension ease. She wasn't actually that mad. Annoyed, sure. Frustrated with having to adjust her plans, definitely. But not furious.

  "Okay," he said. "We'll try to remember we're not on a combat op."

  "I'd appreciate that." Karen glanced at her tablet. "Now, on to more immediate concerns. You have a gala in six hours."

  That was nice, very much in theme.

  Karen's smile turned slightly wicked. "Which means you all need to look presentable. I've arranged for some help with that."

  "Help?" Chris asked warily.

  "Stylists. Hair, mostly. Maybe some grooming." She eyed the guys with exaggerated suspicion. "You've all probably got lice from living in that ship for six months."

  "We don't have lice!" Luca protested.

  "I'm going to personally make sure someone on your future crew knows how to do proper haircuts." She stood up, clearly done with the conversation. "Finish breakfast. Stylists arrive in forty-five minutes. And yes, that's mandatory."

  She walked off before anyone could argue. Erik gave them a sympathetic look and followed her out.

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  Ryan stared after them. "Did she just call us dirty?"

  "I think she called us potentially lice-ridden," Danny corrected.

  "That's worse!"

  "I showered last week!"

  Ryan opened his mouth, closed it, then apparently decided he didn't have anything positive to say. He went back to his eggs.

  Luca caught Emily's eye and found her trying not to laugh. "What?"

  "Nothing," she said, voice carefully innocent. "Just thinking about how we're war heroes but also apparently in need of delousing."

  "I'm going to tell the stylist to give you a terrible haircut."

  "You wouldn't dare."

  ---

  Three hours later, Luca sat in a chair in the hotel suite while a woman with incredibly precise scissors did something to his hair that involved far more attention to detail than he'd expected. The stylist had introduced herself as Claire and immediately started hacking away at Danny's head.

  Around the room, the rest of the crew had been getting similar treatment. Ryan was complaining about something to his stylist. Danny looked crisp and proper.

  Emily and Zoe were in the adjoining room with their own stylists, which Luca took to mean the process was likely more involved for them.

  Karen supervised from near the window, tablet in hand, ordering everyone about. Michael stood beside her, looking amused by the whole production.

  "You have good hair," Claire announced, having cradled his head while she went about her business. "Thick, healthy. You just need regular trims to keep the shape."

  "Sure," Luca said. He had no idea what shape his hair was supposed to have. It had always just been hair.

  She stepped back, examining her work. "There. Much better."

  Luca looked at himself in the mirror and had to admit the improvement. His hair looked intentional now instead of just grown out.

  "Thanks," he said.

  Eventually Claire and her team packed up and left, leaving the crew looking significantly more polished than when they'd started.

  Karen glanced at the time. "Alright. Go get changed."

  Luca headed for his bedroom and found his outfit laid out on the bed. The formal wear from his High Society portal. Dark, perfectly fitted, with that telltale system-fabric sheen that caught the light differently. The suit looked traditional enough at first glance, but the fabric had weight to it.

  As he stepped back into the main room, the other guys were filtering in, and everyone looked sharp. They all had their own tuxes from that HyperMart delve.

  "Okay, this is nice," Ryan announced. He ran his hand down his sleeve, grinning. "I look good and I'm basically wearing armor. Best of both worlds."

  "Right?" Chris adjusted his collar and checked himself in the mirror. "This fabric is insane. We're probably more protected than half the security in the building."

  "System drops never disappoint," Luca agreed. He flexed his shoulders and felt the fabric move with him perfectly.

  Joey emerged last, looking the most comfortable in formal wear. He'd probably worn suits before. The guy had that steady, put-together vibe that made anything look natural.

  Michael gave them an approving once-over. "Alright, suits, vests, blasters. Seems like we're good to go." He turned to Karen.

  "No blasters!" Karen said immediately.

  Ryan's hand froze halfway to his jacket. "What?"

  "No weapons. This is a gala, not a firefight."

  "But what if—"

  "No."

  "Just a small one—"

  "Ryan."

  Luca wanted to argue but suspected it wouldn't go anywhere. Besides, if Karen said no weapons, she probably had security handled. It was about time to trust her anyhow.

  He headed back to his room and grabbed his Phantom Cloak from the previous night. Danny followed suit, retrieving Zoe's Phantom Cloak from the adjoining room.

  Ryan looked up from sulking about the blaster ban and frowned. "Wait, you're bringing the Phantom Cloaks?"

  "Yeah," Luca said. "It's cold out there. January in D.C. isn't exactly tropical."

  "I want a Phantom Cloak too," Ryan said. "I was the one who found them, remember?"

  "We only have two," Luca pointed out.

  "So give me yours. Or Danny's. One of them."

  "I'm keeping mine." Luca draped the cloak over his shoulders experimentally. The fabric settled perfectly, somehow managing to look both dramatic and practical. "Danny's bringing Zoe's."

  "That's not fair!"

  Karen held up a hand before the argument could escalate. "I brought dress coats for everyone. Proper winter wear." She gestured to a rack near the door that Luca hadn't noticed before. Dark overcoats hung in a neat row. "You'll all be warm enough."

  Ryan eyed the coats, then the cloaks, then back to the coats. "The cloaks look cooler."

  "The cloaks are also alien technology that might raise questions," Karen said.

  "Fine," Ryan muttered. "But I'm getting my own Phantom Cloak next time we're in Alpha Centauri."

  Karen glanced over the assembled crew and smiled. "Well, gentlemen, I think you're ready to make quite an entrance."

  ---

  The door to the adjoining room opened. Zoe stepped out first, and Luca heard Ryan make a strangled sound behind him.

  Then Emily followed, and Luca's mouth hit the floor with a shattering impact, leaving behind a two-foot wide crater, red hot to the touch.

  The dress was green. That was the first thing his brain managed to process. Deep green that flowed down to the floor, catching the light as Emily moved. The neckline plunged low, and Luca's eyes went there before he could stop himself. His brain started throwing sparks somewhere between noticing how much skin was visible and trying to remember how to form coherent thoughts.

  Her golden blonde hair fell over her shoulders in loose waves, styled and perfect. The Varnathi necklace and pendant rested just above the neckline, the alien metalwork glinting with that weird inner light the artifacts always had.

  Then she turned slightly, and Luca saw her back. The dress was completely open, showing smooth skin and the freckles he'd traced with his fingers more times than he could count. His mouth went dry.

  Zoe's dress was blue, a rich dark color that hit mid-length on her legs. The cut was similar to Emily's, all clean lines and dangerous necklines, showing off her frame with a cut that felt almost tactical. Her Varnathi anklet sparkled as she moved, drawing attention to long legs that seemed to go on forever.

  Danny made a strangled noise, his knees visibly buckling. He grabbed the back of the couch for support, missed, and slid ungracefully to the floor, staring up at Zoe like he’d just seen a deity.

  "Wow," Chris said. His voice sounded distant.

  Ryan cleared his throat. His eyes darted around the room, landing anywhere except directly on either of them. "You two look... I mean... incredible."

  Zoe laughed and rolled her eyes. "A compliment from Ryan Mitchell. I must be doing something right."

  "Seriously though," Danny managed, after he picked himself up. "Words don't really cut it."

  Luca was still staring at Emily. He knew he should say something. Probably something smooth and charming. Instead what came out was, "You look perfect."

  Emily smiled at him, pleased. Then she glanced down at her neckline and frowned slightly. "I think I'll have to figure out how to keep everything in place. This cut is more adventurous than I remembered."

  Luca's brain supplied several extremely unhelpful thoughts about helping with that problem. He shoved them down and tried to look supportive instead of like someone who was still fighting a raging forest fire in his brain.

  Zoe adjusted a strap on her dress. "And no vests for us, I'm guessing. These weren't exactly designed for thrilling chases." She smirked at the guys.

  Emily caught Luca's eye, and her smile turned knowing. She stepped closer and straightened his collar even though it didn't need straightening. "You clean up pretty well yourself."

  "Thanks," he managed. The faint scent of her perfume hit him and his thoughts scattered again.

  Karen looked them over with clear approval, though even she seemed slightly taken aback by the full effect. "Those dresses are stunning. And the jewelry is mesmerizing." She pulled out her phone. "I'm having my team meet us at the museum for final touches. Make sure everything stays secure and nothing shifts at an inopportune moment."

  "Appreciated," Emily said, still fussing with her neckline.

  "Alright." Karen gestured toward the door. "Vans are waiting downstairs. Time to make an entrance."

  Emily and Zoe grabbed their fur coats from the rack near the door. Deep, luxurious things that probably cost more than Luca wanted to think about. Emily's was white, nearly matching her blonde hair, while Zoe's was a rich dark brown that complemented her dress perfectly.

  Zoe didn't like the idea of wearing furs, but Karen insisted. When in Rome, she'd said.

  They filed out of the suite and headed for the elevators. Luca ended up next to Emily, watching her adjust the fur coat over her shoulders. The contrast between the elegant formality and the warmth it promised was striking.

  The vans waited outside the hotel. He climbed in after Emily and took the seat beside her. Danny and Zoe slid into the row behind them. Ryan, Chris, and Joey took the back row. Karen sat up front with the driver.

  "So where exactly are we going?" Danny asked.

  Karen glanced back with a smile. "The Smithsonian. National Air and Space Museum."

  The entire crew perked up. Luca felt a grin spread across his face despite his best efforts to stay cool. "Wait. We're getting VIP access to the Air and Space Museum?"

  "This really is once-in-a-lifetime," Danny said. He sounded about twelve years old with excitement.

  Karen's expression turned amused as she watched their reactions. "The United Earth Republic is rolling out the full treatment."

  Luca couldn't argue with that. The Air and Space Museum had been on his list of places to visit since he was a kid. Getting to actually go felt surreal.

  Then Karen's expression shifted to something more serious. "One more thing. The UER is assigning handlers for you during these events."

  The mood in the van cooled slightly. Luca frowned. "Handlers?"

  "It's not negotiable," Karen said. Her tone made it clear she'd already fought this battle and lost. "But it won't be individual handlers hovering over each of you. Just two or three for the whole group. They're there to help manage things and control the narrative."

  "Control the narrative," Ryan repeated flatly.

  "Make sure you don't say anything that gets taken out of context or causes a diplomatic incident," Karen clarified. "Think of them as helpful guides who also happen to be making sure you don't accidentally start an international incident."

  "Guess we'll just have to sneak away when they're not looking," Zoe said. Her grin was wicked.

  Everyone laughed, and even Karen smiled, though hers had a warning edge.

  "Just try not to make it too obvious," she said.