Chapter 4 - The Admiral at the Reception
Thomas Vale arrived twenty minutes later.
He didn't know we knew.
That gave us an advantage.
The reception had moved into the main hall.
Vale entered smiling, shaking hands, congratulating Lauren.
Then he saw me.
The smile survived.
His eyes didn't.
"Rebecca Mercer."
"Admiral Vale."
"I heard you'd left service."
"You heard incorrectly."
He glanced toward Mother.
She looked away.
That was enough.
Vale turned back to me.
"Still disappearing?"
"Only when necessary."
Lauren joined us.
"Admiral."
"Captain Mercer." Vale smiled. "Congratulations. Your mother must be proud."
Lauren's expression remained professional.
"She is."
Vale gestured toward me.
"Quite a surprise guest."
"I invited her."
That wasn't technically true.
But I appreciated it.
Vale looked at me.
"How long are you staying?"
"Long enough."
His smile tightened.
"For?"
"Lauren's readiness review sounds interesting."
For the first time, his expression cracked.
"That's an internal matter."
"I'm aware."
"You won't be involved."
"I didn't say I would."
I let silence do the work.
Vale leaned closer.
"Rebecca, whatever you think you're doing—"
"I haven't done anything."
"You never have to."
There it was.
Fear.
Not of me.
Of records.
I lowered my voice.
"Did you provide my travel information to Margaret Mercer?"
Vale glanced toward Mother.
"That's a serious accusation."
"I asked a question."
"No."
Mother spoke behind him.
"Thomas."
Vale turned.
She walked toward us.
"Tell the truth."
His expression hardened.
"Margaret."
"You told me Rebecca was coming."
"You contacted me."
"And you confirmed it."
People nearby began noticing.
Vale lowered his voice.
"This isn't the place."
Mother surprised all of us.
"That's what I told Rebecca."
She looked at me.
"I was wrong."
Vale's jaw tightened.
"Margaret, don't."
Mother continued.
"You told me Rebecca's appearance would destabilize Lauren's ceremony."
Lauren stared at him.
"You discussed my command ceremony?"
"I was helping your mother."
"By sharing my sister's protected travel information?"
Vale looked at me.
"You've poisoned this family against me in twenty minutes."
I shook my head.
"I haven't needed to say much."
Brooks approached with two officers.
"Admiral Vale."
He turned.
"We need to speak with you regarding an access inquiry."
His face went pale.
"On whose authority?"
Brooks answered calmly.
"Security command."
Vale looked at me.
"This is you."
"No."
I pointed toward the cameras above the checkpoint.
"This is documentation."
He stepped toward me.
"Fifteen years ago, you nearly destroyed several careers because you refused to understand how senior command works."
"I understood perfectly."
"You were young."
"Your certification shortcuts nearly killed sailors."
"Careful."
Ramirez appeared.
His burn scar was visible beneath the bright lobby lights.
Vale saw him.
Ramirez said nothing.
He didn't need to.
Vale's shoulders dropped slightly.
Lauren looked at the scar.
Then at Vale.
"What exactly happened?"
Vale answered immediately.
"An accident."
Ramirez finally spoke.
"Three sailors were burned."
Vale glared at him.
"Chief—"
"One never returned to duty."
"That's enough."
"No, sir."
Ramirez's voice stayed respectful.
"But it's not enough."
Brooks stepped between them.
"Admiral Vale, we'll continue this privately."
Vale turned toward Lauren.
"Captain Mercer, think carefully about who you're aligning yourself with on your first day."
Lauren stared at him.
Then she removed the command folder tucked beneath her arm.
"My first responsibility isn't alignment."
She looked directly at him.
"It's the people under my command."
For the first time that day, I saw the commander she had become.
Not Mother's daughter.
Not my little sister.
Captain Lauren Mercer.
Vale was escorted away for questioning.
Mother stood beside me.
"You knew that would happen."
"No."
"You suspected."
"Yes."
She studied me.
"You haven't changed."
"I have."
"How?"
I watched Lauren talking quietly with Ramirez.
"Fifteen years ago, I would have tried to protect everyone myself."
Mother looked at me.
"And now?"
"Now I know people deserve the truth so they can protect themselves."
Mother's eyes dropped.
"Even from their mother?"
May you like
I looked at her.
"Especially then."
