A sturdy knock on the door caused my heart to hammer in my chest. It was Isaac, I knew that knock too well. Only moments ago had I ended the call with Useless, feeling as though our conversation needed to occur in person rather than across a transmission. More secure that way. Looked like I'd been correct in that assumption. Always lurking this one...

"I know you're awake. We need to talk." Isaac's gruff voice drifted in from the corridor beyond the door. As I watched the door to my personal space slide open it was clear his words weren't meant as a request but rather a statement. We would talk whether I wished to or not.

"What if I'd been naked in here?" I muttered, shifting my weight to the edge of my sleeping cot in preparation for the upcoming lecture. I pegged him with a hard expectant stare, A need to hear his response a tickle in my muscles. 

The door shut behind Isaac who loomed over me arms crossed in that self-assured way of his. "You would have stated that at the first knock."

He wasn't wrong but did he have to be so blunt about it?

I mirrored his posture, my own arms now crossed over my abdomen in defense against the imminent brawl I didn't feel like having. As my words tumbled with ease off my tongue I realized that maybe I did, in fact, pick nine out of ten fights we found ourselves having. "So what do I owe the pleasure? Let me guess, that virus causing you problems?"

Isaac's jaw tightened a fraction of an inch, just enough for me to take note. Seemed I had hit the nail on its head, not that I was shocked. The sole purpose of the virus was to induce panic in those who triggered her. Dear Uncle Isaac showing up was proof the plan I set in motion was successful.

"I'm not here to argue," Issac stated in a flat tone. "Are those dreams still occurring?"

His inquiry caught me off guard and caused me to drop my challenging gaze. I'd regretted the decision I made to tell him about them almost immediately after I had. Then again, when you had a teen girl waking up in the dead of night screaming for help an explanation was in order. Not that I could offer up a good one, I had no hint as to why I had them just that I did. It was the one thing Isaac couldn't help but ask about.

My shoulders rose and fell in a lazy motion. "Same ol' same ol' I guess. More intense than before."

He nodded, his frame unmoving from the spot he stood. "Same place?"

This time I shook my head. From time to time the dream would change. It only happened twice, however, and the previous time Isaac hadn't been there to hear about it. "A damp dark cell now. Maybe in a prison or something? It's creepy whatever it is. Like the walls are taunting me."

Isaac's body stiffened at my statement and the air in the room shifted at the slight action. "Logan, you've had your fun, you're putting us all in danger by altering the ship's system code."

One day I'd manage not to roll my eyes at this man, but today wasn't that day. I didn't know why his attitude had taken on such a sudden turn but I didn't try to understand. With Isaac I was convinced it couldn't be done. "Oh please. We both know that the second-best coder on this ship is you."

"There are three of us, that comparison isn't accurate in the assessment of skill."

So what if it wasn't an accurate assessment it was the truth. Nix had about as much technological talent as Xazix had hair. None. That left Isaac and me. Technically he was runner up. It didn't matter much to me if I outshined him by a large margin. 

"All I heard was, Logan I desperately need your help."

Isaac let out a huff, his agitation beginning to creep into his mannerisms. One of the tell-tale signs we were getting to the root of our underlining issues. "Why is it always an uphill battle with you?"

My glared darkened as his words washed over me. And there it was, the real problem at play. "Don't act stupid, you know exactly why."

His orbs held mine with an intensity I hadn't seen since we parted ways two years ago. I could tell he was frustrated but it wasn't anger that fueled the reaction. He almost looked remorseful until restrain overtook his expression and the rigid demeanor I'd grown to know returned.

"I hope you grow out of this defiant stage before you end up getting yourself killed."

The words felt dense in the already tension thick room and rooted themselves deep inside my psyche. Did he honestly think I'd die before I turned twenty-one?  I'd never given much thought to the future, let alone how long I'd live. The implication of the statement rattled the otherwise calm facade I had going.

"Sure would solve all your problems though." 

Isaac brought a hand to his rugged face, his palm scrubbing away whatever thought he didn't want to be translated. It looked an awful lot like more frustration, shocker.

"You may find it difficult to believe but your safety is a high priority of mine. This recent stunt of yours has made maintaining it problematic."

My jaw set in defiance. Of course, it would be my stunt that made it hard for him. Didn't matter if it was my chosen profession and how I made money to support myself. Somehow this whole mess fell on my shoulders with the label irresponsible youth. 

I snorted. "You've worn out your welcome. You can leave now."

Indifference hardened into place on his face before Isaac gave me his back. Very rarely did I witness the strange mixture of emotional features on the man. Usually it was a relentless wall of strict discipline.

"We'll be discussing a course of action with the Alpha Centauri Council tomorrow. Try to be rested."

He didn't give any time for me to respond before leaving me alone in my room. Ass hole. There was no way in hell I'd sit before the council or even show up for that matter. My life, my rules, even if those rules sent me to an early grave.