n't s

ace-my face-disappe

dn't stop moving. He didn't flinch, didn't complain. He

coul

I was-and the question I'd been avoiding since the day K

en beneath the roots of a dead tree. She greete

made the

I asked her as soon as t

ou'll need to be

bout Theta. About th

but I raised a hand. I ne

'Because you weren't

ot your d

tted. "It was

eath

it, I would protect you. Not just physically. Emotionally. Psychologic

"Tell me the tr

ogram shimmered to life between us. A grainy feed. My mothe

lication trials. If you're seeing this, it means I failed. Damon fo

ffened b

"And if Damon controls her, he controls everything. The

ult?" I

place where your m

ke her. Get her out. And if she ever asks-tell her I loved h

eed e

ce fo

by bench, my legs t

d come for me,"

vive it," Lira replie

ilent for

mething. That Calla wasn'

here are more. But she's t

ered. "I'm a li

nd crouched in front of

t feel

cking bomb in th

Kael. "What

e what your mother hid. And then..." He pau

ed like

sounded li

e being afrai

sky bu

*************

ght

twisted toward the clouds, broken panels dangling like feath

ter with an old sniper scope. "Three guards. East tower. One

transport?"

't taken off yet.

y in," Kael sa

t me guess-you want me

k at me. "You'r

a added. "Your neural weave's stronger

hing," I mumbled – but my mouth

was another step clos

wor

ently. "You don't hav

isn't about proving.

Alright. Thirty seconds after you start the run, we move

the g

sharp. "I'll

ie. It'd ruin the mome

w arched.

We'll talk i

I was

e Lira had cut earlier, landing in the shadow of a rusted service cart.

g smelled like du

for anything this derelict station should've seen in de

wall, where a loose pip

it across the hanga

ned fast, weapon rai

from the control panel Kael would need. Another guard

rf

space, heart hammering,

d by

ff behind me-Lira's distrac

round and disabling another with a fluid twist. Lira's voice echoed t

the transport and slapped the

he unconscious

ll into the co-pilot's chair, and

u can fly this

ked. "You

es roared

a halt-too late. The ramp is sealed. Lira swu

lyers inboun

replied, slamming t

into the sky with

, and for a breathles

rning light

," I said. "It's not a m

darkened. "He se

h dropped

or him. "No. So

m the clouds-black wings, a humanoid fram

his teeth.

" I a

out to teach a mo