e-burnt-out skyscrapers, sunken roads, shattered glass froze

ife still cl

ball wrapped in wire and cloth. A woman stirred stew over a fire built from

peless. It w

ow it was a base-a hub of generators, medicine, water purifiers, and people. T

quieter here. "You could get across the whole city in ten

scent of oil, metal, sweat-and beneath it all

ng near a termin

made it," she said col

. "She came on her

luctant nod. "

l to a sealed door. Behind it was s

ooted it up. A hologram flickered to life-grainy footage of Solaran soldiers sealing evacuation gates. Protest

were told you didn't want to be

, eyes hard. "We b

the footage.

to us," she

aid. "They

usted-every lesson, every polished speech a

she said. "But I can get thi

d better keep you aliv

hoed above. Dust fell from the cei

Coalition patrol. They

d to Aeryn. "Hope you brought mor

reath-and followed