The transmission ended. Joakim felt a great sadness rise in his gut. What in the universe did Amayas mean? What …

  The proximity alarms blasted his ears.

  Two beats later, the Persephone shook.

  He didn’t want to know.

  Randolph raced in.

  “Joakim, hurry please. We need to reach the evac pods. Nobody knows what’s happening. Hurry, sir, before it’s too late.”

  He walked. The Persephone did not shudder again.

  Instead of the evac pods, Joakim made his way to the command deck amid narrow, panicked corridors.

  Disciplined chaos ruled the deck. Capt. Nimes Barked orders.

  “What did we hit?” Joakim asked.

  Nimes gathered his breath.

  “Debris from the Menelaus.”

  He visited a classroom there with Angela. He remembered the persistent boy who kept raising his hand.

  “Tell me, Captain. What happened?”

  “Single vessel. Out of nowhere. Worm tech. It annihilated the Menelaus and jumped away.”

  He knew the answer, at least as an estimate, but asked anyway.

  “How many Chancellors onboard?”

  “Eight hundred sixty-three.”

  He thought of the school, the most renowned in the fleets.

  “How many children?”

  “Classes were in session. One hundred eighty.”

  Joakim Barter bent over and vomited at the captain’s feet.

  35

  3 standard hours before the arrival

  Arakaat Crater Shipyards

  T HE INVENTOR’S SOLDIERS took their prisoners away before the warships broke from their moorings and launched. They flung the diplomatic corps into three rooms. Angela’s team waited in silent shock alongside David Bendi and another Zwahili observer.

  “Why have they done this?” David asked.

  “It’s Hussein,” Angela said. “He figured it out.”

  “Your scheme, yes, but I have been loyal.”

  Bendi’s eyes betrayed him. Why didn’t Angela see it before?

  “You black bastard. You were working with him. You’ve been spying on me.”

  “You came here to steal the warships, just as you did Scylla. I know your story. I did not have to spy.”

  David lunged toward Angela, triggering Peter to block his way, fists chest-high. The single soldier at the door grunted.

  “Life is short. Don’t make it shorter.”

  No one challenged the pulsating rifle aimed their way.

  “Next one who speaks won’t make it to sunrise.”

  No one disobeyed.

  Angela spent the next hour broken. She ran it over in her mind: One failure followed by another on the insane premise that next time would produce success. In what cudfrucking universe did she really believe this would work?

  I can’t go back. They’ll space me.

  She and her team came here prepared to die for the cause, but she wasn’t going to let these four good people be slaughtered.

  Options. I need options. There are always options.

  She began with Chancellor 101: Leverage.

  What did she possess that someone else might want? How then might she use it?

  Tramel and his fleet rose to the top of the heap. If she gave them up, pointed the Inventor’s forces to the Nexus, what might she ask for in return? Would it be enough? Joakim Barter was next. He was the Inventor’s most important ally. If Amayas was told of the betrayal, if Angela claimed to be following orders …

  Maybe. Joakim and the Admiralty ordered me to do this or face exile. They are the true villains.

  Plausible, perhaps. But could she sell it? Did they even care?

  Like all her other schemes, this one had no real chance. She scripted her words anyway and visualized her tone in front of the Inventor. What choice remained? She fell off the cliff. Now she had to fly.

  Angela had not lost her resolve when the door slipped open at last. The hulk in shimmering gold, covered from head to toe, filled much of the threshold. He entered but was not alone. A man followed in elegant dress, right down to the white gloves. For a second, Angela’s spirits rose. She might make her case to the Inventor. She might …

  It wasn’t him.

  A Hokki.

  The elegant man waited until the shimmering soldier studied the prisoners and nodded. The Hokki turned to the guard who kept the room quiet for so long.

  “Jeneris, take everyone but the Chancellors to Quay 13. Take special care of this one.” He pointed to David Bendi. “Amayas is very disappointed in him. Observer Bendi will cooperate. Yes?”

  David did not go without a word.

  “She is the true villain here.” He shouted at Angela. “She placed the entire Alliance at risk.”

  “Thank you, Observer Bendi. We don’t need help understanding the situation. Leave while we’re still generous.”

  The diplomats gone, the Hokki clasped his white-gloved hands together and sighed.

  “He was correct. Your actions would have undermined years of valuable work. I don’t recall having occasion to meet any of you. My name is Shin Wain. Think of me as the right flank to Amayas Knight.” He nodded to the golden soldier. “And this man as his left. The question before us now is a simple one: What use do you serve?”

  Angela saw her moment.

  “I have information you need. I’ll trade it for our lives.”

  “No good traitor enters the fray without a bargaining chip. I hope your bag is full because I’m about to snatch a few chips away. We destroyed Constantin Tramel’s fleet. We punished Joakim Barter. You cost your people close to a thousand lives. Roughly ten percent of what you lost on Aeterna. What do you have that we need?”

  A laser blast between the eyes might have been best after all. Angela had nothing. Not even tears for the dead.

  Her team imploded. Cries. Curses. Resignation.

  When she didn’t respond, Shin Wain turned to the soldier.

  “Are you sure you wish to go this route?”

  The man in gold nodded. “I’ll give it a try.”

  The soldier bent down in front of Siobhan Morrow.

  “I remember you from Scylla,” he said. “Where did they take Exeter Woolsey?”

  Siobhan scrunched against the wall.

  “Who?”

  The soldier reached for his face. A swoop of his fingers unwound the helmet like a scarf. He tossed the compressed ball of molten gold against his chest. It dissolved into the armor, which phase-shifted. She saw a circulatory system pulsing through the armor until it reverted to solid metal. Crystal eyes twinkled as if relishing the surprise reveal. The man in his twenties wore a thick blond beard, and his bald skull featured a red tattoo with an emblem Siobhan did not recognize.

  “Where is he, Siobhan?”

  “You. How? I don’t …”

  Angela didn’t know the man, but his question meant she wasn’t out of the game.

  “I know Exeter Woolsey well. If you want him alive, let’s deal.”

  “Where is he?”

  “I need assurances.”

  He rose to his feet.

  “For all five, or just you?”

  “All of us.”

  “OK. These three coits over there. What can they offer?”

  Angela hesitated no more than two beats, but she was too slow. He reached into the gold shield and swung his pistol clear.

  One. Two.

  Peter Montana opened his mouth to beg.

  Three.

  He shot them in the head. Blood spattered to form wall art.

  Siobhan sobbed.

  “Why?” She looked up at him through her tears. “If I didn’t kill Dayton Romilius, you’d be dead, Ryllen.”

  “That’s why you’re still breathing. I go by Royal these days.”

  “Please. Royal, give us another chance. We know where Exeter is. He was important to you, right?”

  Royal shared a moment with Shin Wain. Angela did not hear their whispers, but she sensed a lifeline coming.

  “Yes,” Royal said as they separated. “Tell him not to worry, Shin. It’s worth the try.”

  “Your window is closing. They’ll be here soon.”

  “I’ve got it covered. Thank you, Shin.”

  The Hokki raised a condescending brow toward Angela as he exited. Royal holstered his weapon inside the organic armor.

  “You Chancellors are the worst. You know that? The worst. But hey, two of your kind created me in a lab. That’s gotta count for something. So, about this deal.”

  Angela pushed herself to her feet.

  “Yes, Royal. I’ll tell you everything you need to know, but we must discuss terms. First, I want safe passage from Arakaat.”

  “No, no, no. You don’t get it. I know where you sent Exeter, and I know where he’s headed. Here’s the deal, lady. I’m going to grant you passage, but not a safe one. It’s like earning a grade for effort. Sounds nice at first, but it doesn’t mean shit in the long run.”

  “What are you saying?”

  Royal grabbed a chunk of gold from his chest plate and swirled it over his head. The perfect helmet covered him in a blink.

  “This story is so much bigger than Angela Poussard. Time to face your worst nightmare because he’s coming for you. Wait until the shooting starts then run. If you move any sooner, you’ll be cut down. Both of you.”

  The door closed behind him.

  Angela grabbed Siobhan and pulled her close.

  Aziz Hussein never wanted the Arakaat Project to end this way, but two ships were saved, and the third might yet be. He watched with confidence as his fellow Persians navigated Charybdis toward the designated demarcation for testing the Worm drivers: A hundred thousand kilometers from Euphrates.

  “Capt. Omar? How she’s holding up?”

  “Outstanding, Chairman Hussein.”

  Aziz turned to the Inventor.

  “I’m pleased you chose to join us for this moment.”

  Amayas Knight wore a suit of brown and red – the colors of the Persians. He removed his gloves and flexed his fists.

  “It’s an honor. Of all those in the Alliance, you’ve been among the most loyal. Your people have pure hearts. That can’t be said for many. Are we ready to open the aperture?”

  “We are.”

  Amayas threw open a holo and tossed it to Capt. Omar.

  “Pass along the coordinates to Hermes. The ships will be safe there.”

  “Thank you, Inventor,” Omar said.

  Amayas raised his voice for all to hear.

  “We’ll give you a speedy return home. Your families in the workers city will be fine. My right hand will issue an evacuation order.”

  Aziz felt a twinge of uneasiness.

  “Evacuation? Why, Amayas?”

  “A precaution. They’ll take the emergency tunnels to the desert for now. I’ve arranged an orderly pickup.”

  “The facility is in danger?”

  “It’s irrelevant. I want you to appreciate what you have.”

  “We do. Captain, are you ready to …?”

  A navigator swung into the mix.

  “Captain, two Worm apertures have opened on the far side of Euphrates. They’re on a trajectory for Arakaat.”

  Aziz turned to Amayas.

  “Yours?”

  “No. Expected guests, nonetheless.” To the navigator, he added: “Tell me when one or both finds us on a system sweep.”

  “Who are they?”

  “That, Aziz, is a long story. Perhaps I’ll share it someday.”

  The navigator signaled.

  “We’ve been seen. Good. Capt. Omar, it’s time for these ships to enter Worm.”

  Aziz didn’t know what to make of the moment, but he didn’t try to countermand the order. Why question the Inventor?

  36

  1.5 standard hours before the arrival

  Aeternan Navy strike force

  T HE NAVAL TROOP SHIP (NTS) CROWFOOT shuttered as it jumped out of Worm to the final staging position. Platoon 7 moved toward the egress, locked and loaded. Exeter felt at home inside the full-body, black-and-bronze armor. It didn’t weigh as heavy as the Talon suit, perhaps because the synaptic functions were not as thorough. Nonetheless, being shrouded head to toe in midnight with his eyes aided by the unit’s AI took him back to the Swarm battlefields. The hunger to kill also returned.

  Exeter allowed the armor to see for him and the Occip to do the rest. Intership comms indicated successful arrival followed at once by anger. He heard Michael Cooper’s voice. He was arguing with Admiral Rafael Kane aboard the Battlecruiser Milos. The warships weren’t in drydock. Was the mission off?

  Seconds later, orders arrived.

  “Crowfoot, do not deviate,” Admiral Kane said. “Take the facility. Eliminate armed resistance and secure sensitive locations per your mission parameters. We have detected the warships. Scrambling new coordinates to pursue. Milos out.”

  Cap Silver’s voice flooded Occip.

  “Platoon, go on pack. Assault stance. Verify your acquisition and targeting links. On my mark.”

  For a time, Exeter thought he’d never see combat again. He dreaded the very idea. Yet, this was happening. His blood stirred. He heard the chant among the platoon and joined in.

  “Fuck yes. Fuck yes.”

  “Enter final Worm in ten seconds,” Cap Silver announced. “Jump duration: three seconds. And five, four, three, two …”

  A slight shudder preceded the Crowfoot’s cannons leveling a spray of missiles at the facility’s perimeter defense platforms.

  “Outer wall is breached,” Cap Silver said. “Platoon 7 …”

  The egress pixelated open. Dim shades of dusk painted Arakaat.

  “Launch.”

  Exeter flew, the Occip guiding Platoon 7 toward their primary target, a collection of offices and diplomatic quarters above the docking quays. Several shuttles were leaving Arakaat, but they weren’t considered important. Ground fire erupted.

  Blue bolts rose in parallel streams. Exeter surrendered to Occip; it guided his maneuvers. He unholstered his second rifle and unleashed the fury of both on the closest enemy. The facility schematic overlaid the positions of every burst of energy weapons.

  He took one in the gut and spun, but the energy bolt was absorbed and scattered. Occip reset the jet pack to a steady course. Exeter communed with both rifles. His weapons became arms.

  Focus on one enemy. No division of labor. Efficient. Precise.

  He wasn’t sure whether the words belonged to him or Occip.

  Whatever the transaction, it worked.

  He shattered his target.

  Exeter heard the reports: Others were falling as well.

  One Aeternan also down.

  “Platoon 7, land and proceed to primary target.”

  Exeter complied, coming to a smooth landing on a rooftop. Occip showed him the locations of the remaining enemy. His brothers and sisters were moving into position to counter them. Only one was near. He had to take the chance.

  Body armor diagnostics showed minimal damage from the hit, and he felt no pain, but the synaptic function was reconstructing at ninety percent. He understood armor combat management. Talon suits worked on a similar principle. Very simply: It was OK to be shot so long as you didn’t walk into a barrage. Too high an energy tenor would shred the synaptics.

  He liked having the high ground, but it wasn’t as good as flying. He couldn’t stay here. They needed to reach the administrator’s offices and secure the warship designs.

  Exeter jumped down into an empty corridor. Four bodies lay crumpled, only one in armor. Two were shot in their nightclothes.

  The fallen soldier wore armor he’d never seen and was a smoking hulk, shattered at the waist. Occip gathered quick intel and showed him the way forward.

  Blue bolts set upon him. He felt a pain up his spine before recovering. He spun and fired.

  He threw bolt after bolt into the enemy. Direct hits. Twenty. Thirty. Forty.

  Was he seeing things? The enemy, at least thirty meters away, was morphing before his eyes. He appeared to grab the energy bolts and fling them away like toys. And his suit? What was it doing?

  It was alive.

  This enemy did not resemble the one at Exeter’s feet. He shimmered gold in the morning light, but it wasn’t a reflection of the early sun.

  Exeter continued to fire, yet the enemy holstered his weapons and held up his arms as if to surrender.

  He sought advice from Occip. This was a trick. Not even the worst of the Swarm compared to this … thing.

  Exeter stopped firing.

  The golden monster swept a hand across his head and threw away his helmet like a shirt caught in the wind.

  So, it was a man after all.

  Wait. No.

  The light was too dim. Yes, that was the problem. This creature couldn’t be. A beard, a tattooed skull. The eyes were the giveaway. The eyes that once drew him in and demanded his heart.

  “I don’t have much time,” Royal shouted. “Listen to me, X. You don’t know what this is really all about. It’s so big. It’s incredible. Look at me! We can have everything.”

  “RJ. How can this be?”

  “Make a decision. Come with me. We’ll have each other forever, just like we talked about.”

  Each other.

  That’s what he promised between each battle, after each regen.

  You can’t do this without me.

  And always the extra warning. The words that implied how helpless Exeter was.

  “I don’t know what happened to you,” Exeter shouted, “but I’m an Aeternan now. I’m done with you.”

  “Fuck the Aeternans. You’re too good for them.”

  “They gave me a home.”

  “Your home is with me. I love you, X.”

  You can’t do this without me.

  Exeter felt a moment without the stifling fear or the urgent sense of dependency. He remembered.

  “You never loved me. It was only him. The first one.”

  Kai Durin.

  Exeter’s arms took over. He opened fire.