“I hear you, Hayden. I do. But what are our options? We barely handled the last problem. We aren’t equipped to deal with this. Look at what we’ve built here. And think about what we already lost. These people depend on us. We can’t afford to play it safe. You know that. I know you do. And I understand. Hallia, Ginny, they give you something, but they also take something away. You want to play it safe. You want to stay away from risk. But living on Earth isn’t a promise of anything. We could have gone to Proxima. We decided to stay here. We have a responsibility.”

  Hayden nodded. “I do know that. And I’m willing to make any sacrifice necessary to protect these people. Except you.”

  “We don’t have room for exceptions. Love doesn’t change that.”

  Hayden sighed, turning to look out at the city. She was right. When wasn’t she?

  “We’d need to find a Relyeh with a bi-directional communications structure. A full ick. Hess said a trife won’t do. They can only receive.”

  “The Relyeh all went into hiding after I took out Shurrath.”

  “They can’t survive here without feeding, and you’re the Sheriff of the United Western Territories. There has to be a lead somewhere you can follow.”

  “Right. I’ll put Solino on it.”

  “Put Hicks on it,” Natalia suggested.

  “Why?” Hayden smiled, remembering Heather. “Oh. Yeah, I guess he deserves a little break. I’ll ping Hicks when we get downstairs.” Hayden looked down at his blood-stained armor. “I need to get out of these clothes. I can only imagine how bad I smell.”

  “It’s pretty bad,” Natalia admitted. She put her hand on his face. “We’ll do this together. I won’t let anything tear down what we’ve built here.”

  “Me neither,” Hayden agreed.

  “I know. We have some hard business to take care of, and then you owe me the rest of the night.”

  “The pleasure is mine, Governor. It’s just a shame it has to be mixed with so much pain.”

  “That’s life, Hayden. Especially here.”

  “Pozz that. Let’s go.”

  42

  Hayden

  Hayden changed in the Law Office, trading his stained and worn armor for his typical Sheriff’s uniform—a dark blue collared shirt, black pants, tan leather boots, ammo belt around his waist and two revolvers holstered beneath his arms—all under a long leather duster. He pinned the silver star-shaped comm to his shirt collar. A larger, slightly melted plastic star was already pinned on the outside of the duster. That star had been given to him by a homeless, hungry, desperate child, and was a constant reminder to him of who and what he was fighting for.

  He asked Hicks to begin looking into recent reports for a potential match to a khoron modus operandi. Like all Relyeh, the worm-like parasites required the pheromones and chemicals emitted during high-stress situations to survive, and there was a good chance they would do something illegal to achieve that.

  The only question was whether or not anyone would report it.

  Hayden and his deputies had worked hard to create a system of trust within the UWT, but too many years of lawlessness and martial control had made a lot of the people cautious. Sometimes too cautious. Hayden didn’t blame them for that. They had reason to be afraid. But they also had reason to hope. He was doing his best to guide them in that direction.

  Hayden and Natalia went from the barracks out into the city. Many of the residents outside waved and said hello as they passed or walked with them a ways to talk about the city or the UWT as a whole. Some asked for things, and some just wanted to say thank you. One survivor from Lavega cursed them for their misfortune and the loss of her home and was quickly brought aside by other residents looking to help comfort her. Natalia broke away from Hayden then, joining the group to deal with the heartbroken woman while he continued through the city.

  As Governor, it was difficult for her to manage all of the people who had lost something but most handled the loss with resignation. It was rare for someone to lash out, but Natalia said she preferred it to silence. It was a symbol of the hope they were trying to bring to the survivors. A display of the belief that their lives shouldn’t end so easily or have so little value.

  Three dead officers typically meant three grieving families, but Cortez had no one besides his brothers and sisters in Law. Nan and Rollins both had families in Sanisco. Nan had parents and a brother, while Rollins had a wife and child. Hayden knew his family would be harder to face. Not only for their loss but also for the reminder of what it could cost his family.

  He entered the apartment building three blocks from the pyramid, climbing the stairs to the third floor. A couple of people there offered somber greetings. They already knew if they saw him in one of the apartments alone or with Natalia it meant someone in Law had died. It left him feeling more depressed than usual. He was like the angel of death, coming to deliver the worst of news. But somebody had to do it, and these people were his responsibility.

  He found Nan’s apartment and knocked on the door. Most families in Sanisco lived together, at least until marriage and new families pulled them apart. Nan’s brother Carlo opened the door.

  “Sheriff Duke,” he said, his face beginning to pale the moment he saw Hayden.

  “Carlo,” Hayden replied, his chest constricting. “Are your folks here?”

  “Yes.” He moved aside. “Come in, Sheriff.”

  Deputy Nan’s mother heard her son, and she came out of her bedroom with tears already in her eyes. Hayden fought to hold back his emotion. He would rather face a thousand trife alone than do this. Nan’s father emerged behind her mother. He was more stoic, his face flat.

  “I’m sorry,” Hayden said. He didn’t need to say much more than that. They knew why he was here. “She died to save her fellow deputies. She died a hero.”

  Mrs. Nan came over to him and threw her arms around him, sobbing into his chest. He held her while she cried. Mr. Nan stood in front of him, watching them, fighting to bury his emotions and mostly succeeding. But not completely.

  Carlo put his arm over his mother’s shoulders. He had tears in his eyes. “What happened, Sheriff?”

  “A trife queen attacked us,” Hayden replied.

  “A queen?” Nan’s father said, surprised.

  “That’s right. We lost two others in the fight.”

  “You’re lucky you made it out alive.”

  Hayden heard the accusation in the man’s voice. He didn’t blame him. Why should he be alive when his daughter was dead? Hayden asked himself that question all the time.

  “We made it out alive because of Kyrie,” Hayden said. “She gave her life for us.”

  “Thank you for coming yourself,” Carlo said, gently trying to pull his mother away. “I’m sure you have a lot of other things to do.”

  “I wish I didn’t,” Hayden said as Mrs. Nan released him. “Of course, you have the full support of the UWT. Whatever you need, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

  “Thank you, Sheriff,” Carlo said. “Goodnight.”

  Hayden nodded, backing toward the door. They were going to be pissed at him for a while. He understood. He left in silence, closing his eyes when he heard Deputy Nan’s mother begin to wail.

  He wiped away the tears as he headed back down the stairs and out into the street.

  43

  Hayden

  “Dad!”

  Hayden smiled and knelt as Ginny rushed over to him, taking her in his arms. She hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek.

  “Good to see you too,” Hayden said. He looked past Ginny to the sofa, where Hallia’s caretaker Heather was sitting with Hallia asleep in her lap. Deputy Solino sat beside her.

  “I think they’re in love,” Ginny whispered into his ear.

  “I think you’re right,” Hayden replied. “How are you, little darlin’?”

  “Good. You should bring me on your next mission with you. I’m useful.”

  “I know you are. But you’re more useful here. Did any trife attack the city today?”

  “No.”

  “See. All you.”

  Ginny laughed. “I’m serious.”

  “So am I.”

  “You both look very serious,” Natalia said. “Thanks for staying late, Heather.”

  “Of course, Governor,” Heather replied. She was young and a little pudgy, with a pretty face that glowed when she smiled, and the perfect, patient demeanor for dealing with an infant and a precocious tween. “Anything I can do to help.”

  “I’ll take things from here,” Natalia said, going over to her and picking up Hallia. “Why don’t you and Deputy Solino go enjoy the rest of the evening?”

  Deputy Solino laughed. “Are you suggesting these two aren’t enjoyable?”

  “Not at all. But adults need a chance to enjoy adult things too.”

  “I’m an adult,” Ginny said. “Close enough, anyway. And if you’re talking about the adult things I think you’re talking about, there’s nothing you can say I haven’t already heard, and probably a lot of it I’ve already seen.”

  Hayden glanced at Natalia. It was easy to forget Ginny had practically raised herself on the streets of Dego. She had also risked her life to save Hayden’s. Not the average twelve-year-old.

  “Right,” Deputy Solino said, face turning red. “Well, that wasn’t what I had in mind. But they are showing Star Wars at the rec center.” He looked at Heather. “Interested?”

  She nodded. “Sure.”

  “Engineer Lil fixed a projector someone brought in,” Solino explained. “High definition for the first time.”

  “Sounds great,” Hayden said.

  “Can I go?” Ginny asked, looking at him.

  It also still took him by surprise when she asked for permission to do things. She technically didn’t need permission. He and Natalia weren’t really her parents. But she had chosen them, and she wanted their approval. She wanted to feel cared for and about.

  And he did love her.

  “Try to stay out of Heather and Nick’s hair,” Natalia said, laughing.

  “I’ll find someone else to bug,” Ginny said.

  “And be back by ten,” Hayden said. “Got it?”

  “Pozz.” She looked at Heather and Deputy Solino. “You two coming?”

  Heather laughed and got to her feet, joined by the deputy.

  “We’ll keep an eye on her,” Solino said. “Or maybe she’ll keep an eye on us.”

  “Bye mom,” Ginny said. “Bye dad. I love you.”

  “Love you too,” Natalia and Hayden replied.

  The trio left the apartment. Natalia sat down with Hallia on her arm. Hayden sat next to her, putting his arm around her. She leaned into his chest.

  “Do you hear that?” Hayden asked.

  “No.”

  “Exactly. I don’t get enough quiet time with my wife anymore.”

  “It’s nice, isn’t it?”

  “Pozz.” Hayden kissed the top of Natalia’s head. “In case I haven’t told you lately. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Sheriff,” she replied. “Always have. Always will.”

  He put his free arm around her, putting his hand on Hallia’s back. They sat in comfortable silence for a while.

  “You know,” Natalia said, shifting slightly. “Hal should sleep for a couple more hours. We have some time to ourselves.”

  “What are you suggesting, Governor Duke?”

  “Political scandal? Governor found in bed with Sheriff.”

  Hayden laughed. “I want to. More than anything. Especially now. But I’m beat, Nat. And you deserve better than that.”

  She nodded, putting her head back on his chest. “You need to tell the Relyeh to stop sending tentacle monsters to kill you. Tell them it leaves you too drained to make love to your wife.”

  “You’d be the one to tell them,” Hayden replied. “Do you think it would work?”

  “Somehow, I doubt it.”

  “Why don’t we put Hallia to bed? Maybe I’ll find a second wind if we relax together for a while.”

  “I’m fine with whatever we do right now, so long as we do it together. Just don’t lose hope, Hayden.”

  “I won’t if you don’t,” he replied.

  “Deal.”

  Hayden stood up and took Hal from Natalia, carrying her to her room beside the master, at the back of their apartment. They lived inside the pyramid on the ninth floor and had a view of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. He laid his daughter in the crib, leaning over and kissing her forehead. “Daddy loves you.”

  Hallia didn’t react. She was sound asleep.

  “Mommy loves you too,” Natalia said, kissing her from the other side of the crib.

  They turned and headed out of the room together.

  The badge on Hayden’s collar flashed.

  “Sheriff Duke,” Hicks said. “Do you copy?”

  “I copy,” Hayden said, glancing at Natalia. “Do you have something?”

  “I do.”

  “That was fast,” Natalia said.

  “Sorry to bother you,” Hicks said. “I know you wanted some downtime with your family.”

  “What have you got?” Hayden asked.

  “A farmer came in about ten minutes ago. Says his wife is missing.”

  “Trife?” Natalia asked.

  “Governor Duke,” Hicks said, hearing her voice. “We don’t think so. He says he didn’t see, hear, or smell anything. But he did find what looks like a torn strip of cloth from her shirt out in the field where she was tending crops. I can look into it, Sheriff. I just thought you should know.”

  “No,” Hayden said. “I’m in. Contact Bronson. We’ll meet at the chopper in twenty.”

  “Roger that, Sheriff. Hicks out.”

  Hayden looked at Natalia. “Sorry, love. Even if it isn’t a khoron, if he didn’t find a body she’s probably alive and in trouble.”

  “I know. I want you to go. Just be safe, okay?”

  “You know me. Tell Ginny and Hal I’m sorry I didn’t have more time for them. If we can wrap this up quick, maybe we can salvage a few hours.”

  “One thing at a time, Sheriff.”

  “Pozz.” Hayden kissed her. “Maybe we can salvage something too. Something newsworthy.”

  Natalia laughed. “I’ll look forward to it. Now go.”

  Hayden kissed her again and hurried out the door.

  44

  Nathan

  Nathan had just enough time to find his own shower and fresh clothes before the hour was up. Fortunately, one of the officer’s quarters on the carrier had already been designated for his twin and stocked with both utilities and dress uniforms for the General of Edenrise.

  He emerged from the island of the U.S.S. George H.W. Bush with five minutes to spare. Pyro walked beside him, dressed in combat armor and carrying her helmet against her hip. A small selection of soldiers walked behind them in combat armor of their own—the most elite of what remained.

  They marched across the deck, past the rotting corpse of the xaxkluth to where the rest of the surviving soldiers had gathered, only a short distance from the dropship. There were only about a hundred of them in total, a depressingly small group of men and women, many of them sporting bandaged arms or foreheads, or other minor injuries. Even so, they came to stiff attention when Nathan approached, standing proudly for their leader.

  Nathan walked past them, climbing onto the back of the resting Badger to be seen by all. He had a comm in his ear that would broadcast out to Pyro’s helmet, which in turn would transmit to the Bush’s comm across to the Truxton. She had managed to locate two surviving engineers to help her set the system up, as well as check on Nathan’s armor and effect simple repairs.

  A similar number of soldiers on the other side waited for his instruction. He looked to his right, finding the other carrier floating half a kilometer away. Both ships were still cruising toward open water, and from there north to what he hoped might become a temporary safe haven.

  “Space Force!” he snapped, getting their attention.

  “Hoorah!” they shouted back in reply. It was pitiful compared to their last muster when nearly six thousand soldiers were organized across the field.

  “I’ll keep this short and simple.” He looked out at the soldiers, able to pick them out by faces. “We lost a lot of good people today. Both members of our family and citizens of our city. We’re tired. Hurting. On the run. But we’re here. We’re together. And with your help, we can restore Edenrise.”

  “Hoorah!”

  “Early counts show six thousand here on the Bush, another two thousand on the Truxton. Eight thousand survivors. Eight thousand people who are still depending on us to provide protection and leadership in the days ahead. I can’t tell you those days will be easy. As you’ve seen, the enemy is upping the ante and escalating the fight. You know what we say to that.”

  “Fight back!” the soldiers shouted.

  “That’s right. We’ll fight back. We’ll protect our own, and we’ll rebuild. I see Lieutenant Locke. Lieutenant!”

  “Sir, yes, sir?” Locke said, remaining at attention. He was short and muscled, his uniform bloodstained, a bandage over his left eye. Wounded but present, and eager to serve.

  “From what I can tell, you’re the second ranking officer on this ship. That means the Bush is your responsibility.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

  “Captain Koi is the ranking officer on the Truxton. He’s in charge of both his ship and the entirety of the settlement. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir,” Locke replied.

  “As you know, both ships are home to well-equipped armories. It is the duty of every remaining Space Force soldier to continue to defend these ships with their lives. They are our home for the immediate future. Locke, Koi, I want you both to designate units to begin conscripting from the civilians and teaching them how to use our available weapons. The only people who are exempt are those too injured or elderly to fight, and no more than one parent or potential caretaker for any children who are newly orphaned. Understood?”