“Actually, I think I’m first up,” I said, taking one more shot. These were words I’d never admitted to the guys, and only in the last year to Lyndsey while she was here.

  “I had a crush on her all through my teenage life,” I admitted, my voice breaking. “She was that girl you fall in love with and can never get out of your head.” I looked at Joe, gauged his pain. “But she was also the girl I was never meant to be with, and she knew it too. I almost told her the day I of my death on Earth, the day I came here. I still couldn’t admit it though. I backed out. Then I came out here, to the vast area of space we’ve explored for many years.”

  Craig went next, though he did pour himself another drink. “We knew something was wrong when you failed your exams, but it was such a whirlwind. We never let it go. How could we? You were our best mate. Everything we figured out, Arndale fought us on. Eventually, Paul broke into one of the school’s computers trying to hack into Arndale. He was caught, and kicked off the gaming teams—his life was as over as yours.”

  We all traded glances. That was shit, and Tyto poured us more shots.

  “So there were very few options,” Craig said. “It was Zhan Liang who reached out to us, and then we took it from there. Kyle’s dad and Lyndsey were brought into it a little later. Mostly because we needed to fake our own deaths, and we wanted a really good reason for that.” Craig cringed visibly as he said the next line. “We also faked a relationship, though I admit we did spend a little time together.”

  Joe snorted at that. “Thank you for being honest.”

  “We spawned exactly where we should have.” Paul carried on. “We knew what to expect, and we went straight for what we needed. Our main mission was always to meet up with Kyle, no matter how or when. But it was obvious from the get-go we never spawned in the same place he did. He should have still been there. It was Lyndsey and Craig that helped us through those first few months. They were brutal. Though working out a game plan to locate you was harder.”

  “Lyndsey developed every skill she could until she found out about Future Insight,” Craig said. “That was when she began to enhance it as much as she could. She saw terrible things, but we avoided some of them. Luckily. When she saw she had to get off the planet and leave us, it was hard for all of us. We wanted to stick together. But she also saw we had to train for mech pilots and get to Tolsa to help Dylan.” Craig glanced at Tyto then. “Without us being there, Dylan would never had made it through his respawn.”

  That was something I hadn’t known; I blew out a breath. “You both helped there?” I asked.

  Paul nodded at me.

  “Then I am thankful you were there.”

  I listened as they both told the others a few stories that I knew, and some I didn’t. It was good to hear both Joe and Alexi laugh at her antics. I was sad to say I missed out on them. But also very glad that she did everything she could to help them, all of them.

  “I can’t tell you what she went through in its entirety because that was her story to tell to a very few people,” Joe said and poured himself another shot. He downed it quickly. “But she respawned with myself and a close friend, Lisa, on Cinna.” His voice spiked upwards as he struggled.

  “Cinna—that’s where your fleet is from?” Tyto asked. “You’re the Royal Protection Fleet?”

  “Yes. One of the things Lyndsey was always adamant about was she was leaving me. I was doing great things in my life there. I never really believed it, of course. It was us three against the world, and we went everywhere together. I knew she had emotional scars, though. She hinted at how and why the system sent her to Cinna from Dox. I never pushed her.”

  I had to ask. I thought I hadn’t heard it correctly. “Lyndsey was here, in the Dox system?” There was a huge sadness to him then, and knowing the Dox system, I could only imagine. I shivered.

  “It’s one reason I worked as hard as I did to get the fleet out to the Dox system, because of what she went through there,” Joe admitted.

  “It is a very bad place,” Alexi said. “It is also why I am here. I was looking for my shipmates and my partner. Those who your Lyndsey helped.”

  Alexi and Joe both looked from each other to me. They then nodded and I couldn’t add anything else, my hands tightening. I went for the bottle myself and poured us all shots, but I downed two.

  “There were many rumours about the system. I’d not know it’s depths or it’s horrors.” Joe paused to take a drink. Then coughed. “I didn’t set out to fall in love with her, knowing she was leaving us. But I did. She meant everything to me.”

  I saw his emotions, his pain, and poured him another drink. He didn’t just leave it there, though. He told us more stories, made us laugh, and for those memories of his I was very grateful. I could see his love for her, and that made me happy to know she’d had someone.

  We all let him talk the most, and I went for more drinks. He needed to get it off his chest, that much was clear, and we listened even though my ass hurt from the chair.

  “I heard from her sporadically on the Crackoff.” Joe looked across to Alexi.

  “Ah, my turn,” he said. “She was a gem. She came on board fighting, upsetting my crew in the first few minutes of opening her mouth.” He paused and rubbed his chin. “She also saved all of our lives with those harsh words. Everything she said, she did, was for others.”

  “What happened to the Crackoff? You’re not flying it now?”

  “No, we had serious issues with the ship, we managed to fix most of them, but we were left with no respawn pods, bar two. When we encountered pirates as we sometimes did with the routes we took, and we were devastated. Your friend Lyndsey and our engineer saved both the ship and many other lives. But they both lost theirs along with others. Lyndsey and my engineer did respawn whereas many of my crew were caught by those pirate catchers. We completed our timed mission, reaching Pergelli—that’s where we parted ways.”

  “Lyndsey.” I continued for him then, running my hand down my trousers, trying to stop my palms from sweating. “When I met her out here, she was not a she. She was in the body of a young denti under the name of Finn Ket. I had no idea who she was. But she was a shade like myself, and even though I wasn’t sure on that day while we interviewed for the crew, there were a few in the interview room that took a liking to him. I gave him a chance, and he reported to my ship the next day. Finn and my main pilot, Corey, hit it off and were inseparable. They worked damned hard on our fighters and our ship. More than I ever expected. We had many missions, and we came up against so many obstacles. But with Corey and Finn fighting for us, I never worried. I too have Future Insight, and I saw things I needed to change.”

  Joe slugged back the last of his beer. And I did the same. This time it hit my stomach hard. Bile rose up, but Asht was quick to ease it down for me. Thank you, I said.

  You’re welcome, he replied. I understand. Your side to this story is hard too.

  “I fought with everything I could to stop that future from happening,” I said. “I almost lost my own life—per usual—for doing something impossible. Sparking not only a chain of events that did eventually lead to her death but also making me into the man I am.” I felt tears welling, but when Asht went to stop them, I stopped him. I needed to feel this. “When I found out Finn was Lyndsey, I was already in a relationship with someone else. I still had lots of feelings for her, but I admitted the fact she was in a guy’s body turned me off.”

  Joe said, one eyebrow raised. “For that I am at least grateful. If it put you off something I would want to punch you for.”

  I laughed at the statement. “It was a mutual thing. We were both past it. She never said why, but it’s obvious now. She understood all of what had happened, what would happen. She knew I liked Shion a whole lot more than just the crush I had on her. She told me to pursue her because I deserved love too. I am now glad I know she had you, Joe.”

  I raised my glass to him this time, locking our eyes together. We clinked glasses, and I shivered. “To love,” I said, “and revenge.”

  “To love and revenge,” they all repeated.

  30

  “So,” I said to Joe. “We have a clan leader to go after and crew of our own to rescue. Are you with us?”

  “I’ve been watching their clan for a long time. We were getting ready to make our move in the next few days, anyway. Then you blasted in like an idiot, almost ruining everything.”

  “Yeah.” I cringed. “Sorry, not sorry.”

  Joe laughed at me and topped up my glass. “We’ll need to sleep this off. But I believe we’re now better off. I’m getting conflicting reports about something in the nites?”

  “That message is for any friendly nites,” I said. “Yes, we’ve reprogrammed the catchers. They won’t ever get anyone ever again in this area. And as it spreads through any area, the souls that are caught will be sent to the nearest safe planets.”

  “What about those that aren’t good people?” Alexi asked.

  “They will get to respawn just the same,” I replied. “We’re going to have to warn everyone and push it so that there’s trained soldiers, we really need a way to weed them out.”

  “That would be amazing. I just am not sure how?” Joe asked.

  “The respawn stations would just need to open their logs while they queued,” Tyto said.

  “They can’t hide who they are in the pods. Their names would flag up for all to see,” Alexi added.

  “What would happen to them if they were transferred or stored elsewhere?” I asked them.

  They grew quiet, thinking. Alexi was the one who spoke then. “I think with your lead, Hanna and Denn would be able to help program something else together. I believe we have enough time, maybe get another program out through your nites. Something that will stop the respawn and get those the system deems to be ‘pirates’ or ‘wrong’ to another location.”

  “Get them sent to some kind of prison, storage?” Tyto asked.

  “No, I was thinking of permanent termination,” Alexi replied.

  “That’s harsh,” I said. “You don’t think everyone deserves another chance?”

  “No, I don’t,” he said. His face pale, stoic.

  “We have quite a list of names in the Protectors Guild, of those who do get that second chance. Those who killed in defence. You’re not taking their lives. Okay,” Joe said.

  “Can you coordinate with Denn?” I swallowed. I was quick to judge lately. “If you can implement it fast. I can live with that.”

  “I’ll make sure she has everything they need,” Joe said. “The algorithm of the new system should, with a tweak, be able to determine some wrongs from real wrongs.”

  I turned my drink in my hand, not really wanting it, but knowing I needed it. Then I downed it in one. “We’ve stayed far too long. Got somewhere we can sleep?”

  “The bar’s got rooms,” Joe said. “They always do.”

  “That’s such a handy function.” I grinned, remembering what it was like on the Cristanna the first time . . . then I remembered Xirob and the pain.

  Tyto stood. “I’ll get him to one. Will you guys help the barmaid clear up?”

  Joe looked a little perturbed, but he still nodded.

  I let Tyto walk with me then to bed. “I feel so bad,” I said. His hand was on my back. “I don’t want to sleep alone.”

  “You’ll be okay. We’re not far away from you.”

  I sucked in. “I do have Asht too.”

  Yes, you do. I may not be like Xirob or Hiroto, but I am here.

  Thank you, I know. That does mean a lot.

  I pushed to enter the room and then closed the door. There was nothing here now other than the four walls, and my memories.

  When my uniform was in the shoot, and I was in bed, I tried to quieten my mind.

  I know I don’t know you that well, Asht said. I want you to know something about my placing. You already know my mother sent me across specially, because I told you. But I am reporting to her, and to my grandmother too.

  I wanted to push myself up and see him, look at him, but the room spun a little.

  How are you speaking with the denti queen?

  Similar to how you speak with your Sitha, over the ether there is a way that we who are blood can talk.

  I had no idea. That’s . . . can I talk to her?

  Not tonight, you’ve been through enough.

  Yeah. I settled back.

  I’m gonna hit that switch, Kyle.

  Before I could even protest, I was out.

  Dressing the next day, I felt groggy but okay. Thanks, Asht, I needed that sleep.

  No problem, so did I. You forget sometimes our bodies do need rest. Xe isn’t here at the moment, but she will kick your ass. So I did instead.

  I laughed and exited the room. The others were sitting chatting with coffee.

  “How are you feeling?” Hiroto asked and poured me a mug.

  I sipped the nectar before I replied. “Okay. Well rested, but eager to get this plan together.”

  “We have superior firepower,” Tyto said. “They won’t expect this out here, but they are going to hit us with everything they have. Their ships will have respawns on, slaves and those who think their masters are everything. It will not be an easy transition for some.”

  I listened, and I hated that they were right.

  “He will also be heading back to his planetary station where they all rest. If we go in there, we’re going to get the better result, but we will be hit harder.”

  “Can’t be any harder than going up against Arndale and the denti homeworld, right?”

  “A lot harder,” Tyto said. “My homeworld and Arndale got complacent. They haven’t witnessed what’s been going on out here for many years. They’ve been sticking their own heads under a rock, and because people were happy to produce for them, they left it like that.”

  “But the armadas out here were getting much stronger. If we had the Cristanna—she sounds totally badass, by the way—I would not be worried, but with just my dreadnought and the super, I’m a little concerned.”

  “It’s okay to be concerned, right? We can deal with that, plan for it.”

  Tyto smiled. “Yes, we can. We should move our conversations to the war room though, and bring in those who Joe trusts, his command. Bring Jai over as well.”

  “Sounds like a plan. I’m sure the lovely people here have others they need to feed, not just us.”

  “They’ve been taken care of, and all their regulars will have gone somewhere else for one day, for free.”

  “Nice!” Paul said.

  “You look after your people. I like that,” I said.

  “We were originally under one amazing captain who I strive to be like.” Joe said. “We lost him not so long ago, and I want to take his mantle as my own.”

  “We’ve all lost good people.” Tyto said.

  “That we have. But what we’re fighting for is for good people too.”

  “To the war room—to battle.” Joe said.

  We made our move, and I drank the rest of my coffee before I finally followed them out of the cafe.

  The war room this time was as large as it was on the Cristanna. I wished that Si Aust was here to help me navigate everything a little, or even Oron. In fact, damn, I just missed all of them.

  I blew air out my lips and settled into listening to the men around me as they organised everything. Hiroto had joined us and even had quite a lot to say. Which I was surprised about, but then no, I wasn’t. He’d been part of everything I’d ever done, he had all the knowledge inside his head of everything, the information we got from KronoS and more. He was the best, seriously, and I was very proud of him.

  Tyto wandered over and stood next to me. “They’re heavily fortified, but General Ward already had a plan. I think the extra firepower we almost had would have helped a bit.”

  “We still have a fair bit to give though, right?”

  “Of course, but we’ve not got our fighters with us.”

  I cringed. He was right. “Will they have been taken back to there?”

  “I think so, yes. They’ll have given them a good chase, little ships in a big place . . . but they’re tech the enemy won’t have seen before. And they will have pulled out all the stops to get them. Even if they fought with everything they’ve got, I think they’ll be there now. Probably already being tortured for information.”

  “I don’t like that thought. I left them there.”

  “You did what was right, even if it was a split-second decision.”

  “Yeah.” I pushed the guilt away. “When are we making a move to hit?”

  “Joe doesn’t want to leave it long at all, it’s been too long already, he said. If they think your pilots are worth a lot, they’ll break them within the next twenty-four hours and then ship them out to the highest bidder.”

  “So now? Thought Jai was on his way over?”

  “No, he stayed put. He knew we’d be moving sooner rather than later.”

  “We should go then. Does he need any other help?” I nodded my head towards Joe.

  “No, he’s mobilising everyone and everything we have. We just need to follow his orders.”

  That would be weird. I didn’t know him that well and neither did Jai. I swallowed. “Back to Artemis, then.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” he said, and we started to make our way out into the corridor and towards the docking tubes.

  Kyle, Asht interrupted while we were walking silently. There’s something I think you should know.

  Oh, I asked. What?

  We’re getting in readings from our nites.

  What nites?

  Abi’s, he said, and I cringed.

  I stopped Tyto dead, tugging on him while I digested this news.

  “Talk to me. What’s going on?” Tyto asked.

  I listened as Asht told me she and her nites had managed to infiltrate those on Fut Vaskal’s main station. I relayed it to Tyto. “Abi and three other fighter pilots are alive; they’re deep inside the station, and it’s been tough, but the message is clear. If we’re going for them, we need to infiltrate through a backdoor she’s been setting up.”

 

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