"She chose to stay?"
"She chose her life. Just as you're choosing yours." He sets down a device. "Which brings me to why I'm here. We're extracting twelve humans during the Bond Breaker. The chaos of competition provides cover. But, Eve, there's going to be retaliation."
"What kind of retaliation?"
"The trainers who lose valuable pets don't just accept it. They will want blood from the staff who are found guilty of aiding Terra Ka. Last year, three staff members were executed for suspected collaboration." He meets my eyes steadily. "You could come with us and be free. All “you need to do is excuse yourself during the Bond Breaker and?—”
“I don’t want to be rescued.” I say while I think about his offer, like a life preserver being thrown out to me, but I’m naive enough to think the water looks calm enough to swim.
Gael doesn't seem surprised by my answer. “Remember, once the extractions happen, suspicion will fall on you as the only human working in the Spire. The Sovereigns will only be able to protect you so much if the trainers and the IGC both decide you're involved."
I think about Jin Kol. I have him eating out of my hand right now. And as long as the Sovereigns never find out that I’ve betrayed them, they can shield me from the trainers.
"I don’t want to go," I say with certainty. "I can do more good here. Long term."
“Good. Just don’t get too relaxed. Cover all your tracks. And if you can, have your memory erased by Dr. Veil. Just tell her what you saw at the Grand Championships was too much and to wipe it all. Wipe your memories of Huck, of me, of everything you sent to Terra Ka. Of this entire month.”
“But then I’d forget…”being with the Sovereigns the first time, I think, but say, “What I’ve learned and how I’ve felt about it. That’s what keeps me going here.”
“This isn’t Earth, Eve. you could be put on trial with your memories as evidence. Remember, out in the galaxy, doctors are telepathic and they have machines to record your memories for public viewing. Are you sure you want to stay?”
“Yes,” I say, even though I’m scared.
“You still have the vial of poison?” he asks quietly.
I hesitate. “Yes.”
He nods once, like that answers something he already assumed. “It was always a long shot that you would use it. But if the time comes, don’t hesitate, even if it’s just for yourself. What they’ll do to you will be worse than death if you’re found guilty for our extractions.”
That statement hits harder than if he’d told me to kill the Sovereigns or else.
Gael continues, “People think contingency plans are about courage, they’re not. They’re about knowing when you’ve already lost.”
“The Sovereigns are trying to make things better for humanity,” I say, because I need that to be true.
“They might be. Or they might just be better at surviving on the line than most.” He looks at me then—really looks—and whatever he sees makes his cool exterior break for a second. “If the Sovereigns decide you’re a liability, there won’t be a trial. There’ll be a room and a justification for your death. And afterward, a sad story about how unfortunate it all was.”
I swallow hard. I know that scenario isn’t far-fetched. I’ve seen how the Ascendant Alliance reclassifies people and erases events.
“Don’t think about the poison as killing the Sovereigns, Eve. Think about it as you denying them the ending they already chose for you. And remember, most people never get the opportunity you have, now.”
“I understand,” I say, but then pause. I know in my heart he’s right. But I can’t kill Rafe and Lorian. No matter what they’ve done or whatthey will do. So I move on. "There’s something else. A request I’d like to make.”
Gael nods. His expression almost sad. As if he’s already seeing me as a dead woman, a ghost.
“A woman called Briar, no, her pet name is Ash. She's one of Aefre's pets. Pink hair, modified with a tail. I—I want her extracted. Please."
"A personal connection?"
"Yes. We grew up together. She was always cruel to me, but she's pregnant, and that child didn't choose any of this."
Gael's expression shifts. "Pregnant? You're certain?"
"Yes. I saw the medical scans myself, and I made sure they were labeled as a glitch and disappeared so no one else would notice. But once she leaves the Spire and gets back on Aefre’s ship, it’ll register and then—” I swallow hard. "I’ve heard enough talk over the last few days to know what trainers do with their pregnant pets’ babies, and I’ve met Aefre. And as much as I still hate Briar for bullying me when we were children, I don’t wish that on her. But, once she’s safe, tell her she still owes me a purple barrette, a full copy ofAnne of Green Gables, and an apology."
"You changed medical records? That's—" He stops himself. "Brave. And dangerous. The system tracks everything."
"I know. I was careful."
