Where were the robots that policed the streets? As far back as he could remember, their looming presence had been a constant pain in the ass. They made people stand a little straighter and speak a little softer. And now, there was nothing. Just stale air and too much silence.
They rounded a bend, and Gallowood House came into view behind a black iron gate. It was tall and stately, three stories of shiny revarium steel and tinted windows.
Thiswas where Hawk grew up? Christian had to give him credit. Hawk never acted like he came from this level of wealth.
Christian had passed this place many times with his sister, Lysa, and they’d mocked whoever lived inside. Christian had gathered so many horrific memories just to provide for his family. These people never wanted for anything. Except, now Christian knew better. Hawk may have had every material thing, but he’d grown up completely alone. No family. Probably no friends. Christian suspected that, for Hawk, this hadn’t been a home but a prison.
Guards at the gate opened the door for Ahna and her team, and they marched up polished stairs to a striking, bright red door. Ahna held the white fibroglass ring she wore around her middle finger—the ring that marked her as a Systems civilian and granted her access and privileges—against the lock pad, and the door opened.
It had been days since Christian, Hawk, and Imara had left for Perileos, and aside from the few brief messages from Christian, Gemma had heard nothing. Rami had pulled her from Zion’s medical staff in anticipation of the temple mission, but the scientists from Oranos still hadn’t arrived. Which meant her days had been reduced to one long, aching stretch of waiting.
She’d burned through distractions like oxygen in a fire—countless optics, hours of visualizations. She had lifted weights until her arms shook, run laps until her calves ached, emptied ammo clips at the gun range, and split the skin on her knuckles while punching the training bag. And still, loneliness sat heavyin her chest.
She’d gotten so accustomed to having those she loved around her again, she’d forgotten what solitude felt like. And for some reason, the desperate longing for love and friendship and camaraderie hurt differently this time.
She was staring out the window of the alcove Christian had shown her months ago, picking at the dried scabs on her knuckles, when the message from Rami came at last.
YOUR TEAM IS HERE. YOU WILL LEAVE AT 1900.
Gemma sighed, checking the time via the comm around her wrist. The numbers17:17projected onto the lens she wore over her cornea.Just a little less than two hours, I guess.
Her heart fluttered. Finally, she’d be free of this prison. It didn’t even matter anymore that where she was headed could have catastrophic consequences. She’d take a scary alien temple over further boredom without a second thought.
As she meandered to her flat, Gemma held her thumb over the face of her comm. “Send message to Christian Holm. ‘Leaving now for temple. Will keep you updated.’ ”
A response came through in mere minutes.
OKAY. LOVE YOU.
“Love you too,” she sent back, then she held her white fibroglass ring against the lock pad of her flat. The door opened with awhoosh.
The sight of the Kaizen in her living area made her jump.
“What in the blazes are you doing in here? How’d you even get in?” Gemma snapped at her.
The red-haired woman tipped up her chin, scowling at Gemma. “When you’re a captain in the Systems military, responsible for the safety of an entire station, you can refuse me entry. Until then, I go where I want, no questions asked.”
Gemma kept her eyes from rolling and marched past the infuriating woman into the bedroom to gather the belongings she’d kept at the ready for days. The Kaizen ripped the bag from her grasp the moment Gemma returned to the living area.
“Hey!” Gemma protested.
“Relax. I’m just making sure you have the necessary provisions for the trip. All you have in here are clothes and toiletries.”
Gemma crossed her arms over her chest. “So?”
“What happened to the shelter we gave you? Water? Food rations? Personal med kit?”
“You’re in my flat. I don’t have any of those things in here.”
The Kaizen threw the bag into Gemma’s arms with a little too much emphasis. Gemma fought against the grunt when the backsack hit her chest.
“For fuck’s sake,” the Kaizen said. “Did you pick up nothing about making a go bag the last time you left Zion?” She sighed, storming toward the exit. “Let’s go. We’ll need to repack that thing before we can leave.”
“We?” She hurried to keep up with the captain.
“Yes,we. Who did you think was leading the team into the field? Rami can’t leave Zion, and the governor is in Perileos.”
Gemma tripped, her stomach falling into her knees. This evil woman was going to be in charge of the mission?Illari help me.
