“I won’t let you hurt Gilamede,” said Ana as Rho took up their largest and scariest gun.
“Would you rather we all die?” asked Rho.
The pulsar was so close now, they had to shield their eyes as they entered Jack Tar’s quarters. Ana knelt and administered the stimulant into Gilamede’s temple.
“It’s not working,” she said, panic in her voice.
An ear-splitting clang sounded from outside—time was almost up.
Rho reached for the gun and took aim at the crale. “Get out of the way,” he growled.
“Wait,” said Ana, holding up a hand, her eyes like ice.
“What are you doing?” demanded Rho.
Ana placed her palm on Gilamede’s temple. She held Rho’s gaze.
“I’m breaking space and time.”
The flight path was unfolding now: Ana would use her telepathy to wake Gilamede. Even if the effort might kill her. Even if Rho might kill her.
AJ felt the crale’s papery wall beneath her fingers. The last thing she saw before closing her eyes was Noah lowering the gun.
Todd’s Coverage, Episode 5:“17”
To Be Filmed After Strike: Origin story of Naedragon Thorvalt Cal Travva, the crown prince of the Firelands in the year 3527, aka Rho because he’s the seventeenth in his family to bear that title, “rho” being the 17th letter in the Greek alphabet. (The ancient Greeks are still relevant in this version of future space.)
Noah Drew began everymorning with a five-mile run. His agent had been very aggressive about making Em Tyner agree to this amid their rigorous shooting schedule.
“It’s a nonnegotiable for him,” she said.
Why Em had volunteered to accompany Noah this morning was a mystery that Em himself was still trying to solve. As he ventured toward the guest terrace in the gray light of predawn, he tried to ignore the awkward swishing of his brand-new Adidas exercise pants.
Between the runs and Drew’s insistence on keeping his dog on set, Em had expected Noah to be a diva, much like Daniel Drew. So when, after all this, Em had finally met Noah Drew and found him to be a calm, unapologetic young man of unusual reserve, he’d felt slightly unnerved.
It wasn’t that Noah was disrespectful. It was that he didn’t seem stupid, and on some level that really bothered Em. It wasn’t right for someone to be acting royaltyanddeeply intelligent.
Most people did not have hidden depths; they had hidden shallows. Perhaps that’s what Em was hoping to confirm as he shuffled over to Noah now.
“Ready?” Noah panted, jogging in place. He was dressed head to toe in black, already drenched in sweat from whatever fitness ritual had preceded this.
“Let’s do it,” said Em, and the two of them set off across the sprawling compound. The way Noah seemed to know Em’s grounds immediately rankled.
“How’re you doing?” Em asked as they jogged down a hill toward the small lagoon at the west end of the estate.
“Good,” said Noah.
“Accommodations to your liking?” said Em, wincing inwardly. Was he a fuckingconcierge?
“Yeah, everything’s great,” said Noah. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” said Em. “I can see that your workouts are important to you.”
Noah glanced at him, just long enough for Em to feel the full six inches of their height difference. “They’re necessary for my health.”
“Of course,” said Em.What a supercilious prick.“Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about the Rho backstory episode.”
Because he could. Becausehewas the director.
