Silence.
Lonari doesn’t argue. That alone makes my stomach twist.
Instead, he says, quiet and lethal, “Explain.”
“IHC doesn’t want the embarrassment,” I say, voice fast now, urgency clawing. “Alliance doesn’t want to admit their relay nodes were used. Morazin is the proof of institutional rot on both sides. So if they can make him disappear—quietly, officially—they will.”
Lonari’s claws flex once, a small sound against the table’s edge.
“And you?” he asks.
I laugh, sharp. “Oh, I’m the perfect villain. Unstable threat actor. Human contractor turned terrorist. Broadcast sensitive data. ‘Compromised by Coalition influence.’”
His eyes narrow. “Who said that?”
“Clint,” I say. “IHC security flagged me.”
Something in Lonari’s expression shifts—anger, but controlled. Like he’s locking it behind a door.
“They will come for you,” he says.
“I know,” I say. “That’s why I built this.” I gesture to the evidence vault. “They can kill me, but they can’t kill the data.”
Lonari stares at the holograms for a long moment. Then he looks at me.
“What do you want, Jordan?” he asks, and his voice is so steady it feels like a hand on my spine.
I inhale. The air smells like him—smoke, metal, and something unnameable that makes my chest ache.
“I don’t want to run,” I say.
His brows lift slightly, like he expected that and still respects hearing it.
“I want to force a public hearing,” I continue, voice firmer. “With Morazin alive. On record. No quiet executions. No ‘transfer accidents.’ I want him to talk where they can’t pretend they didn’t hear.”
Lonari studies me. “That’s ambitious.”
“Yeah,” I say, a little bitter. “So is surviving in a galaxy that keeps trying to bury the truth.”
He’s quiet.
Then he says, almost softly, “I ordered an extraction plan tonight.”
I blink. “You what?”
“Morazin,” he says. “Before official authorities can make him disappear.”
Relief punches through me so hard it almost feels like pain.
I exhale shakily. “Okay. Good. That’s—good.”
His gaze doesn’t leave mine. “You and I are thinking the same direction.”
“Terrifying,” I murmur.
He gives the smallest hint of a smile. “Efficient.”
My compad buzzes again before I can respond.
