Page 11 of Aviatrix

I inhale. “Something hijacked our comms. They said they were…” I trail off. He doesn’t get this piece of me. Not anymore.

“They said what?” he asks, quieter now. Almost gentle.

And I hate that it still works. It still scrapes something tender inside me.

“They said they’re coming,” I say. My mouth goes dry. “For something called the Legion.”

Lark’s face shifts. Shock, then something darker. Fear, maybe?

“I heard it, too,” Eli says before motioning between Gary and him. “So did Atlas. She’s not making it up.”

“Oh sure,” Lark mutters. “You and her most loyal wingman both heard the voice from the void. How convenient.”

I shoot him a glare. “Believe what you want. We’re still under attack, and you’re still standing there doing nothing.”

Eli smirks. “Is this how you command now? Lecturing your best pilot while the world burns?” He looks at me. “You’re not still marrying this guy, are you?”

“Nope.” I flick switches like I’m brushing crumbs off a table.

“Fire’s stopped,” Gary announces, slumping into a chair. “Guess we earned intermission.”

Smoke still spills across the sky outside. Hangars are gone. The base is in ruins.

This isn’t victory. It’s a pause between losses.

Eli keys the mic. “Titan-4, Titan-6, what’s your ETA?”

Thea’s voice crackles back, winded but in control. “This is Glitch. Preparing to land in three, two—”

“Where?” I ask, already rushing to the window.

Scooter’s jet touches down first. Scarred, but flying. He hits the ruined runway like he owns it. Thea follows, landing smooth despite the cratered earth.

I let out a breath. My first real one in what feels like an hour.

Gary exhales hard behind us. “System’s fried. There’s… nothing left. We’re done here.”

Lark moves to stand beside me. I feel him before I see him. His presence is heavy, full of unspoken things. His blue eyes linger too long on mine.

“What?” I snap.

“I just…” He exhales, and his fingertips graze my jaw. It takes everything in me not to flinch. Or vomit on his crooked buttons.

Relief softens his features. He looks relieved I'm alright.

“You should know,” he says softly. “I’m sorry.”

I scoff. “If you were really sorry, you never would’ve done it.”

“If I could undo it, I would,” Lark murmurs quietly. “All of it.” Then, his fingers flex. “We need to talk.”

Eli slips in between us like he was built for this exact moment, forcing Lark a step back.

“No, we need to assess the damage and get our injured off the field,” Eli says. “Atlas is calling in the backup. We need to be on the ground, Quay. You coming?”

I glance between them.

My past and my present. Both pilots broke my heart. Eli because we were young and reckless. Lark because he knew better and did it anyway.