Fragments

alf-swallowed by vines and dusk. It didn't look like much - rusted

" she muttered. "Hi

rust me. She lik

what that meant, a vo

, Perry. Or I'm sett

usted vehicle, holding a shock rifle and

ou too, Juno,"

pered back at HQ - mostly in the same

pon instinctively.

is exactly why I almost di

ffortlessly and w

her, then something's bro

d Tia dead

ulhuti. Because helping you just p

Then I guess we bot

. "Welcome t

onitors blinking softly in the dim light. Tia sat on the

ms crossed, watching her - not with suspicion, but with

om, giving them "space" - which fel

ia broke t

aid flatly. "After the exp

run from people trying t

"Considering running is all

hink I like this? Living underground, hunted, c

ought of that before yo

ipt, huh? You ever stop to wonder why there's no official report of

p at him, he

he orders they're feeding you. You saw what happened out

t happened t

come. I knew the moment they sent you

e not here to deliver me. You'

s wrong - but because deep down... s

y, closing the dis

said, her voice like steel, "I'll

"Then I guess I better ma

- not just anger, but somethin

rgy that made e

e unexpected love

cracks of Juno's boarded windows as sile

rushing her sidearm. Mark paced slowly by the

a fai

rp, telltale ping o

shouted, lung

, tearing through a chair where she'd just been standing. Mar

ed with him, pulling her weap

um turned to a

called, but n

wling toward the weapons stash. "We've got

d. "Behind the vent -

d at him.

d her bu

popped the panel, revealed a tunnel chut

said, tossi

ing a beat. "Starting to fe

she snapped - but

involunta

ed. File

door bl

gan uniforms. These were off-grid mercs. Silent. Prec

moved like a

ng clean, controlled bursts. Communicat

when one cam

he way of a concussive

earts pounding and clothes scorched, t

he dark corridor, b

inst the wall,

run," she

replied, eyes ste

ween them. No longer enemy and han

ors. P

hing