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Whatever happens, things on The Instigator will never be the same again. That’s why our plan is to be as far away from this outdated, discontinued warship as the Wayward Scythe or a stolen Reaver can take us.

“Perfect,” I clap my hands together. “We’ll shut every door that isn’t a pathway to the loading bay – and seal all of these marble-skinned bastards behind them.”

The plan is formulating in my head. Just like when I’d planned the heist which had netted us those twenty-six stolen Orbs – briefly at least – it’s almost euphoric to plot and scheme with such clarity.

I turn to my best friend.

“Sawoot – we’re going to open your door as well. I know you’ll have been busydistractingthe Aurelians, but you’re going to have a very brief window to get out before I lock them in here behind you. If you can’t get a key to the Reavers, don’t risk it. You getting out safe is all that matters.”

I turn and scan the room, before ordering: “Show me how fast you can get from the bed to the door.”

“Who said we’re going to use the bed?”

Theme spits out his tea. He looks down at the sofa he’s on, blushing.

“Focus, Sawoot.”

She laughs and rises from the table, sprawling theatrically across the bed.

For a split second, the image of three Aurelians entangled with her flashes into my mind. The bed is big enough to fit all four of them together – with room to spare. It must have been designed with exactly that purpose in mind.

I can now see exactly what kind of welcome female dignitaries get when they board an Aurelian warship!

As distracting as that thought is, we need to focus. I lift my finger, signalling Sawoot. She darts out of the bed, sprinting to the door.

Theme perks up, checking his wristwatch. “Four seconds.”

I counted three, but he’s got a better sense of time than me.

“Not as good as my track and field days,” Sawoot pants, “but not bad.”

That cracks me up. Nobody I know got to experience track and field growing up. On my home world, such things were reserved for rich kids in their private gardens and luscious, green fields. Kids like me got the concrete jungle – and the only running we did was from gangs and muggers.

“Alright,” I nod, “we’ll give you ten seconds in case you need to…untangleyourself. Your job is to get out of the room before the doors close. That will separate you from Garrick’s triad. Then, we won’t have to deal with any Aurelians – not unless there are some who happened to be walking along the exact path we’ll be taking to the loading bay.”

“And the handful still in the loading bay, fixing up the damaged Reavers,” Theme reminds us.

Sawoot doesn’t look happy. “A handful of Aurelians is a lot to deal with – and I should know, because I’ll be coming fresh from exactly that.”

We laugh, but she’s right. That’s the critical flaw in our plan.

Theme stands, draining his cup of tea and setting it down a little too hard on the table. His hand is shaking. “I… I could vent the air from the loading bay.”

“No! We’re not killing innocents.”

He holds up his hands. “No! It’s not like that – no one will get hurt. I’ll open the bay just enough to start venting, then I’ll openoneway out for them. They’ll have no choice but to rush out, thinking the loading bay is about to vent. Then, I’ll close the door behind them, re-engage the airlock field, andpresto– no more Aurelians.”

I nod. “Smart – very smart.” Theme is pale, but my approval means everything to him. I can see how visibly nervous he is, his body trembling a little as we scheme. I step forward, placing my hand on his shoulder to steady him. He turns to me, and I look straight into his brown eyes.

“I believe in you, Theme. That’s why I hired you to be on my crew in the first place. We’re going todothis. Tomorrow is the last day we’re stuck on The Instigator. We won’t get away with the Orbs, but we’ll at least get out with our lives. That’s all that matters.”

Sawoot smiles. “What about Chris and his cronies? I used to have thing for Felix – before he was laughing at you takinghispunishment.” She shakes her head. “You know, that lot always did kind of piss me off. I’m glad they showed their true colors before we risked our necks for them any further.”

“Chris and his little group are going to be Captain Aelon’s problem once we’re gone,” I nod. “Alright – are we all clear on the plan?”

My two crewmembers nod in unison.

“Good,” I grin. “Then, Theme, you go to your chambers. Sawoot – I need to talk to you.”