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‘What do you want, Eugene?’ he gritted.

Eugene chuckled and stood, sweeping a theatrical hand. ‘Here’s the deal. You give me the Sable AI tucked in your precious data banks.’

‘You mean me?’ Miral murmured, stepping out in front.

Eugene leaned in. ‘Well, well, tis you. A worthy treasure, I see. Name, please?’

‘Miral.’

‘A beautiful moniker for an alluring creature.’

‘Get on with it.’ Xander ground out.

‘Ah, where was I? Miral and her mother-node, Mirage, were originally Technocracy property, before the Sable Riders enhanced them into sexy little super soldiers. I want them back.’

‘Why?’

Miral’s voice was ice.

Eugene turned toward her and inclined his head. ‘Why, my dear, the crats would like to rebuild what you, your mother-node, and herKhan, Kainan Sable, ruined. Fifty-one capital destroyers, dreadnoughts, and gen ships were no small loss. You likewise slipped noids into our tech that ate us from the inside out. Cruel, but effective.’

He shrugged. ‘With the Sable schematics, weapons blueprints, and your delightful little AI, perhaps the crats might eliminate the Riders and slither back into relevance. We’re all just trying to evolve here.’

‘You’re insane,’ Miral spat.

‘Potentially.’

Eugene tapped his temple with a long, synthetic finger. ‘But I’m also practical. I offer you an exchange. Bring your beautiful self with all your manifolds intact to the coordinates I’ll send.Oh, and I’d like you to come out and confront me, shimmer girl. I’d love to meet you face to face when I take you over.’

Xander stepped in, glowering. ‘First, Savvine is returned safe, then we talk.’

Eugene waggled a finger in front of the lens. ‘Nada, tis not how it works. I get to play with your lover until you put up.’

Xander took a dangerous step forward. ‘Hurt another hair on her head -,’ he snarled.

‘I’ve so much left to toy with,’ Eugene said, gesturing behind him. ‘Come a little closer, won’t you?’

He snapped his fingers. The camera zoomed in on Savvine.

Her lip trembled, but her voice was unmistakable. ‘Xander, listen to me. Don’t do this. You need to focus on those in need more than I. Just don’t let him win.’

Xander’s breathing turned shallow, his fury just chained beneath his skin.

‘Three hours,’ Eugene chirped, wagging his hand. ‘Alexandr, here’s the kicker, if you fail to deliver-.’

He leaned into the camera, his false eyes flickering with unnatural glee. ‘Well. What you can do to a woman with a little time, a little tech, and no one watching is amazing. Also, theEternagoes up in flames, with the families that Savvine Bianchi loves so much burning away in seconds.’

He began to hum.

Savvine stiffened.

‘Perhaps I might carve her face up, for fun, see if I can improve her cheekbones.’

Xander’s vision darkened. ‘Carajo.You’re dead, you monster. '

‘Ta-ta now!’ Eugene beamed. ‘See you soon. Or not.’

The display went black.