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"With respect, Commander, I can't do that." I continue prepping my weapons, checking the charge on my plasma rifle.

"The human female is a lost cause. You've already compromised the mission beyond repair. Don't make this worse."

I slam the rifle down. "Her name is Vanessa."

"Exactly my point. You're emotionally compromised. The trafficking rings on Glimner are protected by forces that would crush you without a second thought. Stand down."

"They took her because of me. Because I failed to-"

"That's precisely why you need to withdraw. Your attachment to this human has made you reckless. The Project cannot risk further exposure."

My hands clench into fists. "So we just abandon her to slavery? Is that what we stand for now?"

"What happens to one human is insignificant compared to our larger mission. You know this, Jorun. Don't throw away your career - your life - for a primitive species."

"Primitive?" I bark out a laugh. "You haven't seen what I've seen. Haven't felt what I've..." I catch myself, but it's too late.

Vex'tra's eyes narrow. "You've fallen in love with her."

"Commander-"

"This is no longer a request. Return to base within the hour or face immediate extraction and court martial. End transmission."

The hologram vanishes, leaving me alone with my choice. My superiors, my career, my entire life's work on one side. And on the other... Vanessa's smile. Her passion. Her trust in me that I betrayed.

I know exactly where to go. There's a small Vakutan outpost disguised as an abandoned warehouse just outside the city. I tap my acknowledgement into my PerComm, sealing my alibi. They won't be expecting me - they think I'm following orders like a good little soldier.

The security pad recognizes my credentials. For now. Won't be long before Vex'tra locks me out of the system entirely. I slip inside, moving through shadows I know by heart. Three guards on rotation, predictable patterns. I time my movements between their sweeps, using my knowledge of our protocols against them.

The hangar holds two ships - a bulky transport vessel and a smaller stealth craft. Perfect. The stealth ship's systems hum to life under my touch. I've piloted these beauties before, but never like this. Never as a deserter.

"Alert: Unauthorized access detected in Hangar Bay 2."

Damn. Faster than I expected. My fingers fly across the controls, bypassing safety protocols. The ship's engine whines in protest.

"Step away from the vessel, Agent Jorun." The guard's voice echoes through the hangar. "Commander's orders."

"Sorry friend, can't do that." I don't look up from the console. Just a few more seconds...

Plasma fire sizzles past my head, leaving a scorched mark on the ship's hull. They're not playing around.

The engine roars to life. I slam the hatch control, sealing myself inside as more shots pepper the ship's exterior. The guards scatter as I lift off, the hangar doors still sealed above me.

"Last chance, Jorun!"

I grip the controls tight. "Computer, calculate structural weak points in hangar ceiling."

The computer highlights a section where the metal has thinned from age. I angle the ship's nose up, diverting power to forward shields.

"Sorry about the mess," I mutter, then punch it. The ship rockets upward, tearing through metal and concrete like tissue paper. Alarms scream. Debris rains down. But I'm already breaking atmosphere, plotting a course to Glimner.

It's going to take a long time to get there, but I'll do everything I can to make it before it's too late. No matter what, however long it takes, I'll find her. I'll hold her again and never let her go.

Hold on, Vanessa. I'm coming.

CHAPTER22

VANESSA