Page 76 of The Last Hope

Stork had also spoken honestly when he said that theRomulusreleased theSaga 4on the first day. Over food and drink, Kinden explains that they were tagged asbludradersand forced to vacate the premises. Before they left, they were told that Franny, Mykal, and I were humans. They spent thirty-some days trying to interceptRomuluscommunications.

All in an effort to retrieve us from theRomulusbrig.

Kinden tracked our transport craft to theLucretzia,and Padgett formulated a plan of entry to sneak aboard. And to operate theSagastarcraft, they neededtwopilots. Without Franny, they had to make do with Zimmer. Apparently, he almost, accidentally, flew them into an asteroid.

Twice.

For what knowledge they had, their plan was risky but sound. Gem built thermal detectors onto the starcraft, and the device revealed most of theLucretziacrew congregating toward the bow.

Of course, they didn’t realize everyone was gathering in the courtyard for a ceremony. About to induct the new admirals. They also didn’t realize theLucretziahas advanced tech. Including motion sensors, which they triggered as soon as they stepped foot on the tarmac.

Before releasing the four Saltarians from the brig, the Earthen Fleet asked them one question:

“Why did you want to free the humans?”

It’s occurred to me many more times than I like to admit that they could’ve abandoned us. That maybe they should’ve. Sometimes I wonder if, given the choice, would I have abandoned them?

Part of me crumples in shame at the miserable truth.

That possibly, most likely, I would’ve left them imprisoned on theRomulus.Just to save myself and Mykal and Franny, so we could fly to a peaceful planet and leave the chaos behind.

I question whether I’m deserving of Kinden, Zimmer, Padgett, and Gem’s loyalty, but for the first time in what feels like forever, I find myselfwantingto be. And that frightens me more. Mortaring a bleak exterior has always been better, safer, than opening up to the possibility of hurt and betrayal.

Why’d you want to free the humans?I think about the fleet’s earlier question.

“They can die at any time,” Kinden said.

“And those idiots on theRomulusknew,” Padgett added, voice silky.

Gem explained how they had only just learned we dodged our deathdays and aren’t Saltarian. For the four of them, there’s no certainty we would survive, and they’d never encountered people who could kill other people. Who’d even want to kill.

Leaving us in theRomulusbrig meant we could die by someone else’s will. At any time.

“I didn’t want a hand in their fykking deaths,” Zimmer said. “I’ve seen some horrific scenes: eyes gouged, jaws blown, fingernails plucked—but no one intends for anyone to die. I didn’t think anyone couldkillpeople until now.”

Gem perched her hands on her wide hips. “We aren’t cruel.”

After a short deliberation, the fleet decreed theSaga 4allies, and they officially welcomed them aboard as equals and friends.

I stare gravely while Franny and Mykal reunite with our friends, smiling. Laughing. Joy fluttering faintly in my chest, and while I’m glad to see my brother—I have to focus on what’s next.

The retrieval operation.

I can’t betray Stork and forsake the mission to save Earth. Not out of some moral obligation. I just can’t fathom deserting Franny and the answers she needs to find.

To come out of this alive, Franny and Mykal have a better chance with Kinden, Zimmer, and the Soarcastle sisters. We’ve all worked together before at StarDust; I trust their skills and know how valuable Saltarians will be in blending into Saltare-1.

I want them to join us.

With persistence, I convince Stork to bring our friends into the fold. It’s not easy, considering the mission is classified and Stork is exasperatingly evasive, but after we eye-roll one another to the next millennium, he sighs.

I glare.

He finally gives in. And he asks his superiors for clearance.

The fleet grants Kinden, Zimmer, Padgett, and Gem access to operation details.

All eight of us stay in the quiet atrium, the rest of theLucretziacrew retreating to their barracks for sleep or helming the bridge. Steam lies on the murky surface of the pool. Frogs croaking softly and stars twinkling overhead from the domed sky port.