Chapter 26 · The One Onboard

The black box's message stayed on the screen. THE TRAITOR IS ONBOARD. Three words in that cold white font, and I couldn't stop looking at them.

"Kira." Senna's voice came from behind me. Careful. Like I was a live grenade.

I didn't turn around. "Yeah. I see it."

The cockpit felt smaller than it had five minutes ago. The air tasted recycled and stale. My hands were still on the controls but I wasn't flying anymore. Just holding on.

"We need to talk about this."

"Sure." I killed the display. The message vanished but I could still see it burned into my vision. "You want to go first, or should I?"

Senna moved closer. I heard her boots on the deck plating. Two steps. Then she stopped.

"I'm not the traitor," she said.

"Great. Me neither." I finally looked at her. She was standing just inside the cockpit threshold, one hand on the frame. Her face was pale under the emergency lighting. "Guess that settles it."

"Kira—"

"Echo?" I raised my voice. "You want to clarify that helpful little warning?"

Nothing. The ship hummed around us.