Chapter 31 · The Order She Left

The gun's already in my hand before I realize I'm the one who picked it up.

Briar's across the server vault, three meters and a lifetime of bad calls between us. She's got her sidearm half-drawn but she hasn't cleared leather. Her eyes are locked on mine and I can see her working the math. Trying to figure out which version of me is holding the weapon.

I don't blame her. I'm not sure either.

"Sable." Her voice is steady. Trained. "Put it down."

I look at the gun. Neural disruptor. Small form factor. The kind you use when you want to fry someone's jack without cooking the meat around it. Clean wipe. No mess.

"Can't," I hear myself say. The voice sounds like mine but the cadence is wrong. Flatter. Older. "The archive is compromised. They'll pull the whole chain if I don't cut it here."

"Compromised how?" Briar's hand is still on her grip but she hasn't drawn. She's giving me space. Trying to talk me down like I'm a hull breach she can patch with the right words.

I almost laugh. Almost.

"The debt hunters didn't come for the ship," I say. "They came for the contract.