Chapter 6 · You think you know my orders?

Her finger settled along the trigger.

"You think you know my orders?"

"I know you'll send me to medical first, because you want to check for implants. Then you'll have Sergeant Vale run my prints through the dead registry. When that fails, you'll bring me to Hangar Three and tell the techs to wake the fighter."

Selena's eyes went flat.

Kane kept going.

"You'll tell Vale to keep the doors locked. You'll tell the techs nobody touches the cockpit until you arrive. Then you'll say—"

He paused.

Selena's jaw tightened. "Say it."

Kane repeated her voice exactly.

"'If he survives the first sync, he's useful. If he doesn't, burn the frame and bury the report.'"

The silence after that felt physical.

Selena lowered the pistol one inch.

Kane could see the decision moving behind her eyes. Kill him. Use him. Call Victor. Hide him from Victor. Every option had a cost, and he had just made himself the most expensive problem in the room.

"You heard that order before," she said.

"Yes."

"From me?"

"From you."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

Her hand caught his collar again. This time she pulled him close enough that the edge of the pistol scraped his brow.