Chapter 24 · Burn the Transport

The footage keeps looping.

Keira's got the gun aimed at Taren's chest, but her eyes are locked on the tiny projection flickering above the blood-smeared chip. Five years ago. A transport bay. Smoke everywhere. And Taren's voice, younger but unmistakable, cutting through the chaos: Burn the transport.

Her finger's on the trigger. She should pull it. End this. But that voice—

"You were there." The words come out flat. Dead.

Taren doesn't move. His hands are still raised, palms out, but his eyes flick to Rian's unconscious body slumped against the wall, then back to Keira. "I was."

"You said burn it." Her voice cracks. "Twelve people inside."

"Seventeen."

The number hits like a fist. She knew the official count. Twelve. Everyone knew twelve. Seventeen means five ghosts no one reported. Five bodies that didn't exist.

Her arm doesn't shake. It should. She's tired, bleeding, Rian's blood is still wet on her hands, and this guy just confirmed he was there the night Ghost Seven died. The night *she* died.

But her arm's steady.

"Who gave the order?" she says.

Taren's jaw works. "I don't know."

"Liar."

"I got the call. Encrypted. Command override.