Chapter 29 · The Dead Man at the Door

The wall doesn't just blow open. It disintegrates.

Keira's still got Taren's hand in hers when the dust cloud hits. She shoves him sideways, puts herself between him and whatever's coming through that hole. Her other hand's already at her belt. No knife there. She threw it three minutes ago.

Selyra steps through first. Immaculate uniform, not a scratch on her. Behind her, something moves.

Someone.

Keira's heart stops.

Oren Thrace died five years ago in the Korvash Sector. She saw the orbital strike footage. She attended the memorial. She burned his call sign into her arm with the others because that's what you do when your team gets vaporized and you're the only one who walks away.

But he's standing right there.

Same height. Same build. Same scar through his left eyebrow from that bar fight on Helios Station. His eyes are wrong though. Too bright. Too focused. Like he's looking at her and through her at the same time.

"Ghost Seven." His voice sounds like gravel scraped over glass. "Been a while."

Taren's hand tightens on hers. She lets go. Steps forward.

"Oren."

"You know him?" Taren's already moving, positioning himself at an angle. Good instincts.