Chapter 20 · Why did you stop?

The hangar door unlocked with a deep mechanical clunk.

Kael grabbed her hand and pulled her inside.

His ship waited on the landing platform, scarred, ugly, and beautiful in the way only a ship that had survived too many fights could be. The ramp was down.

Kael stopped.

Nyx ran into his back. "Why did you stop?"

"I didn’t lower the ramp."

The ramp lights glowed softly beneath them.

Nyx’s fingers tightened around his. "Maybe the ship recognized me."

"It doesn’t recognize anyone."

"Then someone lowered it."

A slow clap came from inside the vessel.

Kael raised his pistol.

The hangar lights snapped on.

Inquisitor Vargas stood at the top of the ramp, one hand resting on the ship’s inner hatch. He wore no helmet. His gray uniform was clean, his silver hair untouched by the station’s chaos. Two Imperial agents stood behind him, rifles aimed at Kael and Nyx.

Vargas smiled.

"You’re late, Kael."

Nyx moved behind Kael’s shoulder. "He knows you."

"He knows my file."

"I know your voice," Vargas said. "You used to answer when I called."

Kael kept the pistol trained on his chest. "Get off my ship."

"Your ship was impounded three months ago.