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What about the trap I flew us into? How did it happen?”

Hans looked away. He clearly didn’t want to broach the topic.

β€œYou were in hiding with Rikard and Matthias. Yes? Did they tell you about the Solomon splinter groups?”

Michael glanced at Maya, who was also clueless.

β€œSplinter groups?”

β€œA few days ago, the hardliners started making offers to anyone in the movement. Full amnesty, transfer to another continent, assume another identity, or take free off-world passage with a healthy stipend. In return, provide a simple show of loyalty.”

His heart beat faster. β€œLet me guess. Turn in other members of the movement.”

Hans nodded. β€œDead or alive.”

The picture cleared. β€œSo, I’m guessing Nell Kusugak’s contact in Harrisboro flipped, but he didn’t know it. Soon as he stepped out of the Scram, they shot him.”

β€œActually, and I’m hesitant to bring this up,” Hans said, β€œNell was in on it. They both were. I think she was concerned about being exposed too soon if the plan went haywire, so she had him killed right off. That’s all I know. But it’s happening everywhere, I’m afraid. If they can’t kill us themselves, they’ll turn us against each other.”

β€œBut we’re Solomons,” Maya said. β€œNot Chancellors. We don’t do these things to each other.”

Hans shook his head. β€œDon’t we? Look, we spent the last few years fighting their war for them. They turned us into a quiet army of assassins. If we’d kill for them, why not for ourselves? We’re not blameless here. And you,” he turned to Michael. β€œThey must have been peeing their pants to bring you in to the Chancellors. Outside of Rikard and Matthias, nobody has your stature.”

Michael put down the pipe. He didn’t understand.

β€œWait, what? Is that what you meant earlier? You called me a hero and said everyone knows me. Dude, I am no hero, for damn sure.”

Maya chuckled. β€œI tried to tell him, Hans. But he’s a stubborn one.”

β€œWhat?”

Hans sighed. β€œMichael, we’ve been a servant class for centuries. People have tried to push equity movements before, but nothing gained traction until the civil war. Two years ago, everything changed. SkyTower didn’t just alter the way Chancellors look at the world, it gave pause to all of us who deserved better.

β€œYou became our lightning rod, even if you didn’t realize it. Do you know what it meant that you chose to become one of us? That you chose to fight for us and give your life for us? How you spoke after the SkyTower inquest, the way you lived a public life with your comedy, the sacrifices you made killing for the movement – even while you were living with a Chancellor.

β€œMichael, no one in six hundred years has set an example like you. I can’t count how many Solomons have told me they joined the movement because of your inspiration.” Hans choked up. β€œYou had no idea, did you?”

Michael studied him through suddenly teary eyes. He didn’t know what to feel. Grateful? Humble? Prideful? None of it made sense. A terrifying thought broke his heart.

β€œTell me something, Hans. All these Solomons I inspired? How many of them have gotten themselves killed on account of me?”

He took the air out of the room, but Michael didn’t care.

β€œSweetie,” Maya said, using a term he only expected from Sam. β€œThat’s unfair – to you and to them. Every man and woman must make a choice. You did not command them. They came willingly. This is what happens in war.”

She was right of course, but Michael wasn’t ready to admit it. He wished this conversation never took place. He wished …

β€œHold on,” Hans said, lowering his voice. β€œI heard …”

He raced to the conference room door and opened it gently. Michael recognized a nearby bell. It was familiar to him on first or second Earth. Call it what you will – elevator, lift. All the same.

Hans’s warning came as no surprise. β€œThey found us.”

55

Moss compound, two hours earlier

 

T HIS TIME, THE FLASH PEGS AND LASERS were real on both sides of the fight. The estate fell under a vicious assault, the mercenaries outside dashing around the main house on commercial rifters similar to what Sam bought for her own team. Her rifters, however, remained undeployed inside her Scramjet. Sam sent Capt. Doltrice on his way, ordered to defend the house at all costs. She and David took shelter in his office, far away from the initial front line.

β€œHow long would it take reset the defense perimeter,” she asked, β€œbut this time with the deadliest settings?”

β€œToo long.” David fidgeted inside a security holocube. β€œAny attempt to set it beyond diversionary strength requires several minutes of opt-out sequences. Mr. Moss never wanted it to be a killing machine. Only a deterrent.”

β€œSet it anyway. We’ve got to kill these mercs. I don’t care how.”

He entered the program and initiated the sequence.

β€œWhen you’re done,” she said, β€œWarn Finnegan and tell him to get out while he can. Then reach out to the Coronado and Vancouver Presidiums. You must know some of their chiefs of staff. Make the case to light a fire under their people.”

David seemed puzzled. β€œAnd what are you doing?”

She raised her rifle. β€œWe need every gun in the fight. Don’t worry, David. My father trained me for this.”

She closed the office door before he objected. Thunder, pops, and shattering glass echoed from every direction. Sam tapped the neck brace, and the helmet slid over her head. She engaged the DR29 grid and opened a link to her team.

β€œCapt. Doltrice, where do you need me?”

β€œMs. Pynn? Negative. Stand down and let us to do our job.”

β€œYou’re spread too thin, Captain. Where do you need me?”

He laid down fire, the blasts amplifying through the stream.

β€œNorthwest quad,” he told her. β€œPast the observatory, fifty meters

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