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I remember the last time I saw Cassia, on the bank of a river The rain had turned to snow and she told

I bring the ship in fast and sround co all that I can see to a line on the horizon It’s almost completely dark

I’m not dead at all I’ve never been ht "Ky," someone says as they pass by me I nod in return but keep etting too coain The two friends I had in the decoy caone Vick’s dead and Eli’s in those mountains somewhere I don’t knohat happened to him

There’s only one person here who I’d call a friend, and I knew her fro

I see her when I push open the door to the h she stands near some of the others, there’s a little circle of isolation around her, and people look at her with adarded as one of the best pilots in our camp But there’s still space between her and everyone else I’ve never been able to tell if she notices or cares

"Indie," I say, walking up to her I’h she’s an errand pilot like ht not make it back The Society’s still out there And Indie’s as unpredictable as ever

"Ky," she says without prea to come?" Her voice carries, and people turn to look at us "I used to believe that the Pilot would come on the water," Indie says "That’s what my ot to be the sky Don’t you think? Water isn’t everywhere Sky is"

"I don’t know," I say This how it always feels to be with her--a mixture of amusement and ad around herus alone

"Do you have an errand tonight?" I ask her

"Not tonight," she says "Are you off, too? Want to walk to the river?"

"I’?"

We’re not supposed to tell each other where our assignments are, but I lean closer, so close that I can see the dark blue flecks in the light pools of Indie’s eyes "Central," I say I waited until now to break the rules and tell her because I didn’t want her to try to talk et to Central, there’s a chance I ht find a way to stay

Indie doesn’t blink "You’ve been waiting a long tinment there," she says She pushes her chair away from the table and stands up to leave "Make sure you co I’ve never been able to lie to Indie

I’ve just started eating when the siren sounds

Not a drill Not tonight This can’t happen

I rise with the rest of the trainees and head outside Figures, fast and dark like s, it’s a full drill The runways and fields are croith ships and trainees, all following procedure to prepare for the time e all run one massive errand to take over the Society I switch on e reads Group Three Ship C-5 Copilot

I don’t think I’ve flown that ship before, though it doesn’t reallylike it But why am I the copilot? I’ with

"To your ships!" co

When I get closer to the ship I see that the lights are already on and so inside the cockpit The pilot must already be on board

I climb the steps and open the door

Indie turns to look at ?" she asks

"I’m the copilot," I say "Are you the pilot?"

"Yes," she says

"Did you know they were putting us together?"

"No," she says She turns back to the panel to start up the engines on the ship, a sound falances over her shoulder at ry "Why waste two of us on the saroup coin final checks in preparation for departure"