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Fortunately, Vel plans things down to theoutside The back entrance to the jurisprudence center hasn’t been co to clear a path, we et inside the vehicle with a minimum of trouble Of course, the press still screanore them, but this one burrows intoto do, now that you’ve gotten aith nore them," Dina says quietly "They’re assholes They have no idea what you did for them Not really"

It means a lot to have her support, but I must look terrible if she’s abandoned our normal mode of interaction, which is pure sarcas me thinner and more muscular The death toll probably shows in my eyes as well They will ever remain on my conscience, those six hundred

"I need their names," I tell Vel "Could you please pull up a list?"

"Are you sure that is wise, Sirantha?"

"No, but it’s necessary"

He co roster of people who died because offor turns to coe a look, like I can’t interpret their silent concern, but neither of therateful

"Thanks for standing by me," I say to both of the one much worse for me if I’d had a less talented barrister I hope Nola can do asof which

"Vel, I don’t knohere you found Nola, but--"

"Chancellor Tarn recommended her," he interrupts "And he transferred the funds from his own accounts for loet ht now It’s not the credits; I could have afforded to pay for my own defense, but this makes me feel less like they used me and cut me loose when I became inconvenient I understand why he couldn’t take a public stance supporting my actions, but deep down, he’s an honest ly it looks on the outside

I fall quiet, pensive, watching the buildings blur into lines of color as we travel away from the city center Ocklind is a beautiful city, temperate weather, seht, even now, be swarut I see scenes superimposed from Emry Station So much blood I squeeze es areain The Morgut won’t be landing here Between the standing Armada, the Ithtorian fleet, and the fact that there’s a shipyard producing loain We will defend our territories to the deathand our eneri co doate The bot puts us down outside, where there are no crowds at all I don’t delude ain, but they haven’t anticipated my movements to this point It

"Coht There’s no reason for everyone to co a hand in farewell, I go into the complex and am impressed when they testlike the Farwan academy where I studied; it has a more ominous feel But since they converted a forram--which isOnce they deter that will harm the students within, the doors unlock, and I alimpse of the complex

Halls lead out from the main hub in six different directions Luckily, there’s also aI find Argus’s name near the center He’s been appointed as director, despite his relative lack of experience, by virtue of his crash-course training before I turned ate the corridors alone, trying not to attract attention A couple of the students give me a second look, then shake their heads, as if to say, Nah, couldn’t be I’ as it lasts

Argus answersa harried look, and an expression of profound relief dawns on his young face Despite my dark mood, I can’t help but smile He looks like he’s in over his head

"Oh, thank Mary they didn’t kill you," he breathes "Maybe I’ll survive this job after all"

CHAPTER 13

"What’s wrong?" I ask

We’ve stepped into his office, the door closed behind us He takes a seat at his large desk, and I sit opposite It’s so funny to see him on the other side of authority, the director of this place To me, he’ll always bechildren

A long, frustrated breath escapes hinals, but I can’t show anyone else like you showedti they’d cut you loose But it’s been so long now that I think they suspect soht be soe If they’d executed rimspace travel for turns to come But I can show them all how to read the way the beacons pulse now, just like I did Argus It will be ti the way, I’ll coside me Unfortunately, I know of no test to identify that capacity

"All right," I say, switching to work ?"

"Over five hundred, but , from a facilities standpoint, howchair with me at one time?"

"No more than five"

I tap the coe?"

"Daood to be true I’ a vacation, am I?"

"I’d appreciate your help here I need you to figure out a way to patch twenty training chairs into one nav chair, and all processed through the same console"

"Like I did on the Triumph, times twenty?"

"Pretty much"