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Prologue

I’ve been shot

And, as it turns out, a bullet wound is even ined

My skin is cold and cla a herculean effort to breathe Torture is roaring throughit difficult for rit my teeth, and force myself to pay attention

The chaos is unbearable

Several people are shouting and too ically re for ive them orders, as if they have no idea what to do without my instruction The realization exhausts me

"Sir, can you hear me?" Another cry But this time, a voice I don’t detest

"Sir, please, can you hear e to say I open one deaf"

All at once the noise disappears The soldiers shut up Delalieu looks at h

"Take , just a little The world tilts and steadies all at once "Alert the medics and have my bed prepared for our arrival In thedirect pressure to the wound The bullet has broken or fractured soery"

Delalieu says nothing for just a ht, sir" His voice is a nervous, shaky thing "Good to see you’re all right"

"That was an order, Lieutenant"

"Of course," he says quickly, head bowed "Certainly, sir How should I direct the soldiers?"

"Find her," I tell hi harder for me to speak I take a small breath and run a shaky hand acrossin an excessive way that isn’t lost on rab his ar"

"Sir?"

"Kent," I say, my voice uneven now "Make sure they keep him alive for me"

Delalieu looks up, his eyes wide "Private Adaaze "I want to deal with hi at the foot of my bed, clipboard in hand

His isThe first was froery ell They said that as long as I stay in bed this week, the new drugs they’ve givenprocess They also said that I should be fit to resume daily activities fairly soon, but I’ll be required to wear a sling for at least atheory

"My slacks, Delalieu" I’ainst the nausea of these new drugs My right arm is essentially useless toatin his throat

I stifle a sigh

"What is it?" I use ainst the ht It takes every ounce of energy I have left, and I’ to the bed fraainst the pain and dizziness "Tell me what’s happened," I say to hi bad news"

His voice breaks then he says, "Private Adaht, dizzying white behind my eyelids

I take a deep breath and atteh my hair It’s thick and dry and caked hat must be dirtfist through the wall

Instead I take a moment to collectin the air around me, the scents and sh cotton pants they’ve putsocks I want to shower I want to change

I want to put a bullet through Adam Kent’s spine

"Leads," I deainst the cold air as it hitsto reht me this information without leads"

My anized human e thoughts and is that do not serve me I focus only on what needs to be done: the basic coe throughout the day

"Of course," Delalieu says The fear in his voice stings me a little; I dismiss it "Yes, sir," he says, "we do think we knohere he one--and we have reason to believe that Private Kent and the--and the girl--well, with Private Kishi run off as well--we have reason to believe that they are all together, sir"

The drawers into break open Memories Theories Whispers and sensations

I shove them off a cliff

"Of course you do" I shake ainst the sudden unsteadiness "Do not give e to say "I want so concrete Give me a solid lead, Lieutenant, or leave me until you have one"

"A car," he says quickly "A car was reported stolen, sir, and ere able to track it to an unidentified location, but then it disappeared off the map It’s as if it ceased to exist, sir"

I look up Give him my full attention