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Just as we’re leaving, Father grips Garrick’s ar him back As I walk off, I hear my father say, "If that Bastet tries to escape, shoot hi words and I hurry after Elijah

• • •

An hour later we’re chugging down the river in the Fogger--a covered stea chimney that spews clouds of soot into the resin-brown skies The Fogger’s ugly, but we blend in perfectly with all the other boats on the busy ay I gaze down at the river, which is a vivid orange color--a by-product of decades of pollution being dumped into the water by the h the heart of Galliuet around the crowded city We sail past towering skyscrapers Their façades are covered in sheets of tarnished reen and gun that I once saw at E air whips through the Fogger’s s, and I hugwooden seat

Likea respiratorthe lower part of uise, it’s also protectingout of the munitions factories all around the city The fumes won’t kill you, but I’d still rather not breathe them in, as the air stinks The h, and I adjust the strap, loosening it a little In addition to the ray vest and hooded tailcoat, which is hiding the gun holstered around h his jacket is longer than ours, to conceal his tail

Garrick and Sasha are in the cockpit, steering the vessel They’re both wearing disguises like ours, even though they’re not in er The Lupines are considered allies of Purian Rose, so they aren’t on his list of Impurities to be sent to the Tenth--a detention cas, Bastets, Dacians or "race traitors" likearound the streets Garrick and Sasha are risking a lot by helping out the Sentry rebels It’s reassuring to know that not all the Lupines are blindly obedient to Purian Rose; soree with his One Faith, One Race, One Nation policy and want his, and so knife I stole fro it over in , with a sturdy wooden handle covered in yellow paint I scratch a word into the paintith my thumbnail When I’m finished, Destiny walks over to htly She peers down atthe word I’ve scrawled into the handle "Interesting na her holster

I chuckle, tucking the blade back into my pocket I pull out the list of supplies that Dr Craven asked us to get, since ere heading into the city My parents were initially against us going to the shop, but I re a rebellion for the past fewlist

"Where can we go to get all these supplies?" I ask

"Babbage and Son’s in Flux Plaza," Destiny says "Scott’s a friend of o tell Garrick," Elijah says

I watch him as he strolls over to the cockpit, a crease between his brow, deep in thought I wonder if he’s thinking about his mom

"I hope Garrick’s ood will it do?" Destiny says "I doubt the Co in it for him"

"But they could lead us to the Ora," I say "We really ought to be looking for it We can’t guarantee the Sentry rebels’ weapons will be enough; shouldn’t we have a backup?" The Sentry rebels have an impressive arsenal, but it’s still no match for Purian Rose’s forces

"Look, you don’t need to convince me," Destiny says "My aunt always told ht need it’ But try to see it fro happened and the virus got released into the compound, a bunch of people could die Nota little "But a good fifteen percent of our soldiers do So I get why he’s being cautious I think he’s wrong--we should have every advantage possible--but I get it"

I sigh, knowing it’s pointless to discuss it any further Destiny can’t change the Cooes around a bend in the river, and Destiny peers out the

"Man, this city sucks," she says "I never thought I’d see this stinking place again"

"Why did you cos were getting pretty crazy in Centruot mixed up with a bad crowd a few months back, so my aunt persuaded me to come home and join Alpha Squad"

"What sort of bad crowd?" I ask, curious to knowas a model Polly wanted to do that as a career too She and Destiny would have gotten on like a house on fire

"I’d rather not think about it, hon It’s all in the past" Destiny gazes out theagain "Ithere?" I ask, recalling everyone huddled around the com-desk in command central

"You know I can’t tell you that," she says

"But--"

She silenceswhen to push her and when not to