Page 57 (1/2)

After White Level, he entered the one called Wheat The tile floor had an earthy, golden color to it

A large mural on the entryway hall depicted a cutaway view of one of the giant agriculture platforms, carpeted with hundreds of crop sections in every shade of green and gold

Skyler couldn’t help but be i o took pro again until he entered Black Level

He went to the nearest door in the curved hall and turned the handle It clicked as the lock disengaged

"Hello?" Skyler pushed the door in slightly

Aa T-shirt and underwear He looked ill, staring at Skyler with tired eyes

"I’m on your side," Skyler said in a quiet voice

Theon

"Are you okay? Can you walk?"

His voice cracked as he spoke "Do you have any food?"

"Sorry," Skyler said

"Are you part of the resistance?"

Whatever that h thefor Tania Sharue point near Skyler Dark bags hung under his unfocused eyes "I heard Blackfield strangled her"

Skyler felt a pulse of dread rip through hi like rumor, and they didn’t match what the administrator had said

"Do you knohere her room is?"

"Two-ten, I think Take uards patrol this level?"

"Take me with you!"

Skyler put a hand on the man’s shoulder "I will, but not yet I can’t afford for an alert to be raised"

The feeble man searched Skyler’s face He dipped his head, and nodded slowly

The door had "210" on a plaque next it Skyler swiped the card he’d stolen, and heard the lock disengage

"Tania?" he asked The room was dark "It’s Skyler Remember, from Hawaii?" His voice sounded stupid to his ears

Tania Sharht next to the bed Eyes like saucers, she stood on shaking legs Her lower lip quivered as tears began to run freely down her cheeks

Skyler caught her just as she started to collapse She gripped his shirtsleeves fiercely and sobbed into his chest Skyler gathered her into a fierce e position on the floor in front of the bed

"I’lad to see a friendly face," she said between sobs and sharp breaths

"Likewise"

"Your uniform," she said with sudden nuet," he said "For now it’s proving pretty useful"

"You’re the last person I thought … how did you …?"

"Where there’s a will," he said, leaving the cliché unfinished

"That’s some will …"

"It’s about all I have left"

She sratitude that Skyler felt an instant and overwheled

Skyler wiped a tear froet out of here, Tania Quickly I have a ship--"

"No," she said

Skyler frowned, puzzled

Her face had a sudden expression of determination "We can’t leave; we need to retake the station It’s critical Don’t worry, I have a plan"

Skyler peaked into the hallway outside her cabin and saw no one "Where to?"

"I need to use the restroom," Tania said "It’s to the left"

Heher as a prisoner, hoping his guise as a Nightcliff guard would continue to hold

"Wait," she said

He let her go, and she jogged a short distance to a door down the hall, knocking forcefully "Nat? Natalie?"

Skyler could hear the depth of her concern He watched as she knocked again, then moved to stand next to her "Let ain and pushed the door open after the lock released

The bed was ht slippers rested on the floor in perfect align for?" Skyler asked

"My assistant, Natalie She ith Blackfield when I last saw her"

"He left, Tania For Gateway Took most of his men, too"

"Then our lie worked better than expected"

Skyler arched an eyebrow at that

"I’ll explain later"

He nodded and took her ar her elboith his hand They walked a short distance to the co refreshed: face clean, black hair pulled into a severe bun, and no sign of tears on her cheeks

She went straight to Skyler and kissed hi," she said when their lips parted "I’ me"

Skyler had no response He simply smiled "Where to?"

"First," she said, "if I don’t eat so to faint"

"Where’s the cafeteria?"

She shook her head "Too far Too dangerous We keep snacks in the observatory"

"Lead the way," he said

Despite the hallway being empty, Skyler kept his voice low "Tania, did they … did Russell hurt you? Or …"