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"I asked you a question, Mickey," I say

"I can’t think about the forest! I’ how your body flourished Sier How fare your pain receptors? Did the hair follicles ever grow irritated as I was concerned? What about the e of your peers? Pupil dilation fast enough? All I heard for months was talk of you on the HC They could not show the Institute, of course But there were videos leaked on the holoNet Such videos--you killing a Peerless Scarred Taking soe fortress in the sky, like a charips my shoulder desperately, his hand weaker than I remember "Tell me about your life What the Acade Are you still lovers with that delectable Virginia au Augustus?" He frowns suddenly "Oh, of course you’re not She’s with--"

"Mickey" I grip hi froood to see a friendly face They don’t allow me kind company these days None at all Monstrous, really"

"Shut up, Mickey," Evey snaps

His eyes slip to Evey, who now stands far froh it would protect her fro on?" I ask "Have you joined the Sons?"

"Much has happened," Mickey murmurs "I’m not here by--"

"He works for us, now, Darrow," Evey interrupts coldly "Whether he likes it or not We took his little skin den apart Used the funds heflesh to buy transport here and equip an ar back, Darrow Finally"

"One Pink terrorist and a handful of Reds playing with guns," I say without looking at her "Is that your army?"

"We drew blood from the Golds today, Darrow If you don’t respect me, respect that I killed the son of Mars’s ArchGovernor What have you done that makes you think you can come here and spit on e’ve done?"

"You didn’t kill him," I say

She looks blankly at ry

"But how … The boot him out in time"

"Why?"

"Because my mission is coe here? Mickey--"

"I am," says another voice from my past, one with an accent like er I turn to see Harmony at the door Half her face still blasted with that terrible scar The other half is cold and cruel, older than I re to warood to see you I need to debrief There’s so in Then I notice the glance she gives Evey "Harmony, where is Dancer?"

"Dancer is dead, Darrow"

Later, Harmony sits with ular furniture and jars filled with hybrid organs floating in preservative gas Mickey sits behind the desk, fidgeting with that old platonic puzzlecube of his He sees otten better Evey leans against a barrel of chemicals I sit, utterly lost Dancer had a plan for me He had a plan for all this He’s not supposed to be dead He can’t be