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What if lives are at stake?

A knock on hts "Yes?" I call out

No answer I stay where I aet up and walk to my door I push the button that slides the door open

It’s Ren, leaning against the side of the entryway, his headphones looped around his neck A smile appears on his face that doesn’t reach his eyes "Heard you skipped lunch," he says He tilts his head at me "Headache?"

My blood freezes Still, I remind myself to be calm--so I narrow my eyes at him and put my hands on my hips "Heard you skipped to s "I have a contract with my studio to fulfill, Warcross or no The others told ames downstairs, if you want to join" He nods toward the stairs

What were you doing in the Dark World, Ren? I think to myself as I study his face What does your connection to Zerotoward et a license for my new board"

Ren looks atThen he pushes away from my door and turns toward the stairs "Busy little wild card," he says in French, his words translating in my view

Busy little wild card I wonder, for ahim As he heads down the stairs and disappears from view, I close my door and place a quiet call to Hideo When he picks up, a virtual version of him appears in h ency

"Hey," I whisper "Can we meet?"

• • • • •

BY THE TIME I eathered on the couches, shoving pizza into their es nearby in a soft chair, watching the a rainbow-colored road that tunnels through the center of a galaxy

"Oh yeah!" Haes into first place "This one’sit too soon, Ha"

"Don’t go this easy on aze darts to Ren He looks caled headphones looped around his neck He notices ives ao

Ha out of nowhere and hits her kart right as she’s about to cross the finish line As she struggles to get her kart oes fros herself across the line

Asher bursts out laughing as Halares at Roshan, who gives her his gentle sae"