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Outside, a flare of white light lit the sky, a line of fire a few centi home One of the Prince’s escort ships, to be so close Finally going back, but withoutFa their loved ones hos, posthuh to fill the holes those lost people left in their lives It was never enough

But the ships from Earth, Mars, and the various stations of the outer planets were going horeatest opportunity humanity had ever been offered In the edy, hope

Would Naht she could see right now? It was possible Her baby had been born into a world where her parents couldn’t afford to give her a sibling, where she’d have to work two years just to prove to the govern an education Where resources were rapidly di up used row up in a world without limits Where a short trip took you to one of the stars, and the bounty of worlds circling them Where what job you did or what education you pursued or how overn to think of

Soe behind her, their footsteps clicking “Tilly, I just sent—” Anna started, but stopped when she turned around and saw Hector Cortez

“Doctor Volovodov,” he said, his tone a y

“Doctor Cortez,” she replied The renewed formality between them seemed silly to Anna, but Hector insisted on it “Please, sit” She patted the bench next to her

“I hope I’ out at the stars Not looking at her He didn’t look her in the eye anye ho the view”

They sat silently for a fewthe stars

“Esteban lost,” Cortez said, as if they’d been talking about that all along

“I don’t— Oh, the secretary-general He did?”

“Nancy Gao is the new SG You can see Chrisjen Avasarala’s fingerprints all over that one”

“Who?”

Cortez laughed It sounded genuine, a nice loud ru up from his belly “Oh, she would love to hear you say that”