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Leaving her on the interceptor was tough Both of the options open to hi and he’d chosen the one least likely to put her in danger He’d expected her initial disapproval and also her acquiescence, which she’d duly given and he welcomed it So much about her pleased him beyond his wildest expectations It was hard to believe that a girl fro him such happiness The Stratum had failed him, but not Jade

She didn’t cry when he kissed her goodbye He remained positive about the outcome of his mission Since he’d landed on Kathae Text only, since the ates She’d responded with an obedient, ‘yes, sir’

A new sound was discernible So water The river couldn’t be far and he quickened his pace, paying little attention to where he walked

The ground opened up and sed hi thump on his backpack Leaves and thin branches tu his face

Mason spluttered, fighting off the foliage Lying on his back, he stared up, blinking away the dirt in his eyes He was in a pit, a dugout twice his height and nothad been covered and he’d fallen straight through the branches

“Fuck,” he groaned, annoyed at his stupid mistake

Gingerly, he eased hi position and checked for injuries There would be bruises and scratches, especially along his bare arms, but otherwise, he’d not broken any bones

Standing up, he reached up and felt along the darip—a root, a rock The dirt broke away, cruers and he realized if he tried to cli himself in it

He had plenty of food, but water was an issue He’d have to ration himself

Crouching down, he rued around for the communicator He needed to explain to Jade what had happened so she wouldn’t worry or atte aniers Somebody would come eventually to check it

It wasn’t there He dug deeper into the corners of the bag and concluded the device had probably fallen out when he triggered the trap

He sat on the debris and cursed Now he had to wait Of course, his assu the perpetrators could be wrong There were other possibilities—the trap could have been set not by them but by the bounty hunters or worse, Krul himself

So ould get to him first?

Hours had passed since his last one froht deck, checking every few seconds for a e, but the screens remained blank