Page 126 of Aviatrix

“If I have to go into battle with someone,” I offer, “I’m glad it’s you.”

He forces a small smile. “Even if you hate me?”

“I don’t hate you,” I say, surprising even myself. “I just hate the way you disappointed me.”

“I hate that, too.”

There’s a moment where we breathe the same air. A quiet understanding. A shared weight. For a second, the ring on my finger doesn’t feel like a chain. It feels like a choice.

“We have to pretend tomorrow,” I remind him. “Pretend that you didn’t break us.”

“What do you want to do? What are you comfortable with?”

“I’m not sure,” I tell him. “What do I need to do?”

“You stand beside me,” he says. “That’s all.”

“Okay.”

This is his father’s funeral. It’s still fresh, still bleeding. I can’t imagine watching your dad die in a coordinated attack, especially one ordered by your own Vice President.

“Are you going to be okay?” I ask. “You and Wingard… it was always rough.”

“I’ll be fine,” he says. “I didn’t have a dad like yours. I didn’t have a dad who built something incredible for me.”

“We don’t know if VAL was meant for me,” I reply.

“I think she was,” he says.

If that’s true, then VAL isn’t just a program. She’s a target.

Boots scuffle in the hallway, voices echo down the corridor. Lark frowns and opens the door. People are jogging past.

“What’s going on?” he asks.

“VP being sworn in,” someone calls over their shoulder.

Lark looks back at me. “You want to watch it?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

We walk down the hall, my chest so heavy it might cave in.

When we reach the commons room—couches, tables, and a screen everyone’s crowded around—we stay near the back wall.

Lark’s arm brushes my shoulder as we silently watch as our executioner is sworn in as Commander-in-Chief.

TWENTY-EIGHT

I’VE ALWAYS LOVED A GOOD UNDERDOG STORY

I smooth my hair down and inhale, then exhale. We’re lined up—eight members of Alien Warfare—ready to fly to D.C.

Gary stands in front of us, Amber on his left, Scooter on his right.

It’s grim. Silent. When Lark told everyone to say their goodbyes, they understood. We all did.

We’re heading into a city with an alien ship sitting watch. That’s terrifying for anyone. But what they don’t know is that the aliens might be the least of our problems. We’re heading into our very own execution.