“What’s wrong, Tin?” she asked.
Everything, he wanted to reply. But he didn’t want to burden her with his worries. She was seven months along, and he had to be strong for them both.
“I’m okay, just really tired.”
“You’re more than tired.” She squeezed his hand. “Please talk to me.”
“I don’t know. I guess seeing X drinking again has me stirred up.”
“I was wondering what you thought about that, but try not to worry. He’s been through a lot.”
They kept walking through the maze of fruit trees until they reached the fresh graves on the other side.
“I still can’t believe she did it,” Layla said.
Michael looked at Ada’s grave. They had held a brief ceremony for her, keeping it small. It was only now sinking in that she was gone. After killing the Cazadores, she had lost her way and taken her own life.
“Me, either.”
They walked toward the airship, trying not to dwell on yet another tragic loss. Discovery was again parked on the rooftop, with a throng of red and yellow jumpsuits working underneath. Cricket was helping a team take off a turbofan.
Michael checked his wrist computer. He still had another twenty minutes before he must head to the meeting with Colonel Forge and King Xavier.
He led Layla over to the railing. A pod of spinner dolphins jumped the wake of a speedboat jetting away from the piers below.
On the horizon, three fishing trawlers sailed toward the trading rig to sell or barter off the day’s catch.
But it wasn’t just civilian and merchant ships and boats on the horizon. Warships were anchored out there.
Renegade and Elysium were within view, with militia boats surrounding them in case a new rebellion hatched to free Colonel Moreto.
Layla cupped her belly. “Bray’s active today,” she said with a dimpled smile. Michael put a hand around her waist.
The spinner dolphins chased another boat. On the rooftop, several figures patrolled around the defensive points.
Shouting came from the direction of Discovery.
Michael moved away from the railing. Mechanics and engineers were crowded around the turbofan they had taken down for repairs.
Several men jumped back as Cricket used one of its new limbs to open the side panel. Something white and red slopped out from the interior.
“Gross!” Layla said. “What is that?”
Michael wasn’t sure from this distance, but the excited voices confirmed his suspicions. A Siren had hidden inside the fan until it turned on.
He wanted to enjoy a few more minutes alone with Layla, but a glance to the piers confirmed his time was up.
A war boat with a raised white flag was puttering in. Colonel Forge stood on the deck, surrounded by Cazador warriors. Militia soldiers moved out onto the docks to receive them.
“Do you think we will ever live in peace?” Layla asked.
“I do, honestly,” Michael replied, “and I still believe it is X who will help us achieve it. That the islands exist, and that we survived to get here, proves that miracles happen.”
“Katrina believed this place was worth dying for. Now I know why. It’s more than a haven. It’s the place Bray deserves.”
“That’s why we have to do everything we can to protect it.”
She turned from the railing to face him. “Does that mean you’re going back out there?”
“I…”
“Michael, I’ve supported your mission to find survivors in the past, even after Trey died, and then in Rio de Janeiro, but Bray is almost here.”
“I know.”
“You found your survivors. What more do you want?” Layla sighed. “I suppose you won’t stop until you’ve searched every corner of the earth.”
“Other survivors deserve the chance we have here.”
“I agree, but how many missions before your luck runs out?”
“How long until our luck here runs out?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that from everyone,” she said. “But this place has survived a very long time without the defectors finding it, if that’s what you mean. And the skinwalkers seem like a threat we can handle.”
“I don’t want to leave you and Bray,” Michael said.
“Then don’t.”
He nodded.
“Tell me you won’t.”
Michael swallowed. “I… I’m a Hell Diver, Layla.”
“So was I. But I quit, for Bray.”
“We don’t both have that luxury,” Michael said. “And I don’t want to make you a promise I can’t keep. And don’t forget, part of the reason I’m training new divers is so that someday I can retire and be a father and husband.”
A voice across the rooftop called his name. Sloan and several militia soldiers approached.
“Go,” Layla said, turning away.
“Layla, please, let’s talk about this later.”
“It’s always later with you.”
Sloan was panting. “Sorry to interrupt, Commander, but we need to get down to the great hall,” she said. “Colonel Forge and his men are here.”
Layla still wouldn’t turn to look at him, and he left her there, again putting duty first. Walking away, he glanced over his shoulder, but she was still gazing out over the water.
He and Sloan crossed the rooftop in silence and walked down the stairs to the great hall. Torches burned in sconces, the light dancing over the bulkheads and vaulted ceilings overhead.
X sat on the throne, slouching a little, a glass of wine on the arm of the chair. Seeing him drinking again worried Michael, but maybe this was just a phase to get him through the mental anguish. It was always the darkness in his mind that brought X back to the bottle.
Imulah joined them. Next came Les. He stood next to Michael.
At least a dozen militia soldiers took up positions across the massive space. Ton and Victor flanked X, and Wynn stood in front of the platform where X sat.
The king barely looked at Michael, but Miles thumped his tail.
“We’re ready when you are, King Xavier,” Sloan called out.
X slowly rose from his seat and gestured to open the doors. Two militia soldiers in shiny black armor with red Vanguard crests pulled them open.
The guards escorted Colonel Forge toward the platform.
The rest of the guards who had accompanied Forge were kept outside with a group of heavily armed militia soldiers.
Boots clanked down the tile floor, echoing in the large room.
“Tell Colonel Forge I appreciate him coming, and I’m grateful for the medicine he delivered,” X said. “Tell him also that I guarantee his safety.”
Imulah relayed the message, and Colonel Forge bowed slightly.
X sat down again. He was pale and should be in bed, but the man simply wouldn’t listen to orders. Michael doubted that he would ever change.
“Imulah, ask Colonel Forge who is in charge of the Cazador fleet,” X said.
Forge responded by hammering his chest armor.
“Then why did you allow Colonel Moreto to threaten the capitol tower during my surgery?” X asked.
This took Forge a few moments.
“Sir,” Imulah said, “Colonel Forge says Colonel Moreto claimed she was having engine troubles, and it is custom not to interfere with another officer’s warship. Further, Colonel Forge said that if she had moved on the capitol tower, he would have stopped her, and that if he wanted you dead, he would have told her your secret.”
X smirked. “You expect me to believe that hunk of whale shit?”
The scribe hesitated, but X told him to repeat the message.
“Colonel Forge says he can prove he is telling the truth, and if you want him to kill Colonel Moreto, he will proudly fulfill your request.”
Sloan looked back at X and said something Michael couldn’t make out from where he stood.