Page 23 of Dark Rebel's Reckoning

They'd even bought snow boots because those were the easiest to wear even if they were the wrong size.

"Walmart has some nice things, and you can find everything you need at great prices." Syssi pushed her other hand into her pocket to keep it warm. "Just don't tell Amanda I said that."

In fact, she'd been surprised to find all-cotton items, which was what she'd been looking for. Comfort clothing needed to be soft. They'd gotten leggings, T-shirts, sweatshirts, cozy socks, and undergarments, but given how cold it was up here, they should have gotten gloves and hats as well.

When Julian's van pulled up next to their minivan, it occurred to Syssi that the women could change in there instead of using the tiny bathroom in the hangar.

"Let's peek inside." She tugged on Mey's arm. "I'm curious about the equipment they have in there. I'm debating whether the women can change in there after Julian scans them or on the bus."

Mey shook her head. "Yamanu said that they are wearing threadbare shifts. I wouldn't let them off the plane like that. We should get all the men out and then let the women dress in what we brought before getting off the plane."

"Good thinking," Syssi agreed. "I've heard that Kalugal replaced the interior of his plane and I'm curious to see what he did."

Julian stepped out of the van and walked over to them. "They'll be here any minute." He spun around and eyed the hangar. "The pilot will taxi in and then when he leaves the plane, he'll shut the hangar doors behind the aircraft so no one is exposed to the cold for long."

"Mey suggested that we bring the clothing to the plane so the women can change in there. There are no zippers or buttons on any of the things we got, so they won't have to take anything off before the scan."

"Good." Julian let out a breath. "I'm dreading having to deal with traumatized women. You would think that I'd be an expert after running the halfway house for so long, but by the time they come to me, they have already completed most of the rehabilitation program. I wish Vanessa was here."

"We need more Vanessas," Mey said. "I wish William and his team could invent a device that can teach someone everything they need to know about mental health in weeks instead of years."

Syssi's hand closed over one of the small cases in her pocket containing four earpieces for the women who didn't speak English. "Perhaps it already exists. It's called artificial intelligence. Chatbots can offer psychological solace and even medical advice."

Julian winced. "My profession will soon become obsolete."

"Nonsense," said Gertrude as she joined them. "I will never trust those things enough to rely on their advice. No matter what they try to tell you, there is no substitute for a living brain."

Perhaps not yet, but one day, maybe soon, there would be. Everything in the universe was based on information, on data, but right now those large language models were based on written information, while living brains had been built to absorb so much more stimuli that was nonverbal information. Until machines were capable of doing that, they could never substitute for people.

"Here it is." Mey pointed at the sky.

Excitement built through Syssi's chest, mixed with anxiety over the women's state. She had even less experience than Julian in dealing with traumatized victims and feared saying or doing the wrong thing.

"We should clear the doorway," Julian said, leading them inside to the waiting area that consisted of a few chairs lined against the wall.

The looming shape of Kalugal's plane appeared in the sky, and once it touched down at the other side of the landing strip, Syssi let out a breath.

For some reason, landings always stressed her.

The jet taxied into the open maw of the hangar, then the pilot navigated it carefully inside and stopped it with a brief jolt before killing the engines.

When the cabin door finally swung open, Syssi's attention zeroed in on the first figure to emerge. Yamanu stood at the open door, his gaze sweeping the space until landing on Mey, and a huge grin spread over his face.

He jumped down the stairs, and in two long strides closed the distance, enveloping her in a fierce embrace as if they'd been separated for months, not just a couple of days.

Mey's hands flew up around his neck, and as she hid her face in his shoulder, a small laugh escaped her.

Syssi felt a rush of affection witnessing their reunion. In a world full of darkness, true love was a beacon. She was about to say something teasing—maybe about how Yamanu didn't even see anyone else in the hangar—but her own voice caught in her throat when her eyes snagged on Jasmine, who was standing inside the cabin door with a woman who could have been her sister.

Kyra was thinner and shorter, but not by much, and there was a regal tilt to her chin and determination in her eyes.

She didn't look like a victim.

She looked like a warrior.

16

KYRA

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