Page 69 of Defiant

And at the very least it might surprise—even intimidate—Winzik and his team. Assuming we could find the key to exposing their pain, it was a potential solution to a problem that nobody but me seemed willing to acknowledge. The fact that the true victors in the galaxy would be the ones who could control the delvers.

Hey,I sent him, remembering what Jorgen and I had discussed.While I’m thinking of it. Do you notice any difficulty in talking to me in here, when I’m near Detritus? From the inhibitor slugs?

Eh,he said.It’s noticeable, but more like a little buzz. I’m a grown-up delver now, Spensa. Very scary. We’re too powerful to care about inhibitors.

I know,I sent back.The delver that scoured Detritus all thoseyears ago didn’t respond to their inhibitors either. That’s kind of what’s worrying me.

Why?

I just shook my head as I worked, sending him a general sense of discontent. I was beginning to think that Brade was wrong. She and Iweren’tconnected mystically, or any nonsense like that. I had a delver on my soul, so things like inhibitors were weaker around me. I’d been able to break through them at least once. Maybe that was why she could contact me. Because I was weakening the inhibition field.

I don’t sense her right now, if that helps,he said.Just you, Doomslug, and Hesho, in…hey, is that my cavern? Why are you…

I looked up from my work beside the wing of the ship, but there was nothing to look at. Just the empty cavern.

Is that for me?M-Bot said, his cytonic “voice” laden with emotion. In this case, it came as an overwhelming wave of joy and disbelief, tied up in one.Spensa, you’re rebuilding my body?

I grinned.I’d hoped to keep it a surprise,I said to him.That doesn’t work so well when your friend can literally see through your eyes.

Spensa,he said, his voice trembling.That…Thank you. How? How can you rebuild it?

The data dump we stole?I sent to him.It had the schematics the Superiority drew as they tore your old body apart. We can make it new, maybe even better—without restrictions, like the one preventing you from flying yourself.

Spensa, I…I’ve never been given a gift before. It’s wonderful.

It’s not done yet,I sent him.It will take days, maybe weeks, for us to finish this.

Yes, but you thought of it. You’redoingit. For me. I…I’m leaking emotion. Oh! It’s why you cry, even when you’re happy. Iunderstandnow!

I grinned, the “leaking” joy he felt washing over me. And inside, Chet trembled.

This,he thought to me.Don’t destroy the others. Show themthis.Somehow. The joy that consumes the pain.

As Hesho hovered over, I winked. “M-Bot saw,” I told him. “He’s grateful for what we’re doing.”

“Please convey to him my respect and well wishes,” Hesho said. “His sacrifice, though not permanent, was my salvation—and I owe him a debt of gratitude.”

“I think M-Bot would rather have a debt of friendship.”

Hesho cocked his head, then smiled at that. “I think I would too. What a precious realization…and what a precious life I now can live…”

That gave me an idea. This entire project of mine down here…well, it had been built on a false premise. I was glad—absolutely—that I’d decided to fix M-Bot’s ship. But I didn’t need this cavern any longer.

Hesho deserved better anyway.

“Come on,” I said to him, holding out my hand for Hesho. “Let’s take a break. It’s dinnertime anyway.”

“Excellent,” he said, hovering over. “A solitary meal in your room, contemplating our upcoming battle?”

“Nope,” I said. “Not this time.”

22

Hesho and I appeared in the cafeteria, but I’d judged things wrong. Dinner was already over, and a group of rookie ground troops were busy wiping down the tables. A few looked at me and jumped. The old me would have appreciated the fearsome reputation I’d cultivated. Today, the panic of having missed the others was far more potent.

Hesho hovered up beside my head, then turned a masked face toward me, seeming confused. “We’re not too late,” he said. “Look, they have some of the latecomer meals.” He pointed to the sandwiches prepared for those with irregular shifts.

I grabbed two, because I was starving and wanted enough to share with Hesho, but this wasn’t actually why we’d come. I had to find the others.

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