Sure, he aced every exam. But his favorite subject was always tactics. When we were out gaming or drinking or cruising, Ty would be sitting in his room studying old dead generals. Sun Tzu. Hannibal. Napoleon. Eisenhower. Tankian. Giáp. Osweyo.
Most boys want to grow up to be astronauts or firemen.
Ty wanted to grow up to be Marcus Agrippa.
“And then there’s the security systems in the actual office to deal with,” Scarlett points out. “Unless we just snatch and grab the Trigger, in which case, we’ll have the whole station on our tails.”
And finally, I see Ty’s dimples come out to play.
“Sounds like a challenge to me,” he says.
I feel my answer surging in my chest. I try to fight it. Try to hold it in. Ty is my squad leader. I go where he says, I do what I’m told. That’s what they teach you at the academy. Always back your Alpha.
Always.
“No,” I hear myself say. “No bloody way.”
My squad looks at me as I stand up, fists balled up tight.
“Seriously, enough of this crap.”
“Do you have something to say, Legionnaire Brannock?” Ty asks.
“You bet your damn tailpipe I do,” I say, letting the anger fill my voice. I’m so furious at him right now, I can barely stop myself from screaming. “This has gone way beyond stupid and all the way into brain-dead. It was bad enough being on the run from our own people, attacking Terran personnel, risking all our lives. Now you want us crossing the deadliest criminal in the sector for the sake of a trinket this crazy skirt saw in a dream?”
I gesture at O’Malley, still glaring at Tyler.
“For real, Ty, have you gone all the way sideways?”
“There’s more than dreams going on here, Cat,” Tyler says. “And you know it. You saw what Auri did to the Longbow. When I first found her in the Fold, I was close to drowning inside my suit and she moved us. She got us to safety. And you heard what de Stoy and Adams told us at the start of this mission.”
“This isn’t a bloody mission!” I shout. “It’s a robbery! And for what? To satisfy this head case’s delusions? Am I the only one who sees how spaceloops this is?”
“Don’t call me a head case.” O’Malley shoots back.
“Oh, she speaks!” I say, dropping into a low bow. “We are not worthy. And what advice do you have for us, O mighty prophet?”
Kal raises one silver eyebrow at me. “You are embarrassing yourself, Zero.”
“Jam it up your arse, Pixieboy!”
“Look, I don’t pretend to know what’s happening here,” O’Malley says. “But something is happening. I’m seeing things before they happen. I’m seeing—”
“Are you seeing any way we pull this off without ending up dead, Little Miss Visionthing?” I demand. “Do you see any way for us to get in and out of Casseldon Bianchi’s private office without getting caught?”
She squares her jaw. Glances at the schematic on the wall.
“No,” she says quietly.
“Well, color me all the way shocked.”
“Cat,” Tyler says. “Put a lid on it.”
“Maybe she’s right, Tyler.”
All eyes turn to Scarlett. She’s looking at her brother, her voice soft, her tone the kind of gentle that only comes with the delivery of bad news.
Tyler breathes deep, looks at his twin. “Scar?”
“All I’m saying is we’re a long way into the weeds here,” she says. “Before we go any further, maybe we should stop and ask ourselves where this road leads.”
“Right out of the Legion, that’s for sure,” I say. “Dishonorable discharge. Probably prison. You worked for this since you were thirteen years old, Tyler. Are you so mad about missing the Draft you’re willing to throw your whole career into the recycler?”
“This isn’t about the Draft,” Tyler growls. “You heard what Adams told us. ‘You must endure. You must believe.’ ”
“But why?” I demand. “What about her makes you want to?”
“I don’t know.” Tyler shrugs, looks at O’Malley. “But I do. That’s what faith is.”
I grit my teeth. Resist the urge to slap him. To roar in his face. I look at Scarlett and she just shakes her head. Finian’s face is a mask, but it’s clear he’s reckless enough to go along for this ride. Zila’s watching me like I’m some kind of bug she’s trying to classify. Kal is silent, those cold violet eyes slightly narrowed. I’m outnumbered. Outgunned.
“Hells with this,” I spit, snatching up my jacket and marching toward the door.