CADE

  "What did you do to her!? Come on, answer me!"

  "It’s nothing I did," Echo says, wincing, looking Cade up and down with a certain degree of disdain. "She’s merely doing what I asked. Right now, she’s battling one of Artifice’s Corsairs. It’s the only way to stop them from hacking into the ship’s computers remotely."

  "Oh yeah? What happens if she loses?"

  Echo simply turns away, back to the large touchscreen.

  "You’ve got to be kidding me. You knew this was going to happen. You planned all of this. You put her in danger!"

  "The fate of the entire known world is in danger. And if she can’t pass this test, she’s never going to survive the rest of it."

  "The rest of what?"

  Echo doesn’t answer. He continues swiping his fingers across the screen, selecting things, adjusting them. He finally turns to face Cade.

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  "Speaking of such things, I’m going to need something from you. I’ve manufactured some equipment that should be of use to you. You’ll need it to deal with the Corsairs. Come with me."

  "No."

  He stops. "No?"

  "You heard me. I’m not leaving her."

  "When the Corsairs arrive, they’re going to kill all of us, including her."

  "Even so, I’m not leaving this room."

  "Can you tell me why?"

  “Because I don’t trust you, that’s why. I can’t trust that something isn’t going to happen to her while my back is turned."

  "Something is happening to her," Echo says impatiently. “And there’s nothing you can do to help."

  "I don’t care. I’m not leaving her, and there’s nothing you can do to convince me otherwise. If you’ve got something for me, bring it here. Otherwise, shove off."

  Echo nods to himself. "You’re loyal. Exceptionally so. That’s good. I’ll add that to my parameters."

  "Fuck off.”

  Shrugging, Echo leaves the room.

  Cade turns back to Shiloh. She’s slumped against the console, blocks of her loose hair draped across the control panel. Blond strands glow from the lights and buttons underneath her hair. She makes a low groaning sound, like she’s in a deep fever.

  Cade grabs her shoulder. She’s cold to the touch. Limp.

  “I’m here for you, Shiloh. I’ve got your back. But I’m counting on you. You gotta beat this. You’re the only one who can.”