Wanting blood, she went to stand over Pip. “Now, if I were you standing over Darling after I’d paralyzed him, I’d be calling your beloved little sister a bitch, and I’d start bragging about how I shot that same defenseless young woman in the back and killed her while she was running away from me…’cause shooting a fleeing woman in the back is such a manly thing to do. Then, I’d strip you naked so that I could steal from you.”

She ground her teeth to staunch the bitter pain those words welled in her throat. With every syllable, she wanted vengeance for Lise and the agony that poor girl would have to cope with for the rest of her life because of Pip.

But most of all, it was Darling’s misery that drove her on. “And while you lay there helpless, staring at your sister, I’d cut your finger off and make you eat it. Then I’d put a torture device in your mouth and carve my name into your cheek.” She sneered at him. “You talk to me about your hatred. You don’t even know the meaning of that word. But I do. And I will not apologize for being on the right side of this fight. And to clarify that for you, the right side is not yours, Pip. At no time has the Resistance ever been about cruelty.”

She glanced around at the others on the ground. “This organization was founded to stop a tyrant from abusing his power. Now let me reiterate that last bit slowly so that you can understand it. The Resistance was founded to stop a tyrant from abusing his power. We weren’t founded to become the tyrant who abuses others. How dare you do such a thing in my name. You have dishonored my father, and you have awakened the ugly side of me. Do not mistake my kindness for weakness. I assure you, I don’t have a weakness.”

More soldiers came running, arms at ready.

As they neared her, they slowed, then stopped. The sight of their comrades on the ground while she and Ture stood over them, unarmed, confused them.

“Zarya?” Someone shouted her name in relief while others questioned her identity.

She focused her attention on the one who knew her… Titon. He’d been one of her younger members, and because of that, she’d doted on him.

“It’s me, sweetie,” she said with a calmness she didn’t feel. “I’m here to stop this madness before it’s too late.”

His face ashen, Titon shook his head. “It’s already too late.”

“What do you mean?”

Before anyone could answer, an explosion knocked all of them off their feet.

Sighing in irritation, Darling held another cloth to his nose while he listened to reports of Resistance rebellion as they set fire to more businesses. He’d been trying to negotiate with their current leadership, but none of them would talk to him.

This has to stop.

Maris had already warned him that the League was moving in at the request of the CDS. Stupid bastards… Once the League declared martial law, the Caronese were screwed. He didn’t even want to contemplate what it would take to get their empire back from Kyr.