At the last stop in Tiae before the train reached the Glenca River that formed the border with the Bakre Confederation, some Mechanics boarded the train, sitting not far from Kira and Jason. The Mechanics Guild no longer required those trained in the Mechanic arts to wear dark jackets to mark their status, but like Kira's mother the great majority of those with the skills still did so as a matter of pride or familiarity, making them easy to spot.

Kira hunched over, pretending to be asleep just in case any of these Mechanics might have met her mother and could spot Kira's resemblance. But she had no trouble hearing the excited conversation among the nearby Mechanics.

"That reward the ship from Urth is offering might be something like the gadgets the librarians at Altis have, but in working condition!"

"How can you trust them?" another Mechanic argued. "How can we even know they'd pay up if we found that Urth kid and Mari's daughter?"

"We don't, but everybody is going to be looking for them."

"Yeah. Everybody. Including a lot of people who hate Mari."

A third Mechanic joined in, his voice a low growl. "For good reason. She knocked over a lot of things. Killed a lot of people. Ruined a lot of lives."

"If you're talking about Mechanics," the first speaker said, "take a look at the records discovered after the Guild collapsed. The Senior Mechanics killed plenty of Mechanics to suppress dissent."

"Supposedly," the third Mechanic scoffed.

"If you're so unhappy," the second Mechanic said, "why didn't you go to the Empire where the remnants of the Guild are?"

"Because I didn't want to be a slave to the Imperials." Kira, her head lowered, could barely see as the third Mechanic looked around the car, running his gaze across her and Jason without apparent pause. "I saw Mari once. I'll know if I see her daughter."

"Where'd you see Mari?" the second Mechanic asked.

"At Dorcastle. I had her in my sights, but my rifle jammed."

Silence fell for a moment.

"Well," the second Mechanic finally said, "if she and the boy from Urth try to take a train north they won't get far. I heard the customs agent at the station we left say soldiers were on the way. By the time we get to the stop on the other side of the river you can be sure that Confederation troops are going to be there and checking every car."

Kira tried to calm her racing heart. Had she already failed? Why would Jason's mother risk her son's life by telling the world he was out there, unprotected?

Because his mother didn't care what happened to him, as long as she got that Invictus Drive back.