“Stationary Plaza has an underground deli food court. That’s where I disappeared off to yesterday, if you were wondering.”

I wasn’t, but I smile anyway and slow my pace to match his. “I’ll have to check it out.”

“You’re welcome to join me for lunch tomorrow, unless you have other plans. And if your friends would like to eat with us, I wouldn’t mind.”

“I’ll tell them,” I say, nodding. And when I look at Captain Blitner, he’s smiling.

After I get off work, I meet Victoria and Glacia at the Embassy’s maglev train. We board it and the train glides out of the station, the Embassy flashing past the windows until the track turns toward the docks and rushes down the hill and through the field. When it stops, Victoria points us to the Molters she rented.

“This is mine, that’s yours. I registered us with the Department of the Reserve, so they know we’re out here. Stick close. I want to be in and out, got it? No time for sightseeing.”

Glacia opens her hatch, and I climb in the opposite side. She runs through the preflight checks, then burns the thrusters. Our Molter rises into the air behind Victoria’s. Then she taps her headset to speak with Victoria.

“On your lead, Lieutenant,” she says.

“Ooo, professional,” I tease.

Glacia rolls her eyes. “Shut up.”

She increases the thrust power and the Molter zooms forward, flattening me against the seat.

Two hours later—during which time we fly over forests, fields and one mountain—the clouds thin and I’m able to see the ground again. It’s so different than anywhere I’ve been on Belvun so far. I’m used to seeing colorful fields and forests and glittering towers…but here, the land has lost its color. A dry gorge cuts the surface where a river must have flowed once. The trees are scarce, and many lay on their sides, left to crumble on the cracked ground.

And then Ellaciss City appears.

Victoria circles the city looking for a place to land and finds a clear patch of ground at its southern end. The Molter shudders when we touch down, and Glacia deactivates the engines.

Grass does not cover the ground, but yellowed dirt. The trees groan. An entire branch snaps and shatters when it smacks the ground, kicking up a puff of dust. The wind blows it away, a quiet wind that doesn’t whoosh inside my ears. Birds don’t’ sing, smells don’t entice my nostrils. Ahead of us lies a twisted metal street that must have been part of the city’s Main Throughway. It vanishes into the shadows of the buildings.

Death has claimed this place.

I look at Glacia. She widens her eyes and mouths ‘woah.’ I nod in agreement and turn to Victoria. She’s standing back, staring at the city. Then she looks down at us.