“In truth, few people end up leaving after the minimum three years, you know,” he says, after a long pause. “They either die in the service or pledge their life to it. Fight until they can fight no longer. They realize their planet needs them. Their people need them.”

Beneath the numbing tingle of Sanita, an alarm rustles in the back of my mind. What is he trying to do? Make me feel guilty? Make me reconsider? Surely he knows that I’ve always meant to leave.

“Perhaps they have nothing to return to,” I say, choosing my words carefully.

“Perhaps.” Altair leans back in his seat. I remain seated stiffly, my hands folded in my lap. “Or perhaps they realize that people are looked at differently here when they don’t bear the scars of war along with the brands. As they say, the only honorable discharge is—”

“When the breath leaves your body,” I finish softly. I’m suddenly very aware of how alone we are right now. Far underground, away from my team, farther still from my family. It never occurred to me how very easy it would have been for Altair to not send my message along to Momma. It never occurred to me that he could have had someone else deliver the power source and officially discharge me, as well. Why did he bring me here? The question rises up in my throat, but I swallow it down and wait. Silence stretches between us until it seems ready to snap.

“Of course, your situation is different,” he says, finally, and I let out a breath. “You have a home off-world. A choice. I understand, Kaiser, I truly do. I never expected you to stay, no matter how good of a soldier you make.”

I don’t know how to respond, so I merely nod my head.