Shaking off thoughts of escape for now, I put on a smile and head to the table where Orion is already waiting. He never talks about it, but I can see the toll the prison is taking on him. He’s growing pale and thin and hollow-eyed, drained of his usual energy. He wraps his arms around himself like he can’t get warm. This is a cold and dark and miserable place. No place for someone who helped us.

“Hi, friend,” I say, sliding into the uncomfortable metal chair across from him. He smiles at me, but the expression doesn’t make his eyes crinkle like it used to. “How’s it going?” A stupid question, but I never know what to say to him.

“Oh, you know, fabulous as always.” His voice scratches like he hasn’t used it in a while. Pain pulses in my heart.

“I’m going to the council in person again tomorrow,” I say. “I’ve been writing every day, arguing for your release. Shey’s trying to help, too. I’m not gonna let them do this to you, okay?”

Another bland smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. He believes me a little less every time I say it.

“Oh, it’s not so bad, really.” His tone aims for flippant but falls flat. “My dad is already practically running this place. And I have a solar lamp in my cell now, for Vitamin D deficiency and such. Izra got a surface trip for nitrogen narcosis, so fingers crossed I’ll get that next.” He forces a small laugh and shrugs. I can’t bring myself to respond, and after a moment he clears his throat. “But I don’t want to talk about that. Tell me about the outside.”

“Right. Yeah. Uh, I’m sure you’ve already heard, but the Gaians are arriving today. Which means Pol will be with them.” I swallow. “We haven’t gotten much word on how he’s doing, so we’re not really sure what to expect.”

“That boy’s a force of nature. He’ll be fine.”

I manage a laugh. “Yeah, you’re right. I should probably be more concerned about how the Gaians and Nibirans are going to mesh.”

“I’m not sure Gaians mesh well with anyone except other Gaians.”

“You never know. Maybe they’ll surprise us,” I say, thinking of Shey with another painful twist of my heart. I know she must be busy as the acting Gaian ambassador, preparing for the arrival of her people, but… after I heard that she spoke for my family in front of the council, I can’t deny that I came out of jail expecting to find her waiting. She wasn’t, and she still hasn’t sent so much as a word to me.