Leo pressed even closer to his brother as the message played a second time. They both needed to hear it again, just to be sure.

“Leo,” the message began. “I pray that this works and that you get this in time. I hope that if you do, you have already found Zirkus Crayt and that he was able to use the data I provided to find an answer, because I have none. I have failed, Leo. The Djarik have finished the weapon and are moving forward with their plans to test it on Earth. Moreover, I am almost certain they suspect me of attempting to sabotage their efforts. I know that I have already asked so much of you, more than I have a right to, but the attack on our planet is imminent. If there is some way to save it . . . any way . . .”

His father’s image shifted as if the recording had been paused and then restarted. His dad’s voice had shifted as well—no longer the earnest entreaty for help, but now infused with a kind of quiet resignation.

“I know I said that I would come and find you. I see now that is a promise I won’t be able to keep, and that is my greatest failure and biggest regret. But no matter what happens, we will see each other again. We will wait for you, your mother and I. We will wait for you and your brother both when you finally come home.”

The holo ended and Leo stared at the empty space where his father had been.

Gareth reached for Leo’s hand. Squeezed tight.

“Skits, can you tell when that message was sent?” Leo asked.

“According to the Djarik time stamp it would be less than five Earth hours ago.”

“So? What does that mean?” Gareth asked.

“It means we don’t have much time.”

Leo looked over his shoulder to see that Baz had come up behind him, along with Kat and Boo. Zennia stood a pace apart from the crew, keeping her distance but still clearly listening. “That is, if we’re not too late already,” the captain added.

Leo squared up with Baz. “We have to go. You saw the message. We have to do something now. Warn the Coalition. Warn the Aykari.”

“The Aykari? Leo, the only Aykari I even sort of trust is lying nearly unconscious behind me, and he’s already said they’d never willingly jeopardize Earth’s entire supply of V, even if it means saving our skins. Cold calculus, remember?”

Leo nodded. Without its supply of ventasium the Earth probably meant nothing to them.

“Forget the Aykari,” Baz continued. “This is in our hands now. We know Crayt’s device works—”

“Actually . . .” Leo pressed two fingers together, leaving a little bit of space between them. Somewhere between 3 and 8 percent.

“Okay, we know it will probably work. I think our best bet is to beat them to the punch. Get there before the Djarik. Try to convince the EDF of what they’re up against and that we have a way to stop it.”