“We get on that ship,” Klaren said, pointing at a slick Tracker ship to their left, “and meet your crew.”

Dex had loved ships all his life.

When he was younger, he’d never wanted anything but small models of the many ships in Tenebris’s fleet—and later, from the unique fleets of planets beyond his own. He’d pored over books about them, studying the way each beast had the capability to take to the black skies. Reveling in the way they could cart a person from one world to another in a matter of days, and do so in style.

He’d always admired them, been curious about them, even humored the idea of pursuing a career in piloting, before his life as a Guardian came into play.

His love for sleek ships only grew when he acquired the Marauder. Which was why, when Andi took it, he’d felt as if he’d lost the two most important things in his life—Andi being the first, of course, but the ship was definitely a close second. So many memories lingered in the halls of the Marauder, and not having it now, for such a monumental job, felt wrong.

Still...the Tracker was beautiful.

“This. Is. Heaven,” Dex said, slapping his hands together. He leaned back his head and howled like a wolf, then trotted farther into the Tracker. It was brand spanking new and full of gadgets Dex had never seen before.

“She’s a beauty, huh?” Soyina said, sliding down the ladder to his right. She landed lightly, like a cat. “She’s the newest vessel of her class.”

“How?” Andi asked in awe.

Soyina shrugged and waved a hand. “You’d be surprised to know how much loot we’ve managed to steal for our cause. I guess you could call us pirates. Better watch out, Baroness. The Underground is coming for your brand.”

Andi rolled her eyes.

Klaren, who had already climbed the staircase at the back of the cargo bay, waved them up before disappearing from view. The three of them followed, but once at the top, they were met with a solid wall.

Dex furrowed his brows, running a hand against the cold metal. “Where did she—”

“Just watch,” Soyina said, interrupting him. She swiped one finger against the wall, and it seemingly evaporated before his eyes, revealing a control room beyond.

“I’ll drink to that,” he said with an approving nod.

Andi waved her hand through where the wall once stood. “What was that?”

“Soluble nanotech. First of its kind,” Klaren answered from across the now-visible room. She sat in the elevated captain’s chair, lines of screens stretching out before her like a computerized army. A table stood in the center of the room, with a map of Mirabel projecting from it.

“So what’s your plan for getting us onto Arcardius without getting caught?” Andi asked.