“Looks like they’re here to guide us in,” Andi said, leaning forward in her seat. She looked back over her shoulder at Klaren. “You haven’t seen your children in years. Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

“I’m ready.” Klaren’s droid spoke from its perch on her shoulder. “I should have come to face them both a long time ago.”

Their ship rumbled as the Rovers locked it in place with a magnetic field. Then they were sinking down to the floating mountain where Nor’s estate awaited them.

There was no going back now. They broke through the layer of clouds, and the estate finally came into view, white and sprawling and exactly as Dex remembered it.

Only now, it had a new addition.

As the ships sank toward the estate grounds, Andi cursed. “It’s massive,” she whispered.

In front of them stood the largest satellite Dex had ever seen—planet-side, at least. It was a giant metal circle, more than double the size of the mansion. At the structure’s center was a circular pod. Dex could only wonder what was inside.

A smug smile pulled at his lips.

Normally satellites were built in orbit, but this one was rooted firmly to the ground. Since Andi still had control of their systems, they hadn’t been able to launch the pieces they needed into space. And if everything went according to their plan, Nexus would never even reach the atmosphere.

“There,” Klaren said from the front captain’s chair. “I see them.”

The enemy lay in wait below, a line of soldiers moving steadily from the estate toward the rendezvous point. Klaren turned, standing up in her massive armor. “Eryn? Hide the lot of you, before it’s too late. We’ll exit the moment we touch the ground.”

“Of course, Arachnid,” Eryn said, but she had already faded from view. Her cool, invisible touch landed on Dex’s wrist. He yelped, but silenced himself when the other three women looked at him.

“Scared, Dex?” Andi asked with a smug smile. But he could see the anticipation behind it, her eyes roving over that group of soldiers, searching for any sign of Breck and Gilly.

He shrugged and tried to lighten the tension, the way he always had on jobs. “It was just a sneeze.”

She rolled her eyes, likely trying to do the same thing he was. “Of course.”

“Alright.” Eryn’s invisible voice spoke up from Dex’s left. “Away we go.”

It suddenly felt like cold, icy water was slowly being poured over Dex’s head, spreading across his shoulders, stretching down to his limbs. He looked down, mesmerized, as his body began to fade. Inch by inch, he seemed to slip from existence, until he was no longer there at all.

“Incredible,” Andi breathed, looking at the place where Dex still stood.