The music changed, and the image shifted to a recruiting ad for SpaceTech IAF. A familiar face came up, and my body went cold.

The light turned green, but I needed to see this. I needed to watch.

“Pull over.” I punched Roan’s shoulder. “Now. Now!”

“Okay. I heard you.”

I started to tumble off the cycle as it jerked to a stop, but Roan reached around to hold me steady.

“What’s going on?”

“Shh!” I pointed at the billboard hanging at least ten stories above us.

Perv’s face stared down at me. It was an old ad from ten years ago. I must’ve seen it a hundred times without really watching it, but before today, I didn’t really have a reason to pay attention to it. There was exactly zero chance that I was going to be recruited, and generally, I ignored anything SpaceTech. But now I was noticing. Now I was paying attention.

He looked about twenty pounds lighter, and they’d done something to his eyes, made them softer—less pervy—but that was him. “SpaceTech is working hard to build profitable planets throughout the universe.” His voice echoed among the scrapers. “But we need strong citizens if we want to reach our goal.”

The image switched to young men and women in navy-and-gray SpaceTech uniforms as they patrolled through neighborhoods on one of the colonies. The houses were all the same, with perfectly manicured lawns and spotless streets. The place might seem nice to some people, but to me it seemed totally sterile and utterly void of any personality.

“Creating a safe place for families free from Aunare is a big part of the mission.”

The screen flashed to Sergeant Pervo handing a ball to a little girl while her parents watched. “Five years on Tellus protecting families like these can earn you a slice of the good life on VegaFive.”

Perv’s face filled the screen again. “I’m Jason Murtagh, President of Security for SpaceTech, and I say join up. Make a difference. Earn your place among the stars.”

The billboard went black for a second before becoming an ad for a burger joint.

I suddenly felt cold. “Ice-coated shitballs. That was him. I just broke Jason Murtagh’s face. I decimated the guy next in line to own and run SpaceTech.”

“You didn’t.” Roan shook my shoulders. “Please tell me you didn’t beat up Jason Murtagh right before his brother was going to get you away from this fucking planet!”

The helmet suddenly felt as if it was two sizes too small. I ripped it off before the damned thing suffocated me. “I did. I smashed his face in and dislocated his shoulder. Maybe more. I don’t know. I ran. I just—I ran.”

Roan flipped up the visor on his helmet. “God, Maité. What the hell are we going to do?”