“Damocles is already expecting Zoe to return with improved specs for Clo’s weapon,” Eris said. She shook her head and gave a soft swear. “I’ll try and charm more information out of him and come up with an excuse to take the weapon back for testing. Then we’ll see if there’s a way to neutralize the ichor.”

“If you’re right about a leak within the Novantae,” Rhea said, “then Damocles will be more careful. He may not give up information about the ichor if he suspects someone is onto his plan.”

“Another Impossible to Infiltrate job.” Eris locked eyes with Clo. “My favorite. Cato, can you isolate the compound? Find out how it’s different to the original spores?”

Cato hesitated. “Not exactly my expertise, but I can try. No promises.”

Ariadne grinned. “Cato, look at you! You’re like a pilot medical expert badass!”

The pilot’s expression went vague. “Yeah. Except that I don’t know where one of those things came from.”

“The Oracle tampers with memories sometimes. Or maybe you have a glitch in programming that gives you medical knowledge! I could open your skull up to—”

“No.” Cato put his hands up. “Absolutely not.”

Nyx’s lip lifted. “What? You afraid she’d cut open that big head and find a rodent in a spinning wheel instead of a brain?”

Cato glared.

Ariadne, ignoring this, considered Cato. “Since you’ve chosen our side you can be on our team now. We still need a team name.” She tapped her lower lip with a finger. “It’ll come to me.”

The pilot ran a hand through his hair. “Look, I’m still fighting against this voice in my head that says I ought to turn you all in. But I can’t pretend I didn’t see that shit back on Ismara.” He gestured to the door. “By all accounts, that Tholosian commander I just dissected was loyal. They still left him there to die.”

I get it, Nyx wanted to say. She wanted to tell him about the times she pulled the trigger and she wasn’t sure the Tholosian on the other end deserved it. But she never questioned. She followed orders. Played the good soldier. The Oracle’s voice in her head made it so simple to block out the questions and the doubts.

Then she’d met Rhea, and she saw the other woman’s bruises, and she couldn’t pretend anymore.

Rhea approached the pilot and held out her hands. Though her skin had lost the Evoli-like fractals revealed on Ismara, Cato still flinched away. “May I?”

Cato let out a dry laugh. “Don’t trust me?”

“You just admitted you were still tempted to turn us in, and your hands are no longer tied,” Rhea pointed out. “This is a precaution. It’s not personal.”

After a hesitation, Cato gave a small nod. Rhea placed her hands on his stubbled cheeks and closed her eyes.