“What is she doing here?” Five asks quietly.

“We are all together now,” Setrákus Ra answers, and grasps Five by the shoulders. “The liberated and the enlightened, poised on the brink of absolute Mogadorian Progress. In no small part thanks to you, my boy.”

“Okay,” Five grunts.

I remember Five being in my vision—he was there to escort Six and Sam towards their execution, Six spit right in his face—but I guess I’d glossed over that part, more concerned with my disturbing connection to Setrákus Ra. Now here he is, receiving a pat on the back from the Mogadorian leader, the future already taking shape. And apparently I’ve been promised to him for whatever creepy ritual passes for a Mogadorian marriage. Right now, though, that’s not my most pressing concern. Because if Five is here, looking like he just got out of a fight . . .

“What—what did you do?” I ask, my voice squeakier than I’d like. “What happened to the others?”

Five looks at me again and his lips screw up. He doesn’t reply.

“You gave them a chance, did you not?” Setrákus Ra asks Five, but I can tell he’s speaking for my benefit. “You tried to show them the light.”

“They wouldn’t listen,” Five replies quietly. “They gave me no choice.”

“And look how they repaid you for your attempt at mercy,” Setrákus Ra says, brushing his fingers against the bandage on Five’s face. “We will have that repaired immediately.”

I take a surprised step backwards when Five slaps away Setrákus Ra’s hand. It’s a stinging blow, the impact echoing off the ships around us. I can’t see his face, but I can see the muscles in Setrákus Ra’s back tighten, his already rigid posture stiffening that much more. I get the sense of an immense bulk hiding inside that human form, just waiting to explode outward.

“Leave it,” Five says, voice shaky and quiet. “I want to keep it this way.”

Whatever rebuke Setrákus Ra might have been ready with doesn’t come. He seems almost taken aback by Five’s fervor to remain half blind.

“You’re tired,” Setrákus Ra says, finally. “We will discuss it further once you’ve rested.”

Five nods and takes a cautious step around Setrákus Ra, as if he’s uncertain whether the Mogadorian overlord will actually let him pass. When Setrákus Ra doesn’t try to stop him, Five grunts and slouches his way towards the exit.

He makes it about halfway there before Setrákus Ra calls after him.

“Where is the body?” he asks, stopping Five in his tracks. “Where is the pendant?”

Five clears his throat, and I notice his hands start to shake, at least before he makes a conscious effort to steady himself. He turns back around to face Setrákus Ra, who is looking towards the open ship, obviously expecting something to be waiting for him.

“What body?” I ask, feeling a tightness in my chest. When they ignore me, I raise my voice higher. “What body? Whose pendant?”