Plan C. I rummaged around in my bag for the serrated blue disc of my communication focus. I channelled into it, strained myself to give it a bit of extra energy, and waited.

A second later I heard Caldera’s voice from the disc. “Who is this?”

Damn, that’s loud. I wished this one had a volume control like the later models. “Keep your voice down.”

“Verus?” Caldera sounded suspicious. “Is that you?”

I could hear voices behind me to my left. They were getting closer. “It’s me.”

“How do you have a synchronous focus?”

“Not the time. I could really use some help here.”

“Yeah, no kidding. What’s going on with Haken?”

“He’s in deep shit and I’m not doing so well either. Any chance of some backup?”

“Orders are for you to come in—”

“I know. You got a call within the last half hour, telling you that Haken’s MIA and that I’m to be arrested under suspicion of being involved. Right?”

“So are you going to do it?”

“Can’t.”

“If you don’t—”

“I’m not saying I won’t, I’m saying I can’t. I’m at White Rose’s base and they’ve got sink wards. Listen, I didn’t do anything to Haken. He was dealing under the table with Vihaela and got burned. Cerulean’s the mole, not me. White Rose has got Haken, and they’re after me too. I need you to get the others and gate to the beacon from my communicator.”

“That’s not an option.”

A sound went up into the night, the same throaty arrh-arrh-arrh. It was closer this time. I looked over in the direction, then huddled down, biting off my words. “Listen. This is me calling for help. I need you guys here.”

There was a silence. It could only have been a few seconds, but it felt like more. “I can’t,” Caldera said. “Orders are to bring you in. I can’t gate to your position on your say-so.”

“Then call Vari or Landis or someone who can!”

“I can’t do that either. You’re asking me to disobey a direct order.”

“Fuck the orders! If you wait for clearance, then Haken and I are going to be dead by the time you get it!”

I heard a shout from close by. I snatched a look around the tree and swore quietly. Two shapes were moving down the bank, torch beams searching in my direction. They’d heard me talking and I’d been too distracted by the conversation with Caldera to see them coming. “Verus?” Caldera said. “What’s going on?”

Caldera hadn’t kept her voice down. The torches zeroed in and I ducked back behind the tree before they could blind me. I heard a man’s voice, and undergrowth cracked as heavy footsteps headed in my direction.

I took a deep breath and bent my head over the communicator. “Caldera. I know I’ve done things to piss you off and there have been times I haven’t told you everything. But I’ve never actually lied to you and I’m telling you the truth now. I can’t handle this on my own. Please. I don’t know how much longer—”