“Rain!” Chastity called out. “Sit! Squeeze in.”

He looked momentarily intimidated, until Chastity got up and grabbed his hand, pulling him down to the end of the bench. It honestly looked uncomfortable, like his butt was half on the log, but he seemed willing to endure it.

Okay.

Okay, I could let my guard down a bit. Nobody killing anyone. Amy was mostly handled, with my dad finally doing something.

I walked away from it, my thoughts going over the Titans.

I looked at the Patrol members, who seemed to be the dominant population here. Given the sheer quantity of people I saw who were talking to those people, especially with some possible family resemblance, I was willing to bet a share of the civilians who had also come here were relations. There just wasn’t a lot of space.

This was a waypoint, safe ground, kind of. Given the sheer number of supplies, it was possibly where the other Patrols were electing to have stuff stored. I could imagine the Fallen had had plenty of places to stow extra guns, ammo, and food.

I looked for someone who looked like they were in charge, walking around with a clipboard.

“The girl from the community center,” she said.

I thought at first about Fume Hood. Then I remembered my part in it.

I nodded. “Is Gilpatrick around?”

“Busy driving, but he’ll be back in an hour. Why?”

I was glad my guess was right. Epeios was a bit of a fuckhead from what I’d observed, but his algorithm had put me close to my old friend and boss from the Patrol.

“Just had questions. Wanted to ask about possible supplies, but it’s a bit of a reach. See how he was doing while I was at it.”

“Can’t tell you how he’s doing, but I could try reaching. What do you need?”

I told her. She asked for clarification. I clarified.

Then we parted ways. She went back toward what I took to be storehouses. I went up. Skyward.

No violence to my flight, no feather-light gentleness. Only simple up.

Until I could see over trees. Until I could see past the taller log buildings.

Off to our west, Fume Hood. Like a woman clad in a dark cloak, smoke billowing out the from and peeling off of the sides. The plumes of gas that surrounded her were taller than buildings in some places.

Titan Eve, I reminded myself. I was usually better with names.

She faced us, and for a few moments, I could imagine she was staring at me.

What was in that stare? Accusation? Sorrow? Fear? Anger?

I couldn’t imagine anything good from it.