Retrieving the rest of the incognito field materials goes without incident, and we're soon heading back to the village in the now-battered Hellhound. It lurches occasionally in the air, but the straps on my seat keep me in place.

"Why's it doing that?" I ask Violet.

"Leak in the deuterium line. It's letting contaminants into the plasma flow. Probably from when one of those fucked up geometry bats tried to eat the engine."

"...okay. Is it a problem?"

"Nah. These shuttles are built to take a couple hits, and Corgia nailed the violation with an id melt before it did too much damage."

The dog barks from its place on her lap, and she scratches behind its ears.

"Who's a good murdermutt, yes you are," she coos, the dog's eyes blazing hellfire above a happily panting mouth. "Such a good destructopup."

ding

I roll my eyes. Of course Box wants attention too.

I do not want attention, I want you to make us stronger. So we can keep that irritating woman out of my mind.