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Fails.

He’s bleeding bad.

“You can kill me,” he spits, “but it won’t stop anything. Dowron owns the whole field. You’re just a loose piece.”

I press harder with the barrel. “Then it’s time to clear the board.”

He shakes his head, sweat beading. “They’ll bury her in an off-world blacksite. The kid won’t even know his name.”

“They’ll try,” I say.

Then I lean close. “But Iwillfind them. And when I do, I’ll make sure Dowron sees what it costs to underestimate me.”

I rise.

He’s still conscious.

I let him stay that way.

As I leave, I fire one round into the power conduit.

Alarms shriek.

Emergency lights kick in.

Senta meets me at the perimeter.

“Well?”

“He’s not dead.”

She raises an eyebrow.

I shrug. “Not yet.”

“Coordinates?”

“Partial. But enough.”

She tosses me a canteen.

“Drink. You’re gonna need everything in you. Because wherever they took her, it won’t be guarded like this place.”

I take the canteen. Drink deep.

The water tastes like dust and metal.

But underneath it, I taste resolve.

“They think I’m chasing,” I say. “But I’m not.”

She frowns. “Then what are you doing?”

I holster my pistol.

And smile for the first time in days.

“I’m reclaiming.”