Page 133 of Blightfall

“You may leave us,” Jorgen said to his remaining assistants, and they climbed out of the ship. Jorgen didn’t question Sadie’s presence. He knew I wouldn’t have invited her along if she didn’t have something valuable to share.

“Alanik gave me an update as soon as we broke through the inhibitor,” Jorgen said. “Did you…really see Earth?”

I nodded. “I flew in the sky above it, but Sadie and Nedd got most of the information. I was just listening over the radio.” I indicated Sadie, and she stared at me wide-eyed, then gave Jorgen a fairly detailed report of her and Nedd’s conversation with Ivy.

“Ivy’s a real nut job,” I added. “Sounded like she was tasked with saving Earth during the Third War, and well…she sucked it into the nowhere. A huge section of it was destroyed—North and South America at least.”

“Twenty-three and three-tenths percent of the surface,” Sadie said. “Arturo’s right. She’s crazy. Obsessed with the idea that we should thank her for what she did.”

“Did any of the population survive?”

“Twelve million,” Sadie said. “I don’t know how many of those are still alive. She said their descendants were hiding from her. Some of the people who survived were conscripted into her army. She’s got millions of humans stored in stasis pods, just waiting to wake them up to defend Earth.” She bit her lip. “And I think maybe now she thinks she needs to defend it from us.”

Jorgen let out a slow breath, oblivious to Sadie’s distress. “An army of millions of humans. Ready to invade the galaxy to defend Earth. You’re sure about this.”

“Very,” I said. “What about the space station? There may still be varvax up there. Did your forces get attacked when you arrived?”

“We didn’t,” Jorgen said. “My team searched the station before we landed. The varvax had evacuated, and they didn’t leave any taynix behind.”

“I think the taynix had already been rescued,” I said, “given how many Naga and Bob collected in my ship.”

Jorgen smiled. “I’m glad they were able to take care of each other.”

“We really found Earth,” I said. “We know where it went. That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

“It’s incredible,” Jorgen said. “You’ve done well,” he said, reverting to his commander voice. “You fulfilled your mission with honor. Thank you. When the rest of the team is ready, you can hyperjump back to Detritus.” He silenced my objection with a look. Scud, Jorgen was getting good at that. Must be all the practice he was getting. “Don’t worry. I’ll have more for you soon. Probably sooner than you’d like.” He looked at me. “If that’s what you still want.”

“It is,” I said. “More than ever.” What Jorgen did in Command was essential, but he couldn’t be everywhere. He needed people in the air who would make the right decisions, prioritize our alliances, do right by our people and the rest of the species in the galaxy.

Maybe it was hubris, but I wanted to be one of those people.

Jorgen stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I have some diplomatic introductions to attend.”

He left the ship, and Sadie stood to follow after him.

“Hang on a minute,” I said to her.

She regarded me nervously.

“Did I talk too much to Ivy?” she asked. “I probably did.”

“No,” I said. “In fact, you were the backbone of this mission. You led out on practically every part of it, and I want you to know I didn’t miss it. You stepped up, and you got the job done. Including when you were talking to a power-hungry artificial intelligence that held you captive and tried to cryogenically freeze you, which must have been scudding scary.”

“It was,” Sadie said. “While it was happening, I didn’t think about how scary. I just sort of kept talking. And maybe I didn’t say the right things—”

“Maybe not always,” I said. “But you said enough of the right things. You did more than your share of the mission we were given, and you did it even when it meant running into a nowhere portal while we were under attack, with no idea how you were going to get out again.” I paused. It was becoming more and more clear to me what needed to happen. “So I want to give you a promotion,” I said, “to assistant flightleader.”

It wasn’t enough. Sadie could have led the flight. But her whole face lit up.

“Really?” she said.

“Yeah,” I said. “If you don’t have your eye on something bigger. Because if you’d rather, I can talk to FM about openings in her department, or—”

“No, I’ll take it! Scud…” She looked at me in disbelief. “I’ll outrank T-Stall and Catnip! What are they going to say?”

“I’m pretty sure they’re going to be happy for you,” I said. “Plus, now you’ll get to boss them around.”

Sadie suddenly looked worried. “Nedd’s not leaving the flight, though, is he?”