So many pieces, but I could see the larger pattern and I did my best to express it. Our fighters began to fly better, more precisely, taking more and more control of the skies—
And then I heard a whisper from the nowhere. One word, the sweetest of all.
Retreat.
The Superiority ships began to race for the edges of the shield, the fighters pouring into their remaining carrier ships, which blinked out of existence. Some of the fighters turned and ran without a ship to go back to, flying with blind terror, and my people picked them off one by one.
In my mind, one feeling resonated above all others.
Relief.
They were leaving.
We’d won.
It was only one battle, one raincloud from the oncoming storm. But we were going to hold out. We were going to keep fighting.
From now on, we’d do it together.
Twenty-One
When the battle was over, I hyperjumped with Juno down to the cliff above Dreamspring. The tidal wave had hit the lower city while I’d been gone, and there was considerable flooding, though the upper city remained intact and the water hadn’t reached the cliffs by the library. A few of the buildings had taken damage from falling ships or destructor fire, and bits of wreckage were scattered over the fins and ridges of the city.
“I’m sorry this happened,” I said to Juno.
“So am I,” Juno said. “But my people leave today richer, despite the setbacks.”
“You have your cytonics back,” I said.
“It is more than that,” Juno said. “We are no longer isolated.”
There was still so much to figure out, so much work to do. The ever-present political squabbling would continue on.
But Juno was right. We weren’t alone anymore. We were still fighting for our lives, but at least now we could fight side by side.
I squinted up at Detritus, which hung in the sky like a second moon, a bright sphere of metal and glinting shield. Stars, I didn’t know how long we should leave it here, but I was going to let Cobb make that call. And all the calls from here on out, just as soon as I explained everything to him.
A transport ship hyperjumped into the middle of the road below the cliff face, probably carried by one of the taynix from Platform Prime. I squinted, watching as the ship’s cabin lights illuminated a man in a vice admiral’s uniform.
Stoff climbed out of the ship and moved toward the library. The medtechs were just pulling Cobb and Gran-Gran down the stairs, still on their stretchers. They left Cobb at the top and carried Gran-Gran, who protested loudly all the way down to the transport ship.
“I have to go talk to my superiors,” I said to Juno. “It’s better if you don’t come with me this time.”
“That’s all right, shadow-walker,” Juno said, lifting his book. “I have a great many things to record.”
“Snuggles,” I said, and I urged her to hyperjump us to the roadway beside the ship. When we arrived, I could hear Gran-Gran yelling at the medtechs.
“I can walk!” she said. “I may be old and blind, but I’m not infirm!”
I stepped aside as the medtechs persisted in carrying her to the transport ship. “It’s okay, Gran-Gran,” I said. “No one thinks you’re incapable.”
“They’d better not,” Gran-Gran said. “Or I’ll show them.”
I was sure she would.
Stoff had already made it to Cobb’s side. FM came up next to me—I saw her ship parked up the road now, by Sadie’s.
“Sir,” Stoff said. “We are so thrilled you’re back. We’ve made some great strides in securing alliances with the UrDail and the kitsen.”
“That’s good,” Cobb said. He looked over to me, like he was waiting for me to say something. His face was still bruised, his left eye partially swollen shut.
“It’s true, sir,” I said. “We have made progress.” I knew Stoff was going to take credit for everything now that it had panned out, and I didn’t want to start a war with him. I was too tired from the one we’d just fought. We’d saved lives and made alliances. That was what mattered, not the petty politics of who ordered what.
I glanced at FM, thinking she’d be glad I wasn’t picking this battle.
“Stoff had nothing to do with it,” she said.
“Excuse me?” Stoff said.
Cobb looked over at her.
“Permission to speak freely, sir?” she asked.
“I think you’ve already started doing that,” Cobb said, his voice hoarse. “So go on.”