Chapter Three: The Admission Order from the Stars

He remembered the twenty-three percent on the sync platform, Kellan Royce's mockery, and the tearing pain when Astra-X charged an orbital cannon. He also remembered the eyes of the children beneath the defense wall. Becoming a pilot had never been his destination. What he wanted was to never be powerless again. "I will go," Leon said. Ardent nodded, as if she had known the answer. "Good. Departure in six hours." "I have one condition." Harren frowned, but Ardent lifted a hand, allowing him to continue. "I need to return to District Seven." "Reason?" "To get my things and say goodbye to a place." He paused. "And to return a meal voucher to someone."