Chapter Three: Ninety-Three Lives and One Drop of Metal

No one knew Earth had just passed an exam—or that the person writing its answers was a repairman behind on his rent. Lin returned the fabric. “You can't hide this alone.” “Are you reporting me?” “You need someone who knows how to file paperwork for miracles. Nine tomorrow morning. I see the ship. Tonight I'll package the anomalous data as an emergency-center trial.” Zhou smiled. “Engineer Lin, falsifying government documents is illegal.” “How many years for unlawful possession of an alien starship?” They walked down the fire stairs together. At 1:00 a.m., the last casualty left Cloudrest Tower in an ambulance. On camera, Zhou was merely a soot-covered civilian rescuer who declined to give his name.