Chapter One: Tomorrow in the Wheel

The lights flickered. Though the bay’s network cable lay unplugged, the duty roster refreshed. “Technician on duty: Lin Li.” The line above her name was gone. Han remained beside her, bloodless. He stared at his hands as if seeing the missing fingers for the first time. “Master?” “Don’t call me that. Listen. Whatever happens next, keep this.” He pressed a brass nut into her palm. Two tiny characters had been scratched inside: Han Tuo. Footsteps sounded in the corridor. Han pushed Lin into the trench and pulled the sheet over the wheel. The security door opened. Two officers in gray armor entered. “Unauthorized lattice writing detected,” said Officer Eli Voss. “Who operated on R-17?” Lin stood. “I did. Master Han only—” Her words broke.