“I wish things could have been different,” Carian thought to her as he pulled the crate out of the hatch and opened it. “I was starting to like you.” He lifted the lid and selected an armful of the white transport canisters. “You can keep the rest,” he said aloud, letting the crate fall closed. He looked down at her, powerless to move, and smiled. “See you around, Victrix Lament.”

Chapter Four