Tameka was packing up the Love Nest on the train when Colton called her on the radio. Scrubbing away the tears, she squared her shoulders and prepared herself. She marched with purpose through the passenger section, the observation car, the library, and into the cafe car where half the crew surrounded the Icarean comms device.

Andrew and Lucas shared a booth, shaking their heads at the words coming from the radio.

Pablo stepped aside for Tameka. Absent of his better half, Lynn must be with John and Caedes scouting the front lines.

Pehton held onto a catch and leaned into her hip. She glared at the radio as if willing a fire to start. Could Lyriks do that?

Colton sat at the device, increasing the volume.

“…Lead you to your demise. A very painful and slow demise. Is that what you want, resistance fighters? To die in agony, screaming, wishing you surrendered to the easier fate…” Nox carried on, countering Rayne’s speech.

Tameka looked to all of them. When none of them made a move, she clicked her tongue. “Fuck this.”

Colton readily handed her the mic and helped her tap into the comm frequency to interrupt Nox, “Hello, humans! Don’t listen to the Vampire of Cinder. Over.”

Nothing.

Then, “Sovereign Ambassador, you lie to these helpless, inferior creatures. You and the Progeny are exalted as much as the Icari. Do not ask regular humans to die for you when you are likely to survive. Over.”

Andrew snickered at Nox’s use of “over.”

“You got this, girl!” Pehton cheered.

“Humanity, it benefits this monster for you to cower and hide. You know what hurts him? You fighting alongside General Callahan. Trust us. We know. Over.”

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

Tumu stepped into the cafe. He nodded to Tameka. It was a comforting gesture, she’d give him that.

The exterior door to the car popped open, and Rayne stepped inside. She glanced around before settling beside Tameka with a smile. “You’re doing great.”

The entire car cheered.

“The Tritans aiding in the fight will betray you. Over.”

A screeching silence followed. Without subtlety, the human and Progeny members of the car looked at Tumu.

The redhead examined her General as the man’s voice shifted from combatant to coaxing. Silken and full of lies, he said, “Rayne, listen to me. The Tritans don’t fight their own battles. They create weapons to do it for them. Over.”

Tameka’s best friend took a deep breath and asked for the mic. In that same moment, Sagan returned from the Seam. Her face flushed with success and no doubt other things. With a thumbs up from the Lt. General, the atmosphere of the car transformed from oppressive to optimistic.

Rayne said, “We are not currently concerned with the Tritans, King of Cinder. We are, however, terribly concerned with you. Not your people. We like them. But with the monsters you cultivated and the hatred you bring. I will end you, Nox. Over.”

Again with the cheers.

“And how do you propose to do that? Millions of my soldiers gather at the front line even now.” After a pause, he added, “Over.”

Rayne’s eyes shifted into Atramentous as she answered, “I can dissolve the spheres around both planets and let their respective stars kill every Icari. Including you. But I won’t. I will fight for them. Over.”

Tameka glanced at Andrew and Sagan. They shared the same concern. The greater Rayne’s powers developed, the more she alienated herself. They desperately needed a day together to reconnect and to unwind before all this culminated.

After a long pause, Nox countered, “You won’t be able to destroy them before my soldiers detonate the Tantamount. Mutual. Planetary. Destruction. Over.” Did he purr?

Ew.

Sagan shuddered.

Rayne tilted her head as if listening to some bizarre invisible voice with bad timing. After another moment, she said, “I guess I’ll have to settle for beating you to death. Over.”

This time the crowds outside cheered as people gathered around their radios.

Nox’s easy laugh, filled with lust and arrogance, carried over the airwaves. “There’s my General Callahan. I suppose you’ll invoke the Tenements of Vengeance this time? Over.”

“No. This isn’t about vengeance. This is about justice. Now, get off the airwaves before I flood them with Christmas music. Over and Out.”