They had grown up together. Gone to the same schools. Dated the same girls. Had similar tastes in most things. Most of all, shared a forbidden love for science.

When Halden had married Marcia and they’d moved to Elphine, Marthus had stayed on Bernice. While the couple struggled, the friend found himself a mentor and wiggled his way into the IAS. First as an assistant, working his way up to positions of leadership. His rise had been meteoric.

Halden wondered about this now as he stared at the smirking face of Nahl Bergdahn. How could his friend have risen so fast? When he’d returned to Bernice with his daughter, Marthus had been at the head of the thilium department. Ten years later, he oversaw all operations at the IAS, while Halden still was a low-level employee.

No, he thought, that was not fair to himself. He was a respected scientist—at least among his peers. But there had been no promotions. A few raises, but no promotions. Not that he had expected any. He was content with his work. He had always assumed, though without giving it any real thought, that his friend was simply more ambitious than he.

Marthus had been happy to see him return and had welcomed him with open arms. He’d given him a job without hesitation.

“So what are you going to do now, little man?”

Bergdahn’s voice cut through his thoughts, dripping with disdain.

Halden reached for his pouch, slid his hand in, grabbed the small device Groggan had brought him, and pulled it out.

The questor’s eyes went wide when he recognized it.

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“How the heck did you get that? Wait, don’t tell me. It was Rees, of course. That little shit. I will crush him like the bug he is. And then, I will come for you. I don’t care if you work for the Emperor himself. You’re dead.”

Halden walked up to the tied man, saying nothing. He slapped the wiper against the back of the man’s neck and activated the device.

Bergdahn stiffened, then went limp as all his memories were erased from the moment he had stepped out of the bar.

He would sleep for a while now as his body recovered from the violation.

Halden untied him, then pulled him into the hovercab he had rented.

As he flew back to the bar, he considered his options. He resisted the urge to call Marthus. Doing so would make it more difficult to use the device on him, as a wiper could erase no more than an hour of memories.

He parked in the same spot he had earlier, when he had waited for his prey. After checking no one was in sight, he stepped out and pulled the questor from the vehicle, dropping him off in a dark alley behind the bar. When he woke, he wouldn’t remember their conversation, let alone the abduction. He’d think he had fainted after walking out of the bar.

Halden hurried to the glider and only allowed himself a sigh of relief once he was in the air.

His thoughts went back to Marthus. He’d have to do the same thing with him as he had with Bergdahn. No way around it.

It would be trickier to pull off, though. His friend spent most of his time at the IAS, which was highly secure. Going to his house was not an option either, as Marthus was happily married with three children.

Halden’s throat tightened at the thought.

Children.

How could he have done this to Lucy?

He knew her.

When they had returned from Elphine, Marthus had become like an uncle to her. She had loved playing with him as a child.

He clenched his fists, shut his eyes, and breathed slowly to calm his nerves.

How could this man he had considered his best friend betray him like this? He had stabbed him in the back. And for what?

That was the question, wasn’t it?

Marthus already had power. What could possibly have motivated him to commit such a heinous act?

There was only one way to find out.

But first, Halden needed to rest.

Then, he would make new plans.