# Chapter 8: Back on Earth

The blue-white curve of Earth filled the cockpit canopy, and Alex let himself breathe for the first time in hours. The Avenger's hull hummed around him, a familiar vibration that chased the last of the adrenaline from his spine. Far to his right, the black shape of the Ultor kept perfect formation — Eli's piloting had smoothed out dramatically in the past few hours, almost as if the machine itself was teaching him.

"Both of you, come in."

Fleur's voice crackled through the encrypted channel, sharp and clipped. No warmth. No preamble. Alex's hands tightened on the controls.

"Fleur. We're two hundred klicks from the atmosphere. ETA to your facility is—"

"Scratch that." Static hissed. "The World Government has issued a system-wide directive. They're hunting the Ultor and the Avenger with every frame they can spare. My facility was searched four hours ago."

Alex's stomach dropped. "Searched? By who?"

"By people who don't ask nicely." A pause, and he heard her exhale. "I've been ordered to report to Geneva for a formal explanation of the Pinnacle incident. That's not a request, it's a summons. I can't have you anywhere near my command right now."

"Then where the hell are we supposed to go?"

"The Visconti estate. France." Fleur's voice softened, just slightly. "My family's castle. It's been in House Visconti for three hundred years. The World Government doesn't have jurisdiction there — we made sure of that generations ago. There's a private landing field, hidden from satellite surveillance, and the cloaking systems on both of your mechs will keep you off the grid long enough to reach it."

Alex frowned. "Your home?"

"My home. My rules." A beat of silence. "I've already sent word. Two of my pilots are waiting for you. They'll get you inside and keep you safe until I can sort this mess out."

"Fleur—"

"Don't argue with me, Alex. Not now." Her voice cracked just once, almost imperceptibly. "I've spent eleven years waiting to find out what happened to that project. I'm not losing the two of you before I get my answers."

The channel went dead.

For a long moment, Alex stared at the static-filled display. Then he keyed his mic. "Eli. You hear all that?"

"Loud and clear." The boy's voice came through tinny and uncertain. "Alex... can we trust her?"

Alex thought about Conrad's warning in the …