The transport flew north through the grey morning light.
Arin sat by the window, his torn jacket still folded across his lap. The sheath across his back pressed against the seat, a constant reminder of what he had done. He hadn't spoken since they left the settlement. Neither had Adanna.
She sat in the back, her hands folded in her lap, her eyes on the floor. Maya was beside her, quiet, waiting. Ren was at the front, watching the horizon. Dmitri was still.
Hana sat across from Arin. She wasn't sleeping. Her eyes were open, her gaze fixed on him.
"You should rest," she said quietly.
"I can't."
"You haven't slept."
"I know."
She didn't push.
The facility appeared on the horizon after a few hours. Low buildings, white walls, the same grey sky pressing down. Arin's chest tightened as they descended. He hadn't been gone long. It felt like years.
The transport set down on the pad. The ramp lowered.
Voss was waiting.
She stood with her arms crossed, her face unreadable. Her eyes moved over them—checking for injuries, for missing members, for the woman they had brought back.
Arin stepped off first. His jacket was still in his hand. His sword was still on his back.
"You found her," Voss said.
"She's in the back."
Voss's gaze moved past him, to Adanna, who was descending the ramp slowly, her hand on Maya's arm.
"Adanna," Voss said.
Adanna stopped. She looked at Voss for a long moment, something flickering in her expression.
"You're still here."
"I never left."
They didn't embrace. They didn't shake hands. They just looked at each other, two women who had seen too much to pretend.
Voss turned. "Follow me."
The corridor to Lina's room was the same. White walls. Low lights. The soft hum of machines somewhere in the distance.
Arin walked beside Adanna. She moved slowly, her eyes scanning the walls, the doors, the people who stepped aside to let them pass.
"How long has she been like this?" Adanna asked.
"Weeks."
"And no change?"
"No."
She nodded. She didn't say anything else.
The door to Lina's room was closed.
Arin stopped in front of it. His hand was on the handle, but he didn't push.
"I should tell you," he said. "She doesn't look like herself. She's pale. There are marks on her arms. Fading, but still there."
Adanna waited.
"And there's a gap," Arin continued. "Hana can feel it. The doctors can see it on the monitors. Something is missing."
"I know what a gap looks like," Adanna said. Her voice was soft. "I've seen them before."
She reached past him and pushed the door open.
The room was the same. White walls. White sheets. The machines hummed their quiet rhythm.
Lina lay on the bed, her face turned toward the window. Her chest rose. Fell. The marks on her arms were almost gone now—faint traces, like old scars.
Adanna walked to the bedside. She stood there for a long moment, looking down at Lina's face.
Then she sat in the chair beside the bed. She reached out and took Lina's hand.
"Hello, Lina," she said quietly. "My name is Adanna. I'm here to help you."
There was no response. The monitor beeped. Slow. Steady.
Adanna closed her eyes.
She sat very still, her hand around Lina's, her breathing slow and deep. The room was silent except for the machines.
Arin stood by the door, watching.
Hana moved to his side. "What is she doing?"
"I don't know."
They waited.
After a long time, Adanna opened her eyes.
She looked at Arin.
"The gap is there," she said. "I can see it. It's smaller than I expected. Fainter." She looked back at Lina. "She's fighting it. Whatever they put in her, whatever they took out—she's pushing back."
"Can you help her?" Arin's voice was rough.
Adanna was quiet for a moment.
"I don't know," she said. "But I can try."
She turned to face him fully.
"I'll need time. Equipment. Access to your medical records." She looked at Voss, who was standing in the doorway. "And I'll need to be alone with her for the first examination."
Voss nodded. "We can arrange that."
Adanna looked back at Arin.
"You should rest," she said. "You look like you haven't slept in days."
"I'll rest when she wakes up."
Adanna studied him for a moment. Then she nodded slowly.
"That might be a while."
She turned back to Lina and took her hand again.
Arin stood at the door, watching.
Hana touched his arm.
"Come on," she said softly. "Let her work."
He didn't move.
"Arin."
He looked at Lina's face. At the slow rise and fall of her chest. At the stranger holding her hand.
"I'll be outside," he said.
He turned and walked out.