Six hours into the void jump, the crew sat in the Peregrine's dining hall across from Governor Sebastian. The table between them was a long, polished dark wood that reflected the overhead lighting. White cloth covered the surface. Actual plates, not the disposable kind. Forks and knives that looked heavy, solid, the kind of silverware you'd find in expensive restaurants rather than on a transport ship.

The lighting had been dimmed to something ambient rather than the harsh overhead illumination that dominated the rest of the ship.

Noah sat across from Governor Sebastian, with Sophie to his right and Lila to his left. Angel occupied the seat closest to the governor, her posture rigid despite the cushioned chair, her eyes constantly scanning the room even during what was supposed to be a relaxed meal. She'd changed from her tactical red suit into something slightly less militant but still clearly designed for quick movement, dark pants and a fitted jacket that probably concealed at least three weapons.

The food was surprisingly good, actual prepared meals rather than the reconstituted protein packs that usually passed for space rations. Someone had gone to considerable effort making this feel like a diplomatic dinner rather than just feeding people during transit.

"You know," Sebastian said, cutting into something that might have been chicken but was probably synthetic, "I wanted to be a soldier when I was younger. Spent my teenage years convinced I'd awaken some incredible ability and join the EDF, fight Harbingers across the space, be a hero."

He smiled, the expression carrying self-deprecation that seemed genuine. "Never awakened. Not even a flicker. Spent months trying to force it, meditation exercises, exposure to beast cores, everything the academies recommended. Nothing. Turns out some people just don't have it in them."

"That must have been difficult," Sophie said, her tone carrying polite sympathy without sounding condescending.

"It was," Sebastian admitted. "But it pushed me toward politics instead. Figured if I couldn't fight directly, I could at least help coordinate the people who could. Make sure they had resources, support, recognition for what they do."

He looked at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering slightly longer on Sophie. "Actually, that's something I've been working on. Legislation to give factions like Eclipse the same legal protections and benefits as military units. Right now, you're technically private contractors, which means fewer rights, less institutional support. I want to change that."

"That would be appreciated," Noah replied, keeping his voice neutral. Politicians made promises constantly, especially during meals where they wanted something from the people they were dining with. Whether Sebastian actually meant it or was just performing political theater was impossible to determine from tone alone.

Lila leaned forward slightly, her pale blue eyes fixed on the governor with innocent curiosity. "What would it take to become your personal bodyguard? Like Angel here. That seems like an interesting position."

Angel's expression shifted immediately, something cold flickering across her features. "I'm his chief of security, not a bodyguard. There's a significant difference."

"Oh, right, sorry," Lila replied, her tone maintaining that innocent quality despite the slight smile tugging at her lips. "Chief of security. That's what I said, isn't it?"

"You said bodyguard."

"Did I? I get the two confused sometimes. They're both security positions, right?"

Sophie cleared her throat, her diplomatic instincts clearly screaming to diffuse this before it escalated. "What Lila means is that your role is obviously more comprehensive than simple protection detail. You coordinate entire security operations, not just personal safety."

"Exactly," Angel said, though her eyes stayed fixed on Lila with clear assessment that said she knew exactly what was happening and wasn't amused.

The tension hung there for several seconds before Sebastian laughed, the sound genuine and warm. "Angel takes her work very seriously, which is exactly why she's the best at what she does. I trust her with my life daily, and she's never given me reason to doubt that trust."

His gaze shifted to Sophie again, holding eye contact for several seconds longer than was strictly comfortable. Not aggressive, not inappropriate exactly, just noticeable. Sophie maintained her composure, didn't look away or acknowledge the attention beyond basic courtesy.

"So where did you find Angel?" Noah asked, partly from genuine curiosity and partly to shift the conversation away from whatever was happening between Sophie and the governor. "EDF recruitment?"

"Former EDF, actually," Sebastian replied. "Ark Division."

Noah felt his eyebrows rise slightly despite trying to maintain neutral expression. Ark Division was the pinnacle of humanity's military, the special operations unit that handled the worst Harbinger threats humanity faced. Getting into Ark required not just exceptional combat ability but psychological evaluations, years of proven service, recommendations from multiple commanders. They were the people who dropped into situations where entire battalions had failed, and they succeeded through skill rather than just overwhelming force.

"Her service record is genuinely remarkable," Sebastian continued, obvious pride coloring his voice. "Over a dozen confirmed two-horn eliminations. Angel's kill count puts her in the top percentile of active combatants on the planet. When she left the military to join civil service, I considered it one of my greatest recruitment victories."

"That's genuinely impressive," Sophie said, and this time her tone carried actual respect rather than just diplomatic courtesy.

Noah nodded agreement. Two-horn Harbingers were nightmares made flesh. To put it in perspective, a one-horn would give trained soldiers with awakened abilities genuine problems. They were strong, fast, regenerated from injuries that should have been fatal, and possessed combat instincts that came from a species literally evolved for warfare. A two-horn was just a stronger one-horn, with enhanced capabilities across every metric. Killing even one required coordination, planning, and usually accepting that casualties were inevitable. Killing a dozen meant Angel was either exceptionally skilled or exceptionally lucky, and luck didn't get you into Ark Division.

Angel's gaze swept across all three of them, her expression suggesting she was reading subtext Noah wasn't aware he was projecting. "I've heard rumors," she said carefully, "that you and Lucas Grey fought a four-horn once. Is that true?"

The question hung in the air. Noah felt Sophie and Lila both go still beside him, their bodies tensing in ways that were probably invisible to anyone who hadn't spent months fighting alongside them.

"Yeah," Noah said simply. "We survived one."

Angel nodded. Not respect exactly, just acknowledgment. Her eyes stayed on Noah for another moment, calculating something he couldn't quite read, then she returned her attention to her meal.

The dinner wound down gradually after that, conversation shifting to safer topics. Supply routes, settlement development, the kinds of bureaucratic concerns that made Noah's attention drift despite trying to stay engaged. Eventually Sebastian stood, thanked them for joining him, and excused himself to attend to communications from Earth.

Angel stood as well, but before following the governor she caught Noah's eye. "Walk with me for a moment?"

It wasn't quite a question, but Noah nodded anyway. Sophie and Lila both gave him looks that said be careful, we'll be nearby if things go wrong.

They walked through the Peregrine's corridors, Angel setting a pace that was brisk but not aggressive. For several seconds neither spoke, just the sound of their footsteps against deck plating and the ambient hum of ship systems.

"Your first encounter with a Harbinger," Angel said finally. "Where was it?"

"Academy expedition," Noah replied. "First off-world mission. Planet called Cannadah. We were supposed to be doing basic survey work when they showed up. Most of my classmates died."

Angel's expression didn't change, but something in her posture shifted slightly. "How old were you?"

"Eighteen. Maybe three months into my first academy year."

"And since then?"

"I've come across Harbingers constantly. For months now they've been part of the job description."

Angel looked at him, her gaze assessing in ways that reminded Noah of being evaluated during military training exercises. "You're nineteen. The records I pulled before accepting this contract confirmed that."

"That's correct."

"You don't look your age," Angel said. Not accusatory, just observation.

"None of us do," Noah replied. "War does that to you. We were soldiers after all. Still are, really. Just with different employer structure now."

Angel nodded, seeming to accept that explanation. They walked in silence for another moment before she spoke again. "The four-horn you survived. What was it like?"

Noah thought about Kruel, about the monster that carved through EDF battalions like they were nothing, about regeneration so fast that lethal injuries healed in seconds. About watching three hundred thousand soldiers die because humanity's best weapons weren't enough against something that impossible and powerful.

"Overwhelming," Noah said finally. "Every tactical advantage we tried to establish, it adapted to. Every weapon system we deployed, it countered. We survived because Lucas and I were fighting in an environment where I had some form of control handed to us by my dragons, and even then it was close. If we'd been fighting in neutral ground , we'd be dead."

"And the other four-horn? The one you actually killed?"

"The Widow," Noah said, keeping his voice level despite the memory of that fight. "That was different. Still overwhelming, but I had home field advantage in my domain. She was operating under orders not to kill me, which limited her options. Even with all that, it took everything I had."

Noah didn't know why he was being straight up with her. But he also saw no reason to lie either. For all he knew, she already knew these details and wanted to confirm from the source. He'd hate to make a fool of himself lying about it.

Angel studied him for several more seconds, then nodded once. "Thank you for being honest. Most people embellish their accomplishments. You're downplaying yours, which tells me they're probably worse than you're describing."

She turned to head back toward where the governor had gone, then paused. "Keep your team ready. This trip feels wrong and I can't articulate why. Just wrong."

Then she was gone, leaving Noah standing in the corridor wondering if Angel suspected something specific or if her instincts were just good enough to pick up on the general wrongness that permeated this entire mission.

Meanwhile, back near the dining area, Governor Sebastian had intercepted Sophie before she could follow Lila toward their quarters.

"Ms. Reign," Sebastian said, "May I have a moment?"

Sophie's fake smile activated automatically. "Of course, Governor. What can I help you with?"

"I wanted to say, personally, how sorry I am that I never reached out after everything that happened with your father." Sebastian's expression shifted to something that might have been sympathy. "Minister Reign was, I believed him to be a dedicated public servant. When the news broke about his Purge connections, it shocked many of us in government."

Sophie's smile didn't falter but her eyes went cold. "I appreciate your concern, Governor, but it's unnecessary. My father made his choices. I'm making mine."

"Of course, of course," Sebastian continued, seemingly oblivious to or deliberately ignoring her discomfort. "But I want you to know, if I'd reached out at the time, offered support publicly, it would have looked bad for my office. You understand how politics works. Association with anyone connected to the Purge scandal, even tangentially, even family members who were clearly innocent, it could have been used against me by opponents."

"I understand completely," Sophie replied, her tone remaining courteous despite the irritation building behind her professional mask. "Your position requires careful consideration of optics and political ramifications. I would never expect you to compromise your office for personal gestures."

The words were polite but carried enough edge that most people would have recognized the dismissal. Sebastian either didn't notice or chose not to, continuing with that same sympathetic expression that made Sophie want to hit something.

"It's just that I admire what you've built with Eclipse," Sebastian said. "Taking a terrible situation, your family name being dragged through the mud despite your own innocence, and turning it into something positive. Building your own reputation separate from your father's legacy. That takes genuine strength of character."

"Thank you, Governor," Sophie said, her smile becoming more fixed. "If you'll excuse me, I should check on my team. We'll be conducting security sweeps during the voyage as part of our contracted responsibilities."

"Of course, of course." Sebastian finally seemed to register that he'd crossed some invisible line. "I just wanted you to know that I see you as Sophie Reign, not just as Minister Reign's daughter. Your accomplishments stand on their own merit."

Sophie nodded once, maintaining that courteous expression, then turned and walked away before Sebastian could extend the conversation further. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, nails digging into her palms hard enough to leave marks.

This was exactly why she'd insisted on coming on this mission. To control her own narrative. To be Sophie, coordinator of Eclipse Faction, not Reign's daughter forever tainted by association. But politicians like Sebastian kept dragging her father's legacy into conversations, kept reminding her that to them she'd always be defined by blood relation rather than her own choices.

She was still processing that frustration when an alarm sounded.

A blaring klaxon made everyone in the corridor freeze immediately. Red lights activated along the walls, pulsing in rhythm with the sound.

A crew member rushed past Sophie, speaking rapidly into his comm. She caught fragments: "...unresponsive...medical emergency...engineering section..."

Angel appeared from a side corridor, moving at full sprint, her hand already on her sidearm. She reached the governor's position and immediately positioned herself between Sebastian and the direction the crew member had come from.

"Governor, return to your quarters immediately," Angel commanded, her voice carrying authority that brooked no argument. "Eclipse team, with me. Now."

Noah emerged from wherever he'd been, Lila appearing from the opposite direction. All three of them converged on Angel's position as she began moving toward the engineering section, the governor being escorted away by two security personnel who'd materialized from somewhere.

"What's the situation?" Sophie asked, falling into step beside Angel.

"Crew member found unresponsive in engineering section delta. Medical team is responding but initial report suggests trauma rather than medical emergency."

Noah and Sophie exchanged glances. Lila's expression had gone carefully neutral, the kind of blank face she wore when processing something she couldn't say aloud.

They moved quickly through the ship's corridors, following Angel's lead. Behind them, crew members were scrambling to emergency stations, following whatever protocols the Peregrine had for crisis situations.

"This doesn't feel like an accident," Lila said quietly, her voice pitched just loud enough for Noah and Sophie to hear over the alarm.

"No, it doesn't," Noah agreed, keeping his own voice low.

Sophie caught his eye, and her expression asked the question they were all thinking: Was this Lyra?

They couldn't say it aloud. Couldn't explain to Angel why they suspected foul play specifically, why they thought a crew member might be responsible, why this felt like deliberate sabotage rather than accident or medical crisis. Not without revealing classified information about Arthur, about Lyra's history, about threats the EDF officially didn't acknowledge.

So they just followed Angel toward the engineering section, all three of them running through the same mental calculations. If Lyra had killed someone, it was for a reason. Access to something, information, resources?

The engineering section controlled ship systems, life support, navigation, power distribution.

What was she planning?

They reached the scene to find medical personnel already working on a body. Female, early thirties based on visible features, wearing engineering coveralls. Her neck was bent at an angle that made it clear this wasn't an accident or medical emergency. Someone had killed her deliberately, efficiently, the kind of strike that suggested combat training.

Angel immediately began issuing orders, securing the scene, questioning nearby crew members who'd discovered the body. Noah, Sophie, and Lila hung back slightly, observing while pretending to be useful.

"Access card is missing," one of the security personnel reported after checking the body. "Her ID and authorization credentials aren't on her person."

Angel's jaw clenched. "Which systems did she have clearance for?"

"Engineering oversight, power distribution, and... the beast core energy room."

The beast core energy room was the ship's heart, where the crystallized power sources that ran the Peregrine's systems were housed and monitored. Access was restricted because tampering with those cores could do everything from causing brownouts to triggering catastrophic power failures that would leave them stranded in the void of space.

Sophie moved closer to Noah and Lila, her voice barely audible. "She's going for the cores. Either to disable the ship or to access something through those systems."

"But what?" Lila whispered back. "We're in void space. There's nowhere to go even if she takes the ship offline."

"Maybe that's the point," Noah replied, his mind already running through scenarios. "Disable the ship, leave us stranded, wait for extraction or for something to find us out here."

"That's insane," Sophie said. "Nothing should be out here. We're not in known traffic lanes, not near any settlements or colonies. This section of space is empty."

Before anyone could respond, a different alarm sounded. This one was louder and more urgent. The klaxons changed from steady rhythm to rapid pulsing.

"What's this one for?" Lila asked.

Angel was already moving, speaking rapidly into her comm. "Bridge, report. What triggered the secondary alarm?"

Static, then a voice that carried barely controlled panic. "Multiple contacts detected on long-range sensors. Ten vessels, maybe more, approaching at high velocity. No transponder signals, no response to hails."

Noah felt ice settle in his stomach. "I'm going to the bridge."

Angel didn't argue, just nodded once and returned her attention to securing the scene. Noah took off at a run, blurring past people as he pushed his enhanced speed. Behind him, he could hear Sophie and Lila following, their footsteps echoing through corridors that suddenly felt too confined.

He reached the bridge in under ten seconds, bursting through the door to find the crew in organized chaos. Displays showed sensor readings, trajectory calculations, threat assessment algorithms running in real-time.

"No visuals yet," one of the sensor operators said without looking away from his screens. "But we're tracking ten distinct contacts, possibly more behind them. Speed is... that's not possible. Nothing should be moving that fast through void space."

Noah moved to the main viewport, looking out into the endless dark. For several seconds he saw nothing, just the familiar emptiness of deep space, distant stars providing minimal illumination.

Then he saw them. Tiny specks in the distance, barely visible against the void, growing larger as they approached. They moved in formation, precise and coordinated, their trajectory aimed directly at the Peregrine.

His hand went to his comm, connecting to Sophie and Lila on the encrypted channel. His voice was steady despite the adrenaline flooding his system, despite knowing exactly what was coming toward them.

"Guys, I think I know what this alarm means."

He watched the specks grow larger, watched them take shape, watched black pods emerge from the darkness like harbingers of death itself.

"Harbingers."

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