The Valkyrion loomed ahead, its boarding ramp half-lowered, lights casting a dull glow against the cold metal deck.

  I was two steps from the entrance when Zara stepped in front of me, arms crossed, blocking my way.

  “Not now,” I muttered, trying to step around her.

  She didn’t budge.

  “The hell is this?” I gestured vaguely at her stance. “You trying to look intimidating, or did someone forget to teach you how doors work?”

  “Funny,” she said, voice dry as bone. “But you're not getting on this ship until you tell me the truth.”

  I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. "About what?"

  She scoffed. "Don't play dumb. I know you were raised by Legatus Varro Marcellis. I know what he is. Ares showed me the holovids while you were carousing the asteroid. What I don’t know…” Her eyes narrowed. “…is if you’re anything like him.”

  I met her gaze. "I don’t remember, Zara."

  Her jaw tightened. "Bullshit."

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  "I'm serious," I said, taking a step closer. "I don’t remember my childhood. Or him. Nothing before my military service. And lately..." I hesitated, feeling the words stick like tar in my throat. "Lately, I’ve been getting... visions. Or memories. I don’t know what to call them."

  Zara's eyes narrowed, suspicion laced with something else. Something sharp.

  "Yeah? And do any of those visions have anything to do with what happened to my world?" she asked.

  I exhaled slowly. "What world?"

  She hesitated, then muttered, "Vesperia Prime."

  I exhaled slowly. "What year was it?"

  She didn't answer right away, watching me, waiting for a trick.

  Finally, she muttered, "2721."

  I did the math in my head.

  "I would've been a child when your world burned, Zara. A kid. Barely old enough to tie my own boots." My voice turned harder. "Enough of this shit. I just drank liquid black ichor, communicated telepathically with what appeared to be undead aliens, and I’m not in the mood for an interrogation."

  Her lip curled, and she stepped in, just enough to make the space between us feel too small.

  “Oh, trying to run away?” she murmured. “I saw what you were capable of... as a child.”

  “Then you know better than to get in my way.”

  Her jaw clenched, eyes flashing with something between rage and hesitation.

  I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice.

  “If you think some old holovids of me as a kid are enough to scare you… imagine what I can do now.”

  Her breath hitched just for a second.

  Then I thought it, just like back at the bar.

  Move.

  Zara stiffened. Her fingers twitched, body tensing like she was trying to fight it and before she could stop herself, she stepped aside.

  “Good girl.” I said walking past her, up the ramp, into the ship.