"We're almost there," said Peterson hurriedly. "I can see Dr. Tase's house." He and Captain Thorn began to move faster through the street. Edwards and Decker kept behind them, Bird trailing from the side. I jogged to catch up as Byrne addressed me. "How do you know this woman is working with him?"

    I explained what had happened and what I heard. "She said what she – they – were doing was justice. As if we've wronged them."

    "That's revenge, not justice," mused Byrne. "Apparently, in their minds, we've wronged the world somehow."

    "But if these two know of the person who sabotaged the Patriot's power supply before we took off, then we had already done this wrong before we even left Florida."

    We didn't get to keep talking. Captain Thorn and Officer Peterson arrived at the door of the home. I waited across the street and slipped my hand into my neque, gripping my pistol in caution. Captain Thorn knocked on the door. "Dr. Tase?" When there was no response, he knocked again. "Dr. Tase, we're from the Planetary Court. We'd like a word with you." "Edwards, go around the back and make sure everything looks normal."

    "Yes, Captain."

    Edwards disappeared over the metal fence. A second later he said, "the door's cracked open. There's no sign of anyone inside."

    I swore to myself and answered, "she must have beat us here. There's a decent chance both she and the man from Satov are in there. What do we do, Captain?"

    "We go inside." Captain Thorn stepped back and lifted his gun. He shot at the lock mechanism and slammed open the door. The noise bounced off of the nearby buildings. Byrne made to follow as Decker hurried after the two, but I stopped her. "Wait until they say it's clear."

    She shifted her feet. "First Officer—"

    "No, Byrne." My tone was stern enough that she shut up. Edwards started filling us in. "The kitchen – at least I'm assuming it's a kitchen – is empty. I'm in the hall, checking the rooms down here. The Captain has gone upstairs with Peterson. Decker is guarding the front door."

    I found myself holding my breath. "Any sign of Dr. Tase?"

    "This house hasn't been used in days," said Edwards in response. "I'd say even months. There's a ton of dust and there's no food in the kitchen."

    "Then use the dust on the floor for footprints!" Byrne said instantly. I could sense her desire to be in there, looking for herself, but she stayed put.

    "There aren't any."

    "But the door was open? Any dust on the handle?"

    "No dust on the handle," Edwards agreed.

    "Then someone was there," said Byrne. "And if there's no footprints—"

    "Then the same person who broke into the Patriot and the Courtroom opened that door," I realized. The lack of clues this person was leaving behind was becoming a trail. Having absolutely no evidence just might be turning the tide toward our side.

    Peterson suddenly cried out and scrambled words shot through my head. It was just a jumble of sounds. I tensed as Edward's voice suddenly cut off. "Decker, status?"

    "I don't know, all I heard was him cry out and then a thump. Captain Thorn's with him – wait, someone's coming down the stairs—" Then his voice cut off. Just as it did, a black shape rushed through the door and bolted. I snarled. "Byrne—"

    "On him!" She sprinted after him.

   "Bird, get into that house and make sure they're okay. I'm following Byrne."

   He obeyed, running for the front door. I jumped out from my hiding spot and ran after Byrne. The man she was chasing was sprinting through the crowd without being touched, wearing that damned black suit. Byrne was having to shove her way through civilians and it was slowing her down. I took a calculated risk and ran onto the empty road. Shooting at him was too dangerous with people around. Instead I pumped my legs and started to gain ground.

    The man looked over his shoulder, giving me a clear view of his face. My eyes widened and I nearly tripped over my foot. He lifted his arm over his shoulder and fired a zodiac. The yellow blast soared for a man that I tackled out of the way. The man shouted as I sprung back up to see that I'd lost the original man. Byrne was gone, too.

    "Captain?"

   There was no response. I looked back and forth between going after Byrne or back to the house where the rest of the crew sat. Indecision tugged at me and I gritted my teeth. Who needed my help the most? Byrne was alone, but none of my crew was responding. "Byrne, copy?"

   Her response was fragmented. "Still – chasing – gaining – two—"

    Finally I made my choice after remembering what the man had looked like – who he was. "Where?"

    "Towards downtown!"

    I took off towards a pod station. The doors slid open and I shoved my way on board. "Where is this thing going?" I snapped at the nearest person. She blanched, bag held on her lap. "Uh – the Town Square."

    "Downtown?"

    She nodded nervously. "How fast does this thing go?"

    "As soon as it takes off, it takes two minutes to reach the Square."

   I addressed Byrne. "How far away from downtown are you?"

    "Maybe a few minutes if he doesn't slow down." I could feel her own exhaustion and adrenaline from running after him. The pod rumbled as it started to lift upwards and I put a hand against the side. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I waited impatiently. It felt like an eternity before it finally landed and the doors opened.

    I jumped out. "Where are you?"

    "Nearing the tallest building, on the west side—"

    My eyes found the building and I ran for the side of it. On the way, my eyes found a grate on the street. I bent down and used the aquarius to slice it free from the bolts. Heaving the sekrite up onto my shoulder, I rushed for the meeting point. I came around the corner and finally saw Byrne. Her cheeks were flushed and she was slowing down. The man in black and blue was rushing for the wall of the building.

    I turned rapidly and flung the grate like a discus. It sailed and hit the man's legs. He went down with a grunt and Byrne threw herself onto him. With a scream of effort, she drove something metal into his side. Blue sparks exploded and the man was suddenly solid. "Shit! The power pack!" The man slammed his elbow into her face and sent her rolling.

    I'd finally arrived. I whipped out my pistol and chambered it, catching his attention. The barrel was aimed between his eyes and I finally confirmed what I'd thought. Byrne held her bleeding nose and staggered upright. Her eyes latched onto his face as he held up his hands in surrender and she went white.

    Captain Thorn finally managed to speak with us. His voice was faint. "Autumn? Can you hear me?"

    "Are you okay?" I asked back, panting.

    "We're okay, just caught off guard. There's no sign of Dr. Tase, but there was a new man here. It wasn't the same as the one from Satov. I'm getting on of the travel pod now."

    "We know," I said sharply. "Because we found Ambrogio Tase."

    "What? Where was he?"

    "He's the man in the black suit, Captain." I glared down at the man my gun was aimed at. "And I've got him."