Flat.
“Protocol recognized.”
Everyone froze.
Maya held him tighter.
“Lucas?”
His eyes shifted toward the windshield.
“Asset 417 acquired.”
The fighter outside moved closer.
Ethan shouted through the radio.
“Maya, disconnect the cockpit audio!”
Maya looked at Reeves.
“Do it!”
Pierce reached for the panel.
Before he touched it, every cockpit display turned black.
One second.
Two.
Then they all returned simultaneously.
A white falcon appeared on every screen.
Below it were five words.
WELCOME BACK, MAYA LIN.
Lucas gasped.
Then blinked.
“Mom?”
His normal voice.
He looked terrified.
“What happened?”
Maya pulled him against her.
“Nothing.”
But this time Lucas did not accept the lie.
“I heard someone.”
Adrian stared at the screens.
“This is impossible.”
Maya looked up.
“You’ve said that several times tonight.”
“The Icarus system was shut down eight years ago.”
Ethan’s voice came through again.
“No. You were told it was.”
Adrian stepped toward the radio.
