Contents
Chapter 7
Overview
Wren settles into the Blue Dagger, grappling with Adrienne’s demand for commitment and the ethics of incitement. A fraught telepathic exchange with Cross ends abruptly, and a painful call with Tana reveals camp tattoos. The revelation steels Wren’s resolve to fight the Company and free Tana.
Summary
With Gray away on transport flights to a secret valley, Wren moves into assigned quarters near him. She sets up a new comm, discovers the Uprising’s Spider network, and wrestles with Adrienne’s question about fully committing to war, fearing collateral damage and exposure of her parents’ past.
Kallister links telepathically to schedule training, heightening Wren’s dread of incitement. Seeking comfort, Wren reaches Cross. Their exchange turns intimate, but Cross abruptly disconnects when Roe arrives, leaving Wren anxious.
Unable to sleep, Wren recalls Uncle Jim telling her of her mother Marina Serrano’s death and questions who the “good guys” are after Adrienne’s admission about mind-severing. Yearning for support, she contacts Tana, whose cold replies reflect lingering resentment over the labor-camp deal Wren struck to spare her life.
Tana projects her wrists marked with black and red bands, proof of imprisonment and defiance. The sight burns away Wren’s hesitation: the Company’s oppression is wrong. Wren vows to free Tana. Tana, disbelieving, severs the link, leaving Wren resolute but alone in the dark.
Who Appears
- Wren DarlingtonProtagonist; settles into new quarters, doubts war ethics, recalls mother, contacts Cross and Tana, and resolves to fight after seeing Tana’s camp tattoos.
- TanaWren’s estranged best friend; telepathically shows black and red wrist tattoos from a labor camp, spurning Wren’s promise.
- CrossWren’s telepathic confidant and love interest; shares longing, then abruptly ends their link when Roe arrives.
- KallisterUprising leader; links telepathically to begin Wren’s training the next day.
- Uncle JimGuardian from Wren’s childhood; remembered for telling Wren her mother, Marina Serrano, had died.