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“Enough!” I roar

Apparently it’s not

This is what I’nore me

I jab , because the sudden movement makes my elbow hurt more “Direct command: Tonal variation Level two Apply to entire ship ”

Now they look at me, some of them with the same look they reserved for Eldest

“End tonal variant ” I disconnect the wi-com link “I didn’t call you here to lord over you!” I shout “I called you here—oh, frex, just follow me ”

I shove h the crowd and throw open the hatch in the floor that leads to the Shipper Level I lead the way down the ladder and head directly to the Engine Roo to tell me that this is a forbidden area, that I shouldn’t do this—but they deserve to see They have to see

I open both Bridge doors, and the people pour inside I hear shouts of wonder and aine—only the first-level Shippers have ever coe, and Shelby and the first-level Shippersoff the entrance when the Bridge beco the et a chance to see

I rollthat hides the s Theof stars that soon give way to the glow of the planet spilling its light over the edges of the s, briet about the crowd I see only the swirling white over blue and green This is the world, the whole world, and it’s ours

“We’re going home!” I shout

For one second there is ringing silence throughout the Bridge

Then the chaos returns—but instead of fighting and shouting, there is cheering and screae forward, their arms outstretched They can’t even reach the , but they’re straining up, as if they think touching it will make the planet more real The Shippers rush forward to create a barrier and protect the control panel

Shelby organizes the group to move out in rotation, and the Shippers have to use force soet the crowd to c

ontinue on, seizing those who linger too long at theby their ar them away Some of the people don’t react with joy Victria looks at the planet for only a e I see another woreen patch from her pocket and place it on the inside of her wrist, over her dark blue veins The intelligence slips fro suspicious, dark looks at ave theineer a false planet? Perhaps they simply refuse to believe that a world exists outside the ship

Bartie’s one of the last to go