Page 130 of Jump or Fall
Mara had saved more than enough as well. Dawson had never touched her earnings, only requiring her to pay for utilities and anything beyond the basics. The apartment itself had belonged to him, leaving her with few expenses. Now, she and Gordon had a rare luxury: time. They could travel without the pressure of finding work.
“So, where are you two headed first?” Silva asked.
They stood outside the now permanently open front gate of the city. Maybe someday they would tear the wall down entirely.
“Cygnus,” Mara replied. “I read it’s very nice this time of year, and the air doesn’t try to drown you.”
Gordon’s stories about Naxos had been enough to cross it off her list—at least for now. She wanted to go somewhere far, somewhere different.
“Don’t go too far north,” Millon warned. “I’ve only seen pictures of snow, and that’s enough for me.”
Smiling, she said, “I wouldn’t mind seeing it at least once. But there’s an insurgent group near the border in the mountains, so maybe we’ll find snow somewhere else.” They would have to figure out international travel in that case, but she was content to explore what was available within the Domain border for now.
“My mom loved Cygnus,” Kimmie chimed in. “It’s a lot sunnier, and she said they have a statue of Deyela that’s twelve feet tall.”
Millon grinned at her. “Once things settle, we should take a trip.”
Kimmie had taken on a new role, one designed to mend the divide between Division Eight and the rest of the city. Now that movementwas unrestricted, many from Eight tried to relocate immediately—but housing was scarce. Violent clashes had already broken out, and Archon Ikeda was considering bringing in Western Domain peacekeepers. It would be some time before real stability took hold.
Mara turned to Silva, who was inspecting their newly modified van. The back had been converted into a sleeping area that could shift into seating when needed. They weren’t planning to sleep in it every night, but it would save money.
“Have you spoken to Theo yet?” she asked.
Silva frowned. “Yes, he is enjoying the good life in Naxos and has no desire to return. Can’t say I blame him.” He let out a long breath. “I’ll just have to visit him there at some point. Hopefully, I can dodge Inu. His dogs give me the creeps.”
Gordon had told her about the robotic dogs before. Inu’s ability to control them without a remote both fascinated and unnerved her.
“I don’t think it’s just the dogs,” Gordon remarked with a laugh. He gently touched her arm. “We should get going. I’ve never driven to Cygnus, so I’m not sure what the roads are like past the fork.”
Silva held out his arms, and she accepted the friendly embrace. “I’m glad I finally got to know you after all these years working together,” he said.
She smiled. “Me too.”
Kimmie hesitated, so Mara offered the hug first. Her eyes widened slightly before she rushed forward. “Keep in touch,” Kimmie said. “The road can be dangerous.”
“We will,” Gordon assured her. He patted the trunk sitting in the back of the van. “Two Umbras, two H-eks, and enough ammo to take out a few walls.”
The soft armor pieces Millon had allowed Mara to craft were also a major advantage. Not everyone they met on the road would be a friend.
Millon stepped forward and extended a hand. “Good luck. I better not hear you’re making armor for the fucking Naxiots.”
Mara clasped his hand firmly. “Not a chance.”
After a few more farewells, they climbed into the van and rolled through the open gate. Mara kept her eyes glued to the window as they passed beyond the towering concrete wall, leaving the city behind. She had never set foot outside Teichus before, and as they crossed the threshold, the last weight of oppression seemed to lift from her shoulders.
Outside, small encampments had already begun to spring up—makeshift tents, rough-hewn shelters pieced together from whatever materials people could scavenge. The road was fairly smooth considering the only traffic until recently had been supply shipments. To the left, a sprawling forest stretched toward the horizon, thick with deep green canopies.
“Glad we’re driving on the main road in a vehicle with walls. And in daylight,” Gordon commented.
“I think I would’ve chickened out if I had to do what you did.”
He snorted and reached over to grab her hand. “You killed the most feared man in Teichus with his own hands. I doubt that.”
She returned the loving squeeze as warmth flooded her chest. Mara had never felt particularly brave, but his unwavering support made her feel like she could take on anything.
An hour after the fork, Gordon shifted in his seat. “There’s supposed to be a nice lake up ahead. Want to stretch our legs?”
She wasn’t used to sitting around in a vehicle this long either. “Sure. I can drive for a bit after.” The road wasn’t busy, and though she hadn’t driven in years, it was as good a place as any to get back into it.
