Every shift of the axis reminds me of how much time I've lost. I leave Lazarus's holding cell and head back home, wondering if I'm being tracked by General Aldric's spies the entire time. I can't stop thinking about his hands on my shoulders and his breath on my neck. 

I shudder involuntarily and try to think about those memory devices in the labs but my mind shifts to the general again. I shut my eyes tightly feeling disgusted with myself. How could I let him touch me like that? 

How could I let him kiss me when I've lain with his son and shared his bed? No, there is no way I will spend a night with General Aldric, the male I grew up knowing. I swallow my apprehension and get out of the car as soon as we approach my living quarters. 

I don't expect to see my mother when I walk in but there she is, lying on the sofas in the living room. There are bottles of spirits all over the table in front of her and I can tell by her gait that she's inebriated. 

There are a few of her friends seated on the other sofas and they take turns to laugh, their normally pale skin flushed by the alcohol. 

"Mother," I address her reluctantly. Our relationship has been more strained ever since she learned of my involvement with the seizure of the labs on Earth. I know she partly blames me for father's arrest but she's been biased towards him from the beginning. There's no point reasoning with someone who never wants to listen. 

"Luna," She murmurs curtly, her mood souring. 

"Our dearest, Luna. You must be so worried about your fiancé," Winlow - a prominent businesswoman and old friend of my mother - chirps. She's a large female, with a rounded belly and thick arms that are spread out on either side of her. Her white hair is tied up into a neat bun and her smile is friendly as she looks at me. 

Her reaction tells me two things; One, mother has chosen not to elaborate on me invading my father's lab and two, no one knows that I've broken off my engagement to Lazarus. 

I wonder what they will say when they learn that I'm now engaged to Lucian. Now definitely isn't the best time to share such news with them so I just nod. 

"He will be fine. I saw him recently and he's holding up well." I tell Winlow reassuringly. 

"If only she worried as much for her father," General Ursae quips, taking a long swig of her drink again. I notice her eyes are red rimmed and her face is gaunt. My mother looks like she hasn't slept since father was arrested. Probably hasn't. 

"He's fine." I tell her sordidly and I can see her trying not to roll her eyes. 

"Would you like to join us?" Winlow suggests. She shifts to the side, making room for me on the couch but my mother only looks horrified at the prospect. 

Commander Astrea, one of her other friends seems to read the room better. "Let's not bore the girl with our tiresome conversations. Luna, you run along, leave us to our vices." 

My mother cackles. "Vices? More alcohol and a night out sounds about right. Although the officers would definitely have something to say about that. How can a general party when her husband is behind bars?" 

"Come now, Ursae. We all know this trial is a farce and Grievous will be released anytime now." Commander Astrea strokes my mothers arm reassuringly. 

The general is slurring now and I wish she would stop torturing herself over a man who cheats on her under the very same roof. I think of my father fooling around with his attendant in his quarters and General Aldric blackmailing his way to me. 

There's something wrong with all of them, including General Mondric. 

"We could go to my private club. There's a separate entrance to the VIP room. No one would be the wiser." Winlow says and then she picks up her communicator and begins to make arrangements. 

"You ladies have fun. Please excuse me," I nod and bow slightly, showing them my respect before heading down the corridor to the basement. 

The sound of all the females cackling bounces off the walls and I don't know why but it soothes me. It gives me a sense of normalcy, reminding me of the days I used to spend with them when I was much younger. 

At least I know my mother is not going through this hardship alone. 

I head for my secret chamber across the wall of weapons in the far end of the basement. My cameras are switched on and I watch Lazarus in his prison maze. He's talking to himself or at least it appears that way on the feed because there's no one else nearby. 

Watching him calms me for some reason and I pull out the communicator Lucian gave me and dial Axis's number. 

"PG Luna." There's a loud whirring sound from his end, I can barely hear his voice.

"Where are you?" I ask him quickly. I watch Lazarus walk to a wall of grass, his fingers grazing over the leaves and twigs. 

There's some fumbling on the other end and I assume Commander Axis is checking if the line is secure. I hear the soft hum of static from his side. 

"I'm where I usually am at this time of the cycle." He answers stoically, telling me he's at the underground lab. 

"I need the memory device as soon as possible. We can't act based on the previously agreed timeline. I need it today." 

He stutters on the other side of the line. "But it's not ready yet-"

"It can erase, correct?" I cut him off urgently. 

"Yes, but leadership-."

"Listen, I need you to do this for me, Axis. Regardless of what leadership says." My voice lowers even though there's no possible way for General Lyra to hear me conspiring behind her back. "I need that device delivered to this location by today, without leadership knowing. Can you do that for me?"

There's a long pause on the other end and I wonder if he will tell me it's not possible. Even though Commander Axis is in my squad, he's a Sympathizer like I am and all of us answer to General Lyra. It's a huge risk to act against her orders and I can't even blame him if he says no. 

"Send me the location." He says finally and a rush of relief has me leaning against the wall. 

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." I say gratefully before he bids me farewell and ends the call. I key in the location details that Lazarus's squad member gave me after I left the maze and then I delete all the messages and call history, even though the phone is encrypted. 

Once I'm done, all I can do is wait. Lazarus did tell me to go out and be seen, so that I'll have an alibi just in case so I decide to do so. I head upstairs and get ready. As I'm getting ready to leave I notice that my mother and her friends are still in the living room. 

They're whispering now and I spy on the group from behind a corner. Winlow is passed out and so are three other guests. Commander Astrea has moved to the same couch as the general and they are speaking softly to each other. 

"The commanders have discussed already, general. Your husband and Lazarus will walk free. The evidence in this case has been nothing but joke after joke. The officers are tired and everyone wants for things to resume as they were." 

"Are you sure, Astrea? That smug Aldric seems so confidant. All he wants is to take full control of leadership. After Grievous, he will get rid of Mondric and then Lyra. Mark my words." 

That's a dangerous insinuation, even for a general to say. I look around at the four corners of the vast room and don't see any blinking lights. We regularly sweep the place for bugs but one can never be too careful. 

I sigh to myself. If my father doesn't get us in more trouble, my mother probably will. I decide to make an appearance, walking past the two as I head to the front doors. 

My mother ignores me but the commander gets up and gives me a quick hug, telling me to be safe. 

I head to one of the busiest clubs in the city tonight. An up and coming artist is performing at Onyx and there's bound to be a large crowd. Sure enough, there's a long line to the restaurant and bar when I reach. 

An armed guard leads me inside and stands next to me while I order a drink at the bar. I'm shocked to see Ron pouring drinks for a Plutonian on the other side. He catches me looking and walks over to me.

"Can I get your order, your honour?" He eyes me knowingly and I point to a picture of a colourful drink on the menu. 

"This one," I say and then I lean in closer. "When did you wake up?" 

"Last cycle. They cleared me for work right after but I've been sworn to secrecy." He tells me and then proceeds to fix my drink. This is hardly the time and place so I don't speak to him after he hands me the tall glass of flowery smelling liquid. He's busy working and I don't want to distract him on his first day back. 

However, he has me thinking of the meat chamber at the back and his promise to serve me from now on. 

It gets boring after awhile. The place is packed with Plutonians and I'm escorted to the private area where there is more space and leg room. I don't see anyone I know but there are plenty of Plutonians who recognise me. They gasp and some of them take pictures of me. 

I pretend that I'm unaware knowing that this is the perfect alibi. I decide to text Lucian, making sure he's seen tonight as well so that nothing can connect him to what's about to happen to the general. 

"Lucian, where are you?" I ask him but the booming music behind me makes it hard to hear him. 

"Hello fiancé," Lucian teases and I can't help but smile. "I miss you. Wish you were here with me."

"Where are you?" 

"I'm having dinner with my parents. We are at the Grand Warquil, at the revolving restaurant on the top floor." 

"The marquee?" I ask. I love that restaurant, the grilled fish there is one of my favourites. 

"Yes, and where are you? It sounds like you're at a club?" 

My communicator pings incessantly, letting me know that multiple messages have come in. "I'm at Onyx. That new artist you like is performing."

"Dallax?" He guesses immediately and I nod, laughing. "Wish I could be there."

"You could always join me after." I tell him. It would be nice if he was here with me. We could spend the night here and then we'd both have perfect alibis. 

"I can try but father is travelling tomorrow. He wants to spend quality time with his son before he leaves for Taygetha." 

My body freezes suddenly, throat growing tight. 

"Did you say Taygetha?" I croak. 

"Yes." He answers. "Why?" 

"Nothing," I quickly say. "Did he say who he's going with?" 

"Just the two of them as usual. I think. Mother's not going. I'm not sure about his wife." He answers referring to General Xia. 

"Umm, alright. Send them my regards. Hope to see you later." I end the call with shaking hands. General Lyra never mentioned such a trip and now I wonder how Lazarus will use the machine on General Aldric if his wife and Lucian's father are on the same ship. 

I flip open the communicator only to see multiple self destructing messages from Axis. The first one tells me that he's managed to sneak one out and hand it to the masked officer who works for Lazarus. 

The others are telling me that he noticed some residue on the seat in his glider where he kept the machine. Axis tells me he tested the residue and learned they are from self imploding explosives. 

My hand tightens around the communicator, watching his messages disappear before my eyes. 

The memory machines aren't tweaked to erase memory. They're bombs.