"We could just... lose it. Tell them the dust storms took the rig. That we barely made it out."
"It’s a kill order, Elias. I saw the flash-code on the terminal before they locked the case."
The colony gates loomed ahead, giant slabs of rusted iron operated by heavy chains. A lone spotlight cut through the orange haze, blinding them for a fraction of a second. Mira slowed the rig to a crawl. Heavy boots thudded onto the metal grate above their heads. The guards were already securing the roof. Episode 02: Kill the Messenger
"If it's a kill order, it’s not our business," Elias said. "We deliver the physical copy. The Magistrate breaks the seal. We take our rations and we drive back."
The captain’s eyes narrowed behind his goggles. "Excuse me?" "We could just
"Courier," the captain grunted, holding out a gloved hand. "The Magistrate is waiting. Give me the cylinder."
Elias turned his head toward the window. The sky was the color of a fresh bruise. In their world, words didn't travel through the air anymore; the atmosphere was too choked with ionic interference. If the Central Spire wanted to command the border colonies, they didn't send a signal. They sent a runner. They sent Elias. That we barely made it out
Elias unbuckled his harness. The weight of the metal tube felt like a mountain in his lap. He looked at the captain, then back at Mira, who was staring straight ahead at the dashboard, her knuckles white on the steering wheel.