The Invitation

Emperor Calus requests your presence

The package appeared without warning. No Vanguard seal. No City courier. No transmat signature Laoch could identify. Just gold, Cabal markings, and the kind of confidence that made Blake suspicious before he even opened it. Bear stared at the box.

"Bomb?"

"Probably not."

"That isn't reassuring."

Laoch scanned it once more.

"No explosives."

DJ leaned against the wall nearby while Trout hovered over his shoulder.

"Could still be poisoned."

Bear pointed at him. "Thank you."

Blake ignored them and opened it. Inside was a single invitation bearing the seal of Emperor Calus. Bear read it over his shoulder.

"The Leviathan?"

Blake nodded.

"The giant ship eating Nessus?"

"Yes."

"The one owned by a Cabal emperor who apparently knows who we are?"

"Yes."

DJ looked up.

"So we're going."

Bear stared at him.

"That was not the conclusion I was hoping you'd reach."

Trout gave an amused chirp as Blake folded the invitation and slipped it into his armor.

"You don't want to see what an emperor wants with us?"

"No," Bear said immediately.

DJ shrugged. "A little."

Cate chirped softly beside Bear.

He looked at his Ghost, then at the rest of them.

"Fine. But we do this carefully."

"Of course," Blake said.

"No touching anything strange."

"Sure."

"No accepting mysterious gifts."

DJ glanced at Blake.

"That one's for you."

Blake paused.

"Probably."

Laoch turned toward the hangar.

"I'll prepare the jumpship."

Bear muttered something about regretting every decision that had led him here. DJ pushed himself off the wall.

"Wouldn't be the first bad idea we survived."

Blake smiled.

Somewhere beyond the City, a golden ship waited among the stars. And somewhere within it, an emperor was expecting guests.

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