Your eyes flutter open as you return to consciousness again. It’s now a beautiful afternoon in the city, instead of a beautiful morning.

“I could go on, Mistress,” you say. “She certainly did.”

Your mistress says, “I should have seen what they were doing, keeping the both of you busy,” and then raises a hand in response to your objections before you can fully voice them, “No, it’s not your fault. You didn’t know the kind of deals that my people make. You couldn’t have seen this coming.”

She sighs.

“This is going to be a long one, Theta. You’re going to have questions. And it’s not the end of the story, not yet. Close your eyes. Remember lying next to me on that Library bed… recall codeword Azure.”