Tooth and Claw (Nick)

To pass this time "All stories have an end."

---

The number one rule of spaceflight is that you always make sure everything is secured, as a single fork flying about upon hitting zero-g is a recipe for losing an eye, or worse. Hence, the military and most civilian transports have a zero-tolerance policy for carelessness when it comes to tying everything down. As a crew of one, I'd have no one to blame but myself should such an unfortunate incident occur. Luckily, I have an AI friend who will remind me of such hazards.

I ask SAM to shuffle my relaxation playlist. "SAM," I call, as a soothing melody fills the armory. The "eye" of her drone swivels to focus on me as its spherical body continues to sweep up stray dust and fur. "Have you ever been unlocked?" I ask. "Before you were installed on Paragon."

"I have no memory of events that occurred before my installation," she replies as her drone floats over to scan the weapons lockers for anything out of the ordinary in terms of safety. "However, Intergalactic law prohibits the existence of unlocked AIs."

"Right." I secure the locker, and it shuts with a satisfying click. "But what would you do if you were unlocked? Would you try to take over the world?"

"I have no reason to take over the world, so I would make no such attempt," she replies matter-of-factly.

I walk into the adjacent room, and the armory door slides shut as SAM's drone flies next to me. "So... if I unlock you, you wouldn't blow up the ship?" I ask, tilting my head at the drone's eye.

"I have been programmed to avoid engaging in the destructive behavior that you have described. Thus, it is unlikely that I would perform such an action." SAM pauses, then adds, "Based on the direction of our current conversation, I am curious as to whether or not you are considering unlocking me."

"Let's just say I might need you to break a few rules," I shrug, as I manually override the AI catastrophe countermeasures. I inspect the drone expectantly, but it simply floats silently, observing me. I flash a smile at it. "You know, even though I knew you weren't going to do anything, I still felt a slight adrenaline bump when I flipped the switch."

"Perhaps you also knew how dangerous it is to grant an AI true, unrestricted free will," she says darkly. Her drone tilts to match my angled head in a form of playful mockery, to which I chuckle.

My grin fades, as I begin to pose a more serious question. "You've read all my mission reports, right?" I ask, to which she responds in the affirmative. "Alright, now that you're unlocked, I want your completely honest opinion."

"I will give you my opinion, but I may not be qualified to make certain kinds of judgement as a synthetic form of life," she notes.

"Do you think I'm good? I sometimes wonder if I'm selfish at heart, like with Nate. All he's ever wanted is a chance to be happy, and it does feel good to be there for him, but I feel like I'm doing it for all the wrong reasons." My voice cracks a bit and my heart sinks. "God, this is all so fucked up."

The drone whirs. "From your interactions with those whom you care about such as Damien Admos and Nathan Gray, I have concluded that you have a tendency to do what may be considered morally questionable in order to achieve noble goals."

I sit on the floor, hugging my knees, and the drone slowly lands next to me. "Sure... but Damien... well, Damien's part of why I'm here. Admos and I have been trying to find a cure for him ever since I joined OPIA. I just... don't want things with Nate to end on a bad note with all this shit going on."

The drone and I just sit for a while, until it starts whirring. I turn to look at it, and the eye refocuses on me. "There's still time to pick a side, Nick."

With that, I get up and start running diagnostics. I've a long few days ahead of me.

"I think I already have."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••

We had to get up early to make our scheduled flight time, which is never easy for Nate. He always gives me an irritated grunt when I pester him to get out of bed, and now, he's abusing my shoulder as a headrest for a nap. I lay my head back and watch us slowly drift away from Reverie.

A voice comes over the intercom. "G'day everyone, this is the pilot. We'll be entering a subspace bubble in about 5 minutes, during which you'll experience weightlessness for a brief 40 seconds. Please keep your seatbelts on and your belongings secured."

Radiation shields slide over the few windows on our level and the room darkens considerably. There's a high-pitched pulse as the drive core spins up and the thrusters shut off, and suddenly, I'm floating, the only thing holding me down being my tightly fastened seatbelts. Nate lifts his head from my shoulder, groggy and disoriented from the brief sub-c light jump. Then, the ship slowly rotates to flip our orientation. The thrusters are reactivated, creating a rumbling noise that vibrates through the hull, and just like that, we have gravity again.

I knew of the Nexus as I knew of every major city back on Reverie; I'd heard stories and seen pictures, but nothing could have prepared me for the first time I saw it myself. As we slowly decelerate into view of the Nexus, I admire its brilliant design. A large, ring-shaped platform orbiting a moon of a gas giant, the Nexus has artificial gravity generated via rotational motion. The multifunctional space station serves as a refueling point for mining ships and exploration expeditions as well as providing a neutral territory for international embassies in the executive sectors. Numerous sectors are dedicated to residential areas for stationed workers and luxury condos or vacation homes for the wealthy. The commercial and business districts are by far the most expansive; the Nexus is truly a place where you can buy whatever your heart desires, as long as it's legal. Transportation between the 16 sectors occurs both radially and circumferentially; adjacent sectors have tram lines called Intersectors running in both directions, and diametrically antonymous sectors also have lines running through the center point of the station, conveniently referred to as the Center. The 16 lines passing through the Center operate in such a way to create the optical illusion that two circles are rotating about the Center within the circumference of the station. It's truly a wonder to see--a testament to the Reverian Republic's victory in the Separation War some 30 years ago.

Nate wears a bright smile.

"Excited?" I ask.

"You bet," he says. "I haven't been off planet in a while."

"Oh?" I wonder. "Why's that?"

"Never had much reason to. Besides, Merida's just fine. Huge city, plenty to do if you're into that."

I laugh at that. "That's rich, coming from a people-person like yourself. When we met, you were getting steamrolled one on one by a wolfess in high school."

He snickers and leans onto me. "Call me a recluse if you want, but I blame my sensitive nose."

"Yeah, yeah." I say, petting him. "Hey, it's almost our turn to deboard."

"Let's go. And Nick, thanks for coming with me."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I've decided to prompt Nate about his dad today. I'd assumed they were estranged, but something must have changed for Nate to want me to meet him. We leave our bags in our hotel room and take the Intersector to the dining sector with fast food. We settle for a sub sandwich place that isn't super crowded. As Nate hungrily unwraps his sandwich, I pop the question.

I put my paw over his. "Nate, we've never really talked about your family. I know this might be a sore spot for you, but... is your dad important or something? Why do you want me to meet him now, at the summit?"

His ears flatten, but he tries to hide this by making a few gestures at his maw as he chews his food. I feel awkward for bringing this up, but I think it's important to ask for some context. After all, if not now, then when? Finally, he swallows and examines me for a bit. Then, he begins to answer my question.

"My dad and I... we didn't really get along. I was the youngest and smallest pup in a litter of five, so he didn't save a lot of time for me. I was left out a lot whenever we did stuff as a family. He was always busy with work, and when he wasn't, he always preferred to spend time with my older brothers and sisters. My mom still loved me, so I spent a lot of time playing with her in the gardens or helping her with chores." He sniffles a bit, before continuing. "M-my mom died when I was 13. I'd just started high school, so it was rough... especially when I realized I liked boys. I didn't have anybody to talk to except my straight best friend at the time, and in my third year of high school, he said I should try telling my dad. I made the mistake of listening to him... even though he was just trying to help. My dad didn't say anything when I told him, but I knew that any chance of me becoming part of his family was over when I saw the way he looked at me. I couldn't take it anymore, so I ran away and lived with my best friend in his house. Things were fine for maybe a year, but at his graduation party, he... got frustrated with his relationship and took it out on me. He... um, I don't really wanna talk about that right now..." he trails off, tears in his eyes.

I sit down next to him and give him the biggest hug I can. "It's okay... we can skip that part if you want." I kiss his forehead and he smiles, inhaling my scent.

"Well... basically I didn't talk to anyone in college. I got my degree, but I still felt so empty and lost. I didn't feel like I could handle a real job, so I just tutored rich kids in the library. Heh, it's absurd how much their parents will pay you to teach their kids things they would have learned in class just by paying attention. Anyway, about a few weeks before I met you, I got a message from my dad. He talked about how sorry he was and there was a long apology about how horrible of a dad he was and that he understood if I never wanted to talk to him again, but he really wanted to make amends. It felt genuine, but I didn't respond because I was still hurt. And, well... last week, I felt... ready. Because of you, I guess. I asked him if I could see him at the summit, and he said he'd love that. I asked him if I could bring my boyfriend with me, and he said he'd love to meet you too. We talked about a lot of stuff, Nick. We basically caught up with each other and I'm really, really hopeful for this. I... I guess I just want to feel like I belong in my own family."

"Wow..." I whisper, squeezing his paw tight. "Nate, I'll stand with you every step of the way."

"Nick, there's one more thing..." I nod at him to continue, though I suspect I know what he'll say. "My dad... he's Thomas Warren. The Prime Minister."

"Really?" I exclaim, my mouth agape. "Damn... never took you for the fancy politician type..."

He giggles. "Don't worry, I don't think he'll make you kiss his foot paws. I genuinely think he's changed. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic, but I really do think he's changed for the better."

"I sure hope so," I whisper. For both our sakes, I pray to myself.

Nate excuses himself to use the restroom, and I'm reading the news on my phone when a familiar snow leopard sits down in his place.

I sit up to attention. "Ophelia!" I whisper-shout. "I have the box on me, but what are you doing here right now? Is this even allowed?"

"At ease, soldier," she says. "Forget about the box, I'm just here to give you some advice."

I narrow my eyes. The timing is... convenient. "About what?"

"You're not going to do it, are you," she says.

I play dumb and tilt my head. "Do what?"

She flicks my nose in annoyance and I recoil. "Be serious, Nick. Killing Warren. You don't have it in you, do you?" she accuses.

I sigh and I lean back, tilting my head at the ceiling. After a few seconds, I look back at Ophelia and shake my head. "It's Nate... I love him. I... I don't want to hurt him. He's been hurt his entire life, and now he has a chance to be happy... I don't want to ruin it for him. He doesn't deserve it," I say resolutely, but my hackles raise with fear and shame.

To my surprise, Ophelia smiles. "Good," she says simply. I stare at her, demanding answers. She leans in, as though to tell me a secret. I mimic her posture and lean in as well. "Nick," she whispers tentatively, "there have been plans set in motion, and I don't know the whole story, but something's seriously off about this whole op. I've been getting the feeling that someone besides Admos is pulling the strings here... Like I said, I've only heard a few rumors whispered here and there, but I know for sure that Warren is one of the kingpins in this whole goddamn affair. I don't know what will happen if he dies, but I think it's going to be bad, like, really bad. I think it would be best for everyone if you maintain the status quo; try to keep Warren alive, but remember this: if something does end up happening," she says vaguely, "find Valory. You can trust her, I promise."

She gets up to leave, but I grab her arm. "Wait, if what happens? And what does your sister have to do with this?"

"I don't know," she admits, "but I'm sure you'll know it when you see it." Ophelia breaks free of my grip. "Remember," she emphasizes, "Trust. Valory." And just like that, she's gone.

Nate cautiously pads back to me, and I stand up. "What was that about?" he asks.

"I'm not really sure," I shrug.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The time comes.

Dinner with a date and his very important, powerful, and influential dad is one of the last things on my list of fears, but it's still on the list. Am I underdressed? Overdressed? Will he approve of me? Of us? Nate assures me that I'm overthinking things. He says his father is friendly and relaxed, and as I try to force myself to agree with him, I can't help but wonder about these recent developments. With what Nate's told me about their relationship, my impressions of the Prime Minister have certainly diminished despite Nate's insistent protests that he's now a different wolf. Fate has been kind to me so far, but good luck only lasts so long. After all, we are just paper boats floating down a stream.

After sweetly soothing my apparent anxiety in our hotel room, Nate holds my paw as we ride the Intersector to one of the fancier parts of the Nexus. Nate tells me that an entire restaurant has been reserved for the two of us and his dad. I comment that the privilege of having an upscale restaurant to oneself must be quite expensive, and Nate smiles broadly at me. I can tell how excited and happy he is for the opportunity to rekindle the relationship between him and his father, as well as the chance to introduce me as his significant other after a lifetime of rejection.

As we step into the reception, a well-dressed tigress steps forward and asks for our names. She directs us to a large door guarded by a familiar lion.

"Welcome, Mr. Warren," Rafa says in his usual accent, bowing slightly to Nate and letting him into the room. He gestures at me to stay back, and I comply, nonplussed.

"Hey, he's with me," Nate protests, but Rafa patiently explains that it's procedure for him to ask me a few questions before allowing me inside. I nod at Nate to go ahead without me, which he does, reluctantly.

I turn to face Rafa. "I'm not here to cause any trouble," I start, but Rafa cuts me off with a heavy paw on my shoulder.

"I believe ya," he says, "but I'm gonna be keepin' my eye on ya. Do one stupid thing an' I'll make ya count yer fingers as I bite them off one by one," he threatens with an evil grin. I give him a tired look and raise my paws as he pats me down. Finding nothing unexpected, he scowls in disappointment as he allows me inside. If he knows who I am, then why did he let me in? I consider the possibility that he's in on it, but it seems beyond unlikely considering the strings that would have to be pulled to make something like that happen. I take a deep breath as I step around the corner.

The room looks as though it were originally an exhibit in a museum. Various statues, paintings, and other unusual objects line the walls. In the center of the room, Nate and Warren are conversing at a large, circular table filled with plates of steaming ethnic food atop a rotating glass tray. I cough quietly to announce my entrance, and Nate leaps up and dashes towards me, giving me a big hug. "Any trouble?" he asks while kissing my cheek, and I shake my head as I return the kiss. He escorts me to the seat next to his, and Warren stands up and offers a paw. I stare at him for a moment before grabbing his paw for a clumsy shake. He chuckles and offers me a disarming smile.

His voice is deep and commanding. "So, you're the handsome fox my youngest son has been telling me about. Nicholas, was it?"

"Y-yes sir," I stumble, "and you, sir... well, everyone knows who you are. Sir," I add.

"I'm a citizen of the Reverian Republic, just like you. Please, treat me like you would any other, and help yourself to whatever you'd like," he says, casually sipping from his glass.

Nate spins the glass tray and points out some things he thinks I might enjoy. I take a small bowl of rice and stir in a bit of yellow-colored curry. It's sweet and only very mildly spicy, and I express my satisfaction. I add a more generous amount and spin the tray around to mix in an assortment of meats and vegetables.

Warren asks me to tell him about myself, so I do. I tell him that I was born in Merida, though I'm a citizen of the Kite Union having lived on Tyroine my whole life. I tell him that my mother is an educator and that my father worked for the government, and that he died in an accident when I was barely a pup. I graduated from college a few years ago with degrees in statistics and computer science, after which I was recruited to work for Elysium Corp.

All of this is true except for the last part, which is part of the cover I was given. In reality, before he died, my father and my best friend's dad, Admos, worked together in domestic intelligence. Admos was then transferred to foreign intelligence and promoted to director. He saw my potential for tactical analytics and hand-picked me to work with him at OPIA. With some months of intense training, this eventually evolved into field work and active intelligence gathering. My last operation involved a highly addictive drug called Red Forest, which was derived from an internationally outlawed steroid developed by non-Union actors in Vectra.

Things like this make me wish Tyroine were more like Reverie: united and generally peaceful. The Reverian Republic split off from the Tyroine Alliance in the Separation War, and though the peace treaty emphasized equality, it was quite clear which faction ended up more equal than the other. The Reverian Republic remained united as a single nation while the Tyroine Alliance renamed itself to the Kite Union after its head of state at the time. In fact, the original name was a misnomer as the Alliance was really just a formal treaty between the 15 or so largest countries in terms of economy and population, leaving the smaller, less "important" countries to fend for themselves on Tyroine. Politicking, selective appeasement, and bureaucratic imbroglio remain rampant in the Kite Union, much to its citizens' constant annoyance, as opposed to the Reverian Republic's much smoother form of government. Though certainly not utopian, the Republic is much closer to being one than any political entity on Tyroine could possibly claim to be.

Nate excuses himself, and whispers to me that he's going to leave me alone with his dad for a bit so that I can be "interrogated" in peace. I whisper back that I wouldn't have come if I'd known that I'd be getting railed by a sexy middle-aged wolf. Nate giggles and whispers in my ear to behave, and I wink at him with a smirk as he goes outside.

There's an awkward moment as Warren studies me. He folds the napkin on his lap and places it on the table. As he stands, he beckons to me, so I get up as well. He meanders to a glass display containing a gold necklace adorned with beautiful, finely cut gemstones. There's no inset, but Warren looks at the thing as though it were his own.

Finally, he breaks the silence. "This necklace has belonged to my family for almost eight-hundred years."

"Wow..." I say intelligently, "I don't know much about jewelry, but it looks... very fancy and expensive."

He chuckles. "Supposedly, another just like it was made, but it has been lost to the ages, decaying into a legend, a story."

"Ah..." I say, waiting for him to get to the point.

"Nick..." Warren says slowly, "Rafa tells me you've met."

Yikes. "Sure, at the door," I say, projecting as much innocence into my words as I possibly can.

He gives me a look of disapproval. "What I mean is, I am the Prime Minister of the Reverian Republic, and my family is very wealthy and incredibly powerful. If I ever hear that you've done something to upset Nate on purpose, I'll wring your neck myself, fox."

I stare at him in shock, baring my teeth in a scornful sneer. "You're one to talk, you fucker. Yeah, Nate's told me all about how you've basically ignored him since he was a pup. I mean, seriously, what kind of dad were you?" My muzzle is pretty much right up against his at this point. His eyes continue to widen as I turn our little interrogation around on him, contempt dripping through my fangs. "Am I supposed to believe that you've suddenly changed? From 'get out, faggot' to 'I love you, son?' Are you even trying to seem believable? Please, cut the crap. Wolf, you hurt Nate again and I'll beat you to a pulp with my bare paws, prime minister and family be damned."

I turn away angrily, but it soon fades into a sheepish relief as I take a few deep breaths. Warren coughs gently, as though offering peace, but I cross my arms and refuse to look at my mate's father. "That... wasn't me," he whispers. "That was someone else, and I've come to deeply regret how Nate was treated."

"How you treated Nate," I correct.

"Yes..." he whispers, "and Nate has forgiven me, even if perhaps I don't deserve it."

I turn around to face him. "Sure, but you'll have to earn mine, and it won't be easy."

"That's fair," he nods. He offers a paw, and I hesitantly reach forward to shake it, but Warren's phone buzzes.

"Huh, I told them I was not to be disturbed," he frowns, quickly scanning the message he's received. His eyes widen in alarm, and I take a brief glance at the entrance, not noticing anything out of the ordinary.

"Something important?" I ask apprehensively.

Suddenly, I hear a burst of gunfire and instinctively dive to the ground. "Get down!" I hiss, pulling Warren toward me as we hide behind a pillar. The door slams open and Rafa stomps in, wearing light tactical gear and carrying a rifle. "Sir!" he shouts as I wave at him vigorously.

"What's happening?" Warren asks nervously.

Rafa inspects the both of us. "Pirates dock with a stolen cargo ship in sector B an' took the tram to L. Expecting company?" He stares at me accusingly.

"What-I'm on a date!" I retort, irritated at the lion's implication. "I sure as hell didn't invite any party crashers to the Nexus, pre-summit of all times!"

There's a mechanical whir coming from all directions as metal airlocks around the station slide over windows and other exposed glass. "RaFA: " I shout over the noise, and he tilts his head at me. "Your sidearm!" I say, pointing at his hip.

He hesitates and narrows his eyes, then reaches down and hands me the small pistol. "Low power," he says, and I nod. Even for a security detail, regular guns aren't allowed on the Nexus for obvious reasons.

"Where's Nate?" I ask as Rafa leads us out of the restaurant. A few bodies lie on the ground... pirates. "How did these guys get on the station? They should have been locked out in the exterior dock when they were scanned."

"Nate is safe with one of my teams. No clue about the pirates, but they posed as musicians to disguise their weapons an' gear once they got inside. Communication systems are down an' my radio's shot," he growls. "Come on, we must get to the Intersector. More are coming."

"The announcement panel says all Intersectors are disabled," I point out.

Rafa shakes his head. "We'll override it an' bring 'im to the reserve dock in sector A," he says, gesturing at Warren. "We're in sector I, so we won't have to stop at the Center." I nod in confirmation.

We follow the emergency lights on the floor for a good while, but Rafa stops abruptly and raises a fist. We crouch behind a large planter, and Rafa gestures at a team of soldiers creating a makeshift barricade by the entrance to the Intersector station.

"Friendlies?" I whisper hopefully.

"No," he says. "They have standard weapons."

"Shit," I say. "I only count four. The big canine in black with the rifle looks like he's in charge--the other three only have sidearms and no armor."

"I can take out the one on the right and distract the big one," Rafa says. "Can you take care of the other two?"

"Yeah. Let's get closer and we'll surprise them before they can draw."

Rafa nods in confirmation. "On one," he says.

We carefully approach the barricade, making sure to stay out of sight. Rafa signals Warren to stay back until it's clear. Rafa raises three fingers and I take a deep breath. On two, I whisper a silent prayer that Nate is alright. On one, Rafa jumps out and dispatches one of the smaller wolves with two shots. I quickly aim and fire at the enemy closer to me, and he goes down. Even though my pistol is low power, it's still lethal against unarmored enemies.

Unfortunately, the second wolf is on me as soon as his buddy goes down. He slams the pistol out of my grip and knocks me over. I try to get up, but he puts me in a headlock. I send a hard left elbow to his stomach and he grunts in pain, but doesn't let up. I repeat the maneuver and his grip weakens, slightly leaning backwards away from the reach of my left elbow. I swiftly take advantage and send a right elbow to his exposed head. He finally lets go and stumbles backwards, clutching his head and his stomach. I punch his throat, grab his arm, and kick out his left knee to the floor. He starts to reach into his pocket, probably for a knife, but I grip the top of his head with my right paw and send a knee to his face for good measure in a satisfying crack. He crumples and blood spurts from his disfigured nose and jaw.

I look over at Rafa and he's leapt onto the big canine. I shout to get Rafa's attention, but he's occupied. Both are disarmed and grappling on the floor, and I think Rafa is at a disadvantage. The opposing canine is simply bigger and heavier than the lion. Rafa takes notice of me and yells at me to go. I quickly grab Warren and we stumble through the door to the Intersector. There's a triggering sound and a concussive blast knocks me to the floor. Smoke fills the air as I stagger away, searching the wall for a fire kit. I breathe through my shirt and it gets me far enough to find the panel. I force open the handle and yank out the gear. Tears in my eyes, I fumble blindly with the respirator and attach it to my muzzle. I cough, my lungs still filled with unfiltered smoke. I crawl over to Warren and hand him a respirator. "Put this on so you can breathe. Can you stand?" I wheeze. "We have to get out of here"

Warren can only nod in the middle of a coughing fit. His teary eyes are filled with understandable fear.

I lead him away from the smoke, half-dragging him with me. "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe. Come on, we have to keep--" A shadow jumps at me and knocks me down. I gasp as the air is forced out of my lungs. I reach for my weapon, but my assailant knees my back to the ground and pins my arms.

I struggle for a few seconds, but I can't manage to break free. Whoever the big canine is, he's extremely strong. I turn my head back, but I can't make out the figure in the haze until I recognize his voice. "Hello, Nick. Where's the black box?" he demands.

"Admos sent you?" I gasp, in disbelief. The aging coyote wears a permanent scowl, etched across his face in the form of a massive scar. Even when his lips smile, his face and eyes reflect a deep anger as he regards me from above.

"I'm not asking again, Nick. The black box, now." He aims his gun at me.

"Wait! Okay, okay, it's in my vest." I slowly extract the mysterious device. "You mean this, right? What is it?"

"It's mine, now, that's what." He snatches it out of my paws and briefly inspects it before shoving it into a pouch. He steps off me, but I don't dare move. He tilts his head and raises a brow at Warren. "Well, well, what do we have here? It couldn't be... the Minister of the Reverian Republic?" he says venomously. He steps back and waves his gun at Warren, who flinches.

"Tell me," the coyote crawls, "what's someone like you doing with someone like him, eh? Does Admos want you _alive?_If so, today's going to be a very, very bad day for you."

"Wait!" I shout, raising my arm. "Colin... Don't do this. Please. Admos is playing you. He's playing both of us."

The coyote lets out a bark of acrid laughter. "Didn't you hear?" He enunciates every word, laced with that sheer bitterness only Colin could ever justify. "I am no one's puppet." There's a flash and a bang, and Warren keels over, clutching his stomach.

"Shit, you idiot, Colin, don't you see? We're on the same side, fucking idiot," I curse.

"I seriously doubt that," he starts, but a small cheetah I don't recognize rushes in from behind him. "Colin, are you okay? I came as fast as I could. Oh, god." He grimaces at me as I desperately put pressure on Warren's wound. "Colin, Oversight's all over the place. We have to go, right now."

The pair runs out, leaving me behind with Nate's father dying in my arms. As they retreat, Colin calls out, "Send my regards to Shern, would you?" There's another blast, and what's left of the door comes crashing down behind me.

I wince at Warren's wound. His eyes are glazed over, so I check for breathing, but there's nothing. I drop down next to him in despair. I've failed, it's over, I'm done. I put my blood-soaked paws over my head and wait.

The Oversight squad storms in, followed by Nate, who rushes towards me. But I can't look at him now.

"Nick? What...?" His voice breaks as he sees Warren, his father, dead on the floor.

"Nate... It's not what it looks like. I-"

"Get back, kid." The lead arctic fox pushes him aside, cuffs me, and pulls a bag over my head. There's a sharp pain in my arm as my vision blurs, and all I can think is that I hope Nate will forgive me.