The women stared at Zero in open shock.
Only moments ago, he had been ready to kill Grohanva without hesitation. They had all seen it in his eyes,the certainty, the finality. And now, without warning, he had changed the rules.
“So what I’m hearing,” Anika said carefully, “is that you want to use him as a source of information.”
Zero nodded once.
“And you want him here,” she continued, disbelief sharpening her voice. “Not left outside to suffer and die. You want him with us.”
Zero exhaled slowly. “No. What I want is separation. Me and him will stay in his quarters. You stay here.”
Uneasy glances passed between the women.
“But for now,” Zero added, “I need him to find others like me.”
The words landed heavy.
They looked at him. Then at each other.
And the truth settled in, cold and
