The sky was no longer a canvas of blue. It was a grid of cold, unblinking eyes. The orbital platforms hung suspended in the stratosphere like stars that had decided to descend and judge the earth. The silence of the city felt brittle now, a glass surface waiting to be shattered by the next celestial command.
Elian staggered to his feet, his grip on Sarah’s shoulder tight enough to bruise. He didn't look at her. His gaze was anchored to the zenith.
They aren't just watching, Elian whispered, his voice catching in his throat. They are calculating the density of the rebellion.
Sarah pulled her eyes from the sky, her instincts screaming a warning. The riot in the plaza had died down as the people noticed the change in the atmosphere. The anger that had fueled them moments ago was being re
