"Stop stop stop," Sangeet said, motioning all the scavs to step away from Marvin and Ella. "Are you guys okay?"
Before Marvin and Ella could reply, Sangeet saw Ella's limp arm and winced.
"Let's go to camp. I have something that might help."
Sangeet led them back to the clearing of igloos, where they were treated to tea and some strange circular cookies in one of the structures. It was a dim, tight space with a carpet, a small table, and a shelf of ingredients. Aria found them immediately and apologized profusely, saying she hadn't recognized Ella in the dark.
"I don't wanna hear you say sorry," Ella said. It was pretty clear now that Aria was not her attempted killer, seeing how she and Marvin were still alive. "Where's that guy that broke my arm? Get him in here."
One of the scavs standing in the tent cleared his throat. "It's not broken. I hit the nerve."
"Bullshit!" Ella said. She jabbed her index finger at Sangeet. "Who are you, anyway?"
"Sangeet," Sangeet said.
"And?" Ella snapped.
"We used to buy parts from him," Marvin explained. He still wasn't sure whether he was glad or frustrated by Sangeet's presence. He'd saved them, but he'd also taken his sweet time. Marvin asked the young scavenger, "Is this where you moved your storage?"
Sangeet nodded.
"And what are you doing with scavengers?" Ella asked Aria.
"Buying parts," Aria said timidly. "I'm sorry I never told you. I thought Luyan wouldn't approve."
"Looks like you guys get along," Ella remarked. The scavs had jumped into action to protect Aria the moment she pointed out she was being followed.
"Good for business," one of the scavengers said.
"Where are these parts?" Ella asked. She pointed to Sangeet again. "I want two free pieces."
Marvin wanted to groan. Poor kid. When Marvin and Ben had first met Sangeet, they had also demanded free parts.
Sangeet exchanged a glance with Aria and they both nodded.
"I'll show you the parts, but they're not free," Sangeet said. "Follow me."
They exited the igloo—Sangeet, then Aria, then Ella, and finally Marvin—and made their way through the camp. The outside lamps had turned off now, so the only source of light was Sangeet's tablet screen guiding the way.
"How come you were following me?" Aria asked Ella. "You should've said something."
"We thought you were… suspicious," Ella said timidly.
"I guess I can't blame you," Aria said. "Don't tell Luyan, alright?"
"What does he have against scavs?"
"He thinks it's below a team like us to trade with scavs," Aria said. "But these guys have the best and cheapest parts in the megacity."
They entered another igloo. This one contained a bed, a desk, and a hatch that led below ground. Sangeet took off his jacket and hung it on the wall under a gray cap. He then slid his desk drawer open and pressed a button, causing the hatch in the floor to slide open. A stairway leading to darkness greeted the four of them.
Sangeet and Aria descended the stairs. Marvin was about to follow, but he noticed that his step was slower than normal. Something was holding him back.
He looked at his shoulder and found Ella's hand there.
"I, uh, I don't feel great," Ella said. Her expression was calm, but her pupils were dilated with panic.
"Oh, we can treat your arm," Aria said. "Or any other injuries."
"No, it's not that. I forgot to take my meds." Ella offered a strained smile and pointed to her head. "Nightly, for the brain. It's in my dorm. I should go back."
Marvin's brow creased with worry. There were drugs pilots took to mitigate their chances of brain damage, but Ella had never mentioned this at the workshop. What was the real reason she wanted to leave?
"Are you sure, Ella?" Aria said. "Do you need me to walk you back?"
"No thanks." Ella waved her aside. "Do your business with them. I'll call you."
Aria and Sangeet frowned as Ella hurried out of the igloo, Marvin on her heels. His phantom heart was beginning to pound. They exited the camp, brushed by a few confused scavengers, and hastily trekked through the forest.
"What's going on?" Marvin asked.
Ella held up a finger. Wait till we're far enough.
They passed the campus gate, then through the tunnel of alumni, then across a bridge and past the shuttle garage until they were at Ella's dorm. Marvin was getting slightly irked. It had been nearly thirty minutes, and they were still going up the stairs to Ella's room. Hell, they might not even stop there.
"Ella, what's going on?" Marvin repeated.
Ella led him down the hallway, opened her door, and held it for him to go inside first.
"It can't be this deep," Marvin grumbled.
"Just go in," Ella said. "I need to make sure no one's watching."
Marvin reluctantly stepped inside. Ella shut the door behind them and stormed up to Marvin. He took a step back in fright.
"You invited Sangeet to that dinner, right?" Ella said. "The one Luyan and I couldn't make?"
Marvin nodded dumbly.
"So you guys are friends?"
"Um, kind of," Marvin stammered.
"Well it's him," Ella said, breathless. "He tried to kill me."
-----
When Sangeet had put his coat on the wall, Ella had told herself that that gray cap and black jacket were different from the ones she'd seen that night. But the longer she stared at it, the longer she observed Sangeet, the stronger the connection grew until she knew she had to get out of there. It may have been a coincidence, but she was not taking any chances.
Now, back at her room, she tried not to lay any more accusations on Marvin. He'd had plenty of chances to kill her if he wanted, not to mention he had protected her while fighting the scavengers.
"Sangeet?!" Marvin repeated. "Are you sure?"
"I know what he was wearing," Ella said. She couldn't really believe it herself, either, but her memory was crystal clear. She just didn't understand why the scavenger would be so stupid to let her into his own house.
"Why?" Marvin asked.
"Why am I sure?"
"Why would he do that?"
"Hell if I know," Ella said. "We could've died out there!"
"Do Aria and the other scavs know?" Marvin asked.
"Why are you asking me?" Ella snapped. She frowned. "Sorry." She considered adding "thank you for saving me," but it didn't seem appropriate at the moment. She asked instead, "You think he killed you as well?"
"I dunno," Marvin mumbled. He tapped his metallic thumb and index finger together. "I don't understand why he saved us or let us leave."
"We could confront him," Ella suggested. "Get Caroline, Renee, Ben, Ishaan. We can scare him into giving an explanation."
"What if the other scavs are in on it?"
"Get Ishaan's gang." It was absurd, Ella knew. Ishaan and the Sawblades owed her nothing.
"Actually," Marvin said, his voice box adding a hint of anticipation. "Ishaan and I are doing a three-round duel in the badlands next week. It's sanctioned by the Hosaka Roundtable, so we'll be safe. We can question the scavengers there and see if they know anything about Sangeet."
Marvin fighting for Ishaan's gang? For some reason, Ella felt like that went against his morals. Maybe it had to do with Renee formerly being with Centium.
"Can we afford to wait one week?" Ella asked.
"We'll protect you," Marvin said.
Ella rolled her eyes. "Thanks, but I meant, what if Sangeet escapes before then?"
"Isn't that good?" Marvin said. "No one will be trying to kill you."
Hmm, that's fair. As much as Ella would have liked to see justice carried out, she could live with being allowed to, well, live.
This wasn't the most ideal plan, though. What was next after they determined the other scavengers were after her? Would they report them to Hosaka? They didn't have any evidence besides Sangeet's outfit.
"I'm going to tell Luyan," Ella said. "You think on this, too. If we can't figure out a better plan, we'll go with the three-round duel."
"Alright."
They fell silent, swaying awkwardly until they were looking at random objects in the room. There should have been more to say, but Ella either couldn't find the words or didn't want to.
This didn't feel right. She'd more or less figured out who had tried to kill her, but all that led to were more plans and more uncertainties. Worse yet, what if Marvin's killer was a different person? What if these past few weeks had been a purely selfish investigation?
Don't think about that, she thought. Focus on Sangeet first.
At length, Ella asked, "Who's your third mech?"
"Sparrow," Marvin replied.
Ella raised her eyebrows. "How'd you get Sienna?"
"I don't know," Marvin admitted. "We asked and she just agreed."
Sabersong, Gammagrade, and Sparrow. A pretty good trio, but the gangs of the megacity had connections more powerful than that. Ella couldn't help wondering why Marvin hadn't asked her. She didn't know Ishaan that well, and maybe on a bad day she would've refused to help, but she could undoubtedly provide one of three wins.
Unless Marvin didn't believe that.
"You think you'll win?" Ella asked.
"I don't know. Centium hasn't announced their team."
Centium, huh? You guys are cooked. "Is your team finalized?"
Marvin lowered his head. "Yes."
It didn't cross your mind at all to ask me for help? Ella was tempted to say. But there was no point getting pissed about something out of her control, something she didn't have a right to be a part of.
"I wanted to be there for my friends," Marvin said. "If Centium wins, Renee and Ben are forced to join them again."
"I would've helped," Ella said quietly. "I like Renee, too."
"I know, but…"
"You're closer, I know." Ella sighed, feeling a tinge of sadness. "Honestly, I'm a fan of what you guys have got going on. The farm thing." She would've been lying if she said she wasn't envious of their dynamic. She couldn't remember the last time she'd stayed the night with a friend.
"You should've come to that dinner," Marvin said, a smile in his voice.
Invite me to the next one. "I was busy winning." Ella stretched her injured arm—some feeling was returning—and yawned. "Wanna go back to the workshop? I'm not sleeping here."
"Sure."
So they left the room and headed to the shuttle garage, walking side by side.
-----
The following night, Ella had dinner with Luyan at his workshop. It was just the two of them; Marvin and Renee had gone back to their farm. She found their absence almost disappointing.
Still, another part of her was glad she got to spend time with Luyan alone again. She could've eaten with her parents—maybe she should have—but dinners with them had gotten awkward as of late. Ella was unsure of what they wanted from her, unsure of what to say to them. At least she and Luyan shared a common interest. There was always something to talk about with him.
Today, though, she'd have to bring the conversation into novel territory.
"I think I found out who tried to kill me."
Luyan's fork froze halfway to his plate, and he looked up from across the dining table. "Was it someone at the university?"
"Kind of." Ella explained how she'd recognized Sangeet's apparel in his tent.
Luyan frowned. "This is all from a jacket and hat—"
"I remember what I saw," Ella snapped, more harsh than she meant to.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Luyan said. "I'm a natural born skeptic."
Ella stabbed a piece of steak with her fork and examined it. Should she apologize too? It didn't seem necessary. She waited, and Luyan eventually went on.
"I guess… it's not surprising that it would be a scav."
Ella let out a sigh of relief, then sucked some of it back in as a thought crossed her mind. "Be honest, Luyan. Do you think I'm paranoid?"
Luyan immediately nodded. Ella gave him a look. What the hell, man?
But Luyan continued, "It's good to be paranoid. I could honestly learn a thing or two." He gestured around the living room of their workshop. "We've got so much to lose. All this we've spent our whole lives building."
Ella may have rolled her eyes on another day, but this time, the engineer's words struck a chord with her. It was good to know they were still in this together.
"How'd you find this scavenger anyway?" Luyan asked.
"We were following Aria," Ella admitted. She told him how she'd suspected their programmer in her attempted murder.
Luyan barely reacted to his friend being named as a suspect. Instead, he just shook his head in disappointment. "Making deals with the scavs? She should know better."
"What's wrong with that?" Ella asked.
"The scavs have no idea how this megacity works. Trade with them in the badlands? Sure. But many of the ones who come here are thieves. Why do you think they sell for so cheap?"
"They're probably stealing out there, too."
Luyan shrugged. "Different worlds, different codes. You don't have to agree. It's just a moral thing for me."
Ella nodded. It was hypocritical in her eyes, but Luyan wasn't harming anyone with his opinion.
"What do you think we should do about Sangeet?" she asked.
"Report him to campus police. He'll probably have moved camp, but we can give them a description," Luyan said. "And I'll ask Aria what she knows."
Ella nodded again. Luyan tilted his head and studied her. "You've got another plan."
"Marvin's gonna go to the badlands next week for this three-round-duel. We were gonna ask the scavs in the camp about Sangeet."
"It's sanctioned by Hosaka?" Luyan asked.
"Yeah." No need to worry about any aggression.
"You need me to come along?"
Ella considered for a moment. She would feel much more comfortable if Luyan were with her, but at the same time, there was no need dragging him into gang affairs. If Centium saw him, they might try to cut him a deal, maybe even take him hostage.
"No, it's alright," Ella said.
Luyan pursed his lips and nodded. And then, for the briefest moment, Ella thought she saw relief pass over the man's face.