‘We went through our Chests back in Chicago,’ Nine groans, probably remembering how bored he was cataloging our Inheritance. ‘I’ve got more rocks and shit than I know what to do with.’

‘We should bring it all,’ Marina says, certainty in her voice. ‘Our Inheritances. Our pendants. Bring it to the Sanctuary and commit it to the Earth, like Malcolm said.’

Malcolm nods. ‘I know it’s vague, but it’s something.’

‘It could be the advantage we’re looking for,’ I say, thinking it over. ‘Hell, it could be what we were sent here to do in the first place.’

Nine crosses his arms, looking skeptical. ‘Yesterday I was staring at the biggest goddamn Mogadorian ship I’ve ever seen. Burying our stuff in some dusty-ass temple might’ve been a cool idea like months ago, but we’re this close to full-on war and I’m pretty sure we’ve got some bad guys to kill.’

Before I can reply, Malcolm steps forward. ‘The Sanctuary might be our best hope,’ he says. ‘But it’s best not to put all our eggs in one basket.’

‘Nine’s sort of right. As much as I hate the idea of splitting up again,’ Six says, ‘some of us should stick with Walker’s plan to take the fight to the Mogs and their people.’

Nine pumps a fist. ‘This guy.’

‘And some of us should head to Mexico,’ I say, finishing Six’s thought.

‘I want to go,’ Marina says immediately. ‘I want to see this Sanctuary. If it’s a place for Loric, a place where we lived, maybe that’s where we should bury Eight’s body.’

I nod and look over at Six, waiting for her decision. ‘Well? New York or Mexico?’

‘Mexico,’ she says, after a moment. ‘You’re better at dealing with these government types than I am. And if we need a Loric representative at the UN, you’re the obvious choice.’

‘Thanks. I think.’

‘She’s saying that because you’re such a boy scout,’ Nine adds in a loud whisper.

I glance over at Sam, who seems like he’s about to speak, his mouth half open. He’s cut off by Six, who subtly shakes her head at him.

‘I’ll stay here, too, I guess,’ Sam says after an awkward moment, sounding more than a little deflated. He forces a smile for me. ‘Someone has to keep you and Nine in line.’

That leaves only Adam. Our Mogadorian ally has maintained a respectful silence this whole time, probably trying not to step on any toes as the secrets of our race are revealed. When I turn to him, he’s still gazing at the screen. He looks lost in memory, maybe remembering Dr Anu and his machine. He frowns when he notices the rest of us watching him.

‘They’ll be waiting for you in Mexico,’ Adam says. ‘If there’s a source of Loric power there, you know my people will have spent the last few years trying to access it.’

‘Only the Garde can get in, though, right?’ Sam asks, looking from Adam to his dad.

‘It’s what I said,’ Malcolm replies, lips pursed in uncertainty.

‘Just like only we can have Legacies?’ Nine replies, eyeballing Adam. ‘You’re saying this could be another trap, Mog?’

‘It’s not a trap when you know it’s there,’ Adam says, sparing a quick glance for Nine before turning his eyes towards Six. ‘I don’t know exactly what you’ll find down there, but I can guarantee a Mogadorian presence. I can pilot the Skimmer better than you, maybe outmanoeuvre them if they’ve got ships in the air.’

‘Well, I sure as hell wasn’t going to walk to Mexico,’ Six replies, dryly. She looks at me. ‘You trust this guy, right?’

‘I do.’

She shrugs. ‘Then welcome to Team Calakmul, Adam.’

I hear Marina suck her teeth, but she doesn’t make any other protest.

‘Great. We’re sending a Mogadorian to investigate a Loric holy place,’ Nine complains, shaking his head. ‘Doesn’t anyone else think that’s sorta disrespectful?’

‘Didn’t you just refer to it as dusty-ass?’ Sam asks.

‘Statement of fact,’ Nine says. ‘Just like this whole good-Mog thing is still hella weird. No offense.’

I silence the banter when I reach under my shirt and pull my Loric pendant over my head. I feel an odd coldness against my heart when it’s gone. I can’t remember the last time that I was without it. With the room suddenly gone quiet again, I hold out the pendant to Six.

‘Take it,’ I say. ‘Make sure it gets to the Sanctuary.’

‘No pressure,’ Six says, smirking, as she accepts the pendant.

‘Now,’ I say, looking around. ‘Let’s win this war and change the world.’

18

We say good-bye later that morning, all of us gathered around the Skimmer on the Ashwood Estates basketball court.

It feels strange to be wearing a Loric pendant around my neck again. And I don’t mean literal physical weight – the pendants themselves aren’t heavy at all. They just contain all the Legacies of Lorien, apparently. All the power of our nearly extinct people, imbued into a few glistening Loralite stones.

Yeah. No big deal.

‘Is that everything?’ Marina asks. She’s on her knees in front of her open Chest, gently rearranging its contents. We’ve got Eight’s Chest as well. Its contents are forever locked up, possibly destroyed, but we figured it couldn’t hurt to bring it to the Sanctuary with the rest.