of her host's death, Vinnet hoped for a new host and to resume work.
She’d needed a break, of course. Grief clouded the mind and complicated the already dangerous process of infiltrating enemy territory. The Gertewet had too few operatives left to take foolish chances—especially for an operative who’d lost both her current and prospective host in the same incident.
She sank in the base’s cellar tank, drifting back into the same old recriminations. If she’d known more about the situation, no one would have died, and she wouldn’t be waiting here for someone else to find her a willing host.
Her tank pulsed, snapping her from her daze. She bolted for the interface and wound her neuron tendrils around and into its cold pits.
Maybe it was good news.
She accessed the outer room's camera and microphone, and the view snapped into focus.
Kitchell and his host Donn Marshall stared at the camera, thick hands wrapped around a transport canteen. It could have meant they’d found a volunteer, except they were supposed to be away on a mission. If they'd returned early, authorized to take along another operative...
So much for her good news.
She posted text on the screen under the camera: <What is the mission?>
"One of the queens left the capital and is about to take a new host,” Kitchell explained. With Donn, he had a rich, commanding voice. “If you replace her, you'll be able to access the kings and help us replace them—maybe even the Empress, too."
<I don't know much about the queens. I'm not qualified.>
"No one is qualified. We haven't gotten intel on the queens since Chryson became the Bone Breaker ages ago—and that only lasted a week." He crossed his arms, dangling the canteen. "You're the only one waiting for a host who has experience working in the Central Palace."
<In entertainment.>
"The only one, Vinnet. You know the hierarchy there."
And how inadequate that knowledge would be for this particular mission. She'd talked to the queens' servants, but she'd never tried to infiltrate them, had never even interacted with a queen.
She swished her tail, anxiously pushing against the neural interface. Still, the Gertewet couldn’t miss this prime opportunity.
<A new host won't be ready for this mission.>
"But you are. Stay in control. You can do this." He uncapped the canteen and offered it at her tank's exit. "And if you do, we win."
Winning would be worth it at any cost. Even if Vinnet hadn’t been able to move on, she’d grieved enough hosts to know that it was past time to. She could let go to focus on a new mission. She could be ready enough. They'd been fighting too long to not risk everything for this chance.
<I'm coming.>
And if nothing else, it would be nice to not be alone.