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It was accepted science that the brain took around ten minutes to fully die; it seemed Max could corroborate that, now. Shang, River’s colleague, would like to hear about it if Max could make it out of this alive.
Oh, who were they kidding; of course they wouldn’t. But still, Max could feel everything—the cold ground biting into their cheek, the hot blood dripping down the back of their head, the tips of their fingers starting to go numb as the circulation stopped reaching their extremities. When Aubrey yanked the Hades filter off their wrist, it was nothing but pins and needles.
Memories flooded their mind, unbidden—the covert briefing with the Consul, the morning of their wedding day. Their promotion to Colonel, behind closed doors. River, in the alleyway of the Tiangong, their eyes fixed on Max’s mouth. Their first excursion to Europa, twelve years old, watching the action through binoculars.
I gave this place my whole life, Max thought suddenly. I gave this place my whole life, and this is what I get.
When their eyes hinged shut for the final time, it was with a sudden rush of anger. They hoped Niko raised hell in the Senate.