Read Along: The Road to Resurrection

'Life ain't black an white. People ain't neether. Family, friends, lovers. It's all a lot more complicated.'

Saba returns to her family and friends and they set off to rescue Emmi by infiltrating the Tonton base of New Eden - Resurrection...

'If I act like it never happened, then it never happened.'

Cassie and Bram give Saba a frosty welcome after she stormed off and left them to figure out how to get Emmi back. Bram agrees to help Saba so that it gets done right and on the condition that after they get Emmi back. the group leaves New Eden and doesn't endanger Bram and Cassie's set-up anymore. Bram has dressed Lugh, Tommo and Creed up as Tonton, whilst Ash and Molly as dressed as nomads, and they all surround a done-up Cosmic. Lugh initially chastises Saba for running off but soon realises that he doesn't want to lose another sister and welcomes her back. He tells her about the time he's spent with Maev and how he invited her to go west with them once they find Emmi, but Maev declined.

'They'll have took Emmi to Resurrection, to question her.'

After Bram dresses as a Tonton too, he lets everyone know the plan. They will enter through a gate and leave using ropes and dropping down into the lake. Bram doesn't know very much about the building and thus it remains a mystery to all what exactly goes on there. The men are going to pretend to be bringing the girls from Sector 10, where they have supposedly been taking part in rebel activities, in order to get past gate guards. Then they will split up. The reader is ignorant to the rest of the plan because Saba only 'half-listens' to the rest of it, due to the fact that she isn't part of the main rescue team.

'I'm prideful, arrogant and stubborn.'

Sbaa recognises why they don't trust her; because she trusted Jack. Tommo approaches Saba and makes clear this intention to talk about his feelings, but Saba delays that conversation for another time. Molly comes to help her change and she notices that something is up with Saba - the clothes, the frenzied disposition. Molly also notices Saba's 'first time mark', which I interpret to be a lovebite or some kind of branding. Molly tells Saba to get the man out of her mind because from her experience they aren't worth it and they won't be thinking about it half as much as she is. 

'Ready?'

As they get ready to head to Resurrection, they leave behind Tracker and Slim. Slim provides Saba with one of his poisonous potions - eccinel. Saba's animal companions prove their loyalty to her when Tracker follows after the Cosmic and Nero returns her heartstone to her. Flirtations continue between Creed and Molly, or rather from Creed directed at a begrudging Molly. In the spirit of romance, Saba tells Maev about Lugh's feelings but she doesn't respond with her, even though it's pretty clear. 

'The lies that lurk in the shadow of the truth.'

Saba watches the people they pass by. The slaves play on her mind; she questions what makes them inferior, and why some people can lead better lives. Why is age and disease a determinant of a life of suffering? She questions DeMalo's morals above all. 

'It comes into view.'

They reach Resurrection soon, and Saba is stunned by the sheer size of it. The group is counting on the laziness of the guards in order to get into the building. However, the presence of a commander at the gate makes things a little trickier, as he pulls them over for a few questions. One of the guards recognises who Saba is and all hell breaks loose...

'Another shot. Two, three, four.'

The casualties are on the real Tonton's side as Lugh shoots them down. But in the chaos, Bram has been shot as well. They regroup under the Free Hawks direction who proclaim themselves 'back in business'. The only problem they face is that Bram was the only one who knew the gate passwords. Saba suggests using herself as a password - they can deliver her - the Angel of Death. 

'Through the Field of the Fallen Mountain we go.'

They continue up the road to Resurrection. Saba clarifies that they will only use her to get past any more gates, and not actually hand her over. She vows to use DeMalo's feelings for her as a weakness through which to take him down and get Emmi. As well as vowing to kill Jack if she finds him.

'The anger starts to burn, deep in my gut.'

Ash and Molly part off to get boats to meet the others in the lake with at a later point. Creed, Lugh and Maev are to find Emmi and get her to Saba and Tommo who will arrange the rope-drops out of the windows. At the guardposts, on the announcement that they have the Angel of Death with them, they roll straight through into Resurrection...