Lilly knew she had maybe fifteen minutes to snoop, but she couldn’t shake the sight of Ms. Lawrence, almost naked and bruised black and blue. Her stomach was producing acid like a full-time job. She was standing in Rocky's office. What should she be looking for? The thing with Alex had happened so fast she'd barely had time to think before Edward whispered, "Now's your chance." Chance for what she wondered? What could she glean from Rocky's piles of paperwork?

  She'd never really paid attention to Stone's office before. It was bigger than she remembered. There was a closet. What did he keep in there? Lilly crossed the room and tugged hard on the door handle. The damn thing was locked. Lilly kicked the door, instantly regretting the loud bang. At least five minutes had gone by. She was wasting time. Stone’s laptop lay open on his desk, but she didn’t have time to hack in. It had taken her days of playing with numbers and letters last time. Sweat began to bead on her nose.

  Lilly sat at Rocky's desk, her body sinking into his chair. The idea of General Stone sitting in the same place her body currently occupied nauseated her. The man was a real-life monster. How many times had he hit Ms. Lawrence? He was probably one of those guys who beat his wife back home. But Lilly couldn't remember ever seeing a wedding ring. It was a good thing that no woman had wasted her life on such an asshole, Lilly thought. She touched the mouse pad, and to her surprise, the screen lit up, revealing a lengthy email. The shock of access vibrated down Lilly’s arms and into her legs, forcing her to stand involuntarily.

  “Holy shit," she said outloud. "You're one stupid man, Rocky Stone. Let's see who's sending you emails."

  Lilly quickly realized the email was from Nigel and, better yet, all about the launch. It seemed that General Stone was actually very worried they would successfully delay the launch home despite his barbaric tactics. He’s scared shitless, she thought, a smile spreading across her face. Looks like you need Daddy Nigel to save you she whispered. But what could fucking Nigel do, really?

  Dear General Stone,

  I hope this email finds you well. You have less than a week before the return launch. It's almost over, friend. Stay the course no matter what. It pains me to hear that Camden is in solitary confinement, but per protocol, the decision sounds warranted. His mental health has likely deteriorated due to radiation levels. Keep the M7 wound clean, and ensure you’ve secured pictures for our legal team. We’ll need to prove he was a danger to himself and others before the isolation. Download footage of him in confinement. The more the kid cries and yells, the better. I suggest you do your best to trigger him each time you visit. The less stable he seems, the more likely a jury will rule in our favor.

  Right now, Sloan is your biggest asset. She’s undoubtedly pro-launch and one of the team's strongest personalities. Her desperate emails to Michael seem genuine. She's hell-bent on getting home. Use her however you see fit to get the kids in line. Kai might also prove valuable. His mental state evokes strong emotions among the other kids. They protect him like a younger sibling. See if you can get him invested in the idea that one of his friends may try to stay behind. No one likes Kai upset.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  I'd keep my eye on Lilly. She’s the only one with enough tech knowledge to hack the system. From what we can glean from her communication going out, she’s not super close to any one person back on Earth. The kid has nothing to lose by staying behind. We can't let that happen. Do you understand? A kid like that with a sense of purpose is our worst nightmare. You have my permission to put her in confinement as a precaution. It’s what I would do.

  Any kid who left the Hub to explore without permission is dangerous. I’m sure you know that. Don’t be afraid to isolate them from one another and from the group. I approve of the way you're making an example of Peyton. We’ve been working on the footage you sent us. The end goal is a digital confession where Ms. Lawrence admits she abandoned the mission and knowingly put the kids in danger. By the time you get the kids home, our legal team will have all the evidence we need if she decides to come after us. I’m sure using physical force on her has been unpleasant, but again, you’re following Red Rock protocol to the letter. Keeping her contained and subservient is vital. It benefits the mission, and the children must see the consequences of her refusal to comply. I’ll let you decide when enough is enough. But know that those kids trust her explicitly. It's a problem.

  I’m certain the kids won't pull off a boycott, but if any diversions or major distractions arise leading up to or on the day of the launch, your orders are to eliminate them. It’s not pleasant to discuss, Rocky, but let me be clear. The loss of one or multiple lives to preserve the safety and integrity of the entire M6 crew is justified. We cannot explain to parents, much less the world, why we left children behind on Mars. What we can explain are unforeseen accidents that took place on another planet. Every human who sets foot on Mars signs our hold harmless agreement. The contracts also specify that no human remains will be transported back to Earth in the event of accidental death. If you have any questions, please refer to Protocol 625, which outlines proper disposal methods. I’m attaching it to the email.

  You’ve done a phenomenal job, Rocky, not just with this mission, but throughout your time with Red Rock. I know you've expressed repeatedly that this will be your last mission, and I respect that. I’m confident your team has found something in the soil that will help us unlock the secret to eliminating the planet’s deadly impact on our bodies. What you have done here matters, sir. You are one of the last heroes of our time. Believe that. Godspeed.

  All my best~

  Nigel

  Lilly stared at the screen, unmoving. So General Stone had direct orders to kill them if they stepped out of line. That should be enough to sway everyone to boycott, she thought—everyone but Sloan, whom Lilly was more than okay sending back to Earth.

  “You’re an absolute psychopath, Nigel,” Lilly said outloud, sticking her jump drive into General Stone’s computer. Her legal team would need evidence, too. Murder in the name of self-defense ceased to be murder at all. And Lilly already knew how they could kill General Stone. She just really hoped she'd get to see it.