This is Shan. I'm speaking now to Iris's second in command. Wynry has some thoughts on who you might be,

but it doesn't really matter for the purposes of this conversation. Yes, in case you're wondering,

Winry survived, as we knew she would. Her calculations were perfect.

The building cracked exactly where she said it would,

and she and the gifted prisoners escaped without a scratch.

We'd hoped we'd be able to capture Iris in the chaos,

but she escaped.

At least she escaped that time.

Not today, though. And that's how I know I'm talking to her second in command, the one who's assumed control of operations. I know that because I'm looking at Iris as I say these words.

She's alive.

Alive, but bloodied and bruised and tied to a chair. You know why that is. You know why I haven't

stung her with my venom, or stepped aside and allowed Zachary to rip the heat from her flesh,

as much as I might want to. You know why. We have Iris and you have Wren.

So now we're going to talk about a trade.

This is Spines.

This is Spines. You know, I'm going to be furious at us for making this trade.

We've discussed these scenarios before. What to do if one of us is taken. We've all of us, Winry and Zachary and Ren and I, we've all nodded

and agreed and said, yes, the world is more important, and we won't risk the mission to save just

one of us. But I've smelled Ren's copper penny lies as she said that, as she looked at me, and I've

always known I would never leave her behind. So, as angry as Wren will be, I'm choosing to make this trade.

Because at this moment, it's my choice to make. I don't know for certain that she's still alive. I believe

that I'll feel it if she ever dies, but I don't know for sure. I'm choosing to believe that

...