I hadn’t slept for even a minute, especially after my therapy session, and certainly looked the part; the darkness around my bloodshot eyes must have told at least some of the story. I exchanged nods and awkward smiles with everyone as they trudged up the boarding ramp, except for Brynja, who breezed past me without acknowledging my existence. Karin went through her pre-flight checklist while we silently strapped ourselves into place in preparation for take-off. Yesterday’s argument in the conference room hung in the air, but no one volunteered to be the first to mention it. Probably for the best. The engines rumbled to life. We roared into the morning sky and through the powder-white clouds as the sun rose behind us. A few hours into our flight I opened one of the overhead compartments and pulled out a long silver case, laying it down on the floor. I urged everyone to gather around and see what I’d packed for the trip. I flung open the lid to reveal our weapons.
