Free Breaking Sky by Cori McCarthy

Tourn believes you are too vital to the Streaker project to lose in light of the upcoming trials. You are, however, on restricted duty for the rest of your life. Hear me?”
    Relief slid around her like a lava flow, painfully measured. “What else did he say?” She held herself back from adding, Did he tell you I shouldn’t be here?
    â€œHe said he believes it’s time for action.” Kale blew out a long breath. “It doesn’t matter to him that we’re not ready to face Ri Xiong Di’s forces. He’s ready for the cold war to heat up . That’s actually what he said. The man’s a warmonger.” Kale’s expression released. “That was out of line. Forgive me.”
    Chase nodded, ready to do anything for him. “He is, General. You don’t need to tell me that.”
    â€œOf course you know what he’s like.” Kale’s tone had gone warm—he was trying to make her feel better. Build her up. Chase knew this wasn’t over. She might have only spent one summer with her father, but it was long enough to know the man was never finished until he’d punched her with his words.
    â€œWhat was his message?”
    Kale hesitated. “This is Tourn’s message, not mine.”
    â€œUnderstood.”
    â€œHe said, ‘If she breaks orders again, I’ll come there personally and take her wings in front of the whole academy.’”
    Chase imagined it down to the crisp smell of the Green. Her father would stand over her, striking her with insults before steel-straight lines of her uniformed peers. Then everyone would know she was the daughter of the general—the only five-star general designated in the Air Force since the 1980s—Lance Harold Tourn.
    Always those three names together. Like the assassin he was.
    Chase squeezed her knuckles until they hurt, and her secret fear found voice. “General Kale, if the other cadets knew he’s my father, they’d say he got me in here. That I didn’t earn my wings. Wouldn’t they? That’s why you told me not to tell anyone during my first week.”
    â€œIf they said that, Harcourt, I’d say you’ve proven them wrong. You tested to the head of your class and then the head of the academy. You learned how to fly a Streaker when a dozen of your peers washed out. You did that. Tourn can’t take that from you.”
    Kale was detached enough from his teenage years to believe that gem. Good for him. Chase knew the truth. The rest of the academy was filled with cadets who had spent years—and their families’ savings—on the training and tests in order to be selected. With the exception of Pippin, whose IQ planted him in the military’s line of sight like a neon flag.
    Her classmates would burn her in effigy on the Green. And she wouldn’t blame them.
    Kale cleared his throat. “I shouldn’t have to tell you to keep your discovery about Phoenix to yourself, but I will. Not a word to the other cadets, including Sylph.” Chase nodded, and Kale added, “Don’t forget. Restricted duty. You’re dismissed.”
    She stood and held on to the back of the leather chair. “I have a question, General.”
    â€œI imagine you have many, and I bet I can’t answer a single one of them,” Kale said. Chase began to leave, but his voice stopped her at the door. “Ask your question, cadet.”
    â€œHow did that pilot know me?” Thinking about Arrow made all her father feelings evaporate sharp and fast. “He knew my call sign. My name. He knows the way I fly like he’s studied me.”
    Kale lifted an eyebrow, and she didn’t need an answer.
    She’d crashed into the truth all on her own.

10
HOOK SLAP
Catching on in a Big Way
    After her morning classes, Chase headed to the weight room. Restricted duty meant she could train and run through her schedule—but no free time. No rec room. No