Los Angeles airport, Tom Bradley terminal. Elena wore her arm in a sling, uniform pressed, Captain Vasquez now, assigned to Colorado Springs, Space Command. Kom walked her to security, a coffee in hand for each of them.

"You're not asking me to stay, Doctor Kom?"

"I never ask for what I already know."

She smiled, that tired smile he now knew by heart.

"We meet again?"

"The world is small, sister. And Hale was right about one thing. He was only the first node."

She laid her hand on his chest, one second, no more. Walked through security without turning back. He stayed until the silhouette vanished.

Kotto, forty hours later. Fine rain, smell of wet earth. Nadia looked up from the counter, mocking smile.

"The international heartbreaker returns."

"Nadia, make we open le café, le monde no go stop tourner parce que je suis fatigué."

He pulled out the copper pot, ground the Ngang, let the water rise slowly. First sip. Different. Ten days of America in the tongue.

Nadia pushed a pile of mail toward him. One envelope without a stamp, hand delivered. Neat handwriting. He opened it.

German. "Berlin needs you. A hospital AI has begun lying to its doctors. Come before it learns to kill."

He set the cup down, very slowly.

Want to know who, in Berlin, knows my address in Kotto? Write me on Messenger, we open season two together. ☕