asleep.
EIGHT
Fuzzy. Everything was so fuzzy. A strange dull throb made the back of Renna’s head ache, and the taste of metal and star fuel filled her mouth with bitterness. Her weight shifted as the ship around her fell out of light speed. The tension behind her forehead eased as the ship slowed.
The Athena trembled as Flight Lieutenant Kojima disengaged the FTL thrusters and the flight dampeners re-engaged. On the bridge, Captain Finn frowned at a holomap of whatever system they were headed toward.
Renna shifted, trying to get a better view of him. His dark hair was spiky, like he’d run his hands through it too many times, and the skin beneath his blue eyes was smudged and shadowed.
“Lieutenant Keva, what’s our status?” Finn’s voice had a strange metallic tone, but she’d recognize it anywhere.
Her chest tightened and she reached out a hand to touch him, but her arms felt leaden, immovable. When they didn’t obey, she focused her gaze on Lieutenant Keva, the Delfine alien who was Finn’s XO.
“Krooss, Thasa system. Viktis has a safe house there.”
“The third this week.” Finn’s hands curled around the railing of the CIC. “MYTH is getting better and better at tracking us since we left Forever Station. It feels like we’re running in circles, doesn’t it?”
The lieutenant nodded. “I hope Renna can figure out what’s going on sooner rather than later. I’m not sure how we can stay ahead of the trackers much longer.”
“We’ll have to try. Maybe our resident pirate has some ideas. He’s full of them.”
Keva grinned, an unusual sparkle in her violet eyes. “Yes, yes, he is.”
Finn shook his head, but a smile tugged at his lips. “Behave, Lieutenant. I’m going to go let Aldani know we’ve arrived. He needed some more supplies. Make sure he gets everything he asks for.”
Keva saluted. “Yes, sir.”
The scene faded, but a moment later, Renna watched Finn stride into an equipment-filled med-bay.
Dr. David Aldani hunched over a microscope, but he straightened at Finn’s entrance. “Ah, there you are, Captain.”
“We’ll be landing on Krooss within the hour, Doctor. Have you sent Lieutenant Keva your supply list? I’ve told her to do whatever it takes to get what you need.” Finn sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I didn’t expect to leave Forever Station in such a hurry. We left too many supplies behind.”
“I think taking down Kitty Cordoza was more than worth it,” Aldani said with a smile. “I saw on the holofeed that they found extensive evidence tying her to a massive slave ring. They said she’ll be locked away for life.”
A slow grin twisted Finn’s lips. “Kitty found out firsthand that karma’s a bitch. I’m just glad I was there to help put her away.” His gaze fell to Aldani’s electron microscope, and the amusement slid from his face. “Any news on Renna’s condition?”
Aldani shook his head. “Not yet. The tissue sample I took before we left is unlike anything I’ve seen before. The cells are changing and mutating faster than should be possible.”
Finn shoved his hands into his pockets, shoulders hunching. “She’s not going to make it, is she?” Renna’s stomach twisted at the flicker of pure anguish that crossed Finn’s face.
“Of course she’s going to make it. She has the best doctors at MYTH working on it. And me. Who knows—maybe MYTH has already found a way to stop the integration completely.” He put a hand on Finn’s arm. “You can’t think like that. Renna’s tough. She’ll get through this.”
Finn nodded, but he didn’t look convinced. “Thanks for the information, Doc. I have to get back to the bridge. Let me know if you uncover anything else.”
Renna followed Finn as he left the med bay and wandered through the ship. He trailed a finger along one of the smooth polythene walls, and Renna’s skin erupted in flames, as if he’d touched her.
But that was impossible. They were millions of
EIGHT
Fuzzy. Everything was so fuzzy. A strange dull throb made the back of Renna’s head ache, and the taste of metal and star fuel filled her mouth with bitterness. Her weight shifted as the ship around her fell out of light speed. The tension behind her forehead eased as the ship slowed.
The Athena trembled as Flight Lieutenant Kojima disengaged the FTL thrusters and the flight dampeners re-engaged. On the bridge, Captain Finn frowned at a holomap of whatever system they were headed toward.
Renna shifted, trying to get a better view of him. His dark hair was spiky, like he’d run his hands through it too many times, and the skin beneath his blue eyes was smudged and shadowed.
“Lieutenant Keva, what’s our status?” Finn’s voice had a strange metallic tone, but she’d recognize it anywhere.
Her chest tightened and she reached out a hand to touch him, but her arms felt leaden, immovable. When they didn’t obey, she focused her gaze on Lieutenant Keva, the Delfine alien who was Finn’s XO.
“Krooss, Thasa system. Viktis has a safe house there.”
“The third this week.” Finn’s hands curled around the railing of the CIC. “MYTH is getting better and better at tracking us since we left Forever Station. It feels like we’re running in circles, doesn’t it?”
The lieutenant nodded. “I hope Renna can figure out what’s going on sooner rather than later. I’m not sure how we can stay ahead of the trackers much longer.”
“We’ll have to try. Maybe our resident pirate has some ideas. He’s full of them.”
Keva grinned, an unusual sparkle in her violet eyes. “Yes, yes, he is.”
Finn shook his head, but a smile tugged at his lips. “Behave, Lieutenant. I’m going to go let Aldani know we’ve arrived. He needed some more supplies. Make sure he gets everything he asks for.”
Keva saluted. “Yes, sir.”
The scene faded, but a moment later, Renna watched Finn stride into an equipment-filled med-bay.
Dr. David Aldani hunched over a microscope, but he straightened at Finn’s entrance. “Ah, there you are, Captain.”
“We’ll be landing on Krooss within the hour, Doctor. Have you sent Lieutenant Keva your supply list? I’ve told her to do whatever it takes to get what you need.” Finn sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I didn’t expect to leave Forever Station in such a hurry. We left too many supplies behind.”
“I think taking down Kitty Cordoza was more than worth it,” Aldani said with a smile. “I saw on the holofeed that they found extensive evidence tying her to a massive slave ring. They said she’ll be locked away for life.”
A slow grin twisted Finn’s lips. “Kitty found out firsthand that karma’s a bitch. I’m just glad I was there to help put her away.” His gaze fell to Aldani’s electron microscope, and the amusement slid from his face. “Any news on Renna’s condition?”
Aldani shook his head. “Not yet. The tissue sample I took before we left is unlike anything I’ve seen before. The cells are changing and mutating faster than should be possible.”
Finn shoved his hands into his pockets, shoulders hunching. “She’s not going to make it, is she?” Renna’s stomach twisted at the flicker of pure anguish that crossed Finn’s face.
“Of course she’s going to make it. She has the best doctors at MYTH working on it. And me. Who knows—maybe MYTH has already found a way to stop the integration completely.” He put a hand on Finn’s arm. “You can’t think like that. Renna’s tough. She’ll get through this.”
Finn nodded, but he didn’t look convinced. “Thanks for the information, Doc. I have to get back to the bridge. Let me know if you uncover anything else.”
Renna followed Finn as he left the med bay and wandered through the ship. He trailed a finger along one of the smooth polythene walls, and Renna’s skin erupted in flames, as if he’d touched her.
But that was impossible. They were millions of
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