“We will not hurt them,” it said. “Follow me.”
Kismir had returned the gear his…plants had removed. Halliwell tried not to think about what had happened while he’d been unconscious. It didn’t make for good situational awareness to worry about what he couldn’t change even if he found out. He was not unaware of the irony of Bangle’s playlist soothing the savage plants. If the AI ever found out, there’d be no living with it. His thoughts and hands paused to consider whether the AI was here, but he figured it would have had to say something before now—particularly if it thought it was right.
He settled his headgear in place and did a systems check. It was easier to focus on this than think about this next step. He wouldn’t have liked this if he knew what they were getting into, and they didn’t. What they didn’t know was a concern, but what they did know didn’t help. Their Big Bad had managed to rewrite Naxe’s memories and neither she nor Kismir knew how long they’d been caught in this trap. And while he had a lot of confidence in Tim, knowing that the Big Bad could mess with people’s brains, their memories, he might be a little worried.
At least Tim had managed to return control of this plant ship to its Captain. If—when they got the shield down, they would be ready to leave. They’d promised to release the remaining humans to return to their own ships, before they took off.
Halliwell felt guilty about not getting them freed now, but he couldn’t see how adding them to the party to meet the Big Bad would be a good idea.
Naxe still seemed concerned. “I should go alone.”
“Whoever it is already knows you brought someone back with you,” Halliwell pointed out. He looked at Kismir, but the troll didn’t respond. If he’d had orders to detain them, he wasn’t saying.
“He will expect us to have been disarmed,” Naxe said, “will he not, Kismir?”
“Yes.”
If Halliwell didn’t know better, he’d say the little troll was annoyed she had interrupted the “sound” to ask the question. It was like they’d already moved on.
They’d debated various approaches, but in the end, the direct approach was the simplest. It was also the one Tim wanted. He’d brought Tim as a bodyguard, so he should listen to him. They’d stay roped together until they got to the Ugly Sucker. If their Big Bad wasn’t on the Ugly Sucker, they could rope up again, but Halliwell had the feeling that Tim believed that’s where their Big Bad was, too.
Blooban, aboard the Vycorth, had been drifting closer and was now on course to be in position over the Ugly Sucker around the same time they’d get there. Halliwell didn’t mind having him closer, though he hoped the frog didn’t get the ship shot up. Yes, there were plenty of ships around and yes, Tim could hack them, but the Big Bad had had a lot of time to booby trap them. It might make his head hurt that he trusted the frog, at least more than the troll, so he tried not to dwell on it.
“He’ll expect us to have been disarmed.” Halliwell didn’t make it a question. It was more of a reminder. He studied Tim for several seconds. There was no way to hide that he was a weapon. “Maybe you should go last this time, Tim.”
“I should go first,” Naxe said, tension visible in her eyes and around her mouth.
If Tim didn’t like it, he didn’t say so. He just moved to the rear. Halliwell knew he didn’t like it either, but he nodded.
“I’ll be right behind you.” He wished both Naxe and Riina could wait here. He belonged to a modern military where women served alongside men, but he’d never liked sending a woman into battle. Honestly, he didn’t like sending anyone into battle. But right now, Naxe looked smaller than he remembered. Her shoulders weren’t slumped, but they weren’t super straight either. Her eyes were calm but large, and her lips were compressed. He wished he could draw her close. Not for long, just for long enough. And he wished he could tell her he hated this and he—felt things for her. That they’d be there for her or—no. He shut that off. They had to be there. They had to.
She nodded. “Let’s move out.”
Her voice had lost all inflection, all warmth. But it was still somehow engaging. With that voice, she could be a leader…or a siren. He didn’t like the thought. He wouldn’t be the first man who’d been fooled by a woman—as if she sensed he needed more, she managed something that resembled a smile. But it was her eyes that caught him. Her gaze that held him for several seconds and gave him hope. She meant to fight in her own corner. Then the veil dropped down again and she glanced around, as if trying to imprint this on her memory in a way that could not be erased or changed.
While he’d been trying to avoid plant analogies inside his head, he allowed himself one. Hope was a powerful seed when properly planted.
And now he was going to move on.
“Right. Let’s get this done.” It was his general voice, one he hoped was inspiring to his people and to these people. For now he walked beside her, because he could. Kismir didn’t turn his head to watch them. Halliwell wasn’t sure, but the troll might be trying to “Walk Like an Egyptian.”
That was a good way to make sure Halliwell didn’t look back again.
5
At the airlock, Naxe paused, fighting a deep reluctance to start. Kismir’s ship was creepy, and so was he, but it held no more surprises. Once they left it—she should remember what came next. She wanted to pound her head. Why couldn’t she remember?
She bit her lip, resisted the urge to pound the airlock control in lieu of her head—or with her head. She hesitated, almost glancing back, though she couldn’t see those they left behind with Kismir. Did her sense of duty flow from some deep memory about them? Because it came from a real place, was that what made it so strong? Was that why it had driven her even when some part of her knew this was wrong?
Behind them one of the songs, reached out, as if it knew her struggle and sent her strength, too. Almost it lifted her into the song’s roar. Frustration was replaced with resolve.
“Let’s go do what we must,” she said, a half-smile edging her mouth.
They’d get through this. She wasn’t alone this time. There was John and Riina and, there was Tim. Granted Kismir had used them to nullify Tim as a threat, but the Big Bad—her lips twitched at the description—didn’t know Tim’s weakness. At least that was the hope. And if they moved quickly, the Big Bad wouldn’t have time to know it. Guilt tried to make a comeback, tried to steal her resolve. It was her fault the others were in danger. She’d led them into this trap.
As if he sensed it, John said, “We’re right behind you.”
She lifted a hand in acknowledgment, but didn’t look back. The time for looking back was past. She entered the airlock, aware that not one of them hesitated to follow her. Out of habit, she tapped her comm and caught the faintest of croaks. It was more like an echo, but it brought the smile she needed. They did it every time she left the ship for an unknown dock. Where she’d gone to secure supplies for people who didn’t exist, she reminded herself, grimly. She’d risked their lives for this…game, this illusion.