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"None of thisnowhere"

Once he says it, it becomes real for him I see the sixteen years of his life trapped on the ship, and the decades of his future fall on his with the realization that Godspeed can’t land He’s got everything on him now--the ship, the people, the deaths, the disappointment And I realize: he has always had theine room, and beyond to the sealed doors "Shelby was in there In the Bridge"

And just like that, the terror’s back I push it down, try to drown it under the waters ofit die

"Why?" Elder’s eyes search e He’s asking why someone would let Shelby die for it

59

ELDER

"NO, NO, NO, NO, NO," SHELBY SAID

The words circle my mind, and I know they’ll never leave

Amy kisses me

"No, no, no, no, no"

Amy tells me that someone did this because of a stupid video Orion made That whoever did this just wanted to make sure that ould never, ever leave the ship Ever

"No, no, no, no, no"

Arav tube and takes me to the Feeder Level She shows me the hidden door and the stairs behind it

"No, no, no, no, no"

Aht fills the hidden space behind it It creaks open, but all I hear is:

"No, no, no--"

BOOM!

Another explosion, this one deeper than the first, ruround and shakes the foundation of the Hospital Shingles fall fro, s open, and people strea after theency ladders flutter fro a few feet to the earth and racing toward the Recorder Hall for cover

"The frex--" I start, as A under our feet

"Why would someone blow up the Hospital?" she asks Her words are hollow, but her eyes are filled with fear

Sround floor but nowhere else There’s no evidence of fire, no evidence of dae

Amy’s face drains of color, and she’s paler than ever "Oh, God It wasn’t the Hospital that exploded--"

"It was the cryo level," I finish for her

"My parents," she whispers Her eyes lose focus; her o down to the cryo level I knohere they are I could--"

"Go to the her shoulders until she comes back to me "Go now--but be careful Whoever did this could still be there"

Ah explosion to destroy the cryo level" I shake"No, I’ot to be fine"

I can feel her pulling away, but she’s still holding on to ently "I can do this I’ll take care of the ship--you take care of your parents But" I pause "If you see anyoneor anything--if it’s not safe down there, coht nod and runs to the stairs without a word

I turn and face the ship

60

AMY

MY HEART THUDS IN MY THROAT, AND IT MAKES ME WANT TO throw up I’ve been so focused on everything else--Elder, the otten the

My parents

Trapped in ice, in the cryo level, sleeping

Helpless