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“Clear,” Prax said, shocked by the firo doors now”

“Check,” Nao in, Cap’n,” A out, Ahter in the words that Prax was pretty sure he was joking

In the darkness, a star blinked out and then came back Then another Prax mentally traced the path Another star eclipsed

“I’ her back up,” Alex said “Let ht?”

Prax watched, waited The star stayed solid Shouldn’t it have gone dark like the others? Had hearound? If it couldthe reactor back online?

Prax turned back toward the —a toothpick floating on an ocean of stars Now the distance back to the airlock was i to run without ever having both feet off the deck Theboots wouldn’t let hi foot trapped until the lead one signaled it was solid His back itched, and he fought the urge to look behind Nothing was there, and if so wouldn’t help The cable of his radio link turned from a line into a loop that trailed behind him as he reen-and-yello of the open airlock called to hi a little, but the sound was lost in a string of profanity fro on down there?” Nao a little under the weather,” A”

“My knee feels like soave birth in it,” Holden said “I’ll be fine”

“Are we clear for burn?” Alex asked

“We are not,” Naoet until we hit the docks, but the forward airlock isn’t sealed”

“I’, Don’t leave ht, then,” Alex said “Let et us the hell out of here”

In the depth of the ship, A himself in with a violence that made the joints of his suit creak He yanked on his u hi at the controls until the cycle started and the outer door slid closed In the diht of the airlock proper, Prax spun slowly on all three axes The outer door re blue eyes appeared to crawl in after hiainst the wall as the distant sound of an air pump announced the presence of atmosphere

“I’m in,” he said “I’m in the airlock”

“Is the captain stable?” Naomi asked

“Was he ever?” Amos replied

“I’m fine My knee hurts Get us out of here”

“Ao bay Is there a proble behind”