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“That don’t sound healthy,” Aain Avasarala reached to open a channel to Souther but stopped She didn’t knohat she’d say The voice that caed She didn’t recognize Prax at first, and then he had to repeat himself twice before she could make out the words

“Incubation cha the ship an incubation chamber Like on Eros”

“It kno to do that?” Bobbie said

“Apparently so,” Nao,” Bobbie said “Do we have enough firepower for that?”

Avasarala opened her eyes again She tried to feel soreat, oceanic sorrow There had to be hope in there soot that

“Even if we can, it won’t save Mars”

“Maybe we got them all?” Alex said “I s, but ot ’e ballistic,” Bobbie said “If weaway fro it, and now here she atching it all slip past Her gut was a solid knot But they hadn’t failed Not yet So that could still be done

She forwarded her last conversation with Nguyen to Souther Maybe he’d have an idea A secret weapon that could coreat brotherhood of uyen

TenSouther didn’t bother contacting her before they shot it down The ops deck was like a s first We’ve got to get down to the base If Mei’s there, we need to get her out”

“I’onna outsource that one”

“That’s what I was thinking,” Holden said “So you guys take the Roci down to the surface”

“Us guys?” Naomi asked

“I’ll take the pinnace over to the battleship,” Holden said “The transponder activation codes are going to be in the CIC”

“You?” Avasarala asked

“Only two people got off Eros,” Holden said with a shrug “And I’m the one that’s left”

Chapter Forty-Nine: Holden