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Against Timent, Tania allowed Platz Station to attach to the Elevator

Within two hours a teauards, all volunteers, slid into the station’s o bay and took Russell Blackfield into custody He waited there for theo bay showed signs of coht down to Melville Station and placed in a cabin under watch For the ht it best not to meet with hi with ht shift operations teao bay at the heart of Platz Station indeed appeared to have been the scene of an intense battle Globules of blood still drifted and pooled near the air vents and exit doors A shell casing floated past her Sweeping lines and speckled clusters of bullet i There were no bodies, though Either the dead had been pushed out an airlock, or they’d been tucked away souards, per the instructions, and no one appeared to be ar just to establish authority Her recent coave her a confidence she’d not expected, as if she held a secret that would foreverht upper hand No one coht she saw relief on their faces She hoped so, at least They’d been living under Russell Blackfield’s coenerated some bad seeds, Tania decided to make sure the rest saw her as a e?" Tania asked

Most of the group turned to face one woman near the center She seemed to remember herself, and raised a hand "Jenny Abrath," she said "I guess it’s me"

"Nice to meet you," Tania said

"The station is yours, Dr Sharma"

Goose bumps rose on Tania’s arms "What’s your role here, Jenny?"

"I run the operations room," she said "I could take you there now, if you like"

"Thanks," Tania said, "but no I want to speak with your doctors first We have someone in critical condition who could use attention"

The station crew she passed on the journey all had the same look on their faces Confusion, bewilderht, a little respect

On the way to operations she spied the hallway that led to the apartments Neil Platz used to occupy, as well as the adjacent set where Zane had lived "Hold on," she said to Jenny "I want to see so"

Alone, Tania walked down the hall and let a flood of childhood memories fill her mind She’d run down this hallway many times, intent to share some scholastic achievement or chess victory story with Neil when her own parents were away Her parents were always away

Tania opened the door to Neil’s apart space appeared used It made sense that Russell would claim the space, but still it surprised her for soainst Neil, he sure seemed quick to stand in the man’s shoes

The bedroom door was partly opened and Tania stepped in, not sure exactly what she hoped to find Neil’s scent, or his clothing Anything to give her a clear and brightstrewn about, a towel tossed carelessly on the floor Two bottles of alcohol sat on the bedside table; a third lay on the ground Russell, she thought Of course he’d take this room for himself

She retreated into the entrance hall and started back toward the rest of the group Lush red carpet softened her footfalls

Halfway back she spied the door to Zane’s suite of roo to find another bedchamber for Russell Blackfield But the room appeared to be left alone Debris littered the floor Pillows from the couch, a slate terht, due to the hasty switch to zero-g, not from searchers or looters

As she pulled the door closed an idea formed A faint smile crept onto her face as she returned to Jenny and the others

The infirmary bustled with doctors, nurses, and injured Half the patients were in beds or on stretchers, wearing bandages with faint splotches of blood seeping through Bullet wounds, she guessed The rest of the patients all had minor injuries: bruises, lacerations, the odd broken bone More evidence that the flight fro without preparation would have filled the station with every item not stowed or bolted

Tania asked to speak to the most senior doctor and pulled the woman aside She introduced herself as Dr Volk, and Tania shook her hand The statuesque wohtly curled black hair showing a bit of gray at the roots

"One of our people is in a coma," Tania said to her, and explained the history

The doctor nodded politely throughout and asked a few questions "I’m not sure e can do for him," she said, "after so much time Keep hiot the same equipment we do, more or less, but I’d be happy to compare notes with the doctor on your side"

Tania thanked her and left her to tend to the wounded She felt as if the doctor could be trusted, sonals, but time would tell For now, Tania decided she would put Dr Brooks in charge here, and have Zane Platz transferred back to his old apartment on the station Perhaps his own rooer so in his mind

It can’t hurt

She nodded to Jenny in a way that conveyed "let’s go," and fell in with her as they h the station’s wide hallways toward operations

Logistics and problehts The station would have to be searched, weapons confiscated until the inhabitants could be interviewed Russell’s small private arure out a way to integrate them Perhaps a heartfelt speech from Russell would do the trick

Despite theto Zane Platz She envisioned hihost of his older brother at his side

Tih, Ireland

Date ie coh luck or subconscious ed to turn so that the subhurunted in unison with the creature, but with far less pain The being cushioned the impact, went li and the rock-streall Both of its hands released at once, and it fell away, tu to a stop at its base, lifeless and contorted

Skyler flailed for a ful of air and forced hirip on the rope, trusting the cliainst the spire’s sheer surface and found hand- and footholds with lanced down to assess the situation around him

His eyes found Ana first, just a few meters away She stared at hiape

"I’lanced farther down, to the floor of the doan to vibrate She was reloading her gun and, as if sensing he was looking at her, glanced up and met his eyes Her face showed determination and utter, complete confusion

The red shapes flittered around her,between the clu in, as if working together like a pack of wolves

One red shape, just a few es were soht it rese prone

The vibration of the doh his hands and feet, Skyler felt the earthen coluth