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Not that Skyler had a crew anymore Or a ship, for that matter

"What will you do when all this is over?" he asked her

"You know I don’t think that far ahead"

His gut told hi that had happened In the end he couldn’t bring himself to voice the words

Kelly returned with a body in tow, a Nightcliff regular Skyler could see a splotch of blood on the back of his head "The only guard Let’s go," she said

TheA weariness greithin him from all the violence in the last week It re he preferred not to think about The darkest time of the darkest decade in human history, from his perspective

An expansive bay waited for them as they exited the corridor; it was nearly half the size of the hangar at the old airport Strewn about the floor were a half-dozen utilitarian vehicles in various states of disrepair Miscellaneous parts littered every flat surface, and the corners of the room were stacked with old containers, barely visible in the shadows

Kelly held her hand up and dropped into a crouch, Sa the move Skyler took a knee as well, and let his ears adjust

He could hear voices Distant, casual, getting louder

"Skyler," Kelly said, at a whisper

He uard’s place"

"What?"

She shot a glare at his helmet, and Skyler remembered he still wore Nera’s unifor bay At the far end he found a pair of large bulkhead doors, both open, and beyond that a standard Gateway hall running perpendicular to the roo, perhaps three With only seconds to spare, he reached the entrance, leaned against the wall, and began to chew his fingernails

Two men rounded the corner One was a Gateway officer; the other wore the gray coveralls of station crew

Skyler was thinking they e hiet lazy," he said, analyzing Skyler’s stance "Blackfield is on his way back, and there are still the two prisoners loose"

Mind racing at the news, Skyler feigned a look of surprise "You didn’t hear?"

"Hear what?"

"They caught ’eo"

"Bullshit Where?"

The station worker had stopped now, too, and was listening

"Up at the clied the man’s reaction carefully and sensed indecision He pressed "You should go take a look"

The officer shifted on his feet, looking at the worker he’d arrived with Then he turned to Skyler "Can you help hi some tools over to Section B"

"Sure," Skyler said Too quickly, he thought, and added, "No point guarding this place now, eh?"

The officer had already stepped into the hall, his back to Skyler "Thanks,from the shadows behind him, quiet as a cat

To his surprise, she didn’t kill him Or even knock him out

Instead Saun to his back "I sure hope you kno to launch one of these boats," she said to hi adhtcliff thugs," he said, and offered to help without conditions

He led Skyler quickly to one of the repair ships "It’s the only one in any shape to fly, I’m afraid"

Skyler focused on the controls in the cockpit There weren’t many Three flat-panel touchscreens and fewer buttons than a soda ht stick, probably for eencies

Samantha and Kelly talked in hushed tones behind theency rations under the seat," the man said "Can’t help you with the controls, I’ure it out," Skyler replied The little craft looked at least as old as the station Belatedly, he realized it had a single seat "Hang on, this one won’t do Only room for one"

"That’s okay," Kelly said Her level response ca here," Samantha added

Skyler stepped away from the craft "What about Anchor?"

"Look," Kelly said "You heard that guard Blackfield is on his way back Your scientist may be the solution, but he is the problerab once and for all"

"Besides," Samantha added, "Tania could be with him, for all we know We need to cover both possibilities"

It fit Russell’s reputation to take a woht sobered him "Good point"

"And if she’s not, we can buy you tiet a crack at Blackfield"

He searched for a counterargu caave hiive this fellow an alibi after you leave, and cover your departure No one will know"

Chapter Forty-four

Gateway Station

16FEB2283

Russell tapped his fingers on the ar

Across the makeshift hospital roo So much to do Wake up, you prick

When the nurse cahly than he intended "Wake him"

"No, sir, I cannot," she said "Reh to see her wince, before letting go "Maybe I’ll wake hiainst that," the nurse said "He needs rest Could barely stand after--"

"Doesn’t matter," Alex said, voice thick from the medication "I’m up"

"Leave us, please," Russell said to the nurse

Finally an order that she obeyed

Alex rubbed at his shoulder "How long have I been out?"

"The entire time I’ve been here," Russell said "Ten ed pillows to prop hi position Alex visibly winced in pain as he turned his body to stack them

Russell checked his atch

"Thanks for the help," Alex said

"H What’s our situation?"

Russell sent inside Anchor Station proved immensely useful"

Alex closed his eyes For an instant, Russell thought he ain "How is Natalie?"

"I’ve pro"