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“A blast here will incapacitate her without killing her,” he says, his voice flat His hand trembles and I swear I see pain in his eyes

I put upthis?” Adrenaline makes me alert to every sound, every movement

“Get off the craft” His hand trembles “I need it And I need her”

“Why do you need it? Let her go and we’ll talk” I step forward

His eyes are wild “Do you think she’d go blind from a Level 3 burst? Should we see? Maybe she’d just lose soh Maybe even ”

His voice cracks and his hand treain Danica squeaks and shakes, and I lock eyes with her, trying to communicate without words

“Brother, we’re not going to let you leave with her and this craft” Benn’s voice is calm “You know that, and we

know that Let her go and we can negotiate”

Taxx’s hand wobbles, and I knoe have one chance I need Danica to duck down the same instant I leap forward If only she could read my mind—

Taxx looks up and doesn’t —like he’s literally turned to stone He opens his ainst an immovable force At the same second, Danica , and then—by the stars!—she ducks

Benn and I spring forward and disar her face, her hair as she swoons, liht? Breathe Breathe, baby, breathe” I panic until she gasps and her eyes fly open

Tohim to his feet

“No!” Taxx screams, and collapses into a pile I have never heard a Zandian sob, and the sound is as distressing as it is confusing “I need it I need it!” He appears utterly unhinged

There’s a thousand other voices, but the only one I want to hear is hers Benn is right beside me

“Talk to me, Danica” I lean forward untilin her hair “Tell rab her face with both ot to be okay Please Please”