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Bobbie opened the door to the public corridor

Katria wore the uniforo printed on the shoulders and back A ceramic toolbox rested on the deck by her left foot Gray where it wasn’t scratched white by long use Naoh explosive in it to kill all of them so fast they wouldn’t know they were dead until the funeral Katria’s nonchalance with it was like a boast Voltaire Collective had always been like that, even back in ancient days when Earth and Mars had ruled the solar systeen Every revolution needed its mad bombers, apparently

“Tag,” Katria said to Naoame?”

Bobbie put her hand on Naoet back”

“I will,” Nao”

“Thanks,” Bobbie said Katria stood aside and let the big woman pass The emptiness on Bobbie’s face could have read as indifference to someone who didn’t know her To someone who didn’t understand the kinship that Bobbie felt to Mars and its military, and to those who had served once and then been forced by conscience or circumstance to walk away

“Bobbie,” Naomi said “I’m sorry”

Bobbie nodded That was all An acknowledgment that they both understood the situation, and would do what needed to be done Katria plucked the toolbox up, and the two of them walked away down the corridor Naomi closed the door behind them

Back in her bunk and sleepless, she wondered what Ji idealistic and impulsive that would lead to more complications, probably Certainly And he would have done it in a way that kept that expression off Bobbie’s face if he could Even if itin a Laconian brig An i tortured, and she pushed it away Again Feeling fear and sorroould come later, when they were done When he was back There’d be tie actual sleep, but she was able to drift a little before the shift change It was enough to let her feel rested, but not deeply

She met Saba at the same public counter where they’d used the freezer, but this tiirl behind the counter turned up the h that they could barely hear each other, their words drowned in dru voices Saba looked as tired as she felt

“So back in Sol systeoing to play”

Half a dozen possibilities flashed through her sleep-starved ood to the catastrophically bad It didn’t ed what they were doing here But Saba’s as there, back in the empty spaces where they’d all lived, once upon a time She knew too hat that fear felt like

“You have the list?” she asked

Saba nodded and pressed a silver memory chip into her hand “All the ships we could make contact with,” he said

“How many?”