Breakout by Ann Aguirre Page B

no one else who could have taken Jael.
    â€œSpace it,” Vost said.
    Calypso lifted the corpse and carried it over to the chute near the docking-bay doors. This asshole didn’t deserve any kind of a service and certainly wasn’t worth a trip to the recyclers. In seconds, the machinery hummed and sucked the dead alien out into vacuum. Dred dropped into a crouch, metering her breath until she felt less frantic. Knowing Death’s Handmaiden, the things she might do? With his reduced healing capacity, she could actually kill Jael. She couldn’t hear for the terror careening in her veins and the cacophony of her heartbeat.
    â€œNot all aliens are good and gentle,” Keelah said.
    Martine knelt beside her. “We’ll get him back, don’t worry.”
    â€œNo matter how you look at it, this is a win for the crazy bitch,” Duran muttered. “We go after his ass, and she’s drawn us out, bait for the trap.”
    She let herself have these seconds of weakness, then she locked it away. Fear wouldn’t save her man. Only decisive action could. Dred touched Martine’s arm in silent gratitude over her attempt at consolation, then she reveled in the rage building behind her eyes. Now her pulse didn’t drum with fear; instead, it pounded out a message, no, an edict.
    Kill. Kill. Kill.
    â€œWe need a plan,” she bit out. “Ideas?”
    Tam said, “I’ve spied on Silence
many
times. I’ll do some recon and find out where she’s holding him. If possible, I’ll also take a head count though it may not be fully accurate, depending on how many she’s sent on patrol.”
    â€œI’ll go with you,” Martine offered.
    Tam shook his head. “This is a solo run.”
    â€œWe’ve had this conversation before,” she said with more than a hint of bite. “Have you forgotten how this works? Just in case, here’s a refresher.
I
decide, and
you
obey.” She flashed her sharp teeth in what Dred couldn’t properly call a smile.
    Something sparked in Tam’s dark eyes. And then he nodded. “Let’s get moving.”
    After checking the monitor to make sure the area was clear, Vost let them out with minimal drama. “Be careful,” he said as he locked the bay down again.
    Dred straightened her shoulders. “There’s nothing we can do for Jael until they get back with intel. So let’s get started on our primary objective.”
    Keelah patted her shoulder and moved off to check out the external maintenance rigs. Calypso went with her, and the low hum of their voices echoed slightly in the vast space. Vost lingered, probably because he felt some sense of responsibility, even though he wasn’t really in charge. Funny how command became an imperative after a while.
    â€œTwo things. First, you let me deal with the heinous mess on your chest. Then I need you to look at the handheld we found.”
    â€œDo I have a choice?”
    â€œNot remotely. Come with me.” She led the way to the dorm and cracked open the first-aid kit. The antiseptic was beyond expired, but the bandages were still sealed. “How long does Nu-Skin stay good?”
    â€œNot sure. Isn’t there a date on it?” He watched her with an inscrutable expression.
    Dred turned the package over in her hands and shook her head. “Should we risk it?”
    â€œYou’re too calm,” he said.
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œIt’s unnerving. I thought you cared about him.”
    The words sank in deep, but she didn’t show it.
Who cares if Vost thinks I’m an unfeeling bitch?
“Panic won’t save him. Until there’s something I can do for Jael, I have to keep moving. Inertia is death.”
    Instead, something like admiration flashed in his face, there and gone, then he peeled off his shirt. “True. Don’t kill me, all right? I have so much to live for.”
    Dred almost smiled and pulled out