The ship came out of the pinch, rocking a little, and then she felt a smooth acceleration as it went back to normal speed.
“That was a quick pinch,” she said, and felt Ethan’s nod of agreement.
And still, no one came, hours stretching out with no activity. She was dozing when she sensed someone by the door, and was suddenly on her feet, facing it.
What disturbed her was that she hadn’t felt in control of the movement.
Ethan moved, too, his body flowing in that effortless, efficient way of his, settling down in front of her, making his body a shield between her and the door.
She pressed a hand to his back, freaking out at what had just happened.
Something had controlled her.
She felt a sudden flow of reassurance, as if whatever had forced her to move was trying to soothe her fears, but that just made her breathing hitch a little higher, because it was coming from within.
“Velda?” Ethan sounded like he had some sense of her panic, but he kept his gaze on the door.
“All good.” She swallowed down the tremor in her voice, cleared her throat.
How she moved was a problem for later. Why she moved was clear from the sounds coming from beyond the door.
It opened, and it was four guards, this time, along with the captain, Ritter, and a woman she’d never seen before.
“It’s definitely her,” the woman said. “I thought that was her on the comms feed. Velda Shanïha. And that’s Ethan Hyt, commander of Demeter Special Forces.”
The captain lifted his shoulders. “We didn’t know. And I don’t see what difference it makes.”
The woman narrowed her eyes at the two men, unwilling to concede. “They were supposed to die, as far as I’m aware. I was told the plan was to shoot down their runner.”
“Well, someone must have missed. And we needed the test subjects.” Ritter seemed to be in agreement with the captain, unsure what the fuss was about. “There’s no way we’re killing them until after I’ve . . .” He slid a sly look at the guards. “Until after I’ve finished the test work.”
The woman stared at her and Ethan for another beat, then turned on her heel and stalked off, shaking her head. Ritter and the captain exchanged a look that said they didn’t care much for the dramatics.
“Feeling all right?” Ritter asked, his gaze suddenly focused on them.
Velda lifted her shoulders and her hands, being as non-committal as possible.
Ritter tilted his head, looked at his screen, and then closed the door.
“Do you think that’s the prisoner they were talking about?” Velda wondered who she was, because she didn’t recognize her, and she was kept up-to-date on all high-profile prisoners. “We’ve been gone from Demeter for less than a week.”
“She’s obviously involved in this whole scheme,” Ethan said. “So someone must have arrested her since we crashed.”
“And then someone else broke her out and got her up to nearspace.” It was depressing just thinking about it. Because it meant there were moles everywhere. In Nanganya, in her owndepartment. Even in the military, as the captain had said the prisoner was in a military prison.
“And whoever she is, she’s plugged in enough on Aponi to recognize the both of us,” Ethan said.
“And wants us dead.” Velda didn’t like that part so much.
“Fortunately, Ritter’s got other plans for us.” Ethan stretched, and Velda admired all the muscles while it lasted.
He caught her gaze and gave a tiny smile.
She felt like stretching herself, or doing a handstand against the wall. Anything to move her body rather than do nothing, as they had been for what felt like far too long.
Except she hadn’t done a handstand of any kind since she was about eleven years old, and yet she was sure she would be able to do one now, no problem.
Her gaze flew to Ethan, and he stepped closer, concerned. “What?”
