Crew members rushed past me in the corridor. Some sprinting to battle stations, others hauling supply crates toward recovery positions. The usual controlled efficiency had given way to barely organized chaos. Alert lights bathed the corridor, turning the usual off-white walls yellow.
I'd been on plenty of missions with the Knights over the last two months: everything from dropping off power banks created from the alien artifact we'd taken from Voss, to helping farmers harvest extra crops so they could feed themselves and their families. But this was the first time I would actually be dropping into a colony with armed guards.
We had always been careful to avoid confrontation, partly to ensure there were no casualties, and partly because Torvyn had been insistent on not engaging the Corporations directly.
A thought from the ready room tickled the back of my mind. Torvyn had mentioned something about the Reach, how direct action against the corporations could "complicate things" politically. He'd moved past it quickly, but the hesitation had been real. Before they rescued me, the only thing I'd ever heard about the Zorathi was that they were pirates; thieves who took whatever they wanted and didn't care who they hurt. Blatant corporate propaganda, sure, but propaganda the Reach seemed perfectly content to let stand.
So why was Torvyn worried now?
Did this mission carry a cost I didn't fully understand yet?
I filed the questions away for later. Maybe one of the other Knights would know.
The med bay smelled of antiseptic and anticipation. I pulled up the activity log. The usual soft beeping of monitors had been replaced by the harsh rhythm of pre-combat checks: nurses calling out supply counts, orderlies snapping beds into triage configuration. Ambulatorypatients were being moved into private quarters, clearing space on the floor for anyone wounded during the operation.
I walked over to Alicia. She looked up at me with wide eyes. Her soft smile couldn't quite hide the fear behind her eyes. I gave her a wink and checked her chart. All her prescribed medications had been administered, and her dressings had been changed. She was in as good a place as she could be. For now.
"How are you holding up, kiddo?" I asked.
"Okay, I guess," she said. "What's happening?"
"Well, remember when you first came aboard the Starbreaker?"
She nodded.
"The same thing's happening today. We're going to bring a few more people onboard. We might even find a couple of kids your age. Do you want to meet them?"
She nodded again, more enthusiastically this time.
"Awesome," I said, holding up my hand. She slapped it in a high-five. "How about this—when I get back, I'll see if we rescued anybody your age and make sure they're placed near you. Can you help me make them feel welcome?"
"Yes!" she said, excitement lighting her face. "I can tell them all about the things I've done on board."
"I'd really appreciate that." I smiled. "I need to check on a few more things. Do you need anything?"
She shook her head. "I hope you have a safe trip and bring back a lot of people."
"Me too, kiddo," I said, gently ruffling her hair.
I straightened and took in the rest of the med bay. Survivors from the other colonies we had visited sat stone-faced and silent. They knew what was happening. Some of them had lived through this exact moment not long ago.
This was real life. If we failed, people would die. And my choices had put everyone aboard this ship in danger.
Had I pressed Torvyn too hard? Had I thought this through completely?
You didn't escape the prison of that habitat just to trap yourself in another one.
That's a good point, self. I just hope I don't get anybody killed.
If you do nothing, people you could have saved will die. If you do something, at least you're giving them a chance.
When did you become so logical? Aren't you supposed to be soft and sweet?
I contain multitudes, babe.
I shook my head and straightened my shoulders. Get it together. Looking unhinged in front of the entire crew won't inspire confidence.
I made my way through the shuttle bay, watching as shielding plates were replaced, internal harnesses double-checked, and the small crafts loaded with rations and medical supplies. Everyone seemed committed. Focused. Ready.
