“I think we’re all assuming you don’t want to be,” Ben pointed out.
Allie reached up and caught Shank’s wrist, pulling it down so she could hold his hand. “That was my assumption, and trust me, I’m not thrilled about having you go within twenty feet of her.”
“Listen,” Ben said, “before Cetan comes back, we need to talk. We have another problem.”
Allie looked over, and Ben’s mouth was pulled down into an unhappy line. “Ben?”
Even though he shrugged, Allie could suddenly see the tension. He stood and reached over to push the door closed before he sat back down. Any conversation that required privacy was destined to go badly
“Out on the docks, I saw someone I know, and he definitely recognized me,” Ben said. He didn’t sound upset as much as he did resigned.
Shank closed his eyes. “Fuck,” he whispered.
“Oh God, tell me you’re not talking about some Nicve marine or SC agent,” Allie begged, but from the expression on Ben’s face, she already knew the truth.Damn it. They were so close, but there were too damn many SC on the station to fight their way through. When they’d docked, six SC ships were already on the roster, and another had shown up since then. If the SC got the station to lock down theMitakuye Oyasin, they were all screwed. Ripping loose from a lockdown could do irreparable damage to the ship, the station, or both. People were sure to die.
“We have to get away.” Allie could feel the cold edge of panic pressing against her. “Do we still make a run at Claire’s ship?”
“We aren’t running. We don’t have anywhere to run to,” Ben said firmly. “They know I’m here, but I don’t know if they recognized the rest of you. Shank, you blend in with your cousins, and Copta has an uncanny talent at going unnoticed.”
“That’s really horrible logic,” Allie said.
“Maybe,” Ben conceded. “However, I know a lot of people get caught when they bolt at the first sign of trouble. The guy who saw me—I served on a ship with him. If he had orders to take us all in, he would have. He’s by the book. I’m the only one we know for sure is compromised, so I say we play this out.”
“Play it out?” Shank sounded pretty suspicious, which was how Allie felt. She did not like the direction this conversation was taking.
“I help you get the tech set up and then go out onto the station alone. If they’re watching, they should focus on me. That will give you time to get the plan moving.”
Allie’s mouth opened, but no words came out.
“No,” Shank said firmly. “We are not leaving you behind for the SC.”
Ben raised an eyebrow in an expression that seemed disturbingly amused. “If they plan on taking me, nothing any of us do will stop that, and if they don’t plan to arrest me, then I’m as safe out there as I am in here.”
“No.” Shank was still shaking his head.
“I’m with Shank on this one,” Allie added. “You do not get to sacrifice yourself. The two idiots we’re trying to rescue already made this move. It’s a dumb move.”
“It’s the only move,” Ben said. “I know the SC, and I suspect the game is more complicated than just arresting me, but we can’t let them handle the timing. We need to push them and make them show their hand or make them back off enough to give us time to get out. Besides, I’m just talking about taking a walk.”
“With SC watching you,” Allie said.
“They’re watching now. Whatever we do, it won’t change their plans.”
“And if they plan to arrest all of us?” Allie demanded.
Ben looked at her sadly. “Then they will.”
“And you’re talking about splitting up so we have less chance of defending ourselves if they do come for us,” Allie pointed out. Frustration clawed at her so badly she wanted to scream.
“Allie, you don’t expect to shoot at our own people, do you?” Ben asked. “Are you ready to fire a gun at a government soldier doing his job?”
Allie had a dozen arguments prepared, but she closed her mouth so fast her teeth clicked. She didn’t want to shoot people, but she really didn’t want to get arrested. Shank slipped a hand around her waist and held her.
“We won’t fight our way out of this,” Shank said firmly. “But Ben, that doesn’t mean you should surrender yourself.”
“I doubt I am. I think I’m making an unexpected move that will cause them to stop and reevaluate long enough for you to get on that ship. I think I’m forcing them to change their timeline and maybe opening a window of opportunity. I’m not trying to be a martyr.”
“And if they arrest you?” Becca asked.
