Noah sucked in a breath. “It’s the Endymion gnats—those blips out the window.” He nodded toward the green screen. “The crale’s been bitten. We’ve all been exposed to the sleeping sickness.”
AJ’s eyes flicked past the nearest camera. “So why aren’t we affected?”
Noah gave her an odd look. “We vaccinate for it in my time,” he said, nodding toward Bud, cheerfully swishing her tail on the bed.
AJ blinked. There it was. Alara was also from the future; she’d have the vaccine.
Another loud clang shook the set—the unconscious crale had bumped into some space matter. Bud howled. Noah stepped forward.
“Let me out of here,” he said with gentle urgency. “I can help you.”
AJ could feel the physical world receding, Ian and Em and Toni and the show suspended on the surface as the two of them submerged toward the Black Room.
AJ bowed her head. “I can’t,” she whispered, terrified.
Because beneath it all, it wasn’t Noah she was afraid to face. If AJ let him out, she’d also be releasing that other version of herself—the one beneath the armor, the one who had been so powerful, so…vulnerable. AJ shivered. If she let that self out, if she got hurt again…
Noah placed his large hands on the bars. “I won’t harm you,” he said quietly. “I promise.”
AJ searched his dark, intelligent eyes, imploring. “Why should I believe you?”
Noah gave her a weary smile. “Try me.”
AJ took a sharp breath. She could still walk out of here.
But she wouldn’t.
She had fought so hard to be correct about this. But what was correct wasn’t always right.
Slowly, she reached for the bars.
“I don’t know if this will work,” she said. She closed her eyes and touched the hydraulics until they raised enough for Noah to step through.
As he straightened up beside her, AJ found herself back in the BlackRoom, and everything was exactly as she had left it—every tool Eudora had ever given her, every trick she’d ever mastered.
That other self was there too, no worse for wear, comfortable as an old sweater. As AJ tried her on, she met Noah’s eye, and a fierce, pure joy spread through her such as she had not experienced since…
Since the last time they’d been here.
For the briefest instant, she smiled at him.
Noah nodded once.I’m with you.
Then they began to play.
“Ana,” said Rho, taking her in up close for the first time.
“Rho,” said Ana, wondering whether she was about to save or kill everyone she cared about.
Another clanging sounded from outside the ship.
“This way,” said Ana, rubbing her aching wrists, the price of using her telepathy. As they raced out of the brig toward sickbay, Rho’s eyes widened at the complex beauty of the crale.
“We need a stimulant,” said Ana, riffling through Dr. Iris’s medical bag. “Hey, what are you doing—” she protested as Rho dumped the bag’s contents onto a gurney.
“I’m breaking space and time,” he drawled.
Triumphantly, Ana plucked out a clear vial. Then Rho forced her to show him the armory.
