Agreement moves through the crowd.
My breath catches. Based on who I saw at my room earlier today,I might know who found Sergio.
“I’m not going to give you a name,” Idris says. “That person is a witness, not a suspect. They flagged a medical emergency. They didn’t cause one.”
“How do you know?” Jonathan demands from the front. “You just said you couldn’t save Sergio. For all we know, whoever ‘found’ him—”
“Jon.” Idris’ voice cuts through the rising noise.
Jonathan’s mouth snaps shut. He looks like he wants to keep arguing but doesn’t. He even earns a pointed glare from Darius.
Idris continues, “I understand you’re scared. I am too. But we’re not going to turn on each other.”
Around the mess all, shoulders lower. A few people look down at their hands. My gaze finds Nil, arms crossed and staring at Stan, who’s looking around like he’s taking stock of our surroundings.
Idris goes on, “We’ve contacted the relevant authorities on land. Sergio’s body will be transported with care as soon as we reach port. We’re advancing our course toward Cairo now, since it’s the closest docking area. From there, all of you will be flown home to your families or designated contacts.”
Someone from the back interrupts. “We’re going home? Like,now?”
“Soon,” Idris says. “We still need to reach Cairo first. That was always the destination. The difference is timing. We’re heading there earlier than planned.”
Some more words are shared as I try to stabilize myself. But soon, all eyes move to me. The attention feels like a spotlight, even though the overhead lighting hasn’t changed.
My throat feels rather dry. But Idris is staring at me too, inviting me to speak.
“We’re suspending today’s dose,” I say my part as practiced. “There’s no current indication that this version of Kys contributed to Sergio’s passing. However, out of caution and respect, we will pause administration while we review all available data.”
“Review?” someone echoes. “Reviewwhat?”
I hold my tablet a little tighter. “Neural scans. Vitals. Behavioral logs. Anything that can clarify patterns in response to the new formulation.”
The mess hall stirs. Some nod. Others whisper.
“So you don’t know if it’s safe,” someone in the far back says too quietly for my ears, which I strain to focus on his voice. “You’re just…hoping?”
I can’t help but frown. They make a fair point. Hope is not a helpful factor.
Jonathan grunts, brows pinched in frustration, lips scowling at me. “You don’t know if your shit Kys did anything fucked up to us? What if we’re addicted to it now, huh? How do you expect us to quit cold turkey? Like we’re only numbers to you, quack doctors!”
Idris takes the attention back with two palms up. “Em’s formula impressed every regulatory body that reviewed it. That hasn’t changed overnight. What has changed is that we now have a violent incident aboard the ship. That’s separate from Kys.”
“Was it murder?” someone blurts. “Just say it.Was it murder?”
A heavy quiet follows.
Idris frowns. “There are signs his injuries may have been intentional,” he says. “We’ve handed all evidence digitally to authorities for investigation.”
The statement elicits another round of noise. Fear, anger, disbelief. I feel all of it moving around me like static before a thunderstorm.
Inside my body, a different storm occurs. Heat in my neck. Cold in my hands. My peripheral vision narrows in and out. I track these symptoms like I would in a subject.
Panic. Everyone else is allowed to show it. But I’m not. I must proceed.
“Hey,” Stan calls, his deep voice capturing my attention completely. “Eyes up here, fellas.”
Many people glance his way, including myself.
He stands on top of a table. “I get that we’re scared, okay? And if anyone needs to get a good punch in, you can hit me. Just not the face. That’s the moneymaker, y’know?”
