“Please let me watch,” Fee said.
“No. We can’t watch you and help here. Come right back when she’s locked up.” Vira turned away.
“I’m due in the medbay,” Bart said to her back.
She froze, turned back. “That’s not possible. There’s . . . we’re too short-handed and you seem to have recovered. Come talk to me after she’s secured.” She didn’t even look at Bart as she jogged off.
Well, that was weird.
Fee could see Bart thought so, too.
Fee took a last look at the frame, and tried to see if she could spot Bunny, but he’d disappeared.
The runners had been hovering, but when the wind gusted again, they lifted higher and seemed to head back to the battleship, rising up into the hot blue sky.
“I’ll see if I can come get you out when they’re ready to lift it,” Bart told her as he opened the passage door into the foyer. “By then, all anyone can do is watch, and it will be a spectacle.”
“Thanks.” Fee walked beside him down to her cell, aware that he didn’t even have his hand on her anymore.
She had a decision to make. To use the silver rod, or not.
She lifted her hand and curled it around the pendant.
She couldn’t be locked in the cell again.
The sudden flash of a charge against her skin as the crystals on her jacket activated made her gasp.
“Fee.” Eazi’s voice in her ear had her putting a hand against the wall to steady herself.
“What’s wrong?” Bart was looking at her.
“Some kind of static shock,” she said, pushing away from the wall.
“Bunny told me you’re back in the base.” Eazi whispered. “He recorded the code to open the door when someone came to check on you earlier, and I have it. I can get you out when you’re alone.”
She wouldn’t have to hurt or kill Bart, then. It made her feel a little lightheaded with relief.
“I’ll come get you when I can. But no promises.” Bart’s lips twisted as he opened the door and stepped back to let her go in, an acknowledgement of how little power he wielded here.
She went quietly, and Bart gave her a nod before he closed up.
She walked to the sink and got some water, then sat on the bench, waiting for his footsteps to fade into the distance.
“So, what’s up?” She leaned back against the wall, amazed at how much the heat outside had taken out of her.
Not having slept for what was almost a full night and day might also be a contributing factor. As well as no food.
“Quite a lot,” Eazi said. “Good thing you’re still wearing the jacket. With Kyber’s Arm interfering, my drone keeps losing contact with the way station. And it took me this long to get the drone out here. I had to send one that’s small enough not to be noticed. Not that the Garmman are looking. They’ve got bigger problems.”
“Like?”
“Like being hunted by Hal.” Eazi sounded amused. “And trying to lift the Class 5 framework up into nearspace.”
“Do you think they can do it?” she asked.
“Theoretically it’s possible,” he admitted.
“The Balcoans say the Tecran did it this way with you and the others,” she told him.
