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Billy peered at the navigation screen. “That’s weird.”

“What are you looking at?”

“There’s a ship behaving oddly.”

Karn shrugged. “Ignore it. We don’t have time to go on a rescue mission.”

“It looks like the pilot doesn’t know what they’re doing. Their stabilizers must have stopped working.”

Karn leaned forward and stared at the screen where a small green dot kept bouncing around. Whoever was inside that ship would be in a world of hurt if they weren’t strapped in.

“We should help them,” Billy said.

“They don’t need our help. They must have everything under control or they’d have commed for assistance.”

“Maybe they can’t. Maybe they’re hurt.”

“That’s not our problem. We need to get out of here before the station’s security comes after us.”

“I’m opening a comm to the ship.”

Karn shook his head. “If we get caught, I’m blaming you.”

“This is Billy on the, well, on a shuttle in space.” He glanced at Karn. “Do you need help?”

There was silence.

“You see. They don’t need our assistance. Maybe they’re testing the ship’s controls.”

Billy ignored him. “I repeat, this is Billy. Your ship looks to be in distress. Can you hear me?”

“Yes! Is this thing working?”

Karn jumped from his seat. “That sounds like Ivy.”

“No way. What’s she doing in space?” Billy asked.

Karn scowled. “Taking a romantic trip with her new boyfriend, well, her old boyfriend.”

“Is that you, Ivy?” Billy asked.

“Yes! Who’s that? I need help.”

“I live on Prodigy. I’m friends with—”

Karn cut the comm link. “She doesn’t need to know about me.”

Billy’s expression was puzzled as he reopened the link. “Is your ship having problems?”

“I don’t know how to fly. Autopilot is off, and I’ve deactivated the stabilizers.”

“Why do that if you can’t fly?”

“I didn’t do it deliberately!”

“You should ask why her boyfriend can’t help,” Karn said.

Billy frowned at him. “Why are you being a jerk? I thought you liked Ivy?”