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Doctor Kingsbury had made Nell feel again, but it had usually been tinged with panic or fear. Had that helped, or was Nell treating herself by spending time with Rane?

She groaned and tapped her forehead against the glass front of the helmet she wore. Right about now, a lobotomy sounded like a perfect solution. She would stop thinking and worrying.

Before Nell could take any more steps in her recovery, she had to complete the next phase of her mission.

She drifted closer to the docking bay doors, unbuckled the small bag clipped to her belt, and lifted out the first explosive.

It attached to the side of Prodigy with a magnetic grip and activated. She drifted to the other side of the doors and repeated the same thing.

Nell let out a breath. Mission accomplished.

She drifted back past the docking bay doors and made her way toward the airlock. She unhooked her tether as she headed to the sanctity of the station.

She slowed and turned. The space in front of her beckoned. Everything out there was so beautiful, so unknown, and exciting. Nobody out there knew Nell, her problems, or the fears she faced every day.

If she wanted to, she could keep drifting. She could see how far her spacesuit took her. Maybe she’d find somewhere new. Nell could start again with a new name and a whole new personality. She wouldn’t be whispered about and known as the one in therapy.

Her friends at work told her she was so calm and reliable, yet it was a lie. Nell was nothing like that. She’d hidden for so long that she wasn’t even sure who she was any more.

“Will the real Nell Saunders please raise her hand.” Her laugh sounded bitter. She didn’t even know who she was. The last five years of her life had been consumed by what had happened to her. It had eaten away from the inside until she couldn’t remember what brought her joy or made her happy or sad.

Nothing felt real any more.

Nell nodded. This was the right thing to do. She’d completed her mission, and now she could drift. Just for a while.

She activated her jet pack. As she moved away from the station, she relaxed.

Nell didn’t care where she ended up. It was time for a new start. It was time to leave everything behind and try something different.

Chapter 18

Rane paced backwards and forwards in front of the art in his makeshift studio. He wanted to take it with him, but Cowes wouldn’t let any on board the ship. He’d claim it was a waste of space and a distraction.

He couldn’t leave behind the drawings of Nell. They meant too much to him.

His gaze went to the door of the store room. He had no clue where Nell was. He hadn’t seen her since he left her in his bed to go clear his thoughts. She should have come to find him. That’s what she always did when she needed comfort. Every time Nell got panicked, she came to him, and he numbed her. What was more panic inducing than the possibility of Prodigy blowing up?

Rane needed to know Nell was safe and making plans to get off Prodigy before he could leave.

His gaze went back to his art. Compared to Nell, this wasn’t important. If he had to leave this, he would, but he’d take Nell with him.

Rane picked his favorite sketches of Nell, rolled them into a tube, and stuffed them inside his jacket. He’d take those. Everything else he could recreate when he was safely away from the station and Nell was by his side.

He checked the time. There were twenty minutes until the Olickie ship left.

He hurried out of the store room, glancing back at his art as he left it behind. Maybe if this place survived, someone would find it and appreciate what he’d done. Even if one person liked what he did, it would be enough.

The atmosphere was tense as everyone dashed around, getting the place secure and taking their belongings to the docking bay in preparation to leave.

How had it gone downhill so fast? He should never have interfered. If he’d not been so cocky about influencing this negotiation, it might not have gotten so bad. It was too late to think that. The damage was done. He needed to grab what he cared about and get the hell off Prodigy.

Rane diverted into the living quarters and hurried to Nell’s room. Maybe she’d already left. If not, he’d ask her to come with him. She’d refuse, but he needed to know she was safe and not involved in this mess he’d caused. The mess that meant this whole place had to be abandoned and wouldn’t survive the upcoming battle.

He stopped and pressed the alert on Nell’s door. She didn’t come to open it. He waited a few more seconds, but there was no answer.

Rane pressed his hand against the door. The room was empty. He couldn’t feel any signs of life on the other side. She must already be heading out.

As Rane hurried past the docking bay, he slowed. It was bustling with action. Two ships were already heading into space.