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“Could that be what’s happening to Georgia?” Eden said.

“We’ve never met those weird-assed mutant creatures until today,” Blaze said. “They could have all kinds of nasty things in their systems. Manufactured illnesses or bacteria our energy doesn’t recognize.”

“We need to do this the old-fashioned way,” Ash said, puffing out a breath, the frustration clear on his face. “I’ll grab the medical supplies.”

The ship lurched to the left, and everyone grabbed on tight.

“Stay in your seats,” Rexx yelled. “Nobody move. These asteroids are moving fast, and I won’t be able to avoid them all.”

The ship spun, rocking from side to side.

Georgia clung to her straps, her eyes shut tight, and focused on breathing.

“We’ll get through this,” Ash said, his mouth close to her ear. “And you’ll get better. I promise. I’ll figure out what’s wrong with you and make it right.”

“Damn it to hell!” Rexx said. “We’ll have to go all the way through this asteroid belt. Two more ships have appeared.”

“Everyone hold on!” Daisy shouted. “There’s too much debris up ahead. We’re going to hit something.”

The ship was shoved hard to the left. Alarms rang, and a red light flashed.

“Breach in the lower aft sector,” the ship’s computer said. “Decompressing and sealing the area.”

“No! Wait.” Ash unstrapped from his seat and jumped up. “That’s where we keep the medical supplies.”

“You can’t go in there,” Blaze said. “If the computer’s sealed the area, it means there’s a hole in the hull. It’ll be too dangerous. You’ll get sucked into space.”

“I have to get to those supplies.”

Georgia heard blind panic in Ash’s voice. She’d never heard that before. She reached for his hand. “I’ll survive until we get back to the Apocalypse. Angel will fix me up.”

Ash pressed a hand to her forehead. “I’m not sure she will. Georgia, you’re burning up. And have you seen the state of your hand?”

She looked down at her hot throbbing hand and winced at the lines of black chasing through her veins.

“That poison, or whatever it is, is racing through your system. If it gets to your vital organs, you’re dead,” Ash said. “My energy transfer failed, and the medical supplies are gone. I... I don’t know what to do.”

“We wait,” she said as calmly as her racing heart would let her.

“No! You need emergency treatment. You could die.”

“You’re being dramatic.” Her words slurred out, her tongue feeling too big for her mouth.

“Sugar, you’re not looking so good,” Eden said. “Ash is right. We need to get you treatment fast.”

The ship lurched again.

Georgia groaned and dropped her head back. Keeping her eyes open was too much of an effort.

“As soon as we can, we’ll get you the help you need,” Ash said.

Georgia opened her mouth to protest. She didn’t need Ash babying her. She tried to speak, but her lips wouldn’t work. Her arms and legs didn’t want to cooperate, either. No matter what she did, she couldn’t move.

She closed her eyes and let the darkness take her.

***

“Hey! Stay with me.”Ash gently stroked Georgia’s burning skin, his heart hammering in his chest like it was about to explode.