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Georgia walked back into the main living area and slid the bedroom door shut behind her. If she got lucky, maybe they’d keep quiet.

She walked over to the door and opened it.

Eden was leaning forward, about to alert her they were outside. She grinned. “Hey, how did you know we were out here?”

“One guess.”

“ELVIS! You spoiled our surprise,” Daisy said. “Hey, Georgia. Are you up for having visitors?”

“I’m up to getting back out on a mission. I’m so bored. And there’s nothing wrong with me.” She flexed her arm. It still wasn’t perfect, but she’d be able to hold a gun if she had to.

Georgia stood back to let them inside. Once everyone was settled in their seats, she curled up on the end of the couch. “What have I been missing?”

“Rexx almost blew the head off a Grino hippo,” Daisy said.

“Why would he do that?”

“Because it got within sniffing distance of Daisy,” Sloane said.

Georgia laughed. Rexx growled at anyone who got too close to her, even if they were friends. “What else?”

“We went on a dull recon mission,” Eden said. “We didn’t see anything, not even animal feces. It was a waste of time.”

“So you haven’t missed much,” Sloane said. “We’re more interested in what happened to you. Angel said you were poisoned.”

“Her hand got all gross and puffy,” Eden said.

“It’s fine now.” Georgia sat on her healing hand. “It looks like whoever’s experimenting on the animals has come up with something deadly. And Dallin reckons, if the animals can reproduce, they’ll be able to create more of this deadly poison. I only got the smallest scratch on my hand, but it really messed me up.”

“How are you feeling now?” Daisy said.

“On top of the world. Mission ready. I just need to convince Angel to clear me.”

A thump came from Georgia’s bedroom.

“Have you got Ash tied up in there?” Sloane winked at her.

“Oh, I know. It’s the banty.” Daisy grinned. “They’re so cute.”

“I couldn’t leave them behind, not after they saved my butt. I didn’t realize how much energy they had, though. Is anyone in the market for something small, furry, and that could kill you in your sleep if it’s in a bad mood?”

“You sell them so well,” Sloane said. “I’ll pass.”

“And I’ve got my hands full with the cats,” Daisy said. “They may not bond well with banty. And don’t they have fangs and venom?”

Georgia nodded. “They could be hybrids, too. Dallin drew blood and is running tests to see if they’ve been altered. But these don’t want to kill anything that moves.”

“Only if it pisses them off,” Sloane said. “I’ll still pass.”

“I’m keeping one of them,” Georgia said, “but I must find homes for the rest. They don’t seem to mind being on a spaceship, although they need more room.”

“I’ll ask Dallin,” Sloane said. “He could do with some company in the lab. He spends so many nights in there on his own that a furry companion would be good for him.”

“Doesn’t he have all those weird creatures in tanks he’s always talking to?” Daisy said.

Sloane shuddered. “I don’t know what he sees in them. Those things freak me out. And they change color when he talks to them. I’m sure they’re in tune with his mood. When he’s having a dark moment, they turn mossy green, and all their frills expand.”

“It sounds like they have a psychic connection,” Daisy said. “I get why he likes them. They’re sort of cool.”