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“I’m... unable to answer that.”

Sloane hissed out a breath. “He’s still on the ship, though?”

“He is.”

“Which deck is he on?”

“Dallin told me to say if anyone was looking for him, he’d be resting.”

“Resting! That sounds nothing like Dallin. Wait! Was he feeling sick? Do you think he’s been poisoned?” Her heart jumped into her throat as she headed to the door. She was berating Dallin, and all this time, he might be sick and unable to get help.

“Dallin made no mention of being poisoned. He said he needed to take a break.”

Sloane raced out of the lab and charged along the corridor. She headed into the crews’ private quarters and stopped outside his door. She slammed her fist against it. “Dallin! Open up.”

There was no reply.

“ELVIS, get this door open. It’s an emergency. Dallin could be in trouble.”

“He’s not in trouble. At least, not yet.”

“Open it!”

The door instantly opened.

Sloane stumbled through the entrance. The living area was empty, there was no one in the small kitchen, and a quick inspection of his bedroom showed he wasn’t resting.

“ELVIS, Dallin is vulnerable. I have to know where he is.”

“He’s gone to bed.”

“No, he hasn’t. And if he told you to say that, then you should know something is wrong with him. I’m always the one who has to force him to stop working and get some rest. You know that.”

ELVIS was silent again.

“Please, I have to know what he’s doing. I don’t want him putting himself at risk.”

“Perhaps you should try the docking bay,” ELVIS said. “I’m not telling you he’s there, but he could be.”

She groaned. “He’s disobeying Cleo’s orders, isn’t he? He’s taking a ship to the waystation.”

“I’m unable to answer that.”

“You don’t have to. I know I’m right.” Sloane sprinted out of Dallin’s room and along the corridor. She headed down a deck. She had to stop him. Dallin on his own in a crowded waystation would be a disaster.

Sloane entered the docking bay and looked around. The place was quiet, and no other crew members were visible. It felt eerie to be in here when it was so silent. “ELVIS, which ship is Dallin on?”

“He’s currently on the Apocalypse.”

“Are you still lying to protect him?”

“No, I can confirm he has not yet embarked on his mission.”

Sloane ducked behind a ship as footsteps approached. Thirty seconds later, Dallin strode past. He had a metal case in one hand, and a backpack. He stopped by a small gray shuttle, accessed the docking ramp, and walked up it. From his stiff movements, she could tell he was uncomfortable about what he was about to do.

“I can’t believe he’s doing this,” she whispered, more than a little wounded that Dallin had kept this from her. They were supposed to be partners.

“Since you’ve seen him, I can tell you what’s about to happen.” ELVIS’s tone was almost excited. “Dallin ordered me to keep his movements a secret because he believed you would stop him. He won’t be pleased I have failed him.”