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She rifled through the shelves for a medikit. “We’re not leaving until I say.” She grabbed one off the shelves and started to head back outside when Myrell got in her way.

“You need to tell them, Dani,” she said.

“Not now—”

“Yes. Now.”

Dani stood her ground. But so did Myrell. The others gathered around her.

“What happened out there, Dani?” Lex asked.

She glared back at Myrell who merely nodded. She glanced around at the others and could see the concern on their faces. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath.

“The vrisha is still alive.”

“You mean the thing that had cooked the ship’s power and scared the shit out of us?” Lex said.

“Yes.”

She watched their expressions turn to shock.

Trying to keep her composure, she told them what had happened after the bridge. And how she was able to get Myrell and Garret back to the safety of the ship with the help of Kryxis.

“I just went to meet him,” she explained, “and he got shot. So, I need to help him. He deserves our help now, you understand?”

They glanced at each other.

“She’s telling the truth,” Myrell said. “He helped us.”

“Interesting that he would turn around like this,” said Tom. “I’ve heard vrisha aren’t usually very friendly.”

“Kryxis is different,” Dani assured.

“Wonder what made him change,” said Lex.

Myrell gave Dani a look which she refused to acknowledge. “It’s hard to say. But he’s alone and hurt. I need to do something.”

“How will you find him?” Lex asked. “You shouldn’t go alone. It’s still dangerous out there.”

Before she could answer, the door to the ship opened and Garret entered. He looked oddly tense, fixing her with a concerned glance. “I heard what happened. Are you—”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

His gaze turned down to the medikit in one hand and the plant necklace Kryxis had made her in the other.

“You can’t leave this ship,” Garret said.

“Like hell I can’t.”

“I’m sorry. But it’s an order from Saul. He told us we are leaving within the hour and that…” He got quiet.

“What is it?”

For a second, there was an almost guilty look in his eyes. “Saul called up to the heads and it’s been confirmed. Once we leave, this city is to be destroyed and the planet marked as unhabitable.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Dani