Page 147 of Border Control

‘Does this mean what I think it does?’Law-rah’s gasp fills my chest, as if I can breathe again.

Ilia says, “We need to rescue Nic-coal.”

Hope thrums through me. I sit up. “I'll refuel the engines with water.”

“Once you've healed, yes,” Gara says with a scowl at me. “Sit, before you fall down.”

I open my mouth to protest when Law-rah tugs my arm. “This way.”

Following orders, I sit on the bench outside the cockpit. It's bent and burnt, with holes for the hooks our chains were attached to. I'd ripped them out what felt like years ago, when we had to escape the rogue robots.

I put my arm around Law-rah, her firm hand on mine grounding me. So much has changed since we were condemned in here, thrust out into the cold of space and expecting an unforgiving planet to eke out the rest of our pathetic existence. Never would we have imagined finding our hearts’ partners.

But now their friend is lost.

“It's time to finally fix our shuttle,” I tell Law-rah. “We’re going after her.”

Law-rah’s hand tightens. “And we’re going to arrest that piece of shit.”

“Arrest? No.” My mind sets on an irrevocable course. “I’m going to euthanize him myself.”