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Rose blew out a hitching breath as she climbed out of Thea’s hidden lab.

The swarm was gone, but its absence felt like a taunt, the air still crackling with residual energy.

“We need to find that swarm,” Liev said.

“Agreed.” Ethan lowered his pulse rifle. “But we also need to have an evacuation plan in place. Soon . Remy?”

“I’m currently not detecting any movement within the Io.”

“We split up into two separate groups.” Ethan scrubbed a hand over his chin. “Luca, I need you to go with Rose to the med bay. Rose. I’m sorry. The time for being gentle with your sister is past. We need answers and we need them now.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Finn, we need your expertise to get the shuttle back to surface-worthy condition ASAP. Liev, you’ll assist. I’m going to contact Nik and see if he’s dug up anything that might help us. Remy, open up all the security doors.”

As Ethan strode away, Luca didn’t wait for further instruction. He spun on his heel, his long legs moving with military precision.

Right there with you, big guy. Rose jogged to catch up before falling into rhythm beside him. His stride along the curved corridor was brisk, almost aggressive. Emergency lighting cast alternating patterns of shadow and weak reddish light across their path. They needed to get everyone out of this habitat safely and soon.

“You think your sister is going to talk?” Luca’s voice held a razor edge.

“I have no idea.” She checked over her shoulder, half-expecting to see the swarm’s dark cloud tracking them. Nothing but metal and glass. She faced forward again, her hands clammy.

“Maybe let’s not give her the choice.”

“You think it’s that simple?” Rose came to an abrupt halt, forcing him to stop and face her. “You think threats will make her cooperate? This isn’t one of your interrogations, Luca.”

He stepped closer, using his height to loom over her. “No? Then what do you suggest? More hand-holding with Finn while we wait for your sister to have an attack of conscience?”

She squared her shoulders even as heat bloomed her cheeks. “My relationship with Finn is none of your business.”

“It becomes my business when it compromises my team. He’s not thinking straight where you’re concerned.”

“And you think you are? Everything’s black and white with you. Good guys, bad guys. But Thea’s not?—”

“Not what? Not responsible? Those were her nanobots, yes? The ones that took down the Io’s crew?” His voice dropped lower. “The ones that could kill us all? ”

Rose dug her nails into her palms. “You don’t know her. You don’t know what she’s been through.”

“No,” he agreed, surprising her. “But I know what we’re going through right now.” He gestured toward the med bay doors ahead. “And I know what those poor fuckers in the biome went through. What they are still going through.”

They walked in tense silence for several steps.

“I may be an asshole, but I’m an asshole who keeps his people alive. That includes you now, whether or not either of us likes it.” The emergency lighting carved harsh shadows across his face, highlighting old scars she hadn’t noticed before. Whatever else he was, this man had survived things that should have killed him.

“Was that almost an olive branch?” She studied his profile, looking for a crack in his armor.

“Don’t push it.” But there was less heat in his voice. They’d reached the med bay doors. “Just…whatever she says in there, remember which side you’re on.”

Rose pulled the photograph from her chest pocket, the one she’d been carrying since she found it in Thea’s room. She smoothed her fingers across her sister’s smiling face.

For the first time since this began, she wasn’t entirely sure what side that was.