Dragon and Liberator

"Good," Alison said. "Then get busy and set up that reception we discussed."

She looked at Neverlin. "And while he attends to that," she added, "maybe we can finally get that decent meal."

CHAPTER 22

Jack had just unwrapped a ration bar when he heard a crackling sound through the deck above the crawl space where he and Draycos had taken up temporary residence. "Attention, Jack Morgan," a familiar voice called, the tone muffled by the deck. "This is Arthur Neverlin."

He's not actually there, Draycos said into Jack's mind. He's speaking through the ship's intercom.

Jack nodded. He'd already figured that one out.

"Jack, I know you can hear me," Neverlin continued. "I have something here that I believe belongs to you."

There was a short pause. "Jack?" a new voice called.

It was Alison.

Jack felt his heart seize up. Oh no.

"I'm sorry, Jack," Alison said. Even through the deck Jack could hear a slight quavering in her voice. "They—I couldn't—aah!"

Involuntarily, Jack twitched. The pain in her voice right then—

"Don't worry, Jack," Neverlin said. "She's not seriously hurt. Yet. But that could change."

Steady, Jack, Draycos cautioned. He's trying to draw us into the open.

Jack grimaced. He knew that. But knowing it didn't help his tight muscles in the slightest.

And if Alison was being tortured, what had happened to Taneem? Surely this time Neverlin and Frost couldn't possibly have missed finding the K'da riding on her skin.

"Believe it or not, though, you're in a more serious position than she is," Neverlin went on. "You see, now that the fleet has reassembled, all my ships are available to me. Including the troop carrier, with plenty of passenger space aboard. I presume you understand the full ramifications of that."

Do we? Jack asked.

Unfortunately, we do, Draycos answered grimly. He can now take all the crew and passengers off this ship, put them in the carrier, and open our ship to vacuum.

Terrific, Jack replied, glancing around the crawl space. I don't suppose you know where some vac suits are stashed?

Even if there are any still aboard, it would be a futile gesture, Draycos said. Vac suit oxygen supplies are limited to a few hours at the most, while Neverlin can leave the Brummgas in the carrier almost until the K'da/Shontine fleet is due to arrive.

Which is, what, another ten days?

Unless they're ahead of schedule, Draycos said. Call it somewhere between four and ten days. We can't possibly hold out here that long.

Aren't there any spare oxygen tanks?

Only a limited supply, Draycos said. And most of them are in five centralized locations. Neverlin could easily destroy them before the crew was evacuated.

"So it's up to you," Neverlin went on. "I'd actually prefer to have you alive, and if you come out now and surrender peacefully I give you my word you won't be harmed. But bear in mind that this is a limited-time offer." With another crackle, the intercom went silent.

Okay, Jack said, trying to think. If we can't hold out, what are our other options? Assuming we can find a vac suit, can we sneak outside and float our way to one of the other ships? Or could we even take over the Foxwolf itself and fly it somewhere?

I doubt either plan would work, Draycos said reluctantly. The other ships will surely be too far away for us to make a quick transfer, and of course there's no practical way to hide either our departure or our crossing. As for taking command of this ship, Neverlin will surely be prepared for us to try that.

Jack swallowed. Suddenly, the crawl space seemed a lot tighter than it had before. So what are we going to do?