In the hiding place, safe behind the false wall, Jesse whimpered. The lights had gone out, and despite the pitch black, Bethie wouldn’t let them use any kind of illumination.

“Please,” the little girl begged.

“Can’t,” Bethie whispered, reaching out and managing to take an even smaller hand in hers. “I'm scared too, but we can’t let anyone know we’re here.”

“Bethie’s right,” Ethan said, equally quietly, pulling his sister to him and holding her tightly. “Close your eyes.”

“Can’t tell,” Jesse complained. “Too dark.”

“Try.” He was trying to make her feel better, but with the worry she couldn’t control coming in waves from his mother, he wasn’t doing a very good job.

She sobbed again, her fist in her mouth to stifle the noise. “Want Mama.”

“’S’okay, Jess,” Ben said, Hope’s fingers tangled with his. “We’re here.”

So are they , Bethie thought helplessly, and just knew Ethan had picked up the same by the way he stiffened.

---

Hank half fell out of the doorway onto the top catwalk, looking down as Freya walked out from the common area into the middle of the cargo bay. He leaned on the railings, his face ghoulish in the green light from a dozen glowsticks scattered around the crates and floor.

“I gather you didn’t manage it?” she said, settling herself in front of the main doors.

He didn’t bother to ask how she knew what he’d been trying to do. “Nope. Some of the wires are fried. Not too long a job, but I don’t reckon we’ve got time.”

“Then we’ll make some.”

“How?” Then a thought occurred to him, kicking him in the brain until it hurt. “Where’s Zoe?” he demanded, suddenly realising Freya was alone.

“Here,” his wife said, stepping out of shuttle one.

“What the hell were you …” Comprehension hit him like a speeding train. “You were going to hand yourself over,” he gasped.

“It was the only way.” She gazed at him, seeing the anger building inside. “To save all of you.”

“You don’t know what they want to do to you!”

“I can guess.”

“And you were