The night dragged on forever for the crew of the Troll and their two assisting visitors. Twice Simon and Doc tried to bring Irina out of the induced coma, and twice she had remained coherent for a few seconds before descending back into savagery.

The first time, after Gerrin returned from the cargo bay, Simon’s Amytropylene injection had partially roused her for a few seconds with the same results as the first time: she murmured a warning to run and then thrashed in every direction, screaming, straining at the restraints and trying to attack everyone in the med bay at once. Simon moved forward to try to sedate her again, but accidently got too close to her. Irina sunk her teeth into his arm. Simon yelped in pain and grabbed her face, trying to push her back as Doc quickly injected her with another sedative. Irina slowly went limp, releasing Simon and sinking to the bed. Doc immediately grabbed a bottle of antiseptic and a roll of gauze and tended to Simon’s wounds.

After two hour’s discussion and deliberation Simon used a slightly different combination of medicines which produced slightly different results: as she came to Irina twisted her head back and forth, arguing with herself over whether to kill everyone, including her brother. Suddenly she lunged drunkenly for Doc, emitting something between a loud moan and a scream, grabbing her by the wrist and trying to pull her forward. Doc pulled back as Simon injected Irina with a strong sedative. Several seconds passed before she sank into unconsciousness once again.

As the night passed the rest of the crew took turns sleeping in the walk-in weapons locker that night: no one wanted to be caught off guard if the captain’s sister broke loose and attacked everyone she could find. Aldous, Anna and Lewis curled up on the cramped deck first, pistols by their heads, while Reilly, Loomie and River stood guard by the door with rifles. Toward the middle of the