Awkward because of her broken arm, she ripped the heavy rifle from the rack. Bracing the muzzle in the corner, and the stock on her hip, Michaela pulled the bolt back like Supervisor Aguila had shown her. She watched as the bolt shoved a long cartridge into the chamber. Should be two more in the magazine. Setting the heavy weapon to the side, Michaela grasped the box of cartridges where they sat on the shelf. Yes. The right size for the gun. She was sure. She shoved the box into one of the side pockets on her overalls and lifted the rifle, trying figure out how to raise it. Shit! Hurt like a bastard, but she slipped her broken arm from the sling, whimpered as she supported the rifle with it.

The ulna’s cracked, not broken in two. The radius is still in one piece. Shooting won’t snap your forearm.

But it was going to hurt like nothing she’d ever known.

On the verge of throwing up, frightened as she’d never been, she stepped over to the weather door. Looked out the window at the landing pad. Seeing no one, Michaela threw the door open.

The wind hit her as she turned and latched the door. Damn it, did she dare lock it?

“Michaela?”

At the cry, she turned, saw Casey where she rose from behind one of the supply crates. The woman looked half-panicked. The missing rifle was held awkwardly before her.

“Who else is left?” Michaela demanded, staring around with desperate eyes, expecting attack from every quarter.

“Kevina is in the seatruck. I was watching from up here as Jym tried to put out in the launch. I don’t believe it! Tomaya was with him. When he turned to the wheel, she . . . my little girl used a wrench. Hit him . . . Hard. Right in the back of the head. That’s my daughter! Jym’s daughter! How could . . . ? How . . . ?”

“They’re not our children. You get that? Our kids are gone! Get that through your thick head, Casey!”

“How did this happen?” Casey sobbed, her body shaking as the wind buffeted her ash-blond hair. “That clap-trapping slime . . .” She shivered. “It took the launch, Michaela. Slipped up around the sides, and just pulled the whole fucking boat down. My little girl was smiling, reaching down into that slime, and it just . . . pulled her . . . down.”

“Casey. Easy. Get yourself together. We’ve got to think. Where are the rest?”

“Mikoru has Saleen. She’s—”

“Mikoru’s dead, and Saleen wasn’t with her body.”

“Michaela, I’ve got to go find her!” Casey began to tremble. “That’s my baby. I’ve got to go find my . . .”

Michaela reached out, used the rifle butt to thump the woman hard on the shoulder. “Listen to me. Pay attention. Saleen wasn’t with Mikoru’s body. That means they have her. She’s one of them now!”