?Somehow I think I’ll manage to live with it. Aaron, after escorting the lieutenant to her new quarters, get going on organizing a search party. Fast. Right now all we have to go on is that babbling Golic. Boggs and Rains may only be injured and waiting for help.?

?Right, sir.?

?You’re all wrong on this, Andrews,?Ripley told him. ?All wrong. You’re not going to find anybody alive in those tunnels.? 125

125

?We’ll see.?He followed her with his eyes as his assistant guided her out.

She sat on the cot, sullen and angry. Clemens stood nearby, eyeing her. Aaron’s voice sounding over the intercom system made her look up.

?Let’s all report to the mess hall. Mr. Andrews wants a meeting. Mess hall, right away, gang.?A subtle electronic hum punctuated the second-in-command’s brief announcement.

Ripley looked over at the medical officer. ?Isn’t there any way off Fiorina? An emergency service shuttle? Some damned way to escape??

Clemens shook his head. ?This is a prison now, remember? There’s no way out. Our supply ship comes once every six months.?

?That’s it??She slumped.

?No reason to panic. They are sending someone to pick you up and investigate this whole mess. Quite soon, I gather.?

?Really? What’s soon??

?I don’t know.?Clemens was clearly bothered by something other than the unfortunate Murphy’s death. ?No one’s ever been in a hurry to get here before. It’s always the other way ‘round. Diverting a ship from its regular run is difficult, not to mention expensive as hell. Do you want to tell me what you and Andrews talked about??

She looked away. ?No, I don’t. You’d just think I was crazy.?Her attention wandered to the far corner where the catatonic Golic stood staring blankly at the wall. He looked a lot better since Clemens had cleaned him up.

?That’s a bit uncharitable,?the med tech murmured. ?How are you feeling?? 126

Ripley licked her lips. ?Not so hot. Nauseous, sick to my stomach. And pissed off.?

He straightened, nodding to himself. ?Shock’s starting to set in. Not unexpected, given what you’ve been through recently. It’s a wonder you’re not over there sharing a blank wall with Golic.?Walking over, he gave her a cursory examination, then headed for a cabinet, popped the catch, and began fumbling with the contents.

?I’d best give you another cocktail.?

She saw him working with the injector. ?No. I need to stay alert.?Her eyes instinctively considered possible entrances: the air vents, the doorway. But her vision was hazy, her thoughts dulled.

Clemens came toward her, holding the injector in one hand. ?Look at you. Call that alert? You’re practically falling over. The body’s a hell of an efficient machine, but it’s still just a machine. Ask too much of it and you risk overload.?