“Scratch that. What hit us?” asks Shell.

“There is a trio of ships, skiffs, in near-planet orbit keeping time with us. From their chatter, they are not here from Bloodroot. This isn’t our rescue. One of those ships collided with us. That same ship is now attached to us. Also, like I told you, we’ve been boarded.”

“Why?”

“They’re from Lagos,” says Lawrence.

“Of course they are,” says Shell.

“So… we’re saved?” asks Fin.

“No,” says Salvo. “Three skiffs can only take a few of us.”

“Make that two,” says Ragtime. “One of them is gone.”

“I don’t like this. One bumped into us, one is suddenly absent and the other is on standby. We don’t know if they have the same problem as Ragtime, and Ragtime is still acting weird. We should be prepared. Just in case. Nothing has gone right in this voyage, and for once I’d like to be in front of a problem, rather than reacting to it. Do we have any weapons?” asks Shell.

Fin raises his rifle.

“I mean, other than light arms,” says Shell. “I didn’t see any on the schematic, but—”

“I am not fitted with weapons,” says Ragtime. “I’m a transport.”

Salvo says, “If I may, Captain, it makes sense for us to wait. Perhaps they are trying to help. Being inept doesn’t mean they’re hostile.”

“I’m not worried about them being hostile. I’m worried about Brisbane and whatever demonic AI he infected us with. We already know they are hostile. What if this… ineptness is Brisbane trying to take control? It doesn’t matter, though. We have no weapons, hence have no choice. We’ll have to pray they have a strategy because I am not leaving without my passengers.” Shell disarms her rifle. “And—”

A fresh wave of alarms and new vibrations.

“What now?” asks Fin.

“I’ve been instructed to lose altitude. I’m doing the burns right now. We’re going to crash into Bloodroot,” says Ragtime, uninflected, inhuman.

“Instructed by who?” asks Shell. “Fuck that. Override.”

“Override rejected,” says Ragtime. “Protocol Omega in effect.”

Lawrence yells, “Override exploit Lima-Alpha-Golf-Oscar-Sierra-zero-zero-five-seven.”

“Override rejected,” says Ragtime. “Protocol Omega in effect.”

Shell feels her blood go cold in her veins.

“What’s Protocol Omega?” asks Fin.

The seal opens and Joké sails in. “Um, there are strangers on board. Does everybody know this?”

“We know,” says Lawrence. “Are you all right?”

Joké smiles. “Aren’t I always?”

Fin kisses Joké and keeps hold of her. “Captain, Shell, what’s Protocol Omega?”

“You’ll see in a minute. Uncle Larry, Salvo, Ragtime’s compromised again. I need you to get in your ships right now. No pre-flight checks, just be ready to burn as quickly as possible.”

Chapter Thirty-three

Bloodroot: Ragtime