I lick my dry lips. Now’s the moment I should speak up if I want to solidify myself as our future leader… but I never wanted it to be like this. I glance at Corvus to see if he’ll answer, only to find him staring back at me looking as lost as I feel.

As soon as our eyes meet, we both turn away. Embarrassment rises in my throat before it’s overtaken by panic again.

Outside, Pol is still yelling for Momma. Beyond him, Titan is dying—and somewhere, Momma is cut off from us. Alive or dead, I’m not sure. And I don’t know if it matters either way.

Waiting five more minutes could be the last chance to bring her back to us. Or it could get us all killed for nothing.

“Those antiradiation suits from Pax,” Corvus says, drawing me out of my thoughts. “We still have them?”

“Uh…” It’s hard to think about things like suits when Momma is still out there, but I force myself to picture the bulky orange outfits. “Yeah. I think so. You think those will help?”

“They can’t hurt. Lyre, go get them,” he says. She looks up at me instead of him. When I nod, she scurries off.

Corvus glances over his shoulder at her as she disappears into the supply closet, and then at Drom, who is pacing back and forth with her hands behind her head, muttering to herself.

“We can’t wait much longer,” Corvus murmurs, barely audible over the howling wind outside.

“I know,” I say, my throat tight.

But neither of us give the order.

My heart thumps painfully in my chest, every beat reminding me of the passing seconds we’re spending here. We don’t know what’s happening out there, or how it’s spreading. It’s possible we’re already infected with something and it just hasn’t hit us yet. But it’s also possible we’re not, and another minute here could change that. I’m painfully aware of every gust of wind bringing swirling dust and tiny ice particles into the ship, the danger in each breath I take. But surely Corvus is the one who has to make the call.

Lyre emerges from the supply closet with her arms overflowing with suits. She hands them out, dropping the last two on the floor before starting to put on her own.

“This is pointless,” Drom says. “We don’t know what the hell we’re dealing with.”

“Just put it on,” Corvus snaps.