Yet Naomi passed her a wipe soaked in the soapy water, and Lebedeva gently rubbed her face until the worst of the burning had passed. She blinked rapidly, tears helping clear the sting further. She’d be in pain for a while yet, but at least she could speak again.

“Pepper spray,” Lebedeva muttered. “Really?”

Naomi held another empty algae vial like a baseball bat. “Hurry up and explain,” she said. “The comms might not stay off for long.”

Lebedeva held up her hands, eyes bloodshot, the skin of her pale cheeks splotched pink. Her chest heaved, fighting down whimpers. It was strange to see Lebedeva’s shoulders hunched. She tilted her head back, gave something like a laugh. “Like I said, coming to get you out.” She kept to Russian.

“Why?”

Her laugh trailed off, her eyes still watering. “I have not slept in two days,” she said.

Naomi tightened her grip on the glass, more confused than ever.

“I thought I would be fine. That the first night was only stress. I thought I understood. I thought Dr. Black’s plan was right.” She gave another hiss of pain. “Then I did not sleep again. Maybe I am now so tired I no longer care. Or care too much. It was why you could surprise me. Reflexes are slow.” Her head lolled, lips pulling back from her canine teeth. “I see my family every time I close my eyes. Even if they hate me, I cannot let them die. They might have already.”

Naomi’s fingers loosened on the vial. Slowly, she lowered it.

“Dr. Black caught Hixon trying to break into her files,” Lebedeva said.

Naomi’s skin tightened, fear thrumming through her. “Shit. What happened?”

“Dr. Black is locked in her room with Hart. So they are together at least, though I think they still want to kill each other. Only Dr. Black has the code to their quarters. You are easier to break out. And you know Dr. Black better than any of us. You know what will change her mind.”

Naomi swallowed. “I thought I did. Not sure I do anymore.” She gave a weak laugh. “God, I maced you for nothing.” She spoke in English; she could understand Lebedeva well enough, but the adrenaline had chased away her Russian.

Lebedeva blinked again, gave a cracked smile. “I commend your ingenuity. Come, we’ve wasted too much time. Hixon said she ran the calculations, and we can return to Earth with our existing fuel supply, but it is not easy. We’d have to loop around Mars to help us turn and to give us enough velocity, and we’d need to change our trajectory soon. Today. Within two hours.”

Naomi sucked in a breath at that. Two hours. She held out her hand, and Lebedeva took it with a sigh. Naomi kept the vial in her right hand.