They slammed into the lake, sending a fountain of water high into the air. She heard Gabrielle scream as the cockpit lights died, to be replaced a moment later by red emergency overheads.

The dropship yawed and rolled to one side. For a heart-rending moment, Megan felt sure the craft might capsize altogether, but then it partly righted itself before listing back the other way.

She checked a screen and saw that part of the hull now rested on silty gravel beneath the waters surface, just a few metres shy of the shore.

Gabrielle, you okay?

I . . . I think so. Are we down?

Yeah, said Megan, pulling her restraints off, but I dont think were in the clear yet. Not until we get the hell off this ship.

She climbed out of her couch and struggled to stay upright on a deck sloping at thirty degrees. She held on to the back of the couch and lowered herself until she was positioned next to Bash. It was hard to see clearly in the dim light, but he looked as if hed come through their crash-landing in one piece.

Youre going to have to help me get him out of here again, she called out to Gabrielle. Her eyes were adjusting now, and she could see the other woman climbing out of her couch. Given everything shed been through, thought Megan, and not to mention her condition, the girl was holding up a lot better than might have been expected.

Then, staring down at Bashs calm, unchanging features, she remembered her disbelief when Gabrielle claimed he had sent her to find him.

I know youre in there, she thought. I dont know whats going on in that head of yours, but Im more sure than ever theres still some part of you thats aware Im here.

What truly hurt, however, was that after everything she had gone through to find him, Bash had instead chosen to speak to Gabrielle. Megan was surprised to experience a brief flurry of jealous resentment.

He should have spoken to her, dammit.

Gabrielle picked her way carefully down to Bashs couch. Come on, urged Megan. Weve got to get him off this tub before it blows.

Blows? Gabrielle shook her head in puzzlement. Where the hell are we?

The dropship shuddered around them, only settling deeper into the soil of the lake bed. We landed in the water, just short of the shore.

So were still okay, right?