One of the reasons, Megan admitted. That, and the fact that Tarrant will dispose of him as soon as he gets what he wants from the Wanderer.

Was he . . . was Bash your lover?

No. No, he wasnt, said Megan. But Ive never felt closer to anyone else in my life. He . . . saved me, Gabrielle. Hes family now the only one that ever really meant a damn to me, and the only one who knew the truth about who I really am. She shrugged. I guess youre right: hes all Ive got left.

And when this is all over? asked Gabrielle. Do you think you can cure him, fix him?

Until you told me about him speaking to you in some way, I didnt think that was possible. But if I could just get him to talk to me the same way he did with you . . . She shook her head, unable to keep the pain out of her voice. Im going to take him with me myself, to the Wanderer, and make my own deal with it.

Gabrielle looked at her with alarm. Why?

When I . . . when Dakota died, she was hunting something called a Maker Swarm. Its like a cloud of machines, in their millions, all capable of travelling at light speed, and all utterly inimical towards other civilizations. Thats whats heading our way, and I have to try and find a way to stop it.

Gabrielle stared at her, then shook her head, looking away.

I know its a lot to take in, said Megan.

The girl shook her head. You have no idea. She frowned. Why cant the Magi ships just go and do something about the Swarm themselves?

They were designed not to be able to function to carry out actions without having a controlling intelligence, a pilot. It was a way of preventing them from evolving into just as much of a potential threat as the Swarms themselves. It means they cannot act autonomously. So they alerted me someone whos effectively part-Magi and who understands the threat knowing Id then have to act. Were forever connected to the Magi ships, you and me. We were made by them, in a sense.

You make it sound as if were not really human, the other woman remarked.

Im not sure that we are, to be honest. I think the ships had some way of knowing where the Swarm was, and which way it was heading, and let me know.

Then why is it coming here? asked Gabrielle.

I told you how Dakota died when she was visiting a Maker Swarm halfway across the galaxy. Before it killed her, the Swarm learned things from her about us about humanity.

What does it want with us?