Yeah, I know, said Gabrielle, glancing towards two members of Stiless staff, who were the only other occupants of the refectory, seemingly deep in conversation with each other. Ive already got a really good idea of how hard it can be with Bash in tow. I want to go with you, very badly. I dont want to just be sitting here waiting to see what happens next. And I dont really feel safe here, or anywhere else on Redstone, not so long as I know that Tarrant or any of the rest of them might still be trying to find us. A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face. But you are coming back for us, arent you?

Of course I damn well am.

Yeah, I figured. Gabrielle smiled faintly. So, where exactly are you going to go?

Theres an Accord outpost about four hundred kilometres west of here. I still have sufficient pilot accreditation that I can maybe persuade them to let me hitch a flight on a military ship to Aguirre.

Aguirre? Thats where you told me to find that man Sarbakshian.

Thats right, said Megan. Hes still the one Im relying on to get us off Redstone.

And then what? asked Gabrielle. We all live happily after?

Megan hesitated.

Because I was thinking, said Gabrielle, about what you told me the other night. About how you first met Tarrant, and Sifra, and what it is you all want from the Wanderer and why you want to fly out there to it. While you were explaining all that, I got this feeling from you that maybe you didnt think youd be coming back alive.

Thats ridiculous, Gaby. I have to come back. Im no use to anyone dead.

But the Wanderer is dangerous, very dangerous thats what you said.

Megan nodded slowly. Thats true. I did say that.

Gabrielle reached out and touched Megans hand as it rested on the table. Back in Port Gabriel, I used to look in the mirror every day, once I knew what they wanted from me. All I saw was the face of someone who was waiting to die. Youve had that same look on your face ever since I met you.

Megan sighed, and rested the fingers of her other hand on top of Gabrielles. Look, Im not out to get myself killed. You know that. But you also know I couldnt live with myself if I didnt go out there and find some way to stop the Swarm.

I just . . . Gabrielle swallowed, with apparent difficulty, her eyes downcast. I dont know if being clones, or whatever it is we are, makes us sisters or maybe something else there isnt really a word for. Her eyes came back up to meet Megans. But youre the nearest thing Im ever going to have to a real family. She reached down with her free hand and cupped her increasingly protuberant belly. Apart from her.