There was, she realized, no one around to wonder why two of the people now boarding the dropship had their hands cuffed behind their backs and even if they had noticed, Luizs high-level security clearance would probably have given them the perfect cover.

They were led up the dropships broad ramp and inside its cockpit, where Luiz again strapped first Megan and then Bash and the two zombies into acceleration couches.

As the craft lifted up, the force of acceleration pushed her deep into the couch. Within minutes they were weightless, and well on their way to whatever destiny Sifra and Otto Schelling had planned for them. And, despite the circumstances of her departure from Avilon, there was a part of her that nonetheless felt safer in being far from the constant tug of gravity.

EIGHT

Megan

Half a day later, the dropship rendezvoused with the Liberia, an inter-system transport ferry. This consisted of little more than a framework of girders, modular docking ports and habitats arranged around powerful anti-matter engines. It followed a perpetually looping orbit that threaded together 82 Eridanis scattered collection of planets. Avilon soon dwindled to aft as the Liberia boosted sunwards, carrying them and numerous other small craft towards Redstone and the inner system.

She watched as Luiz and Sifra unbuckled themselves, casually discussing as they did so the various entertainments and distractions to be found within the communal malls and restaurants of the Liberias bow as they made for the hatch.

Hey! she yelled from where she was still strapped tightly into her couch. What about me and Bash?

What about you? said Luiz, looking back at her with a smirk.

How long are you going to be? she demanded. You cant just leave us strapped into these couches! What if I need to pee? What about Bash?

Shes got a point, Luiz said to Sifra.

Come back later and take care of all that, Sifra replied to him.

But what if I need to pee now? demanded Megan, hating the plaintive tone creeping into her voice.

Then I guess youll have to just hold it in for a while, said Sifra, and the two men laughed.

At least take the damn cuffs off! she screamed after them as they departed, still chuckling.

She could already feel a mild pressure growing in her bladder. If she had to pee on their damn couch, it would serve them right. But then again, she was the one whod have to sit in it all the way to Redstone.

She found a part of her hoping Bash took a dump right there on his own couch. It would just serve the two of them the hell right if they had to clean up his shit. Literally.

On the other hand, it was clear she was going to be left here alone with the zombies for quite some time. She almost couldnt believe either of the two men could be so dumb . . .