The computer immediately translates the result. “Original crew was twenty-three. Now is only me.”

That octave-drop… I think it’s emotion.

“They… did they die?”

“Yes.”

I rub my eyes. Wow. The Blip-A had a crew of twenty-three. Rocky is the sole survivor and he’s understandably upset about it.

“Wh… er…” I stammer. “Bad.”

“Bad bad bad.”

I sigh. “My original crew was three. Now it’s just me.” I put my hand up against the divider.

Rocky puts a claw on the divider opposite my hand. “Bad.”

“Bad bad bad,” I say.

We stay like that for a moment. “I’ll watch you sleep.”

“Good. Me sleep,” he says.

His arms relax and he looks for all the world like a dead bug. He floats free in his side of the tunnel, no longer hanging on to any support bars.

“Well, you’re not alone anymore, buddy,” I say. “Neither of us are.”

Chapter 13

“Mr. Easton, I don’t think we need to be searched,” said Stratt.

“I think you do,” said the head prison guard. His thick New Zealand accent sounded friendly, but there was an edge to it. This man had made a whole career out of not putting up with people’s crap.

“We’re exempt from all—”

“Stop,” Easton said. “No one gets in or out of Pare without a full search.”

Auckland Prison, which the locals called “Pare” for some reason, was New Zealand’s only maximum-security prison unit. The sole point of entry was awash with security cameras and a micro-scanner for all guests. Even the guards passed through the detector on their way in.

Easton’s assistant and I stood off to the side while our bosses had their dispute. He and I looked at each other and mutually shrugged. A small fraternity of underlings with stubborn bosses.

“I’m not turning over my Taser. I can call your prime minister if you like,” Stratt said.

“Sure,” said Easton. “She’ll tell you the same thing I’m about to tell you now: We don’t let weapons anywhere near those animals in there. Even my own guards only have batons. There are some rules we don’t change. I’m fully aware of your authority, but it has limits. You’re not magical.”

“Mr. E—”

“Torch!” Easton said, holding out his hand.

His assistant handed over a small flashlight. He clicked it on. “Please open your mouth wide, Ms.Stratt. I need to check for contraband.”

Whoa boy. I stepped forward before this got any worse. “I’ll go first!” I opened my mouth wide.

Easton shined the light into my mouth and looked this way and that. “You’re clear.”

Stratt just glared at him.

He held the flashlight at the ready. “I can get a female guard in here and order a much more thorough search if you like.”

For a few seconds, she did nothing. Then she pulled her Taser from its holster and handed it over.