Dek saw the tension lining Kalico’s brow, how it contorted the long scar that ran up from her eyebrow. “You made the right call,” he told her.

“Yeah.” Kalico exhaled wearily. “Funny thing, having Soukup here, spending that first day with him, I kept falling back into old habits. A person doesn’t realize how much they’ve changed. Who I was, who I am now. What’s important.”

“Like Private Aberash?” Talina asked. “How’s that going to go down when Soukup learns you chose to save a lowly marine instead of his exalted Board Appointed Excellence?”

“Probably have him mad enough to suck vacuum and spit ions,” Kalico answered. “Doesn’t matter. Something in the forest outside Southern Diggings took out four armored marines. What if it decides to give the mine a visit? We’ve only got a quarter of the fence up.” She frowned, asking, “Does fencing even stop this thing?”

Talina pulled up a knee, gaze distant. “We know about as much about Southern Continent as we did about the sea. And look how that turned out.”

“My point exactly.” Kalico rubbed her brow, eyes slitted.

Studying the Supervisor’s face, Dek could see the exhaustion. The woman had been at it for thirty-six hours, at least. He doubted that she’d slept a wink as the A-7 followed the search grid. Even Schulyer and Abena had taken turns sleeping.

“Kalico,” he said softly.

She gave him that wary look she always did when he used that tone.

Dek added, “We’re with you. Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it. All of us. You don’t have to carry the entire weight of Donovan on your shoulders.”

“He’s right,” Talina added. “You’re thinking from a Corporate mindset again because Soukup is triggering those brain engrams. Forget that paradigm. Donovan isn’t the Corporation, and it doesn’t function by their rules.”

“Nope.” Dek agreed. “Think it through: If Soukup orders you to step down, you can appeal, call an inquest. Your people will demand it, and we’ll hold it in Inga’s with everyone in the audience.”

“It’s all right,” Talina told her. “I’ll keep Step from leaping across the bar and strangling the guy. But we’ll all give testimony. The First and Second will record and archive it. The Third will analyze and come to the conclusion that you have the support of the people and the best interests of The Corporation at heart. Faced with those facts, Soukup will back off.”

Kalico laughed dryly. “You think that’s what’s keeping me sleepless?”

“Isn’t it enough?” Raya asked, her flat Siberian face amused.