She could see Rosalyn’s nerves now as she bounced from foot to foot. The salvager glanced back toward Misato, her eyes huge and glossy, mouth dropping open and freezing there as if to ask, What do we do now?

Worst of all, Rayan was still lurking somewhere on the ship. Misato looked behind her, but the corridor was empty. Inch by terrible inch, Piero was forcing Edison’s head toward the sharp edge. The captain fought him, lashing out with his fists, punching into a body that was long past recognizing pain. The man had torn most of his own flesh off; a few hard blows to the stomach landed like a child swatting his father.

Edison was trying to mouth something at them, one word over and over again.

Stall.

Rosalyn must have seen it, too. She took a few faltering, careful steps toward the two men but stopped when Piero gave a more determined push on Edison’s neck.

“Slow down,” Rosalyn said. Her voice was muffled through the environmental suit, but Misato heard it clear enough. “Just . . . just wait one minute, okay? There’s something I want to know. Something . . .” She glanced at Misato for reassurance and received a tiny nod. Yes, chickadee, keep going, keep him talking, whatever time we can gain back is critical. For what, Misato didn’t know, but it was better than watching her crewmates decapitate each other. The comm hub to their left was a disaster, which meant he had probably been successful in cutting off their voice to the outside world. The best outcome they could hope for now was keeping Edison alive.

“Questions are pointless,” Piero hissed.

Sweat dripped down Edison’s beard, landing on the shattered remains of the brig and splashing.

“F-Fair enough,” Rosalyn stammered. “But what about a trade? Is that pointless?”

Piero’s white eyes flashed. A trade. The Foxfire was clearly intrigued. The shiny blue spores above them on the ceiling seemed to dance as if electrified.

“A trade,” Piero echoed. “What could you offer us? You’re weak. We have the advantage.”

“I have something you want,” Rosalyn continued. “Something you’ve been trying very hard to get. I think it will benefit us all, really, and nobody will have to die.”

He stared at her for a long moment. Misato tried to take a step forward but he saw her, head tilting to the side as he squinted in her direction. She froze, holding up her weapon as if in surrender. Shit. This stalling thing wasn’t doing much of anything.

“What is it you think we want?” Piero asked, eyes sliding rapidly between her and Rosalyn.

Even through the bubbled visor, Misato heard the troubled gulp Rosalyn gave. Of course, it made perfect sense. Rosalyn’s arrival had seemed to stir something in the Foxfire, provoking an extraordinary reaction. It was only logical. Logical, Misato thought with a quick shake of her head, but stupid.