Rhea came up beside her, gesturing to a closed door just off the main cell. “In there,” she whispered. “Open it, Ari.”

Ariadne gave Rhea an unreadable look before hacking the door’s lock. When the bolt released, Eris took the lead and pushed open the door.

Another prison, smaller.

The three men in the glass cell wore the gleaming buttons of Tholosian officers. Eris counted them, taking in the symbols branded into the metal, each one symbolizing rank. The colors had faded, but these were undoubtedly a commanding officer and two juniors. She couldn’t see the two other names stitched to their breasts, but the commander’s read Talley.

Avern, Commander Talley even had a symbol of valor on the jacket of his uniform—the two infinity symbols for the God of Death. He’d probably retired to this godsforsaken outpost after the Battle of the Garnet. It was an easy position for an aging officer, away from violence and brutality.

At least, it was supposed to be.

Eris hung back as Nyx approached the glass. The men were as gaunt as the corpses in the other room, their skin nearly as gray. The three sprawled against the glass, dark liquid caked at their ears and the corners of their mouths. The ducts of their eyes darkened with red-black tears.

The commander opened his eyes.

Nyx gave a startled cry and jerked back, smacking so hard into the ichor wall of the cave that Eris worried she’d damaged her helmet. Eris stepped forward, alarmed, when she noticed the small tear in the arm of Nyx’s suit. The other woman quickly patched it from a kit in her belt pouch.

<Nyx, you okay?> Eris kept her focus on the commander.

<Yeah. Fine. The suit’s good. He just startled the shit out of me.>

Commander Talley blinked at the brightness, the whites of his eyes turned black. He was alive. Gods of Avern, he’s fucking alive.

What about the other two? They looked dead—seven devils, the commander had looked dead until the moment he opened his eyes. He was trying weakly to lift his head. How was he still moving? He had a cluster of small dark lesions at his temples, wattles at the base of his jowls.

Nyx hurried to the cell door, but the commander spoke. “No,” he croaked. “Don’t open. Might be dangerous.”

Nyx paused. Eris’s fear spiked.

“Keep it sealed,” he managed. “Safe . . . safer.”

Eris looked at Ariadne. “You said the pilot rattled off medical expertise during deprogramming, right?” Ariadne nodded. “Good. Then maybe he’s useful. Take the shuttle back to Zelus and tell him to bring the med kit and an extra decontamination suit from the lab.” Eris gestured to where Rhea stood in the corner of the room, barely supporting herself on the medical table. “And take Rhea with you outside. Get her some air.”