“That thing is too big to grab onto my skull and fill it with mind control anyway, I guess,” Robin said. “I can’t believe you found help, Elena.”

“Thank Sebastien. He got me off the station.”

The hull repair drone passed through the ragged hangar door and then tucked into a ball and rolled, having prepared for the sudden onset of gravity. Shall sprang up on six legs, scuttled to Robin, and crouched down. “Climb on,” Shall said. “I’ll secure you, don’t worry.”

“Remote controlled, huh?” Robin said.

“Something like that,” Shall said.

Callie helped Robin clamber on top of the drone, and then Shall wrapped her up in smaller manipulator arms. “Are you comfortable?” he asked.

“No. You’re a very spiky robot.”

“I’ll make this quick.” Shall ran toward the opening and leapt out, then used small maneuvering thrusters to reach the canoe and clamp onto the roof. A hatch slid open on top, and Elena listened to the thumps as Robin tumbled into the airlock. The inner hatch opened, and she lowered herself down the ladder. Elena grabbed her and hugged her tight, then eased her down into one of the chairs, securing straps across her chest. “I can’t believe you’re all right.”

“Neither can I. I’m pretty sure this is a near-death hallucination, actually.” Robin looked around. “You’d think in, what, five hundred years, spaceship technology would have improved a little. This thing makes the Anjou look like a luxury yacht.”

“This is just their lander. The actual ship is nicer than most apartments I’ve lived in. And the ship’s doctor, Stephen, he’ll take care of you. He’s the one who thawed me out after Sebastien put me back into cryosleep.”

“I can’t wait to hear how you got from here to wherever you went and back again,” Robin said.

“We’ll catch up on everything,” Elena said. “After I save everyone else.”

Robin shook her head. “They could be anywhere. The station is vast.”

“We have a local guide.” Elena gestured, and Robin turned her head and caught her first glimpse of Lantern in her starfish-shaped environment suit.

Robin jolted back against the chair. “What the fuck is that?”

“Her name is Lantern. She’s an alien. It’s a thing now. She’s helping us.”

“Is it… Does this station belong to her, whatever, her race, species?”

“No, but they used to work here. It’s complicated. Stephen can explain more when you’re back on the White Raven.”

Robin clutched at her. “You’re coming back with me, aren’t you?”

“I…” Elena trailed off. Robin’s eyes were wide, her expression stricken, nothing at all like the easygoing “I’m-just-a-simple-redneck-from-Wisconsin” confidence she’d always exhibited.

“It’s up to you,” Callie said. “But decide quick. We need to start searching. I don’t want to be in this place any longer than necessary.”