“Jack.”
After a short bit of static, his voice rang through. “Hey, boss.”
“Where’s the Legion?”
The connection clicked on, and only empty static crackled on the air for a few long moments before he spoke. “Not coming, boss.”
“Not coming? At all?”
“Let’s talk about it once you’re here.”
She leaned back in her chair. “Okay…”
How could they refuse aid? How could they send no one, do nothing? And why had Jackin returned so quickly? Though anxious to find out, she knew better than to discuss it over the radio. If anyone overheard, it’d only incite more panic. And she’d had just about enough stress for one day.
Puck’s voice rang on her nexus. “EX, sir?”
“Here, Puck.”
“We’re far enough if you want to link up with them. We’ve got six suited up.”
Adequin called Jackin back. They reconciled velocities, then spun the ships and aligned the hatches, thousands upon thousands of kilometers away from the careening Divide.
Once the crew transferred and she confirmed everyone had disembarked, she pulled on her space suit and helmet, then launched her weightless self out the cockpit door. She grabbed onto the hatch and swept the access screen with clumsy, gloved fingers, and the door opened.
The SGL stood above her, though it didn’t really feel like above when nothing pulled down. A tether had been strung between the two ships. She grabbed it and, hand-over-hand, drew herself across the six-meter expanse between the two ships.
Partway, a glint in her periphery caught her eye. She turned to look outward, back from where they came. A tiny flashing electrical charge lit in the starless pitch-dark of the void, thousands of kilometers away. It fizzled and died and didn’t return. Though too dark and much too far to tell, she knew it was the last of the Argus blinking out of existence.
She looked back at the SGL. Two helmets stared down at her from the open hatch. She let out a slow breath, then continued to pull herself along the tether.
Puck and Cavalon were the two waiting to greet her. They reached through and guided her in, then Puck shut the hatch door.
His voice buzzed through the comms in her suit. “EX secured. We’re clear.”
With a hiss, gravity pressed down on her again, and her feet hit the floor.
Jackin’s voice crackled in her ear. “O2’s back online.”
She released her helmet and pulled it off. Pressure assaulted her eardrums, and she stretched her jaw to try and pop them. Puck and Cavalon removed their helmets as well.
“Good to see you, sir,” Cavalon said, his face flushed and dirty, sweaty blond hair plastered to his forehead. He smiled at her wearily.
She gave him a nod, then looked over as the doors across the circular room slid open. Nine soldiers walked in from the crew quarters, Emery, Warner, and Erandus among them. Some wandered in shocked reverie, others clumped into small groups, murmuring among themselves.
They stepped aside to make room as Adequin headed for the open cockpit door. Mesa stood inside, talking quietly to Jackin. She’d shed the flowing top layer of her navy dress, and now wore the fitted vermillion undersuit, ornately embroidered with contrasting reflective thread.
Their conversation ceased, and Mesa inclined her head. “I will let you two speak.”
She left into the common room, swiping her hand over the door control as she did. It slid shut behind her.
Adequin leveled a flat look at Jackin. “You guys talking about me?”
Jackin marched up to her, and to her surprise, wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off her feet.