Chapter 111

Chapter One Hundred Eleven

Connor stood to the right of the Hudijin’s outer airlock hatch, Asp dangling down, two improvised grenades ready in his palms. On the opposite side, Elise held her Orion assault rifle. The Moon twins lay on their bellies, weapons sighted on the outer airlock.

It was cool in the airlock, the air almost fresh, already mostly cleared of the worst stains the planet had left on the big ship.

What would it take to power the rockets up and blast off?

It was tempting, but Connor could never do that. Leaving his teammates behind was out of the question.

He sucked in a breath. “On three.”

The others nodded.

“One. Two. Three.” He shouldered the actuator, and the hatch shuddered open with a reluctant grinding and clanking.

Then…silence.

In the Hudijin’s floodlights, the Badger stood alone. Its roof was stained a dark purple in spots, and long shapes rested in the middle of some of those spots.

Bones, Connor realized.