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check out the meeting house again? Maybe the shards have stopped fly—”
    The siren cut the air like a scream, stopping everyone in mid-word, mid-stride. Blessed silence fell for an instant, then another howl. A youngster cried for her home-parent. A few hybrids headed for doorways.
    â€œShuttle’s coming!” a male shouted as he started trotting up the street. “That’s the new signal.”
    Jani looked at Niall, to find that he had pulled his shooter, his knuckles blanched against tanned skin.
    â€œJesus. Maybe you could tell your crew to lower the pitch a little.” He powered down the weapon and holstered it. “Damned thing sounds like a shatterbox just before it hits. Bloody banshee wail—”
    â€œI’ll tell them.” Jani pulled in a deep breath in a futile bid to slow her fluttering heart. “Looks like we have a visitor.” She started to walk, one slow step after another. Breathe. Breathe.
    â€œWallach? His crew is scheduled to touch down at Karistos. That’s where my team is.” Niall quickened his pace andbrushed past her, funneling his panic into motion and anger. “Flying fuck governors with their flying fuck timelines and their flying fuck—” He touched his ear, activating the com-link to whichever subordinate was unlucky enough to be first in the queue. “Beck! What the hell—”
    Jani held back until Niall had moved well out of earshot. Inhaled, and felt her heart trip, then slow. Continued to walk up the road, lined with low white houses…felt the sun…the heat…
    â€¦the slip of sand beneath her boots…a sensation of sliding…
    â€¦the hum of a shooter, the pound of her heart……the line of tents.
    She closed her eyes. Please, Lord. Not now, she prayed. Not now.

CHAPTER 3
    By the time Jani reached the landing field, the rest of the enclave had already gathered along the runway. She scanned the crowd and spotted a cluster of medcoat-clad Thalassans crowded around a tall, slim figure, like children around a parent.
    John Shroud surveyed the scene like a landowner regarding his domain. He smiled when he spotted Jani, and freed himself from the confines of his laboratory tribe. As always, he wore formal clothes beneath his medcoat, a daysuit in palest grey undertoned with blue. His wheat-blond hair had been freshly clipped into a Caesar fringe, which framed and accentuated his monkish visage.
    Hello, Doctor. Jani held out her hand, felt her disquiet ease as John’s long, strong fingers encircled her own.
    â€œI just spoke with Niall. He’s trying to find out who it is.” John put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Governor Wallach’s shuttle just touched down at Karistos, so that’s off the list. No one’s requested permission to make an emergency landing.” He looked toward the runway and shrugged. “It’s a mystery.” He rested his chin atop her head. “Niall seemed a little shaken.”
    â€œIt was the new approach alarm. It took us both by surprise.” Jani backed away so she could look John in the face. “Maybe they could ramp it down just a little bit.”
    â€œYou’re the boss. Tell them. It will be done.” John shrugged lightly, a problem easily solved. Then he looked at her, and his gaze altered from affection to professional assessment. “Are you all right?” He moved back so he could see her face more easily. “Niall’s not the only one who looks like he’s seen a ghost.”
    â€œI’m fine.” Jani pressed her face against his medcoat, in part so she could take in his scent, but mostly to keep him from questioning her anymore. “There’s too much going on is all.”
    â€œThat’s news.” John gave her shoulders a squeeze. “I wish Niall would get a move on. Some of us have work to do.”
    â€œI see it!” someone shouted.