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SUN made it illegal to fly without an onboard healer. I didn’t care about health. All I cared about was survival.
    At least, that’s what I told myself.
    I watched CiCi crossing the other side of the hold, her short arms loaded down with ship parts. A backpack stuffed to the brim with even more parts sagged on her tiny, narrow shoulders, hunching her over. She walked with so much purpose, so much drive.
    So much ... stuff.
    “CiCi!” I yelled.
    She screeched to a halt, her momentum nearly getting the better of her.
    “Aye, Cap?”
    An offer of help died on my lips. No one came between CiCi and the Misfit, and I of all people should be able to respect that. Despite my darker thoughts, I found myself transforming the laugh bubbling up my throat into a cough.
    “Never mind. You just ... keep on doin’ what you’re doin’.”
    She nodded, and then plowed through to the other side of the hold. As soon as she was out of sight I heard a loud, metallic crash.
    “CiCi?” I cried.
    “No problem, Cap!”
    I raised an eyebrow, but I said nothing more as I made my way to the galley. Rivera was sitting at the table, glowering more than usual. I sat down next to him and put my feet up on the scratched up table.
    “Feeling better now that you’ve picked off a few agents?” I asked.
    Rivera picked up his beer and took a slow sip in reply.
    “Nice lunch. Where’s Hobson?” I asked.
    “The lab rat hasn’t come out sniffing for food yet.”
    I punched his shoulder. “That lab rat is my best friend. He’s brilliant.”
    “You ever gonna tell me what he’s up to in that lab?”
    “Nope. Not my story to tell,” I lied.
    “Well, then, you wanna tell me why some loony thought that yelling for you to run would be a good plan?”
    “Nope.”
    “What, ‘cause that ain’t your story to tell, either?”
    I paused to examine Rivera’s unusually stormy expression. “What’s eating you?”
    “Nothin’, just wondering why we got chased off Mars. Wondering if it has anything to do with him.” He nodded toward the far end of the galley, where Mr. Salazar and Miriam were deeply engaged in conversation. “Something ‘bout that little weasel I don’t hold with. This job’s felt off since day one.”
    I scratched the back of my neck. “Yeah, I know what you—”
    My sentence came to a screeching halt as I realized what Rivera’s real problem was. I grinned. “Look at how closely Miriam is sitting next to him, Rivera. I wonder what they could be talking about. Probably not politics, they look too cozy for that. Maybe she’s giving him some of her favorite healing tips. Is that what’s buzzing your bonnet?”
    “Pssh. You and Bell been smoking in the cockpit again, Cap’n Loveless.”
    I grinned.
    “Deny it all you want, I know the truth. Although, it is kind of hard to imagine. Miriam is a healer, so ... feeling-oriented, so sensitive, whereas you are—”
    “Holding a loaded nine-millimeter Glock.”
    I smiled, choosing to ignore the dig.
    “And I believe you just made my point.”
    Mr. Salazar checked his Cuff, kissed Miriam’s hand, and was about to excuse himself.
    “I’m sorry we had to leave like that, Salazar,” I called out. “Just a miscommunication.”
    “I see. Happen often?” he asked.
    “On Mars? Oh, yeah. Nothing I won’t be able to resolve with the SUN later, I’m sure.”
    He didn’t look convinced, but he nodded and walked away. As soon as Salazar was out of the galley, I elbowed Rivera in the stomach.
    “Here’s your big chance!” I hissed. “Go on, I’m dying to see you try to one-up a guy who kisses women’s hands before leaving the table.”
    Before Rivera could reply, the entire ship rattled around us. My ears filled with terrible metallic squeals as shots fired across the nose of the Misfit .
    “Aw, flarking skud, here we go! Everyone to the bridge, now!” I yelled.
    I darted from my chair and ran ahead, a strange cocktail of hungry rage and abject terror propelling me