as my creation, as less than human, and I treated you badly. But it’s not true. You’re more human than anyone I’ve ever met. Good luck, Destiny.”
She dropped her hold, turned, and walked away.
Milo crossed the room and picked up a bag. “We found you some clothes. Get dressed. Then we’re out of here.”
Destiny dressed quickly. Jeans, a black T-shirt, and boots that were a little tight but not too bad. She allowed him to usher her out of the room, then along the corridor, through the docking bay and to the ramp that led off the ship. They paused at the top while Milo did a quick check of the lay of the land. All looked quiet. She was mulling over Dr. Yang’s words. They’d filled her with a sense of unease. As though the other woman was saying goodbye. Why would she say goodbye when she was meeting them here? Any moment now.
She wouldn’t. Which meant she wasn’t meeting them.
“We have to go back,” she said.
“What—?”
But she didn’t wait to hear any more. She whirled around and ran back the way they had come, with Milo close behind her. As she turned the last corner and approached the lab, she saw Dr. Yang’s small figure disappearing inside. The door closed behind her.
She made to move forward, but Milo grabbed her from behind. “You can’t go, the whole place is going to blow any second now.”
“But we have to save her.” She fought against his hold. But he was too strong, and tears streamed down her face.
“No, Destiny. It’s too late. You can’t save her. Besides, she doesn’t want to be saved.”
“I don’t care.”
The alarm on Milo’s comm unit beeped. He went still for a moment, though he didn’t release his grip. Then he turned her in his arms and hurled them both to the floor as a huge explosion erupted behind the closed door.
Chapter Forty
“…The friends we have lost do not repose under the ground…they are buried deep in our hearts. It has been thus ordained that they may always accompany us…”
—Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
Milo covered Destiny with his body as heat washed over them.
When he peered up, flames licked at the edge of the doors. The lights went out, replaced by a flashing red glow and the continuous buzz of the fire alarm. The sprinklers came on and cold water drenched his back.
They had to get out of there. Responders would be arriving any moment now. Destiny had gone completely still beneath him, but he wasn’t sure how cooperative she was going to be. Maybe best not to give her the choice. He jumped to his feet, getting a quick glimpse of her accusing eyes before he grabbed her by the waist and slung her over his shoulder and ran.
He pulled his pistol from its holster. As he raced into the docking bay, two men in green jumpsuits entered. He shot them both in the chest and ran on. He paused at the top of the ramp and looked out. “Shit.”
A group of guards were heading his way, too many to take. He reached for his wand as a sound behind him made him turn. Footsteps. Lots of them. A mass of people appeared in the doorway. In various stages of undress, they swarmed into the docking bay, all seemed dazed and confused.
They must be the people woken from cryo. No doubt they’d come around and immediately heard the alarms and panicked.
Destiny punched him on the back.
“What?” he asked.
“Let me down.”
“Not yet.” He turned to face the horde. “This way out!” he shouted.
They ran toward him. He waited until they were surrounded, and then he went with them, down the ramp. Through the crowd he could see the soldiers standing to the side, obviously with no clue what to do in the face of the swarming masses.
They slowed as they reached the ground, milling about, unsure what to do, where to go. Milo edged to the side of the group closest to the forest and then slipped away. He ran to the cover of the trees and kept going until the sound of voices faded. In a small clearing, lit by starlight, he placed Destiny on the ground. She blinked up at him and a tear rolled down her cheek.
She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, he lowered his head and kissed her. Dr. Yang was dead. They were alive.
She went still against him, and then she was kissing him back, fiercely,