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through the air lock.”
    â€œBig if ,” I said. I was finally getting used to my squeaky voice. “All the hostages have got to know exactly when to start a distraction. How do you do that?”
    â€œThe hostages are gathered in the meeting room. Easier to guard them that way. We sneak the ant-bot in and tell one or two. They’ll tell the rest.”
    Although it was a great idea, I nearly laughed. When the ant-bot crawled onto their shoulders, how many of them would think the voice of God was whispering in their ears? “So, you and I just need to figure out the timing on all this.”
    â€œYes,” Ashley said. “And soon. Dr. Jordan has sent a message to the World United. If the prisoners on Earth aren’t freed within another hour, Dr. Jordan is going to execute a scientist here under the dome. He’s going to send live video coverage of the execution by satellite feed, so the media will get it and broadcast it across Earth.”
    â€œWhat!”
    â€œAnd Dr. Jordan says he’ll execute someone else every half hour after that until the Earth prisoners are freed. He believes public pressure will make the Federation do what he wants.”
    â€œTell me,” I said. “Please tell me Dr. Jordan is not your father.”
    Ashley took a deep breath. “No. And that’s a whole other story. There’re 24 of us, not including you.”
    â€œTwenty-four. On Mars?”
    â€œNo. I was the one they picked to send here. I was supposed to help Dr. Jordan. Because they didn’t think you’d help once you knew what they wanted.”
    â€œThey?”
    â€œI don’t have enough time to tell you everything right now. Dr. Jordan is not a scientist. He’s high up in the military and part of a secret group of men with power and money and military control. They’re the ones who set up the experiments on the 24 of us. They want to overthrow the World United and—” She stopped.
    Without warning, my world turned black and swirled and shifted again.
    It took me a second to figure it out. She had closed her hand around the ant-bot, then moved her hand quickly.
    But why?
    An instant later, from the darkness inside her closed hand, I understood.
    â€œDr. Jordan!” Ashley said. “How did you—?”
    â€œYou foolish, foolish girl!” Dr. Jordan hissed. “I’m going to make you pay for all the grief you’ve caused me.”

CHAPTER 17
    I pushed ahead, bumping into the solidness of Ashley’s fingers. A crack of light gave me guidance, because she wasn’t pressing her hand together very hard. I buzzed toward that crack of light.
    â€œI knew we’d find you eventually,” Dr. Jordan said. “The dome isn’t big enough for you to hide forever.”
    There wasn’t enough room to squeeze through her fingers. I reached out and jabbed as hard as I could. Her fingers opened slightly, and I burst through. Her hand was cupped, and I was able to make progress up the inside of her wrist.
    â€œIt’s not right, what you’re doing to the scientists and techies.” This was Ashley’s voice. “Your fight is on Earth, not here.”
    The fabric of Ashley’s jumpsuit loomed in front of me like an ocean of blue. I grabbed it and pushed up, then slid underneath, letting the fabric of her sleeve drop.
    â€œMy fight is anywhere it takes to win.” Hidden as I was, Dr. Jordan’s voice still reached me clearly. “You of all people should know that.”
    â€œI don’t believe in your fight anymore.”
    â€œObviously,” he answered. “But the rest do. And they are all I need.”
    The rest . He must mean the others that Ashley told me about. What was it they believed and she didn’t?
    â€œTell me,” Dr. Jordan said in a silky voice. “What exactly was it that made you so soft?”
    â€œI’m not soft,” she said after a pause. “I