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serf on Talas Prime Station. She wanted no more deaths on her conscience. “We have to cut the leash—and to do that, we need the creds from this mission.”
    He didn’t look convinced. “And you’d spend it all to free me?”
    In her mind, there was no question. In his mind, clearly, there were plenty of questions. He had no reason to trust her, or anyone.
    â€œIt would be freeing us both.”
    Disbelief flickered again in his eyes, but he didn’t voice his doubts. “So, one mission. Then we split, find an infojack.”
    Edie nodded, wondering if he had a plan for himself after they cut the leash. “What did Zeke mean—who are the Saeth?”
    â€œNever heard of them.”
    His quick response and cold glare told her he was lying and that he didn’t care if she knew it. She let it drop and pinched the bridge of her nose—the burden of the cached data had left her wet-teck groaning in protest. She should copy it to file at the console in the annex, but she didn’t particularly want to leave evidence around for someone else to find, so she wiped it and forced herself to relax. As she turned from the wall, something jabbed her thigh. The voice snag in her pocket.
    â€œHere.” She handed it to him. “A souvenir.”
    Finn crumpled it in his fist and headed for his little annex.
    â€œAren’t you going to say thank you?” She regretted the words as soon as they were out. She had no right to do that, to treat him as a subordinate, no matter how the rest of the crew thought of him.
    Finn hesitated in the hatchway, looking down at the twisted metal strip in his hand, and his lips curled into a sneer.
    â€œThank you.”
    The hatch snapped shut behind him.
    Edie went to bed, exhausted, not caring what he did or where he went. Caring even less about the XO’s precious memos. She slept solidly. No dreams. The best kind of sleep.

CHAPTER 5
    â€œFirst morning on board and in trouble already.”
    Stifling a yawn, Edie stared at the woman in her doorway. Armed only with a breakfast tray, Cat Lancer still managed to look as formidable as the first time Edie had seen her. She wore a white tank top that showed off the well-defined muscles of her arms and shoulders, and colored pins sparkled against her hair braids that shone black as the Reach. Her cobalt-blue pants were unlike anything that had been provided in Edie’s wardrobe.
    â€œUm, trouble?” Edie said.
    Cat grinned and pushed the paper tray at Edie, who took it reflexively. The doughy bread looked unappetizing and she set the tray aside.
    â€œYou missed CPT. You do know what the C stands for, don’t you?”
    Haller had mentioned CPT the day before, and Edie hadn’t bothered wondering what it meant.
    â€œ Compulsory physical training,” Cat said helpfully. “Can I come in?”
    Edie didn’t feel like having a visitor this early in the morning, but didn’t object when she saw what was sticking out of the duffle bag near Cat’s feet. Her old boots.
    â€œWhere did those come from?” Edie grabbed the boots and jammed her feet into them.
    â€œYou’re welcome.” Cat picked up the bag as she entered, and dropped it on the deck between them. “Haller dug them out of the recyc bins, or so he claims. Where’s Finn?”
    â€œIn the shower.” Hands on hips, Edie faced Cat and tackled more important questions. “What happened to my guard back on Talas Prime Station? Did you kill him?”
    Cat settled into the console seat and pointed at the bag. “Brought you some stuff. How are you feeling?”
    â€œPlease, I need to know.”
    Cat sighed, her gaze wandering over the holoviz where Edie had been exploring the ship’s accessible logs while meticulously avoiding Haller’s memos. “The guard’s fine, Edie. We just tranq’ed him.”
    Edie had no choice but to believe her. External comms were