'I dont know. Maybe he formed a... relationship with them, as I did with Wanton.

Wanton? The name shed called out before they fell from the ship. 'Whos Wanton? he said fiercely.

'Wanton is a corporeal. I brought it here, to save it. Thats what I was doing in the ship. Wanton was dying. I brought it back so that it could integrate with the others.

Jo-Jo took a couple of savage breaths that sent pains shooting from his belly to the base of his neck. He gasped and staggered.

She hung onto his shoulders. 'Does your chest hurt? she asked anxiously.

'No more than the rest of me, he said, righting himself. 'Jancz stole my ship.

'Sal? Sal is yours?

He stared at her. 'You know Salacious?

Mira nodded weakly. 'Sal is a hybrid. We can communicate. Jancz hasnt treated it well.

Jo-Jo set his jaw. 'You can save that story for another time. Right now, Im going to get my 'zoon back.

His staggering footsteps gained some strength and purpose. Jancz framed me. The f.u.c.ker stole my ship. All the panic and fear and pain of being on board Medium again burned away on a surge of hot fury. Once before when Jo-Jo had thought he would die, as he floated free in s.p.a.ce around Dowl station, anger had saved him, pulled him back from the brink of despair and defeat. It did the same thing now, channelling energy into his limbs, giving him a goal. His ship, Salacious, was the closer of the two biozoons.

Sal.

He reached the hybrid as the TerV climbed the dune closest to them. Though the 'zoon was half buried in the sand, its egress scale was too high to reach. He put Mira down on the sand, leaning her back against the 'zoons skin, and turned to face the TerV.

He recognised both of the figures inside it: Jancz, whod introduced himself in the station bar as Jud, and like the Balol, whod kept Jo-Jo busy in the bedroom while Jancz had stolen his ship.

He wasnt sure which one of them hed kill first. Jancz, hed learned through a glimpse at Lasper Farrs Dynamic System Device, had been Randalls Capo during the Stain Wars. The 'esque was the worst type of mercenary, one who changed sides mid-conflict. Or maybe hed been working for the Extros back then too.

The TerV grunted air from its brake jets, and settled to rest an arms length away.

Mira moaned softly behind him, but he kept his focus on the meres.

Ilke got out first. Then Jancz. Neither had changed as far as Jo-Jo could see through the film of their masks. Ilkes spikes were bunched together, her powerful body squashed into a cooling suit, but Janczs suit had plenty of room. He looked as lightweight and unimpressive as he had in the bar. More so, in fact.

Both Janczs and Ilkes eyes were on Mira. 'Hey, said Jo-Jo, waving his hands. 'Remember me? He loosened his hood, pushing it back far enough for them to see his face.

Ilke shrugged and moved to walk past him, but he blocked her way. She automatically pulled a pistol from the pocket of her suit and shoved it into his ear.

'Ilke! barked Jancz.

She shifted the muzzle back a fraction. 'Yeah? Her reptilian eyes glistened through the suit film at him. Then she blinked in recognition. She gave a belly laugh and glanced across at her partner. 'Hes the one we took the 'zoon from.

Ludjer Jancz didnt blink an eyelid. 'I know. Kill him.

MIRA.

I know you, Mira Fedor.

Mira felt a shiver run through the biozoons outer skin. She sat up straighter. Sal?

You remember me.

Of course. You helped me.

I have communed with your mate, Tasy-al, who rests alongside me. What are you doing here, touching me?

Sal, can you let us come aboard? W-we cannot reach Insignia, and were in danger.

I can see that.

Mira waited. She knew, from her brief encounter with the hybrid once before, that it was perverse and damaged.

I have news for you. I have a new captain, it said finally, almost jauntily, ignoring her plea.

Ludjer Jancz is not good for you, Sal. There are others that would be kinder. He took you illegally.

Not him, the hybrid scoffed. Jancz is no longer my captain. It made a sighing noise. I have moved on.

Would you ask your captain, if we might board?

I could.

Sal, Jancz is dangerous. h.e.l.l hurt us. Please...

Sal remained silent as Jancz and his Balol partner got out of the TerV and approached them.

Sal! Mira cried.

I dont need to concern myself with your problems, Mira Fedor.

The other one has a weapon. See... she will kill Josef.

Josef? The hybrids tone sharpened. Who is this 'esque that you call Josef?

Josef is your true captain, your legal captain. Do you remember him?

The sound of a series of explosions froze them all, delaying the hybrids reply. Across the dunes, Medium cracked open, its skin ripping apart like watery overripe fruit. The glow grew brighter as an enormous glittering carapace emerged, shivering and shaking bits of the ships outer hull from itself.

Even Jancz and Ilke stopped and turned to watch.

'Josef! called Mira, recovering first.

Josef, repeated Sal.

Miras cry shook Jo-Jo from his trance, and he lunged for Jancz. The pair tumbled into the sand and wrestled.

Jo-Jo was the stronger of the two, but neither of them was a match for like, who casually stepped forward and lifted them apart. She let go of Jancz, dropping him to his feet. Then, loosening her weapon again, she shoved it under Jo-Jos jaw.

My Josef? exclaimed Sal.

Si. Jancz tricked Josef and stole you. Hes been looking for you ever since.

The Post-Species stole me?

What do you mean, the Post-Species?

The corporeals, Ludjer Jancz and Ilke.

Jancz and like are Post-Species?

Of course. Sal sounded perplexed and irritated by Miras ignorance.

Then yes. The Post-Species stole you. And theyve been cruel to you, binding your fins.

The hybrid emitted a sound somewhere between a screech and a squeal, and shifted in the sand; an impossibly large floundering whale, its tail pounding the dune and its gills venting odd noises.

Mira crawled away from its side.

'Crux! shouted Jancz, backing away towards the TerV. 'Ilke!

The 'zoons cephalic fins began to strain against their cruel restraints. Each screech seemed to stretch them further, and sent more sand and rocks blasting out from underneath it.

'Ilke! bellowed Jancz again. But the Balol was transfixed, glancing between the strange creature emerging from the discarded skeleton of the Extro craft and the thrashing squealing 'zoon before her.

When one of Sals cephalic fins ripped free and wavered in the air though, Ilke began to run. She leapt into the TerV, and Jancz sent it skimming up over a dune.

But the 'zoon was quicker than them. It flicked its freed and powerful fin in an arc, and slammed the vehicle.

The TerV split apart, tossing Jancz and like into the sand.

The fin lifted and pounded the bodies again and again, until there was nothing left of them but fin marks in the sand.

'Josef, look! cried Mira, pointing. Sals egress scale had opened. 'Sals letting us in.

Jo-Jo got to his feet and took Miras arm. They hurried to a spot directly below the scale, and he laced his fingers together. 'Ill hoist you, he said.

'But how will you get on board?

'Just put your foot in my hands, he shouted hoa.r.s.ely.

Sal, we cant reach the egress scale.

Step away, Mira Fedor. Step away.

'Josef, she said.

'Step up! he screamed at her.

She made a fist and punched Jo-Jo in the side of the face.

He dropped his hands in shock.

'Sal wants us to move away. Quickly.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him. Together, they climbed the closest dune. Halfway up, Mira began to tire. Jo-Jos grip grew tighter, and their positions reversed. He was pulling her, urging her onward.

As they reached the peak, the sand began to vibrate. Behind them Sal was moving, rocking back and forth with gathering momentum. In front of them something else was happening. Medium glowed brighter than ever. The last of its outer skin sloughed away to allow a ghastly, glistening birthing.

Fluid sprayed forth in great bursts, sizzling as it touched the hot sand. A bulbous shape, the size of a dozen biozoons, had emerged. Then the shape split wide in another spray of fluid and a cavernous yawning hollow opened before them. Huge triangular-shaped objects glistened around the edges of the hollow. Teeth.

Jo-Jo fell to his knees, hands covering his face. 'No!

Mira couldnt speak, couldnt do anything but watch the Extro craft transforming. Behind the maw another wad of skin unfolded, a body that seemed to expand until the scaly quivering length of it went further back into the dark than she could see.

An overpoweringly sweet scent a.s.sailed them; gusts of it had them both choking. Then the sand began to quake again.

Mira gripped Jo-Jos shoulder and pointed back to the two biozoons. Sal had rocked itself until it had dug deep down into the sand. They could now reach the egress scale.

This time they helped each other, holding hands, pulling each other along. Josef had no more strength than she did, and tears poured down his face. Their only words to each other were encouragement or instructions, until theyd climbed in through the egress scale.

When the scale closed, they both collapsed onto the floor.

'Josef? whispered Mira. 'Are you... ?

He sat up suddenly, words tumbling from his mouth. 'We have to get out of here quickly. The survivors are on the islands to the west, like you said theyd be. We should go there.

Mira pushed up onto an elbow. All her strength had gone, drained by the heat and the effort and the fear. 'Then I need to get to the buccal.

Jo-Jo nodded. She saw he was still crying, a steady stream of tears of release that made him neither gasp nor sob, but which did not stop.

He tried to stand, but his legs buckled underneath him. His whole body trembled, but he got his knees underneath him and crawled to her. 'I -I, Mira, I c-cant carry you- This time he sobbed. 'Im sorry.

Mira reached out and clasped his hand, letting him know that she understood. Shed thought him so rough and self-reliant, closed off, when theyd been together in Insignia before. Like Rast Randall, though more predictable and with a peculiar type of integrity. But this man whod come to help her was altogether different, raw and open and unsure. When hed pulled her from the liquefying floor of the Extro ship, shed felt nothing but relief to see him. Now something else stirred. An emotion shed not felt before.

He brought her fingers to his face and held them against his cheek. He was trembling, as if needing her close. She felt the hot wetness of his face against hers. Felt his exhaustion to match hers. He turned and pressed his lips into her palm.

Instead of pulling away, she welcomed his contact, letting her hand cup his jaw. They were alive.

'Baronessa? A quiet and totally unexpected voice intruded into their s.p.a.ce. 'Let me help you.

Josef pulled away, and both of them turned in the direction of the voice.

A slim tight-skinned 'esque in a worn robe stepped around the bend of the stratum. 'My name is Tekton of Lostol.

JO-JO.

Tekton! A wave of shock pa.s.sed through Jo-Jos weakened body. 'What in Cruxs name are you... He trailed off, barely able to believe that Tekton was standing before him.