Miguel stared, stunned when the spacer's arm fell. What was he thinking? That thing tried to blow them up! Miguel reacted, lunging for the weapon, ripping it from Archer's hand. He raised it in the same motion, pointing it at the creature. He heard shouting and he knew one of the voices yelling was his.

Reality operated in slow motion. As Miguel pulled the trigger, putting all his hate and frustration into the shot, he registered too late Sammel throwing himself in front of ...