My heart slammed into my throat as I stepped off the elevator on the third floor, facing the engine room. The Vicious had slowed to let Orin's gravitational force guide it down, and the ship shuddered and groaned as if seeking respite for its old titanium bones.

Trembles vibrated up through the soles of my boots, urging me to hurry. I had maybe five minutes to find Nesbit's old Mind-I before we landed and I sneaked off the ship with Randolph for supplies. Five minutes to ...