Page 116 of Seven Oars
Phex was in stasis.
She dropped to her knees next to him and pulled his restraints, testing their strength.
A silly action.If they had any weak links, Phex would’ve already broken them.
The chain rattling woke him.
“Rosamma.”
His eyes opened, the inner lid sliding away slowly.
“Are you hurt? Hungry?” she asked, her eyes roaming over him.
“Not hungry. Hot.”
He reached out and placed one large six-fingered hand on her sleeve. His enormous eyes were trained on her face.
She lowered hers.
In another world, he might have touched her with concern and affection. But this wasn’t that world. He assumed she was here to give him her energy.
She tugged her arm away, but couldn’t help but notice a fine sheen of sweat covering his skin. He was breathing heavier than usual. She had also caught him unawares in stasis, a troubling sign.
“The heat keeps rising,” she said.
He nodded.“The gravity’s changed, too. Can you feel it?”
That’s why her steps were so heavy, and her feet felt like lead.
Anxiety filled her chest with unpleasant tightness.
“What’s going to happen?”
“Depends on how fast things can be fixed. If they can be fixed.”
“I don’t think anyone’s fixing anything, Phex.” She smiled without mirth.“From what Fawn told us, the pirates areresting.”
“I know. Thilza’s checked out. The rest are waiting for him to check back in, like it’s going to happen.”
“Did he get his drugs back?” Rosamma asked.
“I don’t know. Probably,” Phex said in a tired voice.“They messed with the Striker. It didn’t go well.”
That was, weirdly, troubling news.
Yes, the Striker was a horror. But without him, this place would be worse.
Could it be worse?
Rosamma didn’t want to imagine.
“What do you mean, they messed with him?” she asked.
“The Striker laid into Thilza first about the drugs and not fixing the station,” Phex told her.“Thilza’s a serious fighter. I underestimated him. The Striker had his hands full. Then Ucai jumped in, using his chance. Massar, too. All of them. A full revolt.”
Rosamma sat back, felling a little funny.
“Is he still alive?”
