Tansi’s mad gaze flickered past Watford and I.
Then jerked back, and snagged on us.
“Redding!” Watford shouted. “Get Tansi!” He leaped straight across the Core, towards the far wall.
I dragged in a breath and threw myself at shivering, straining Tansi.
I practiced hand-to-hand fighting every day, but always in gravity. After years of training I felt barely adequate when my feet were on the ground. The four-hour Introduction to Zero Gravity Empty Hand Combat course had only convinced me I knew nothing.
Hopefully I knew enough to occupy Tansi for a few moments.
Tansi’s gaze met mine. His black, sweat-rimmed eyes held a void as echoless as the empty universe outside Wemm Station.
Soaring towards him in free fall, I kept my hands outstretched in front of me, open but fingers hugging eac
