Chapter 23Screaming in pure delight, Mel rose in the air above MAR-A’s upraised hands. Jules was on his feet. His warning died on his lips. Other cries came from Sara, Tee at the base of the ramp, and Bri pressed to one of the large hexagonal windows on the cabin level.
Mel flew high enough to look directly at Bri. The child waved quickly at her mother without stopping her squeals of delight.
Then she fell.
Jules’s enhanced eyesight had no problem seeing each millisecond of Mel’s fall. He ignored that and focused his attention with his other sight on MAR-A.
The darkness that he had seen the night before coiling around the family like smoke and tentacles had wrapped itself around MAR-A. Instead of reaching for Mel, MAR-A’s hands dropped. The droid wouldn’t catch Mel.
It was impossible
