Luke caught Mindy's eye and gave her a sharp nod toward the floor. Stay down. Mindy's heart hammered as she pulled Ken closer on the cot. Her hands were still damp from the water she had used to clean his blood. She could feel the heat of his body and the shallow rise of his chest. That weak breathing was the only thing stopping her from falling apart.
The metal door groaned open. A slice of cold dock air rushed into the room. A tall figure in a hood stood in the doorway. Before Luke could fire, the stranger lifted both empty hands.
"Easy, Luke. Relax. It's just me," a soft female voice said. Calm. Almost amused.
Luke lowered the pistol a little, but he did not holster it. "Dr. Aris?" he said. "You're supposed to be in the South Sector."
"The South Sector is a circus tonight," she repl
