“Shell?” said Kevin in surprise. “Where did he come from?”
“Shell is here?” said White, looking over his shoulder at Kevin. “What about Blizzard and Treehugger?”
“Don’t see them,” said Kevin. “Shell must have come through the portal, but it doesn’t matter. Looks like the Venetians are still protecting their master.”
“Only matter of time before Starborn kill us,” White said, turning his attention back to the silent, circling Starborn. “Don’t know how much longer can hold out.”
“I know,” said Kevin. “If we can stop Mann, we can free the Starborn, but … we can’t reach him at the moment, and if we try to go after him, the Starborn will stop us.”
“I think we will die,” said White. “Not trying to be gloom, but don’t think we’re going to get out of this one alive, brother.”
White had a poin
