Sneering, Sierra said, “If you’ve already got such a foolproof plan in place, then why am I here? Why don’t you just kill me like you tried to do when you took Cora?”

Renford exhaled as if in regret.”You’re here because we’ve hit a snag with Cora. One only you can help smooth out.”

“Oh yeah? And what is that?”

“The same task the Aether Project scientists needed. Help in keeping Cora under control. She was in such a state when we revived her initially that she destroyed half of the hospital wing. We’ve placed her in a coma for now, but I’m sure you’re aware how dangerous it is to her health to be kept under for too long.”

Jeth glanced at Sierra, seeing in her expression this was true. Breathe, breathe. The words became a chant in his head.

“Cora likes you,” Renford went on. “She trusts you. If she were to wake up and see your face, no harm would befall anyone, including her.”

Sierra bit her lip. “What will you do with her if I say no?”

Renford shrugged. “We’ll try different medications or keep her under as much as possible. Nothing good for her, I assure you. Nothing that will make her as happy as she would be having you around.” Renford paused, and when he went on it was with a persuasive tone that even Jeth had to admit was dangerously effective. “Think about it, Sierra. You’ll be able to help her, teach her how to control her unique abilities. And, if you want, you can continue assisting with the scientific work as well. I might even give you a say in what happens to her, if you take strides to regain my trust in you, that is. But really, this is your only chance to help preserve Cora’s so-called human rights.”

“What about Lizzie?” Jeth said. “What do you plan on doing to her?”

“Oh, no need to worry about her, Jeth,” said Hammer. “She’ll be treated better than she would have been otherwise, given what’s happened.”

Jeth flinched, knowing perfectly well Hammer was referring to his plan to use her in one of his brothels if Jeth betrayed him one more time. Which he had. He didn’t doubt for a second that Dax had told Hammer about his plan to get his crew and family away. Even if Dax hadn’t, Sergei certainly would’ve told him about how Jeth had locked him up.

“Yes, no need to fret,” said Renford. “She’ll undergo some medical tests and a couple of surgeries, of course, to harvest her eggs.”

Breathe, Jeth thought. Just find a way out. Keep breathing . . .

Sierra shook her head. “I won’t help you. Cora and Lizzie would be better off dead than under your control.”

A sneer warped Renford’s features, his persuasive persona of a moment before vanishing. “You of all people should understand the importance of what I’m trying to accomplish. You’ve seen the consequences of the meta technology failing completely. All the worlds will end up like Rosmoor, slowly starving to death, wallowing in disease. But that will never happen again with what I have planned. The ITA has held unchecked power for far too long.”

And who will check you? Jeth wanted to say, but he didn’t get a chance as Sierra said, “Exploiting Cora and Lizzie isn’t the answer. Clones or test tube babies, it doesn’t matter. They’re all humans with human emotions. You’re not creating a solution, but an entire race of slaves.”

“Better a few should live as slaves than billions die,” said Renford.

“Don’t do it, Sierra,” Jeth said, glancing at the red implant in the back of Hammer’s skull. She was right. Death was better. In the back of his mind he thought, There has to be some other solution, some way to cure the Pyrean sickness.

Hammer laughed, although anger smoldered in his eyes as he looked at Jeth. “I don’t understand where such bravado is coming from. Do you think your friends will be coming to rescue you?” He laughed harder. “If so, I would give up the hope now. All of them have been captured. Why, Avalon herself is docked on the flight deck of this ship.”

Jeth gritted his teeth, his calm breaking. Despair pressed down on him as hatred pumped through his veins. As always, Hammer knew just the way to break him.

Sierra shook her head. “My answer is no,” she said, her voice like ice. “I won’t help you. And you can torture me all you want, but it won’t matter. You know better than anybody how well I’ve been conditioned to withstand it.”

A shiver slid over Jeth’s body. He didn’t want to know what she meant, although judging by the torture devices hanging around this place, he could guess. He wondered which machine was responsible for her deformed fingers.

Renford sighed. “Yes, I know. But that’s why he’s here.” He pointed at Jeth.

“What?” Jeth’s stomach twisted into a knot.

Sierra smirked. “Go ahead. I don’t care what you do to him.”

Jeth gaped at Renford and Sierra in turn, outrage and fear making his head pound.

“That’s not what I saw on the brig security cameras,” Renford said. “I’ve studied human interaction and body language enough to recognize genuine attraction when I see it. And I’m quite certain that you feel strongly about him.”

“You’re mistaken,” Sierra said, but Jeth thought he heard a faint hitch in her voice. He hoped it was there. Was it possible Renford was right? Not that it mattered at the moment. Jeth fought to regain his calm but failed, his breath coming in quick, silent pants.