FORTY-TWO

Stewart stood outside Kenna’s capsule. He appeared older and more careworn than she’d ever seen him before. “Hurry,” he said to the tech.

With deft fingers, the man finished his work freeing Kenna. She worked out the aches in her arms and legs, all the while keeping her attention on Stewart.

“What happened?”

He gestured with his head. “In my office.”

Kenna looked back at Jason’s capsule. He, too, was in the process of being disengaged.

“Shouldn’t we wait for him?”

Stewart wrapped an arm around Kenna. “Later.”

Jason emerged, shouting. “But we’re not done,” he said. “We didn’t complete that last challenge.”

The tech who’d worked on Kenna answered him. “You guys got the seventy percent you needed. You passed.”

“But I wanted to finish,” he said. “I don’t like leaving things undone.”

The last thing Kenna saw before heading into Stewart’s office was Jason fighting to follow.

The door closed with a vacuum-like whoosh. Stewart didn’t sit. He paced, alternating his gaze between her and the far window overlooking the machinery. He stopped. Brought a fist to his lips. Began pacing again.

Unable to endure the tension any longer, Kenna crossed to grab Stewart by the shoulders. “What is it?” she demanded. When he hesitated still, she gripped tighter. “With everything that’s happened lately, it can’t be that bad.”

But from the hollow expression on his face, she immediately doubted her words.

Stewart covered his eyes. “Vanessa,” he said. “She’s dead.”