No.

Raisa stared at Jackson on the floor, and all will to move left her. Tears wet her face and her throat burned from screaming. She lay on the floor, facing him. His eyes had mostly closed but she could still see an edge of green. His parted lips didn’t move.

She heard movement behind her but didn’t care. Nothing mattered. She pressed her fingers to the cube.

“It’s done. Send the death recording to command and then seal all files,” the general said to someone.

“Jackson,” she whispered, “open your eyes.”

Raisa didn’t move. The mist that had fogged the inside of the cell was pulled up into the ventilation shaft like the lifting of fog.

Someone touched her shoulder and she pulled away.

“Raisa,” Lochlann whispered. “Come on.”

“I’m not leaving him.” She didn’t care if she ever stood again. “We should never have let him come here.”

The plastic against her hand moved and the cage lifted. She scrambled forward to be next to him. Jackson’s skin was clammy to the touch. She pulled him into her lap, struggling to move his lifeless weight.

“I’ll arrange a transport to take you back to your ship,” the general said. “You have no more business on this base.”

Raisa caressed Jackson’s cheek. Nothing felt real. Her entire world was numb. “I’m not leaving him.”

“I’ll have him transported to your ship so that you may make arrangements.” General Ogden left.

“Raisa, I…” Lochlann’s voice broke and he didn’t continue.

“Why didn’t you stop him?” Raisa demanded. She glared at Lochlann. “It was your job to protect your crew!”

The man looked as if she’d stabbed him. He inhaled a sharp breath.

“He was doing as Jackson made him promise to do. Jackson wanted to protect you.” Dev took a deep breath and looked as if he mentally braced himself to stay standing.

“You guys and your stupid honor!” Raisa started to sob. She rocked Jackson back and forth, not knowing how long they let her sit with him. Her sobs turned to whimpers, and she knew her heart would never love another. Life as she knew it was over. All that was left was a shell.

She didn’t register anything happening around her. Voices sounded far away. The only way she managed to move was because two men lifted Jackson out of her arms, placed him in a dark container, and walked him off the base to a transport.

When Dev and Lochlann carried Jackson up the cargo loading bay of the ship, Alexis and Rick were there to greet them. Dev hit the button to close the door a little too hard.

“What did you scavenge?” Rick asked, looking at the container. “Anything fun?”

Raisa stepped out from behind Dev and went to where they had placed Jackson on the floor. She knelt beside the container and placed her head on it.

“What’s going on?” Alexis asked, her tone nervous.

“Where’s Jackson?” Rick demanded. “He is coming, isn’t he? Or are we going in after him?”

No one answered him, but Raisa heard Rick swear under his breath.

“Oh, no,” Alexis said softly. “Not that.”

“Those bastards. Who are we killing?” Rick demanded.

“Raisa, I’m so—” Alexis’ voice caught. “I’m so…”

“I’m blowing up that entire base,” Rick swore.

Raisa opened her eyes in time to see Rick punch the metal wall. The angry thump vibrated through the cargo hold to the point she felt it where her cheek pressed to the container. She started to nod in agreement with him, but someone else punched something. She lifted her head as she felt the second vibration.

When she looked, everyone was staring at her. No one else had moved.

A loud bang vibrated the container yet again, and she gasped, jumping back in shock. She stared at the box, unsure she could trust her hearing. Raisa held her breath. Silence filled the cargo hold.

“Hey,” a muffled shout came from within the container, followed by the sound of Jackson striking the side of it.

“Jackson?” Raisa yelled in disbelief. She grabbed the lid and clawed at it in an effort to pry it open. “Jackson!”

Dev, Rick, and Lochlann joined her.

“Hold on, buddy,” Rick shouted.

“Got it,” Dev said as he pushed at the side of the container. The lid opened a few feet. She thrust Dev aside only to find Jackson’s feet. His boot kicked the side of the container. It was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen in her life.

“Get me out,” came his muffled command. Several thuds sounded as if he tried to push the lid. Rick grabbed one side and pulled while Dev pushed. The lid made an awful grinding noise as it slid off.

“Jackson!” Raisa couldn’t wait. She climbed into the container, putting her knees along his hips. She took hold of his face, feeling the warmth back in his skin. His green eyes focused on her and he gave her a small smile. “How…? I don’t care. I don’t care how.”

Raisa pressed her mouth to his. She knew she murmured incoherently but she didn’t care. The joy bubbling inside her could not be said in words.

Suddenly, she gasped and looked at Rick. “You need to fly us out of here. Now. Before they suspect anything.”

“Gladly.” Rick winked at Jackson and ran to the cockpit.

“Raisa.” Jackson’s voice was hoarse. “How did I get here?”

“It doesn’t matter. You’re here. You’re alive. You’re here.” She kissed him again. “Never leave me again. Never leave me.”

His hands lifted to her hips, but his hold felt weak.

“I don’t know what happened, but we should get him in the medical booth,” Alexis said. “Lucien is finally out of it.”

Raisa nodded. She didn’t want to let go of him, but she knew Alexis was right. They needed to make sure he was safe.

Dev reached in, scooped an arm behind Jackson’s knees and the other behind his back, and lifted him in his arms.

“What? Dev?” Jackson tried to struggle as the man carried him.

“As Rick would say, shut your black hole,” Dev stated.

Raisa gave a small laugh. Her body shook with fear, with relief, with amazement. She followed Dev as he strode through the corridor. Jackson’s eyes closed and he dropped his head against Dev’s shoulder.

“Hold on, boys and girls,” Rick shouted over the intercom. “We’re blasting off this rock.”

The ship vibrated as the engines started. Dev made it to the medical booth and locked Jackson inside. Alexis was already at the controls, typing in directions as she talked to herself. Raisa leaned against the edge of the booth and peered in at him. His eyes opened and met hers.

“I love you, too,” she whispered, answering his words from the prison hold. “Jackson, I love you so much.”

“He’s going to be all right,” Alexis said. “It’s cleaning his blood. He’s been dosed with some kind of tetrodotoxin.”

“What is that?” Dev asked.

The ship jerked, and Rick began takeoff procedures. Raisa grabbed hold of the medical booth. She wasn’t about to let Jackson out of her sight.

Alexis began mumbling to herself. “Tetrodotoxin. The anatomy of the Old Earth puffer fish. Irrelevant to the situation. Reexamine. Zombies. Dead walking.”

Jackson winked at her and smiled as he mouthed, “Irrelevant to the situation.”

To which Raisa silently said back to him, “Reexamine.”