He left with all his usual assurance.

La La, will return in one sun.

La La, don’t have worry.

I fidgeted with the too high collar of my stupid alien dress as the rock groaned closed behind him.

Was there less oxygen in here than usual? No matter how deep I drew breath, it left me feeling in need of more.

An empty sensation.

Like eating that space gruel. Swollen and gelatinous, making something of nothing, so that the more I ate the more it seemed I’d consumed a phantom.

“Come to the water room.” Macca’s voice shattered the silence.

The computer had not spoken to me once since our last conversation in there.

I shook myself and made my way through the adjoining caves. “Okay, what is it?”

“Look into the large pool.”

I strode over and peered in. Fluorescent pink light swirled up through the water. “What is that?”

“It’s the drone’s laser.”

I fell to my knees on rock and leaned over the water. “You found me?”

“We found the exit point from this pool, and the light inflection indicates you will fit the entire way through.”

I slid off the rock onto the packed earth. “I can leave?”

“When we have the energy cell, yes. It will take some planning.”

I pressed a hand to my middle. “Okay, good.”

My belly felt chunky. That was supposed to be good news. Wasn’t it?

“Once he deposits the cell in the tunnel as agreed, we must act immediately.”

I nodded.

“The window for escape is narrow.”

Narrow because he’d come to me to complete his final quest as soon as this one was done. The final quest he’d never have a chance to complete. A gurgle sounded from my stomach.

“I understand.” I pulled myself up off the ground, and left the water cave, collecting the plate of leftover dry bready stuff.

“Are you ready?”

I nibbled on a dry hunk. The fibers stuck in my throat. I answered with a grunt.

“Ensure that you are.”

My spine twitched at the note of threat. “There’s a few things I want to know before we go.” I swallowed the bread down. “What did he mean by bonding has begun? You told me we’d have to mate before anything happened.”

“I said that there would be irreversible repercussions for you, should mating occur. This does not me other irreversible repercussions had not already transpired.”

The bread fell from my fingers. “Repercussions for him you mean?”

“There is a task at hand, Leila, why are you fretting over a Baratican—”

“Did I say I was fretting?” I shoved the bowl away. Nope, I hadn’t said that. Even if the tightness of my lungs felt a lot like fretting.

The gnawing pit in my middle proved I wasn’t fretting—fretting was a pale sensation. This sensation swirled dark and atomic.

Foreboding crawled under my skin.

Macca expertly avoided questions again. Which meant there were things she didn’t want me to know.

I chose my phrasing carefully. The computers contempt for emotion could only be overcome by appealing to logic. “You told me that once we were mated he’d be able to sense me wherever I am, and now we’re planning an escape and you don’t think it’s rational I’d be asking about this?”

“He will only gain such intimate connection to you post mating. There is no need to concern yourself with other—”

“Oh, but there is a need.” I grit my teeth. “Because I’m the one caught up in this situation, and what the hell kind of leader would I be if I blindly followed without information?”

There was no dismissive comeback for that.

“Isn’t that what you want from me?” I rolled my shoulders. “To be a leader? For the humans and for your Crestonians sake.”

A crackle sounded before the answer. “Yes, I require your leadership.”

“Then start treating me like one.” My voice echoed through the cave. “Give me all the information. You swore to be forthcoming.” I slammed my hand on the table, the sting radiating through my palm. “So freaking forthcome.”

“ Very well.” Macca’s sound seemed to grow dimmer. “I will tell you all the repercussions to your precious Baratican.”

I sat down.

“Thank you,” I whispered as though this information would ease my mind.

Not fuck it entirely.