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set up for it, too, but right now it was sub-zero in there with an oxygen level that would kill everything. And as far as he knew, Glyrinny needed to breathe; their morphing abilities didn't reach that far.
    "What's in Cargo Hold One?"
    Grimm turned his head. "It's a rigged-up operating theater."
    "Any patients in there? Or a frozen passenger or two?"
    Grimm's lips quirked, and there was an odd gleam in his eye. "Want to go explore?"
    No, I'm not going to look too interested. Kyle focused on the screens. "What's the capability?"
    "Enough to keep somebody alive for as long as necessary. You'd imagine that these guys sometimes catch a bullet or some rad and have to make an exit with a few wounded."
    "Yeah, figures." Now, unless Kshar was hiding in the wiring of the ship or in a compartment somewhere in the living area (which was possible, but not likely), that medical facility was his best bet.
    He noticed that the light inside the ship had dimmed in a mocked-up day and night cycle. This counted as dusk. He forced himself to relax. He was here for the long haul, or at least up to Ganesh. No need to rush anything; he was outnumbered and couldn't afford to blow his cover.
    "Who's taking first watch?"
    "I'm fresh," Grimm said. "I'll wake you."
    "All right." Kyle lay back and closed his eyes. He reflexively tightened his hands around the grips of the seat when he heard Grimm move.
    "Relax," Grimm said, too close. "Just getting you a blanket."
    Kyle cracked an eye open. "While you're at it, you could take off my boots."
    Grimm gave him a sarcastic grin and dropped a folded blanket onto his stomach, then crouched down. Kyle couldn't feel his touch, but saw his legs move as Grimm opened his boots and pulled them off, setting them carefully to the side. "What about the prostheses?"
    "I can sleep in them."
    "Doesn't that give you pressure sores?"
    "I need to take them off to clean every now and then, but now I'm feeling all right."
    Grimm unfolded the blanket and spread it across Kyle. "Like that?"
    "That's fine." No use explaining that getting his boots taken off and being covered with a blanket was more care and attention than he wanted from a stranger. But at least now he didn't feel quite so exposed. "You'd make a good nurse."
    "I'm better with ships, but I know my way around some emergency procedures."
    "I bet. Part of thewarriortraining?"
    Grimm shrugged and sat down in the other pilot seat, his socked feet dangling in the air. "Giving first aid and even last aid to an injured comrade."
    "I never made it through the tests. Too . . . selfish. Weak. Resentful. Entitled." Listing his character flaws to one who had passed the tests seemed like a strange kind of confession, but considering the situation, that was the only common ground they had. That they had none at all. Grimm had passed muster in front of the elders and would be welcomed back, if he chose to return. Whereas Kyle couldn't hope for the same treatment, despite everything he'd learned about himself. He'd been a decent soldier, a very good, maybe even exceptional, pilot. But none of that counted on Tamene.
    Why are you telling him anyway? Pushing him away by his pride and ideals? That he shouldn't pursue the unworthy? Yeah, it was probably self-pity.
    "Compared to whom?"
    "Compared to any fucking warrior out there."
    Grimm frowned thoughtfully. "It's never too late for redemption. How you were does not rule who you've become."
    Too deep. And too true. If only he could honestly believe it. "What do you want from me? And why?"
    Grimm nodded toward the screens. "Having two pilots increases our chances of survival."
    True, again. "And?"
    "And you're more than you're letting on." Grimm's tone was serious, but not suspicious. "Mysterious stranger, yet familiar. No wonder I'm intrigued."
    Fucking cripple who can't run, more like. "Listen, if I were . . . myself, I wouldn't mind blowing off some steam with you. I used to like that. But since . . ." He dropped his hand onto the