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standard. It appears that we have about thirty, which is really much fewer than we should have for this many people. Let’s hope that Avery is the only one who needs restraining.” Beal diverted her attention from Michael long enough to show Deklan where to find the straps.
    The restraints were made of a tough fabric that Deklan didn’t recognize. They didn’t end in anything suitable for easy latching to the floor, which meant that Deklan was going to have to rely on knots. He brought the straps over to the cleared area and tried to work out how best to approach the task. Without any prompting the telekinetic man floated Avery over to Deklan, who pulled the straps over Avery and affixed them on either side. Ashton and he created a crisscrossing pattern using all thirty straps.
    When Deklan looked up again, he saw people clustered against the walls in order to keep their distance from the restrained Avery. Another group of reluctant refugees stood at the top of the ramp hesitant to come aboard The Madeline . They were eager to leave Earth but terrified of Avery and what she might do on the journey to the Rings. Deklan watched impatiently, worrying about his friend. After an interminably long wait all available seats were filled, and Beal signaled Captain Ashton to take them up.
    Deklan stood with Beal in the stripped-down medical area looking from monitor to monitor and keeping track of Michael’s vital signs. Both Beal and Deklan were forced to strap themselves in for the launch, but as soon as possible they freed themselves from their harnesses.
    Deklan’s attention suddenly was drawn to the main passenger area by a commotion. What now? he thought as passengers began to yell.
    At the epicenter of the growing ruckus Avery was shrinking. Deklan furrowed his brows as he tried to think through the implications of what he was seeing. Beal finished the race first. “Oh God, she’s going to need a stimulant.”
    “What?”
    Beal ignored Deklan as she again tore through drawers in search of what she needed. “Here!” she called out, triumphantly holding out another set of repeater syringes and sprinting toward Avery. A confused Deklan followed in Beal’s footsteps.
    Avery was writhing in reverse. Her skin rippled and her joins popped as she sank in on herself. The fur faded away to reveal pale and unchanged flesh. Last of all Avery’s snout receded into her head, and her normal face reappeared.
    Beal knelt next to her and felt for a pulse, “Damn it! The Pylomin is too much for her now. It’s not good to mix drugs like this.” So saying, Beal slammed the repeater against waxy skin and injected Avery four times in rapid succession before pausing to feel her pulse again. “Good. She doesn’t feel so faint any longer. I don’t want to add more to the mixture in her system.”
    “Is there any kind of a precedent for this?” asked Deklan.
    “Keystones with metamorphic abilities? Yes, I’d say so. Look at your friend.”
    “No, I don’t think it’s the same. Avery was heavily sedated, and she still changed. Michael needs to think about it. Avery’s change doesn’t seem voluntary to me. What was the trigger? How do we deal with this sort of problem? If Avery transforms again, do we need to hook her up to an expandable straightjacket with a string of repeaters attached to it?”
    Beal just shook her head, errant strands of blond hair flying everywhere. She looked like an exhausted shadow of the perky and confident young woman whom Deklan had met just a few hours earlier. “I don’t know,” said Beal. “Don’t borrow trouble. Let’s just dock and get paid.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Strawberries

Emergency services on the Ring took over once The Madeline docked, whisking Michael to the nearest hospital. Not being a family member, Deklan had been excluded from the medical deliberations and informed of where he could wait for news. Now he sat staring at Michael’s rejuvenation tank, one of dozens at this particular