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waiting for someone to offer a suitable solution. This instant.
    “We’ve done tests,” Charley says quietly. “When we gave Blank, I mean Samuai, his memories back. There’s been no time for analysis because of the move, but there has to be answers in there.”
    “Tests take too long,” I blurt.
    I hate that I’m about to be Davyd’s puppet, but he was right when he said attacking was better than waiting. This is my chance to take back control. I stand. “Something on that ship muted the effects of whatever has been done to us. The Company has the antidote to this inanity. I volunteer to go to them and bring it back with me.”
    There’s a hush.
    And then so many voices arguing, I can’t make out a single one. Only Davyd is silent. And looking far too satisfied with himself.
    “Why you?” Megs asks, cutting across the conversations.
    I eye the girl with her long orange hair and challenge in her eyes. I think I would have liked her if things had been different, as it is Samuai is between us.
    “I’m not afraid. My family is all dead. It makes sense.” If I was more like Davyd, I’d make my voice hitch and lip tremble to play on their sympathy, but I can only state the facts. They’re all I have left. “I will do whatever it takes to make us well again.”
    “You can’t go alone,” Keane says.
    “I’ll go with her.” Samuai and Davyd speak at the same time. And then glare at each other across the table.
    It would be funny if it wasn’t so deadly serious.
    “You can’t,” Lady says. Her eyes are on Samuai. “I can’t lose you again.”
    Davyd’s mouth twists. “That settles it. Asher and I will go to the Company and return to save the day. All medals and parades can wait until then.”
    I think I see Keane’s lip twitch. He turns to Toby. “What do you think?”
    I feel the weight of the older man’s eyes on me. Assessing. And I try not to flinch. After a long moment he nods. “We have neither the organization nor the man power to try to get what we need—if it even exists—by force. To attempt such a thing would be madness. However, one or two might have a chance if they’re well prepared. She’ll do.”
    I release the breath I didn’t mean to hold.
    “I think we should vote,” says Arnold, speaking up for the first time. His perfectly sculpted goatee wiggles with every pompous word. “It seems to me that Lifers are the most unstable. Why should we send one of them to do something so important?”
    I clench the edge of my seat until the plastic begins to buckle. “We could vote,” I admit. “Take suggestions of who might be best, but it would be a waste of time because I’m going anyway. Everyone at this table has accepted the fact that those on the ship have been made into animals. We know the Company’s reach.” I wave my hand at the big double doors. “Do you think it will sit so easily with those out there?”
    “Asher has a point,” Kaih says. “I feel sick thinking about it. Knowing might spark more fighting if people think they have an excuse.”
    I shoot her a grateful smile but she’s staring at her folded hands. Her lower lip is trembling, and I can tell supporting me in this has cost her. I want to tell her that this is no suicide mission, but I’m not sure it’s the truth.
    Keane looks at me over clasped fingers. “Who do you want to go with you?”
    Both brothers turn toward me. Samuai imploring, Davyd so confident my teeth grind together at the sight.
    Keane says ‘want’ like this is some kind of popularity contest, but this isn’t about what I want. It hasn’t been since the day Samuai and my brother went missing. This is about the plan that is most likely to work. I don’t want to fail and one day have blood on my hands because I lost my temper over something as trivial as a potato peeler or a knocked over bottle.
    I admit what I’ve been ignoring for days: I don’t know how much longer I can control this rage simmering in my belly. And I