In the shadows of a corridor slightly further from the action, Grenshaw was contemplating his next move while ensuring he didn’t bleed out, observing me over the carrier’s camera system, or what remained functional of it. If he failed at this, he’d probably be dead, and falling back would likely be considered as a failure by Diaz, unless he brought me back.

But I’d already proven I wouldn’t come easily, and judging by the excessive strength for my body, he assumed I was the likely cause for the bruises Jules originally returned with, and there being less leftover tranquilizer than there should’ve been. Now that he had a proper moment, he also reported back to Diaz.

“The bitch that attacked Gardner Point is here, that’s what! I knew she was going to be trouble.”

“And you can’t handle a single woman on your own? Have you forgotten how to fight?”

As expected, Diaz’s voice was full of impatience.

“No, but she’s a damn handful. No idea what kind of shit she’s filled with, but it makes her way stronger and faster than she has any right to be.” Grenshaw’s voice was filled with a hatred for me, which would have made me smile in amusement if I’d heard him. “And those idiots that were supposed to help me keep that boarding party off the carrier are all dead! I could really use some damn backup!”

“I sent Jules down to the hangars. She won’t be causing any more trouble, but I expect that you won’t fail me again.”

The channel was cut off abruptly, leaving the second half of the sentence in the air as a damning statement. Grenshaw looked at the cameras again, and found me facing toward the landing pad, one hand raised to head level.

A plan formed in his head, accompanied by another sadistic grin, and he pulled out a pen containing a dose of sedative about three times as strong as anything Jules had carried. Alone, it had little chance of working, but he expected for Jules to arrive soon, which would help subdue me, with the use of the sedative.

First, however, he planned to make it hurt.