By the time they reached the derelict's quarterdeck fear shackled Merit, causing her to shiver in uncontrollable, nearly painful, waves. She begged for a reprieve. Between the weakness devastating her body and the deafening echo of her breath she was incapable of standing alone or comprehending the gibberish on her earphones. The derelict's hatch closed. The sudden and terrifying blackness fell like a blow and only the dread growing inside her remained. Merit cursed in panic and fright.
A light burst through her faceplate.
"Stop sniveling. You're not dead, yet." Chambers curt voice entered Merit's helmet. "You'll only use your air faster and steam-up your face plate in the bargain."
She helplessly watched Chambers push Tommy into a seat against the partition and strap him in place with his suit's tether straps. Merit followed, afraid to let Chambers out of sight, but couldn't stop her shaking or snuffling. She finally gasped in catchy breath, "This is all your fault. Why did they do this to me? I had nothing to do with you."
"Of course it's my fault," Chambers said, pushing Merit next to Tommy and strapping her down. "You'll be more comfortable here." She turned away. "You took care of Tom and that was enough for Tricome. I know you don't understand, but try to hold on for a while longer. I'm sorry I have to leave you in the dark, but I only have one elume and I need it. Your suit light will help some. I don't think Tom will be a problem, but stay with him."
Chambers' words distracted Merit. "Wait, where are you going? What can you do anyway?" It was already too late. Light gamboled over deck, partitions and overhead as Chambers left them. "Should've known you'd leave us. You don't care about anyone. Besides, even a grub like me knows there's nothing you can do, except die, like Tommy and me." The dancing light disappeared while Merit talked. With a snick her helmet light quit and the menacing darkness swallowed her once more.
An exasperated sigh sounded in Merit's helmet. "I'm going to see what our options are. Things aren't as bad as they seem, so stop whining, it's a distraction. Hope on, Merit, you will see I can accomplish a lot."
"On a stripped-bare derelict ship? I doubt that very much."
She got no answer. Frantically Merit reached out to thread her arm around the sleeve of Tommy's suit. "It's okay Tommy. I'm here with you. You're not scared of the dark are you?" She got no response, but that was normal, so she continued babbling. Unsure of what she said, Merit only wanted to hear something, anything.
Feeling uncomfortable and damp inside her suit, she realized she'd peed herself. Thinking on it, she decided wet or dry it didn't matter. When she ran out of talk, she started singing nursery songs to herself and Tommy. Anything not to be alone.
Finally, her limited repertoire ran out and she started to sniff and gasp, tears dampening her only dry skin. Another voice sang soft, clear and lyrical through her audio. More nursery songs, songs Merit had forgotten, some she'd never heard, even more in languages she didn't understand.
Merit gasped when the voice suddenly stopped and emergency lights shattered the darkness. Merit winced and gasped at the sudden brightness.
"A belated welcome, Merit, to the Emily. Cheer up, now you can see trouble coming."
Merit didn't appreciate Chambers' misplaced humor, and let her know.
"That's the spirit, Merit, better to spit than cry. Now get Tom up and follow the passageway in the direction I took. Come until you find me. The Emily is a small ship. You won't get lost."
"Don't know why I'm still doing what you tell me. Only got me in trouble so far. Kept me so busy on Tricome's ship, I'm sure I'm glad to be here for the rest alone. And look where here is," she paused as a sighing-sniff-gasp caught her. She hiccupped. "Derelict ship in the middle of nowhere with no hope of going anywhere. As for me complaining, hell, never saw anyone complain more than you, about everything you told me to do. And I always did what you told me. Did it right, too, despite all your complaints. Just don't know how so many accidents took place. I know I put new filters in the air cleaners. Know I did. Remember taking them out of stowage." Merit followed Chambers' directions glad that Tommy seemed to move instinctively in the suit.
"Merit, shut-up. Of course you did. If you'd stopped long enough to think about it, you would have realized someone sabotaged your work. You've been very patient, but you do ramble, try silence for a while."
"Who?" Merit demanded, then inhaled in realization and fury. "You did! Didn't you? You bitch. You changed those air filters." Fury engulfed Merit. "Everyone onboard heard you tear a strip off me for that carelessness. How could you be so mean?"
"Damn, but she never shuts up. I had my reasons, all right? Even if it's not, it's too late for you to do anything about it. Tom, no wonder you're silent. When would you get the chance to speak?"
Merit thought she felt Tom shiver inside his suit.
"Stop it. You're scaring Tommy. I felt him shaking."
"You're nearly here Merit, and Tom's not afraid. If anything, he's laughing his guts out, aren't you, Tom?"
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