Dread gathered at the base of my spine every time I thought about what just happened. What had happened? Why had those creatures been hanged in the Vicious room? What were they? And most importantly, how long could I stay alive after all my iron ran out? Long enough to find Ellison?
My mind couldn't process any of the steady stream of questions, so I allowed it to finally give up so I could concentrate on what was expected to be on the lunch gurney in one hour.
Mase stood from the gurney, still chewing his last bite of stewed pum meat and vegetables over a bed of rice.
"Leaving already?" Captain Glenn asked.
"I have piloty things to do," he said with a private grin aimed down at his plate.
A smile fluttered across my mouth at our inside joke, but it didn't stick.
"Did he just say piloty?" Nesbit asked.
The captain's eyebrows knit together with his frown. "I think so, yes. Remember we're sweeping this floor again for Randolph at two o'clock."