Her fingers tightened on the butt, and her eyes met mine just once more
before she turned her head.
She was a beauty to watch. Sprawled on the tunnel floor, not looking
at anything but targets over the notch of her sights, calm and skilled
while she covered my retreat as her heartbeats slowed. She cauterized
the tunnel, weaving a fan of death that marched down the corridor,
encompassing and moving beyond huddled and broken men.
I clamped on my suit helmet and spun the airlock controls. I snapped
one quick look back at her. Then the airlock hatch thudded shut behind
me. In a moment, I was on the surface of the Asteroid and running for
the ship.