When the explosion blasted the shuttle loose from Space-Battleship one, Amma struck her head on a stanchion. She was out for several minutes. When she woke up one of eyes was swollen shut and her vision was unfocused. She knew she had a concussion, but wasn't sure how bad. She managed to contact them with a short range radio, because the main comm system was out on the main ship. They radioed back in about ten minutes to warn her away from the ship, that they had found explosives. Moments later she hear an intruder alert over the radio. She had done a damage control report on the shuttle. The aft compartment was open to space, and synthetic gravity was off-line. The RIF system was off-line, too. That meant no shields. She strapped in and waited for further contact. She got on the comm system and contacted the X-2,docked with the damaged Asuran Battle-cruiser. She hoped for good news. She heard that they were in a pitched battle for control of their ship and the Scourge were storming the bridge when their comm went dead. She happened to look up as Space-Battleship One exploded before her, probably killing almost all her friends and comrades and the man she loved. Shrapnel pelted the shuttle moments later. An alarm went off showing that she had an air leak. She'd be out of breathable air in half an hour from her calculations. She said aloud, "After I just got the frikking chairs refinished,too! Dammit." A voice from her right asked, "Miss Amma, are you alright?" Amma jumped. She swung around and looked Lime in the eyes. She was shocked. She had been alone. After a moment she asked, "Where did you come from?" Lime smiled a little, "Mom sent me out here to check to see if you were in the shuttle or the dropship. She didn't know if I could get here or not after teleporting every one else onto the Asuran Battleship." Amma blinked her good eye. "You can't teleport." Lime blinked with bright eyes. "Martya didn't make it. One of the Four Brothers showed up and killed a bunch of people. Mostly Marines." Amma's blood ran cold. It was like her heart had stopped. A voice she barely recognized as her own asked, "Vorn was one of them, wasn't he?" Lime answered in confusion, "Yeah. How did you know?" Amma's eyes filled up with tears. She couldn't stop shaking and started whimpering. She put her hands over her eyes and started screaming. Lime didn't know what to do. She recoiled from the naked grief that overwhelmed Amma. After a long moment, Lime patted her on the shoulder and hugged her. Amma grabbed on with almost crushing strength. Lime was panicking. She grabbed back and teleported the both of them to where the rest of the crew was hiding on the Asuran Battle-Cruiser. Lime let Amma down to the alien deck-plates and teleported out of Amma's grip to Lime's mother's side. She tore off the vacc-suit helmet and gasped out,"She loved Vorn! I didn't know!" Tears poured don Lime's cheeks as she sobbed. "I read her mind! I didn't want to! I got it all! The X-2 is lost, the battleship is lost, we were all lost in her mind! Oh MY GOD!" Rose knelt and pulled her daughter to her. She caught Neon's eye and motioned her over. Rose said, "Neon, I'm not telepathic. Can you help in any way?" Neon shook her head. "It's part of the learning curve. SHE has to learn to turn it off and on. After this, I can teach her to build shields and the rudiments of telepathic use. Otherwise, let her feel your love and hold her. It'll pass." "Eventually." Neon turned and walked away where no one was near her. Rose had noticed that before and never thought about it before. NOW she knew better. Rose held Lime and stroked her hair until her tears dried. --TO BE CONTINUED!--