CARIAD DEMANDED THAT the Guardians reverse Aubriot’s sedation, but they absolutely refused to wake him up, emphasizing the threat he presented to the success of the colony. Their words were little more than a meaningless jumble to Cariad. She was terrified that they might do the same to her. The horror of a potentially never-ending sleep, like returning to cryo, rose up before her.
Both Strongquist and Faina continued to try to persuade her of the necessity the sedation. Cariad couldn’t get through to them, and, fearing for her own safety, she insisted on being returned to the Nova Fortuna. She wanted nothing more than to put as much distance between herself and the Guardians as possible.
“Take me back, then.” She repeated, “Just take me back.”
She had to tell the other Woken what the G
