Her fingers twitched with the urge to touch the keys of her Steinway, still back on the abandoned flight ship, drifting to nowhere fast in space. Now she felt the melody flow through her as more than a series of codes and craved its swell and its release. Maybe the music could help her understand the feelings she harbored for Radian, emotions threatening the nature of who and what she was. Radian propped himself up with his back against the cell wall, eyes closed as if he were asleep. Nebula could tell by his breathing he was only resting and could spring into action at any moment. Eldin and Illena lay beyond him, their huddled forms rising and falling in deep slumber. “Don’t you ever sleep?” Radian’s whisper surprised her. She hadn’t noticed him open his eyes. She hoped he didn’t sense her staring moments ago. Nebula was embarrassed to have to justify her nature. “No, it is not necessary for my survival.”
