Once back to the broken rail, they all inspected the jump. A thick metal beam stuck out, making it possible to balance out over the drop.

'You can probably jump over from there,' Bill said and pointed.

Dakarai nodded, and placed a foot on the beam, holding on to the broken rail. 'What broke this though?'

'No idea,' Bill said. 'Can you do it?'

'Yeah, yeah, no problem. I think.' Dakarai set both feet on the beam and took a tentative step out, wobbling every so slightly.

'Please, don't,' Rebecca pleaded. 'It's too dangerous.'

'No, it's okay. I suggested it. It's fine. I'm good at stuff like this.' Dakarai took a few quick strides forward and jumped.

James held his breath, releasing it only as Dakarai landed on the walkway on the other side, grabbing hold of the unbroken rail there. He easily swung his legs over, then waved back at them.

'I made it, guys! It was easy.'

James could hear the smile, though his face was hidden behind the visor at this distance.

'Well done,' Bill commended. Then, to James' surprise, he too walked out on the rail and jumped. 'I'm coming with you. You guys, keep watch on that side and call if something happens.'

'Alright. Be careful,' Rebecca shouted. Then they vanished into a doorway, leaving him and Rebecca standing in an empty corridor with flickering lights. Standing there watching and waiting, he soon began to wonder if this had been a good idea.

'Maybe we should have gone with them?'

'You mad too. Never.' Her face was pale and her eyebrows were drawn into a worried frown however. 'Unless another of those slimes comes along,' she gave a nervous giggle.

James nodded. 'Unless.'

Time crawled. The dusty old corridor, already spooky to begin with, started to feel oppressive and James looked back and forth all the time. How long had they been gone? The jump terrified him. If you misstepped, or lost your balance, the fall would surely kill you. He peered down into the dark.

'What possessed Dak to jump like that?' he asked.

Rebecca shook her head. 'No idea. He seems to be a bit crazy.'

'Yeah. Hey, why did you take this job? You seemed to be more well informed than I was.'

She giggled. 'Yeah, you're a bit clueless.'

'Oi! Don't be mean.'

She gave a quiet laugh. 'Oh, I... uh. I'm in debt. I had to take the first thing I got. And they called me first. The Company, I mean. So I agreed.' She crossed her arms.

'Any regrets?' James asked, curious about her situation, but feeling it might be rude to ask too personal questions this early.

'Oh yeah, many. All of them, in fact. This job sucks.'

James chuckled. 'Yeah, sure does.'

'What about you?'

A loud, hard rumble echoed down the hallways, coming from the other side of the abyss. Both James and Rebecca startled and looked towards the dark doorway on the other side. The noise stopped as suddenly as it had started, just a few seconds later. Heart hammering in his chest, James gripped the railing hard.

'Dak? Bill?' he shouted.

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'Are you okay?' Rebecca added.

The silence lay thick in the air. James swallowed. Did something bad happen? Had they both died? They'd be lost without Bill.

'I think they're coming!' Rebecca yelled.

James didn't hear anything at first. But then, speedy, rhythmic thumps approached. Footfalls. They were running from something.

'Come on! Hurry!' he called, hoping they didn't have some monster after them.

Bill jogged out from the doorway and stopped by the opposite rail. He glanced back just as Dak appeared. Then he put his legs over the rail and, holding onto the metal bars behind his back, bent forward, and jumped from a standstill back to the beam.

He wobbled, tilted to the side.

James gave a wordless shout, jumped out on the metal beam and grabbed Bill's outstretched hand, his left holding on to the broken rail behind him.

Rebecca screamed.

Somehow, James managed to stay upright on the beam while Bill caught his balance. The abyss yawned hungrily below his feet and his knees wobbled, his throat constricted. Agonizingly slow, he backed up, one step at a time. It wasn't until he stood on firm floor again that he could breathe properly. He heaved several deep breaths, his vision swimming before him. Someone patted his back.

'That was insane. Can't believe you did that. I... just wow.'

Rebecca. James nodded. Still watching the floor though the scratched visor. Noting how each little imperfection caught the light, or distorted his view ever so slightly, how each heavy breath fogged it up for a second. He'd been certain he'd die. But he hadn't thought about it, just reacted. If Bill died, they were sure to as well. But once he'd stood there. Man, that was stupid. But it had worked. He was alive. He stood back up straight again and looked around.

Dak had somehow gotten over the gap on his own. Impressive.

Bill walked up to him, and held out a hand. James took it. 'Thank you. I'd have died without you.' Then he let go and started walking down the corridor like nothing had happened.

'Well, I guess that's it.' James said to no one in particular.

'He's a tough nut, that guy. Yeah?' Dakarai commented and walked alongside him.

James nodded. 'Maybe. Or he's just as scared as us.'

Dak laughed. 'Sure.'

'What did you find?' Rebecca asked behind them.

'Nothing really. Just a few locked doors, empty corridors and a bloody sentry gun.'

'What!' James gaped.

A sentry gun? Here. Why? What had they needed that for? Maybe that was the reason people were no longer here?

'Yeah, I know right?' Dak agreed. 'We turned around a corner, and there it was. I think my heart stopped for a sec.' He laughed again. 'Bill pulled me back just as it started firing. Then we ran. He said it was best as the noise could attract things.'

'Things. There's too many things here,' James muttered.

'Let's get back to the ship,' Bill said from ahead. 'It's getting late.'

'Is it me, or is time faster here?' James wondered.

'Time's the same, but the days are shorter on the moons,' Bill answered.'

'That makes sense,' Rebecca said. 'They are smaller than Gordion.'

The rest of the way back out, nothing happened. Nor did they find any more scrap. Bill muttered to himself about being stuck, and getting fired. It worried James. Something wasn't right.

In the corridor leading to the exit, James noticed something in a corner.

'What's that?' He pointed.

They stopped. It looked like a small pile of rubber.

James walked up to it. Boots. Black, heavy boots. Just like... He looked at his own. Black, heavy boots. Shit.

'These are just like ours, guys. I don't like this.'

'Oh shit. That can't be good.' Rebecca came up beside him and held out a foot, comparing the boots. 'Oooh, I don't like this. Why are they here? Oh noo.'

'Sssh,' Bill hissed. 'They're just boots. Probably from less fortunate employees. Be happy they're not yours.' He pointed at the pile. 'Dak, check if one fits you. Yours is broken.'

'For real?' Dakarai's voice pitched.

Bill sighed. 'Or not. It's your choice.'

'Doesn't it worry you in the least what left them there? There's got to be at least... seven pairs here,' James pointed out.

But Bill had already opened the door, walking out. Sand blew in from the doorway.

Dak looked at the boots for a moment, then decided to leave them where they were.

They all walked out into the darkening evening. The sun had sunk below the horizon, but the sky still glowed a faint red. The winds buffeted them, thick dust clouds impairing their vision. James was glad for the visor protecting his face.

'Let's go,' he said.