The Elites froze mid-motion, their crystalline forms cracking as if struck by an unseen force.
Azazel leaped back, shielding his eyes as a shockwave rippled through the chamber.
The light faded as quickly as it came, leaving an eerie silence.
She slumped against the console, her chest heaving. Her vision swam, but she forced herself to look up.
The Elites were gone, nothing but glittering shards scattered across the floor.
Azazel turned to her, his katana still raised, his expression unreadable. “Are you all right?” His soft voice was hesitant.
Toni managed a shaky nod. “I think…” She swallowed. “I guess so. Did… did I do that?”
His gaze flicked to the console, then back to her. “Yes, whatever you did worked.” He stepped closer, his hand hovering near her arm as if unsure whether to touch her. “Are you hurt in any way?”
JR14 flew up to land on Azazel’s shoulder. His glowing sky-blue eyes scanned Toni as she leaned against the console, her chest heaving. The tiny spider-like droid tilted his metallic head. “Observation: subject Toni exhibits no critical injuries. Superficial abrasions and minor contusions detected. Bio-signals remain within acceptable human parameters. Conclusion: the subject is physically fine.”
She raised an eyebrow, still catching her breath. “Gee, nice supportive bedside manner, Doctor Gizmo.”
JR14’s iridescent wings twitched before sliding inside his exoskeleton. “Statement: emotional reassurance is not within my programming.”
“I guess what you’re saying is, I’ll live.” She grimaced. Live, yes. Not suffer any consequences, no. She swore every part of her body screamed in protest. Even breathing was a chore. But she refused to let it show. “So, what do we do now?”
Azazel’s jaw tightened as he glanced around. “We’d better move. What happened here must’ve alerted every Krystalii where we are. It wouldn’t surprise me if reinforcements are on their way.”
JR14 clicked his claws as the luminescent blue of his eyes flickered in rapid succession. “Observation: current energy discharge levels have triggered proximity alerts across at least three adjacent sectors. Confirm Krystalii reinforcements will arrive within two minutes.” The bot swiveled his head toward Toni, scanning her again before turning back to Azazel. “Recommendation: immediate relocation to minimize encounter risk. Pathway analysis is underway. Suggest avoiding primary corridors to evade patrol convergence.”
Azazel nodded, his grip tightening on his katana. “Can you determine an adequate way for us to depart, JR14?”
Toni couldn’t help her wide grin. Darn man talked like a history professor she had in college. Except Azazel had the sexiest accent to go with his killer body.
JR14’s iridescent wings gave a faint hum as he processed. “Observation: secondary ventilation shaft located thirty meters northwest. Probability of route being unmonitored: 68.2 percent.”
“Another vent?” She groaned. “Wonderful. Yippee Ki-Yay.”
“Disclosure: survival rarely aligns with preference,” JR14 replied with his normal bluntness. “Initiating route guidance.”
“Well, when you put it that way,” Toni muttered, pushing off the console with a wince. Her body protested like an eighty-year-old’s. “At least we’re consistent.” She flipped her hand in Azazel’s direction. “Okay, lead on, Rescue Ranger. Take us to the next disaster.”
Azazel’s lips quirked into the faintest hint of a smile. “We are still free, no?”
She aimed a pathetic glare his way. “Listen. Do me a favor and don’t quit your day job. Your and your droid’s talent as motivational speakers suck.”
Sheathing his katana with a sharp click, he offered her his hand. “Come on,hebat. Let’s find a way out of this room.”
She hesitated, her eyes locking with his. There was something in his gaze that made her relax. Something steady and unyielding she’d give anything to trust. Maybe she’d allow that trust to grow when death wasn’t lurking like a door-to-door salesperson refusing to leave the porch. With a sigh, she accepted his hold. “Fine. But if I die running around this stupid ship, I’m making it my afterlife mission to haunt you.”
Azazel’s smile widened, just a fraction. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Chapter Four
Azazelcouldn’tbelievetheSub-Resonant Node still wasn’t working. There had to be a better way to meet up with Vaeloryx and his ragtag band of misfits in that safe room. This wasn’t the first time his inability to teleport himself and Toni with his psychic powers had frustrated the hell out of him. It’d make things much easier.
“JR14—” He turned to the bot on his shoulder. “—if we continue on this route, will it lead us to the rebels’ refuge?”
JR14’s iridescent wings buzzed as he adjusted his position on Azazel’s shoulder. His metallic claws clicked against Azazel’s bare skin.
It wasn’t uncomfortable, except for a little tickle when the bot’s “nervous tick” kicked in. Especially since he wasn’t wearing a shirt. He had to admit, he rather enjoyed going around bare-chested. He loved how Toni kept giving him side-glances under her lashes when she thought he wasn’t looking, as if he wouldn’t notice her stealing lingering peeks at him.
