“That’s it,” the pilot says. “We’ve got the gap.”
“Take it,” I repeat.
He does.
The ship surges forward, the stars stretching slightly as we push into open space, leaving the pursuit behind piece by piece.
“They’re falling back,” Hrask says after a moment.
“Yeah,” I breathe, finally easing my grip on the console. “They lost us.”
The tension doesn’t drop all at once.
It unwinds slowly, the adrenaline bleeding off in uneven waves as the ship stabilizes.
“We’re clear,” the pilot confirms.
I lean back slightly, exhaling for what feels like the first time in minutes.
“Good,” I mutter.
Hrask steps closer, his gaze moving over me quickly.
“You good?” he asks.
“I’m here,” I reply.
“That’s not what I asked,” he says.
“It’s the answer you’re getting,” I shoot back.
He huffs a breath, something like relief flickering through his expression.
“Fair,” he says.
The pilot adjusts the controls, the ship settling into a smoother trajectory.
“Where to?” he asks.
I glance at Hrask.
He looks back at me.
“Somewhere they can’t touch us,” I say.
“Somewhere that matters,” he adds.
I nod.
“Earth,” I say.
The word lands solid.
Final.
The pilot raises a brow.
“That’s a long run,” he says.
