“Oh, we’re going to talk. I’m not here for them. I’m here foryourpeople,Amphiran.”
Ours?My mind is a chaotic swell of questions.
Vybron’s voice comes over Allele’s coms. “Aura, you have to get out of here! Take your crew and portal-out, now!”
Blaize gives me a frantic look.
“Amphiran ships approaching lunar orbit,” Fieri reports. “Everything from motherships to Rogue fighters!”
“Why?” I ask.
Vybron interjects as a Rogue Pulsar fighter peels away from the ships that pop into Terran space in purple and green flashesof light. “Rogues got word of the Denarso. Royals got word of your breakout and bonding with Princess Jovie.”
“Denarso battle cruisers engaging,” Blaize calls out. “Fifteen arrived. Thirteen made it through Terran forces. Five Terran ships down!”
Eluni swivels in one gunner’s seat, Jorusk in the other. They fire at the Denarso heading our way.
Allele jolts as orange bullets smash into her shields. Lights blink down a hallway, and the real fear I might lose Allele hits me.
“Allele? Status?” I call out.
“Central engine three down.”
Jovie snags Talros’ sleeve and lugs him into the back, where a wisp of smoke curls up from the floor. They tag-team opening Allele up.
I stand in the middle, feeling helpless as my beautiful, tiny mate crawls into the guts of my ship while her friend hands her parts. Jorusk and Eluni manage the guns without me. Blaize and Fieri monitor navigation, shields, and coms and use Allele’s pulse weapon to ward off further attacking missiles. But we’re in the middle of the wave of Denarsoan ships. Half of Fleet Amphir wants to help us. The other half wants to destroy us.
Jovie shouts in disorientation as the ship sways and banks hard to avoid an attack. “I’m sorry if I get sick, Allele! I’m not used to this!”
Allele never gets mad, not even in battle. “Deep breaths, Jovie. I trust you.”
“Aura!” Blaize roars my name. “We have a problem!”
I climb my way up to the front of the ship as Allele takes to an erratic pattern of movement to avoid a spiraling assault of missiles. Ahead of us, twenty more Denarso ships arrive using portals orange in color.
“Portals are illegal weapons!” Jorusk growls. “Only Amphirans are allowed to have them, but I bet they don’t agree with that! I bet they stole them!”
“Three more Terran ships are gone,” Fieri says. “One Rogue. Mothership Goviso taking hits. Shields at eighty percent. I’m calling other ships for backup, but no one’s responding.”
We need to handle this battle alone. “They came here for us. We can’t let them take out any more earthlings or intergalactic vessels. This is our battle. They attacked us.Weend this.”
There issomethingI can do. “Allele, openthe locker,” I say.
“Aura,” she protests. “It’s not advised.”
I punch the wall panel where I’ve hidden my suit. “Let me in! I need to help you fight!”
“No!”
Fieri looks back at me. “Did she just yell at you? What the fuck are you trying to do, Aura?”
“Allele! Do not make me hurt you!”
The door slides open, exposing my Starbreaker suit. I climb into the chamber and step back into my armor. It’s been years since I’ve been inside of it. Few missions need such chaos.
The pieces ratchet around me, sealing me in a cocoon of metal, engines, shields, and weapons. But I am the only weapon we really need tonight.
I step out and get looks of terror from the crew as I pass.
