Mace gets up and hurries after us. Fury’s augmented shield takes hits between his Torching bursts that wipe out bullets and bodies. Thruster roars in and sets down, his shield flickering out.
“I’m low on power.” Thruster rushes ahead of me with Fury so that I’m at the back, Shifter just ahead.
When we enter the hangar, I find Karambit clawing his way up the wall to a security system in the ceiling that’s preventing the hangar from opening.
Thruster>>Local: Kelta on approach. We’re going to have to run for it.
A squad of Solcrue bursts into the hangar, sees Karambit and fires. I leave Shifter vulnerable to leap up and sling my wings up in a shield. I take three hits, but Karambit takes one too. He arches and falls, scraping his claws erratically as the hangar door opens and a sealscreen shimmer becomes visible.
Commander Savage>>Local: Everyone out now!
Fury fires back at the Solcrue as Javelin picks up Karambit and darts out of the hangar into space. Redline smashes into Shifter, Whip into Firebolt, and Fury into Mace. Menace and Savage guard Sefina as they make the jump. Thruster rockets out. I am last. I don’t get up as much speed as them, but I don’t need it. I have mass, and I need to be the shield behind them.
The moment my feet leave the deck and air pressure behind, I open my wings.
Savage’s squad lands on Kelta’s ship first. Fury’s crew is second. Mine only half makes it. Mace lands with Firebolt, but Javelin struggles to hang onto Karambit’s failing body. I land, grab Karambit’s dangling leg, find a handhold, and lay my wings over my Titan Brothers and Sefina.
Armor>>Kelta: Locked in. Go!
Timer 2: 0:12 remaining.
Kelta’s engines kick hard, straining my grip as we race away fromCorenge.
Please work.
Timer 2: 0:10 remaining.
My Brothers watch behind us as Kelta races us with redlined thrusters.
Kelta>>Local: We’re not going to make it out of the blast range. I need more power!
Thruster slides back on the ship and opens ports on his body.
Thruster>>Local: Firebolt, hit me. Don’t ask, just do it, now!
Firebolt glances at me. He’ll destroy Thruster. We all know it.
Thruster>>Local: Kelta, I love you.
Firebolt releases a surge that Thruster’s body takes in like he’s practiced some sort of insane new form of torture. Thruster seizes. His engines brighten so much I fear he’ll explode.
Firebolt strains to pull back, but he’s always had trouble with restraint. There’s a baseline discharge that he has to send out before his system will shut off.
I cannot stop him or help either of them. All we can do is watch Thruster sacrifice himself for us.
Corengepops with light behind us. It fractures in two as the fuel systems detonate. The bright green blast ring surges out, heading for us.
Armor>>Thruster: We’re going to make it. Shut down, Brother. I will catch you.
Thruster’s engines dim and wink out. His grip slips, and he begins to drift behind us. I catch his wrist and draw his body under the shield of mine.
Kelta>>Local: Why is Thruster not responding?
Commander Savage looks down at the hull we’re hunkered against as she flies us out of range.
Kelta>>Local: Someone respond!
Fury>>Local: Get us to the BlazeStar as fast as you can.
