I glance back at Zorin. “I am. He isn’t. But he saved me before he even knew me. And I like to play fair because I didn’t get that in my old life.”
“Alright. Just stay between us,” Corzin says.
Carnas lowers the ramp, and we creep into the hangar. It’s quiet except for the hum of the sealscreen. He closes the ramp behind us as Corzin leads the way through the ship.
There are bodies everywhere. I steady my gun in my sweating palms. I’ve seen it before, just not in such mass numbers.
A Neb soldier eases out, aiming for Corzin. I grab him by the back of the vest and tug as the shot blazes in front of us. Carnas shoots down our attacker, who crumples in the doorway.
Kren’s voice comes over the com. “We’re taking out a lot of Neb fighters, but there are too many. Looks like part of thesquadron is returning to your ship. Keep your eyes open for fresh meat in the lower hangars.”
Corzin clicks back twice, then looks down at me. “Thanks.”
Carnas charges around us, slings his rifle over his shoulder and drops to his knees on the floor.
A pained grunt leaves him as he scoops up a body. When he turns around, exposing Esrynne’s flaccid face and her bloodied stomach, my heart sinks.
“Corzin…” Carnas sniffs her and staggers.
We rush in to stabilize him.
I glance around us as Corzin looks her over.
“Someone’s already packed her wound,” Corzin checks her pulse. “She’s alive, but barely.”
Carnas, funny, sarcasticCarnas, is a wreck.
I can’t make sense of his upset. Holstering my weapon, I covertly set a hand over Carnas’ exposed hand and one to Esrynne’s. It’s a heart-shattering feeling, something deeper than friends.
“Do you know her?” I ask Carnas.
“No. Not really. Not like I want to.”
“It’s a scent-bond.” Corzin steadies his rifle and encourages him back through the ship. “We must get her medical care. There is a bay down the hallway on the left.”
We make our way to the room, get Esrynne on a table, and connect her to an IV.
“Are you sure you’re compatible with Neb meds?” I ask.
Corzin nods as he works. “I’ve used a few myself.”
Carnas doesn’t want to leave but reluctantly closes the door then punches the control panel with enough fury that it startles me. The door auto-locks.
We keep moving through the ship, looking for Azrim, Ignus, Rorsar, Spike, and Marne, and finally find them clustered in a hallway, all except Azrim. Rorsar is barely conscious. Ignus is,but he’s been severely beaten like Zorin. Marne is burned and bleeding, but on guard with Spike, who, at some point, has taken a Neb commander’s hand off. He scans it on the tablet to access data.
“Ignus can help me decipher all of this,” Spike says to Marne, dried blood covering one side of his head. He has a bloodshot eye and several holes in his armor. He frees a silvery needle from the Neb hand he holds and uses it to tap through the screen. “This is going to help track their fleets, find out why they need certain materials, everything.”
“Did you throw some darts, brother?” Corzin asks.
“A few,” Spike replies.
“That’s…”Gross.“Great. We, uh, found Esrynne. She’s in a med bay down the hall. Door won’t open. Have you seen Azrim?”
“They took him toward the forward command deck.” Marne pats Rorsar’s cheek as Rorsar starts to nod off. “Stay with me buddy.” He sighs. “I need to move them toward a more secure location.”
“What do they want with Azrim?” Corzin asks. “Other than the obvious power like Zorin?”
Marne studies Ignus as he props him upright. “I’m not sure. Ignus isn’t descended of the goddess.”
