“You are picking this up very quickly,” Ash said with a grin.
“Did I hurt you?” she asked in concern when she saw him rubbing his chest.
Ash chuckled and shook his head. “I’m fine. You got a good punch in that last time. Remind me not to piss you off,” he replied.
“I…,” Kella started to say when the sound of an alert rang out. “We are approaching the outer rim of Tesla Terra’s space. We should be able to relay a shortwave transmission to the planet. It is less likely to be picked up by the Legion because of the frequency.”
“That’s—“ he cringed when a high-pitched alarm suddenly sounded. What was that?” Ash asked over the noise.
“The shields have been activated,” Kella said, taking off down the corridor at a run.
Kella grabbed the railing and jumped up to the cockpit level. She sank down into the pilot’s seat and swiveled around. Her fingers flashed over the console.
“What is it?” Ash asked, sitting down in the co-pilot’s seat.
“We are too late. The Legion forces have already arrived. Ash, I need you to operate the weapons,” Kella said, watching as fighters streamed out of the two Battle Cruisers.
“Holy shit,” Ash muttered as he watched a large wave of fighters begin firing on the Legion’s fighters as they exited the Battle Cruisers.
“That must be the rebels attacking,” Kella said. “Fire at anything that comes at us. We need to….”
Both of them watched in horrified fascination as first one and then the second Battle Cruiser suddenly began to break apart. Kella felt as if time stood still while her brain processed what was happening. It was only when she saw the shockwave rippling through those unfortunate enough to be too close to the destruction that she realized the danger they were in as well.
“Full shields forward, reverse engines maximum thrust, brace for impact,” she said with growing alarm as the magnitude of what was happening hit her.
Kella and Ash both grabbed for the straps on their seats. Trying to work them with one hand while operating the ship with the other, Kella cursed and slammed the controls for the thrusters into full reverse before grabbing both ends of the straps and snapping the buckle.
“Can you shoot some of the larger debris?” Kella asked.
“You got it. This will be like playing Space Invaders back home… just a little more meaningful and deadly,” he replied.
Kella rerouted as much power as she could to the forward shields. Freighters were designed to handle some large impacts, but nothing of this magnitude. If that wasn’t enough, there were a few Legion fighters who still weren’t aware of what was going on with the Battle Cruisers. Two Legion fighters zeroed in on their freighter. Kella reached up and shut off the alarms. Red lights flashed all over the console in response to the shockwave barreling toward them.
“One and two,” Ash said in a grim tone, firing on two large pieces of debris heading in their direction. “Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are about to get a couple of torpedoes shoved up their tailpipe, or in this case, the shockwave of an exploding big ass Battle Cruiser.”
The two must have just realized what was happening because they suddenly started to veer off in different directions. The shockwave hit both of them broadside. The force was great enough that they were both sent spinning out of control. The debris fragments from destroyed fighters and the Battle Cruisers sliced through the last two fighters like a hot knife through butter.
Kella held her breath before she remembered what Ash told her about releasing it to help reduce the pain from a punch. They were about to get a major punch. She just hoped her freighter could handle it.
“Brace for impact,” she said, turning to look at Ash’s face.
The moment before impact, all the air felt like it was being sucked out of the freighter. Kella actually felt her body being pulled forward before it was slammed back against her seat with enough force to stun her. Her gaze remained glued to Ash. The muscles in his arms strained as he continued to grip the controls to the weapons. He continued to fire even while they were momentarily lifted out of their seats as the first shockwave passed over them.
New warning alarms began to shriek. Kella could see the power shield gages dropping as a second and third shockwave battered their aircraft. Engine three shut down when it overheated and engine four went into safety mode, powering down, but not cutting off.
Several minutes passed before the massive turbulence stopped. All around them were floating pieces of debris. In the distance, Kella could see numerous fragments falling toward the planet. They glowed brightly as they entered the planet’s atmosphere. Many would completely burn up long before they could reach the planet, but some of the largest pieces would not.
“Do you have any idea what the hell just happened?” Ash asked, sitting in his seat looking stunned.
“They – They blew up two of the Legion’s Battle Cruisers,” Kella replied in a low, shocked tone.
“It looks like they are taking care of any surviving stragglers. We need to let the Gallant Order know not to attack us,” Ash said.
“Yes. I’ve had the communications off because we could be tracked that way,” she admitted, not yet ready to fully disclose who was hunting her now.
“Gallant Order, this is freighter T573821 inbound to Tesla Terra, please hold your fire. I repeat, this is freighter T573821 en route to Tesla Terra,” Kella said.
She frowned when the only answer was static. It was possible that the force of the shockwave damaged the communications system. It was also possible that it caused interference with all the communications systems in the area. Deciding to chance that it was obvious they were not part of the Legion forces, she used the thrusters to guide them slowly through the minefield of wreckage.
“Hold your fire. I don’t want them to mistake us for one of the enemy,” Kella ordered Ash.
Ash leaned forward. “Is there anything left?” he asked.
Kella didn’t answer. Instead, she continued moving carefully through the debris and closer to the planet. Every once in a while she could hear the sound of scraping against the hull when a piece moved against the shielded nose.
“What is that?” Kella asked, frowning and sitting forward.
Ash studied it. It looked like some type of small transport. Sparks from the shuttle lit up the ghostly debris field.
“It looks like it is still intact,” Ash said.
“Josh… Cassa… can you hear me?” a voice suddenly said over the communications system.
“Josh…,” Kella whispered, her eyes widening.
“Phantom One, do you copy?” the same voice repeated.
“Fuck!” Ash exclaimed. “Try to reach them. Ask them what his last known position was.”
Kella nodded and switched the communications system on again. “This is freighter T573821, please identify the missing vessel. We are in the debris field,” she requested.
“Screw this. Hey man, this is Lt. Commander Ashton Haze of the United States Navy requesting information on Lt. Commander Joshua Manson’s last known position and description of his spacecraft, over,” Ash demanded.
“Who is this?” another voice demanded.
Ash leaned forward. “Commander Ashton Haze, United States Navy. I am requesting information on Commander Joshua Manson.”
“You are the one he talked about. The one we were searching for back on Torrian,” the voice stated.
Ash raised an eyebrow at Kella. “Is this Hutu? The son of a devious old blind man named Kubo?” Ash asked.
The sound of a chuckle echoed through the communications system before it faded and was replaced with a somber tone. “Yes. Josh and Cassa were aboard a Legion shuttle. They were heading away from the Battle Cruiser when it exploded. I fear they didn’t make it,” Hutu replied.
“Well, if it is a little gray box we might have found them,” Ash replied.
“Their shuttle was seriously damaged. We will retrieve it and bring it on board the freigh
ter,” Kella replied.
“I’ll meet up with you once you have retrieved the shuttle,” Hutu stated.
Kella’s mouth tightened. “Affirmative,” she stated, unbuckling the straps holding her down.
“Where are you going?” Ash asked, unbuckling his own straps.
“I need you to guide the freighter closer. I will seal off the loading bay so we can winch the shuttle inside. It will be a tight fit, but it can handle it,” she said.
“Wait a minute! How are you going to winch it in? Do you have like a tractor beam technology or something I haven’t seen yet?” he demanded.
Kella looked at him with a confused expression before she shook her head. “I do not know what this tractor beam technology is. I need to attach two cables to the shuttle. If we damage the freighter, we risk dying. If we damage the shuttle, it could be enough to kill whoever is inside if they aren’t already dead. The longer you keep me talking, the more likely it is this will be a waste of our time,” she snapped.
Ash blinked in surprise at her tone. She glanced away. If Ash’s friend was on that shuttle, she needed to do what she could to help him, even if her heart did feel like it was breaking.
22
“Keep an open line of communication with me the entire time,” Ash instructed.
“I will. Let me know once you are adjacent to the shuttle,” Kella replied, adjusting the communications link and sealing the storage bay off from the rest of the ship.
Kella quickly suited up. She shouldered into the propulsion pack and attached a tether to the clip at her waist. She scanned the bay to make sure that everything was secured before she walked over and pulled down the manual override release for the platform. Once the light turned from red to green, Kella pressed the button to open the back platform. She reached up and pressed the upper section as well.
The magnetic boots she wore held her in place while the section decompressed. Glancing up, Kella could see pieces of debris floating by. She would have to be very careful. If a piece hit her, it could propel her away. If it cut through her tether, she would only have the propulsion pack to help her get back to the freighter. If it tore her suit, she would die. The freighter’s shields could only provide her with limited protection.
“We’re coming around,” Ash warned.
“I see it. Thirty degrees to your left… twenty… ten… five… four… three… hold,” Kella instructed. “I’m going out.”
Bending, Kella picked up the large, magnetic tethers in her hand. She walked to the end of the platform before deactivating her boots and kicking off in the direction of the shuttle. She breathed in and out evenly and kept her gaze fixed on the shuttle.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a large section of a fighter heading toward her. She released the two thick tow lines and gripped the handles of the propulsion pack. She barely had time to avoid a collision.
“Damn it, Kella, please be careful,” Ash’s strained voice echoed in her ear.
“I will,” she promised, realizing he could probably see everything from the security feeds.
She retrieved the tow lines and refocused on the shuttle. From the damage she could see outside, she would be amazed if the environmental system was still working. She extended her arm to slow her forward momentum as she neared the shuttle.
“I’ll need to attach a tether to the near side, then have you guide the freighter around to the other side so I can attach the second tether,” Kella said.
“Roger, that. Turning to the Port side on your mark,” Ash repeated.
Kella chuckled. “You are much better at this than I realized,” she teased.
“I may have had a year or twenty of training,” he retorted.
“The first tether is attached. Bring the freighter around on my mark,” Kella said. “Now.”
Ash could feel the tension in his shoulders. The area was a drifting minefield and Kella was in the middle of it. Nothing about the situation was giving him a good feeling. If he had his way, he would be the one out there.
“I’m attaching the second tether now. I can see inside. I see a man and a woman. Neither are conscious. I don’t know if they are alive or not,” Kella said.
“Let me know when I can activate the winch,” Ash replied.
“I’m clear. Activate winch,” Kella instructed.
Ash reached over and set the winch in motion. He felt the freighter jerk as the dead weight stretched the tethers taut before the craft was slowly pulled in. He adjusted the thrust to compensate. Engine three was still offline and engine four was still not at full capacity. He kept it steady, watching the view screen as the shuttle drew closer.
“Ash, there is a large section of debris heading for the tow lines hauling the shuttle,” Kella’s voice warned.
He glanced around trying to get a visual but he couldn’t see anything from this angle. He switched the screen’s view. A low curse escaped him. A large section of what looked like part of a Battle Cruiser was spinning toward them end over end.
“Are you clear?” he demanded.
“If it strikes the tethers or the shuttle, we will lose them,” she said.
“I repeat, are you clear?” Ash demanded.
“I… Yes, I’m clear,” Kella replied in a barely audible voice.
Ash pressed the thrust control down on the freighter. He wasn’t going to lose Josh and he wasn’t going to lose Kella. The freighter slowly pushed forward. He mentally calculated how much time he had. It would be close.
“Come on… come on…. Just a little more,” Ash muttered under his breath.
He swallowed, watching the distance narrowing until the huge chunk of debris passed by, only a small section knocking against the back of the shuttle before continuing on its course and disappearing. Ash’s gaze frantically searched the screen. Where was Kella?
“Kella…,” Ash called out.
“I’m here,” she said.
It took a moment for him to spot her clinging to the side of the shuttle. A wave of weakness washed through him. If he had misjudged the position by less than a meter, he would have lost everything he cared about.
“We need to have a talk when you get back on board,” he swore.
“I know,” she replied, a slight wobble in her voice. “We are coming in now. I’ll pressurize the cargo bay as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Ash slowly guided the freighter out of the heaviest concentration of the debris field. His jaw ached from grinding his teeth. There was nothing he wanted more than to check on Kella and Josh, but he couldn’t – yet.
“Pressurizing now,” Kella said.
Ash watched the light change from red to green. The moment it was safe, he rose out of the pilot seat and jumped down the steps to the corridor. He strode down the corridor, reaching the end at the same time Kella opened the seal between the two sections.
“Ash—” Kella started to say before her words were cut off.
Ash captured Kella’s lips and pulled her roughly against his body. He bent, tightening one arm around her waist while cupping her ass with the other to lift her off the floor. Turning, he pressed her against the wall of the corridor and deepened the kiss for a moment before he released her.
“Don’t you ever scare the hell out of me like that again,” he murmured in a rough voice.
Kella touched his cheek as he lowered her back to the floor. She turned to look at the shuttle. It looked worse in the lighting of the bay.
“We need to check on your friend,“ she said in a voice that held a slight tremble.
Ash drew in a deep breath and released her. He stepped into the cargo bay and walked over to the shuttle. He wasn’t sure how to open the damn thing.
“Stand aside,” Kella warned.
He watched as she pried open a panel with the tip of her knife. Within seconds, she had the outer door open. She glanced at him before stepping through the doorway.
Lights flashed in warning and sparks rained down from many of the instrument panels. L
ying on the floor just inside the doorway was Cassa de Rola. Blood coated a spot at her temple and along one arm.
The woman groaned softly and pushed up only to collapse again. Kella hurried to her and knelt down by her side. Ash bent down next to her. Kella glanced through the opening. The man who must be Ash’s friend sat strapped in the chair. His eyes were closed, blood ran down along his neck, but she could see his chest moving.
“Help me get her to our cabin. I will take care of her there while you help Josh,” Kella said.
Ash’s face paled and his eyes widened. “Aw hell, Josh,” he muttered, taking in his condition.
Kella reached out and touched his arm. “He lives. Help me with the woman,” she requested again.
Ash nodded, helping Kella check the woman for broken bones before he carefully picked her up. He exited the shuttle and strode down the corridor to their cabin, then carefully laid the woman down on the bed.
Kella stood in the doorway. There was an expression on her face that he hadn’t seen before – as if she were sad… and scared. He paused and ran his fingers down along her cheek. She tilted her head back.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Kella nodded. “Go check on your friend. I will care for the woman,” she said.
Ash gazed down at her for a moment before he nodded. He must have been mistaken. If anything, the expression in Kella’s eyes reminded him of the way she looked back in the alley the first night they met.
Striding down the corridor, apprehension and excitement built inside him. He wasn’t alone. Josh survived, which meant there was still a chance that the others did as well. Crossing the cargo bay, he disappeared back inside the shuttle.
23
“You’re a Turbinta,” Cassa de Rola said, warily watching Kella.
“Yes.”
“Are you going to kill us?” the woman demanded in an exhausted voice.
Kella wrung out the warm, damp cloth and held it up. “I would not be cleaning the blood off of you if I was going to draw more,” she pointed out.