Thomar
The Hive prison ship appeared before our shuttle, looming in the pilot’s view screen like a giant wall rushing toward us. With an expertise I admired, the Prillon warrior activated some kind of stealth technology I’d never seen before—another thing I would discuss with Helion later—and slipped our rescue team into an empty cargo bay without being detected. A second craft followed, this one a bit larger and capable of taking back any prisoners we managed to free.
I checked Danika’s armor one more time. Varin had done an excellent job, the armor we’d adapted for our personal use fit her like a second skin. She had asked for a small weapon and Varin and I agreed she needed to be able to protect herself. He had crafted an ion blaster that fit her palm perfectly and a knife that would pierce Hive armor was strapped to her thigh. “Are you ready, mate?”
“Not really.”
Had she lied to be or offered false bravado I would have forced her to remain on the shuttle. But my mate was fierce, protective and would undoubtedly follow me. Better to have her at our sides where we could protect her.
Varin leaned in close and kissed her temple. “We will protect you.”
“I know. I trust you.”
The truth of her statement made my heart ache. She spoke true. Other than Varin, no one had ever gifted me with such blind faith.
Unable to help myself, I kissed her once more before locking her helmet in place. When the shuttle door opened, Helion and his Atlan were first out the door.
We followed them into a large, deserted area of the ship. The abandoned section made me uneasy. Quiet. Covered in space dust and empty containers. It felt like a trap.
“According to our scans, the prisoners are on level four. The integration lab on level three and the hibernation chambers are on level five.” Helion repeated the briefing we’d just had on the ship. We were all experienced warriors. There was no need.
“What level are we on?” Danika whispered to me.
“Six.”
“Are there stairs?” She looked around the cargo bay and I felt her mind settle into the moment. Assessing risk. Looking for exits. She was not panicked or hysterical. Pride and sadness filled me at her reaction. She was strong. She’d had to be.
Perhaps that was why we understood each other so well. We fit. She was perfect for me in a way I had never dared imagine.
I would rip this entire ship to pieces to protect her if need be. Varin must have felt my determination as he turned to me and gave a slight nod. In my mind, his voice stirred.
Danika before all others.
Agreed.
In this we were of one mind. Danika was the single most important being on this ship. Her survival was paramount.
We moved out, Helion and his strike team clearing corridor after corridor as Governor Maxim, Ryston, Doctor Surnen, Varin and I took the rear, Rachel and Danika between our two groups.
We moved through the sixth floor with no enemy contact. The fifth made both Danika and Rachel gasp as we slipped past Hive who were asleep in their hibernation chambers.
“Can we save them, too? Wake them up or something?” Rachel asked Maxim.
Doctor Surnen shook his head. “Not while they are part of the collective mind.”
Helion overheard and his voice came through the comms. “They will not be free until the Nexus unit is destroyed. Which is not our objective. Leave them.”
Danika’s irritation spiked and I felt her empathy for the warriors and fighters who had once been part of the Coalition Fleet.
We passed the last occupied chamber and I glanced at a large Prillon warrior. His face and chest were bare and lined with scars. His legs were massive, clearly augmented with Hive tech. Attached to his wrists were specialized devices of some sort I’d never seen before.
Weapons, no doubt.
I moved past, turned to check behind us.
The Prillon stepped forward and turned to look at me.
Fuck. He had to be designated a Hive Soldier. They were larger than most, harder to kill.