We had to fight. An Atlan in full armor was nearly impossible to take down with standard weapons on a good day. These were integrated Atlans who appeared to be permanently frozen in beast mode.
I would have to aim for the head… and not miss.
Fuck.
How did the Nexus unit control the integrated Atlans? And not just one, but two?
There was nothing I could do now. Sambor had, no doubt, seen them as well. Even if I risked warning him about the integrated Altan Hive, I knew my warning would fall on deaf ears. He was doing this, one way or another, no matter the odds. No, he was doing what his training dictated, what he’d been taught, practiced in battle. He was doing his job, despite the odds. If I argued with him, I was being insubordinate, and stupid. Deep down I knew he was correct in his plan. He was determined to get me—all of us—off this planet alive, and I had to respect his command. His honor. Doing anything else would not only undermine his command but show disrespect to my second. I would not dishonor him in such a manner.
Sambor waited until the Nexus unit entered the hull of the wreckage and disappeared from view, taking one fully integrated Atlan bodyguard with him. The other beast stood at the entrance as if guarding the Nexus from his own Hive Scouts and Soldiers.
Interesting.
With a bellow worthy of any Atlan, Sambor leaped from hiding and opened fire, taking down two Scouts closest to him before dashing behind a boulder.
The three heavier Hive Soldiers moved as one to surround him. I could have finished one of them out, but I waited. Sambor had not given me his signal. Stubborn bastard.
Breathing slowly, keeping calm, I kept my rifle aimed at the entrance to the wreckage, hoping the Nexus unit would show himself.
Seconds later he did.
“Now!” Sambor screamed the command, and I pulled the trigger.
The Nexus unit took the hit to his chest and staggered back but did not fall. I fired again. Again.
The integrated Atlan Hive with him bellowed with rage and raced after the Nexus unit, who was moving like… fucking incredible. I’d never seen anything move that fast, especially after being shot with an ion rifle. Not even an Elite Everian Hunter.
He was coming for me, following the trajectory of the ion strike.
I fired again, but the shot seemed to bounce off the Nexus unit as if I were throwing pebbles, not hitting him with one of our strongest weapons, even as he moved closer.
Scrambling back, I made my way to Bahre and helped him to his feet. “We have to move. Now!”
Bahre stumbled for a moment, then righted himself. “What is happening?”
“Sambor is taking on three Soldiers and a Scout. He got two of them.” I tugged at him to force him to move toward the far edge of the small outcropping where I could take cover on a slight overhang and try to kill the Nexus up close and personal. “We have a Nexus unit and two integrated Atlan Hive in beast mode coming at us faster than I’ve ever seen anything move.”
His pained gaze met mine. “Two Atlans?”
I nodded. “Yes. And they can’t keep up with the Nexus unit. Move!”
Bahre leaned on my shoulder as we moved toward the rocks I knew would be the best place to make our last stand. Bahre leaned against the rock, his bulk partially hidden behind me as I positioned myself and my ion rifle to shoot the moment the Nexus unit cleared the boulders in front of us.
Seconds later the Nexus unit appeared like a wild animal chasing prey.
I fired. Direct hit to his abdomen.
Nothing. It didn’t even slow the fucker down.
He stood in front of me and yanked the rifle from my hands, then snapped it in half like it was a twig. “Where is my female?” His voice was deep and mechanical, and there was not an ounce of emotion or battle rage in the question. His female?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I thought to stall him with my response as I motioned Bahre with my hand to move. Get the fuck out of here.
Run.
“My mate,” he added. “Her name is Gwendolyn. She was here, on your ship. Where is she now?”
This was more words than the Nexus unit Helion had been interrogating had spoken in the months we’d had him captive. I avoided looking the blue monster in the eye, but it was hard. The pull to do so was strong. I remembered those dark, lifeless orbs would suck me in and drown me. I’d learned that the hard way, staring at our captive the first time Helion had taken me to see him. Sambor had saved me, knocking me to the side, breaking the Nexus unit’s hold on my mind.