Thirty seconds.
“Mother.” My voice is steady now. I know what I have to do. “I have a plan. But I need everyone to trust me.”
“Kid, you’re about to tell me something insane, aren’t you.”
“Probably.”
“Go ahead. I’ve already had two near heart attacks this week. What’s one more?”
I lay it out fast—Zip’s access to the network, Rynn’s bio-signature, the targeting redirect. By the time I finish, there’s silence on the channel.
“Let me make sure I understand this,” Mother says slowly. “You want your bonded mate to make himself the biggest target in the system, relying on a sarcastic AI to hack enemy systems inreal-time, hoping the redirect works before the flagship notices and corrects course?”
“Yes.”
“That is, without question, the stupidest plan I have ever heard.”
“I know.”
“It’s something I would have tried at your age.”
“I know.”
Another pause. “Henrok, can you get fortress shields concentrated on Lord Valorian’s position?”
Henrok’s granite voice rumbles through the comm: “Already routing.”
“Suki, targeting data coordination?”
“On it. I’ve got full sensor array feeding to Polly’s position.”
“Luzrak, keep those fleet ships busy.”
“Of course, beloved.”
“Don’t ‘beloved’ me on an open channel, you—” Mother cuts herself off. “Fine. Polly, run your insane plan. But if you get my best courier killed, I swear by every star in this sector—”
“I won’t.” I look at Rynn. Through the bond:Ready?
For you? Always.
“Zip,” I say. “Let’s break something.”
“CAPTAIN, YOU SAY THE SWEETEST THINGS.”
Rynn’s bio-signature flares.
It’s not like before—the survival glow he used in the generator fight. This is something else entirely. He pushes everything he has into it, his scales blazing like a supernova, and the mark on my neck—hismark—flares in resonance. Heat pours through the bond, fierce and bright and absolutely fearless.
Every Meridian sensor in the system locks onto him like he’s another sun.
“Multiple target acquisitions!” Suki’s voice rings sharp. “They’re all retargeting—Polly, this is working!”
Through the fortress sensors, I watch the Meridian formation shatter. Ships that were locked on suicide runs suddenly veer toward Rynn’s position, pulled by targeting computers that can’t resist the blazing signature.
OOPS couriers intercept, weapons blazing.
“Nobody shoots my courier’s mate!” Mother’s voice cracks across the comm. “Keep them busy!”
