If they couldn't outmaneuver their shadow, maybe they could outrun it. Kira hit the thrust. A great force punched her deeper into her chair.
"Warning. You're in danger of imminent death. Do something now."
"We are going to have a very long talk when this is over.” Kira didn’t look away from her monitors.
"Only if we survive,"
Here's hoping they lived long enough.
*
Graydon landed in alight crouch beside Harlow, already tensed to spring toward the ship again. Feared across half the galaxy yet outsmarted by a girl only a few years out of her first decade.
The emperor would laugh himself silly when he heard about this.
Above him, Graydon caught the squawk of protest as Jin's round form darted toward the exit Graydon had just been launched from.
All plans to return to the ship were abruptly abandoned as Graydon raised hiskishield an instant before heat from the ship's thrusters washed over them. A second's delay in his reaction would have seen him and Harlow distilled to ash and bone.
For now, they were safe enough behind the shield, but eventually the extreme heat would penetrate even Graydon'ski.
Behind him, Graydon sensed the flow and movement ofki.Years of working at the Overlord's side told Graydon what the Overlord planned.
As if they planned it, Graydon dropped the shield the second it was safe. A dark blur shot past him. Harlow reached for the ship, even managing to get one hand on it.
As if sensing his presence, it veered at the last second, bucking and rolling like a wild ooros intent on keeping its freedom. Even a Tuann as strong and versed inkias Harlow had no chance to punch his way through.
He flew off the ship, hitting a tree and breaking it in half before sliding to a stop.
Harlow climbed to his feet, looking no worse for wear, his synth armor along with hiskiprotection enough.
Frustrated, Harlow looked up at the rapidly ascending ship which was being desperately pursued by Jin.
"This is an unwelcome turn of events," Harlow said.
Graydon grunted in agreement, watching the ship's dark shape disappear into the night sky.
They could have brought it down with a well-placedkiblast, but it would have been risky. Kira hadn't been strapped in and she’d barely been holding on the last time Graydon saw her. A crash landing could have proved fatal for one or both of the women.
That was something Graydon refused to chance. Even without asking, he knew Harlow felt the same.
"The emperor is going to have a lot to say about this," Graydon said.
A stream of yellow streaked across the sky, lighting it up for a brief second and highlighting Kira's ship.
It rolled, barely evading before the yellow streak swung around for another attempt at bringing it down.
"The planet's defenses just went active," Harlow snarled.
Graydon cursed.
"I'll buy you as much time as I can," Harlow said.
Graydon pressed a finger to his left forearm. "Open channel, priority. Access code, Stormfront.”
Next to him, Harlow brought his hands together with a harsh clap that sent the tops of the tree swaying away from him. His eyes closed as beads of sweat formed on his face. He ripped his hands apart in a quick movement, his left hand sweeping up, around, then away from his face. His right hand mirrored the move, sweeping down, around, and away, dark light following in each hand's path.
Kibuilt before bursting from the center of the pattern, shooting across the sky like a black spear. It crashed into the streak of yellow, its darkness eating away at its light as the ship dove in the opposite direction.
