“I’m fine.” Exhaustion from burning all thatkipulled on Graydon as Amila steadied him.
Distracted, none of them noticed the way Kent’s expression deadened or the foam that spilled out of his mouth until too late.
“Take cover,” Himoto yelled suddenly.
There was barely any time to react as an explosion tore Kent apart.
Amila pushed Graydon down, her body covering his. Noor moved to intercept the blast, his hastily erectedkishield crumpling like paper.
He took the brunt of the explosion as the ground rocked.
Graydon struggled up, careful to support Amila’s body as those around them started picking themselves up off the floor—those who could still move at least.
“Amila?” he asked, fearing the worst.
His oshota moaned as she shifted. “I’m alive.”
They both stilled as they caught sight of Noor’s body at the same time. The explosive device Kent had installed in his torso was effective, shredding Noor’s synth armor.
The last time Graydon had seen anything like that had been during a battle with the pirates that plagued the Tuann’s borders.
The grief and sorrow in Graydon was reflected in the face of the oshota around them.
To lose any of them was always difficult. More so when the enemy used such a cowardly tactic.
Perhaps if Graydon hadn’t drained hiskiand reacted in time or if the explosion had happened a few feet further away.
Either scenario would have led to a vastly different outcome.
“Those who can move take a headcount,” Himoto ordered from where he propped himself up against the wall.
The admiral’s face was unnaturally white; blood stained the ground around him.
The two humans who’d been tasked with guarding Kent were dead, their remains scattered in several pieces.
“The rest of you, quit gawping and fortify our position,” Himoto ground out as Jace went to his side.
Himoto tried waving the other man away. Jace didn’t listen, breaking open a first aid tube containing coagulant which he sprinkled on Himoto’s wounds.
“You need to go. All of you,” Himoto told Graydon and his oshota.
Graydon didn’t answer. The inside of his head was cold and silent. There would be a reckoning for Noor’s death later, but for now he had compartmentalized.
Noor gave his life for Graydon and Amila. Graydon wouldn’t throw that sacrifice away by wasting the gift on rage and revenge.
The only way they survived was by staying clear headed.
The sound of more enemies echoed along the corridors of the station.
“This isn’t their final game,” Himoto said, holding out his hand to Jace.
The rear admiral glared at it before giving in to Himoto’s expectations and helping the admiral up.
“They didn’t bring enough forces to take over the planet and station,” Himoto said when he was standing again. Pain carved grooves into his face.
Around them, those humans who had survived were already lifting tables and anything they could get their hands on to block the avenues of attack.
“This is all just smoke and mirrors designed to distract you from their true objective,” Himoto said. “You can’t let them win. Go. Kira needs you.”
