Harlow’s threat had worked, Kira noted as her sensors read a decrease in energy output below. The swarm of yellow and orange lights dispersed as the weapons powered down.
Around them, the ship groaned as the metal of the hull flexed under the strain of re-entry.
Kira held onto Jin, pressing him securely against her stomach as the ship hurtled through the upper atmosphere of Ta Sa’Riel.
Streamers of white obscured the view as there was an ominous creak from the ship. A piece of gray metal collided with the windows before ricocheting off the ship.
Kira and Raider shared a grim glance.
It was never a good sign when your ship started disintegrating around you.
They burst through the clouds to find the planet spread out before them. The turbulent gray of the ocean, white caps dotting the waves. In the far distance, the rocky cliffs of the shore beckoned.
Millions of tiny flecks of light, each no bigger than a pin prick, gathered around Kira.
She lifted a hand, fascinated as the orbs landed on her finger, only to soak into her skin a second later.
Several of the flecks drifted toward Jin, melting into his casing.
Kira looked around to find her ship inundated with the light motes. A large river of them headed for Torvald while a smaller branch flowed into Finn.
Even Raider had his own tiny gathering of light.
Given how no one else was reacting to the unusual phenomenon, Kira had to think she was the only one who could see it.
For a split second, her eyesight wavered, the view of the bridge replaced by the image of a tightly coiled translucent creature. Wings wrapped around it like a cocoon.
“How unexpected and rare,” Torvald murmured. “You’re quite sensitive. It’s been a long time since a beloved of the Mea’Ave partook in the adva ka. I think I’ll see some interesting things this cycle.”
Kira took that to mean he could see the light show too. So good to know she wasn’t going crazy.
Any response she might have made was forestalled as the ship’s comms chimed. Raider opened the channel.
A woman’s voice came over the line, her tone crisp and impartial. “You are in violation of our air space. Redirect to the coordinates that are being transmitted to your ship.”
Raider laughed. “You can send all the coordinates you like but that’s not happening.”
“You will face the consequences if you do not redirect,” the woman started.
“I suggest you take a look at your sensors. This ship is basically in free fall. We land where we land. Got a problem, take it up with Roake.” Raider flicked off the comms. “Think that pissed her off?”
“You always did have a winning personality.”
It was why one of the other Curs usually took the point when dealing with those outside their unit.
Raider laughed as the Wanderer continued its breakneck descent. “It might not matter after the next few minutes as we’ll probably all be dead.”
There was that.
“Happy thoughts,” Kira said.
The ocean sped underneath them as they arrowed past the rocky cliffs that served as the boundary for land. Smoke billowed out of the ship’s engines as there was another crack and then part of one wing ripped free.
Kira hung onto Jin for dear life, wishing there was a god she believed in to pray to.
Crash landings weren’t something you got used to. No matter how many times it happened, there was still a level of fear.
A moment where you threw your fate to the wind and hoped it wasn’t your time to go.
