The person didn't have to be told twice, heading for the exit without a glance in Kira's direction.
"Just like Paxus," Raider screamed.
He jumped with Odin a second later.
Kira grabbed the J1N, holding it tight as she waited for Himoto. The lieutenant didn't disappoint, doing something to the controls that made the flight path smooth out for a second.
"That should hold it for a moment," Himoto announced, springing out of her seat and sprinting toward the back of the craft.
Kira leapt first. Himoto falling out behind her.
The shuttle burst into flame, exploding a second later.
Kira caught all of it in the first seconds of free fall. The trail of debris burning a path toward the planet's horizon where the sun was just beginning to rise. Shafts of light skated across the surface, reflecting off the clouds below. The vivid colors a contrast against the backdrop of space.
Beyond that were the flashes of light from the distant battle. So silent that it was almost like it wasn't happening.
"Stay safe, my friends," Kira prayed silently as Himoto activated her waveboard.
"Whoa," someone whispered through the comms. "It's kind of beautiful, isn't it?"
"Radio silence, people," Raider instructed. "Let's at least try to act like this isn't our first time."
"No can do, boss. My team needs to draw as much attention as possible to give you a chance," Tank rumbled.
A tap came on Kira's shoulder. She looked over to find Himoto had matched her fall. At a thumbs up from Himoto, Kira grabbed the other's arm and maneuvered her waveboard to sit across the back of Himoto's. The magnetic field initiated, binding the two boards together.
As soon as Kira's board was attached to hers, Himoto banked.
Almost immediately, there were streaks of light from the planet, announcing incoming weapons fire.
"Hold on," Himoto instructed through the comms.
They swerved, losing sight of the groups ahead. Kira did her best to follow Himoto's cues as the lieutenant tried to dodge the pulse beams.
"Drop in three," Himoto ordered.
To their right, a streak darted their way. A hundred feet and closing.
"Three."
Fifty feet. Kira summoned her soul's breath.
"Two."
Fifteen feet.
"One."
Ten feet.
Himoto released Kira's board. Kira thrust out with her soul's breath, relying more on brute force than finesse.
"Holy shit," Himoto screamed as the streak exploded in a fireball that somehow managed to wrap around the human without doing any damage. "Was that you?"
Kira allowed herself a grin at seeing the human unharmed. "We're even now."
With this, her debts to Admiral Himoto had been partially paid.
