Suddenly she was shoved forward. She smacked into the ground, her forehead striking hard. She spun, backing up on her hands and butt.
She looked at her attacker and her pulse jumped. She swallowed at the lump lodged in her throat.
A tall, lean figure encased all in black body armor loomed over her. Even his head was covered by a helmet and visor. He looked scary without even trying.
“What do you want? E-creds?” Eos grabbed the Sync she had in her pocket. “Here.” She tossed it on the floor. “I’ll give you the code to access what I have.”
Her attacker stepped forward, crushing the communicator under black knee-high boots. “I want Star’s End.”
Oh no. The eerie electronic voice made Eos’ chest constrict. “I don’t have anything to tell you.”
The man pulled a long slim baton from some sort of holster on his back. A quick shake and the baton elongated. A sharp silver blade emerged.
Not a modern energy weapon but an old-world sword.
Eos’ heart hammered against her ribs. There was no way she was giving up Star’s End.
It was all she had left.
She jumped up, launched forward, and tackled the man.
The sword went flying and they both hit the dirt hard. But the man was as quick as a Vedian asp. He pushed Eos off and leaped to his feet in a single lithe move. He snatched up the sword.
Suva help her. Eos backed up. Then she turned and ran.
She sprinted through the building, dodging around some crates. Her attacker didn’t make a sound, but she knew he was close behind her.
Ahead, she spotted a doorway. If she could get back out in the crowd, she had a chance.
Then something fell from the ceiling.
Eos dived and rolled. A big body slammed into the figure in black, taking him to the ground.
Dathan.He wrestled the other man in a quick deadly fight. Neither held back. As Dathan got punched hard in the ribs, Eos winced.
He rolled away and got to his knees. “Didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
The figure in black straightened. “Nice solarburn.”
Dathan rose. “I owe you for that.” His hands flexed. “And for taking my treasure.”
“I’m not here for you.”
“No, I’m well aware you prefer one-upping my brother.”
“Your brother is a worthy adversary.”
“Well, you’ll have to make do with me.”
They crashed together again.
Eos looked around, searching for a weapon. The sword was under the attacker’s feet. She scrambled closer to a pile of crates. One was partly broken. She snapped off a piece of wood. It was long and narrow but solid. She hefted it like a batter for the Inter-system League.
Neither of the men looked up. As they rolled into her legs, she aimed for the black helmet.
Whack.The man recoiled, and Dathan leaped up.
“Come on, Doc.” He grabbed her hand and yanked her.
