I woke to alarms.
The ship was shaking. The hyperspace swirl outside the window was gone, replaced by normal stars and something else. A ship. Enormous, dark-hulled, hanging in the void like a predator at rest. Bigger than anything I’d seen that wasn’t a station.
ThePenumbra.
Kallum was still beside me. Still breathing. But his eyes were closed and he wasn’t responding when I shook his shoulder.
“Kallum. Wake up. We’re here.”
Nothing.
The comm crackled. A voice, deep and sharp.
“Unidentified vessel, you are on intercept course with a private ship. State your authorization.”
I stared at the console. Didn’t know which button to press. Didn’t know what to say.
“Kallum. I need you to wake up.” I shook him harder. “I don’t know how to dock this thing. I don’t know the authorization codes. Please.”
His eyes flickered open. Unfocused. Lost. Panic swelled through me, my breaths tight in my chest.
“I don’t know my ship’s designation or a code or anything. Please! Hurry! I’m here with Kallum. He’s hurt.”
A pause. Then the voice came back, different now. Less official. More urgent.
“Understood. We’ll bring you in.”
A hanger door flashed open and Kallum’s ship slid inside like a knife into a sheath. Atmosphere readings came back green and I pushed myself outside to the deck.
Before I could look around, a Vinduthi was there. Violet sigils dark against gray skin, eyes snapping like a commander expecting answers.
Rylos. Had to be.
“Where is he?” His voice matched the one from the comm.
“Cockpit. He’s in the cockpit.”
He was already past me. I followed. Watched him drop beside Kallum. Watched his hands move over his body, efficient and quick.
“How long has he been unconscious?”
“In and out for hours. Fully out for the last twenty minutes.”
“The wound?”
“I packed it. Kept pressure the whole flight.”
Rylos looked at me. Something flickered behind his eyes. Assessment. Respect, maybe.
“That bought him time.” He looked back at Kallum. “Get Zarek. We need to move him.”
A moment later, another Vinduthi appeared. Bigger than Rylos. Bigger than Kallum. He lifted Kallum like he weighed nothing and carried him down the ramp.
I tried to follow, but Rylos caught my arm.
“You’re Anhara.”
It wasn’t a question.
