“We’re getting close to the meeting point.” Sorkyl, the only other vorpyr on the craft, said.
A minute later, the craft bumped something and jolted us. I reflexively reached to grab Jaron, as if I could steady him.
“What was that?” Tatiana’s expression was alarmed.
Kyvar held onto the back of a chair, still standing. “Sorkyl, adjust—” another jolt made the ship shudder, and he had to brace to stay on his feet.
“What the kraul?” Sorkyl planted his feet wide.
“Engage the krauling shields!” Kyvar barked as he took manual control of the ship, tapping out commands.
I gripped the edge of the seat as something else hit the ship, making the lights flicker dangerously. We nosedived. It all happened in a matter of moments, but it seemed to pass before me in slow motion.
Kyvar let loose a string of curses as the ship angled sharply for the ground. Sorkyl was thrown into the air and energy belts slid around our chests and waists to keep us in the seats as the powerless ship careened. A yellow energy net flared outside the viewing window as we plummeted. The net slowed the descent of the ship until we hit the ground, the violent snapping of trees and shrieking of metal on the ground dominating the air, the energy belts punishing as they kept me pinned in place. Then time resumed.
An explosion wrenched the ship to the side one more time before lasers pierced it, cutting a hole in it within moments.
Growls of rage filled the ship as Kyvar and Sorkyl lunged toward the opening.
I slammed my hand down on the release button for my belt and lunged to my feet as soon as I was free. Tatiana was gaping, her eyes round with shock. Even Jaron seemed to struggle to maintain his composure as the sounds of laser fire, screeching metal, and cries of pain floated through the opening in the ship. I pressed their belt releases.
“Keep it together.” I snapped, tugging on Tatiana’s arm. I didn’t know what was happening, but we needed to get out of here and find somewhere safe to shelter. Jaron seemed to snap out of it and grabbed Tatiana, hauling her to her feet and pushing her toward the hole.
I put a hand out to them, palm up, and crept close, easing my head around the cauterized metal enough to see what was happening. Chaos spread before me and my stomach rolled. Arrazyl, Kyvar, Sorkyl, and Pyravor faced off against dozens of men and women with both regular and laser rifles, and plas grenades. Blood splattered the ground and already people lay dead, throats and chests flayed open. I watched, helpless, as a laser rifle clipped Arrazyl’s leg as he used his wings to propel him so fast he was hard to track. He snarled in fury and whirled. Theman holding the rifle backed up toward his nearest teammate, and they both fired at Arrazyl as he moved toward them with predatory grace.
I gasped and nausea clutched me in its grip as Arrazyl landed on the first man, gripping his head and snapping it to the side. The second man tried to run, firing wildly behind him, but all that did was make his end something he didn’t see coming as Arrazyl used his claws to slice deep into his back, then he jerked him around and slashed the man’s throat, sending a spray of blood soaking him and everything around them.
“Jacqueline!” Someone shook my shoulder violently. I jerked back from the scene, trying to banish the vision of blood I’d just seen. Jaron peered into my eyes. “Keep the shock for later. What’s happening? We need an exit. We can’t stay here.”
I blinked several times to clear my sight and steeled myself. “If we keep close to the side of the ship, we can make it into the jungle within several steps and use it to hide our retreat. The problem is the weapon fire and plas grenades. It’s a war zone out there. We could easily be hit.” As if to emphasize my point, a bullet bounced off the ship near the opening, too close for comfort.
Tatiana sucked in a breath.
“We can’t stay here.” Jaron repeated, looking like he was in shock himself.
I looked around. “Are there any energy shields in here? Or even the metal the ship is made of, nironum, I think, should deflect fire.”
We started looking, but the ship was small and only had so many compartments. A scream sounded near the hole in the ship and I reflexively covered my head while Jaron crouched low next to me.
Further out, a guttural roar of pain shook me to my bones. Fear for Arrazyl raised its head, but I forced it down. He’d madehis choice. Now it was time to make mine. And this time I would protect Jaron and Tatiana.
I found a laser torch. Worth a shot. I took it to the wall of the ship. The heat was almost unbearable, despite the four-foot length of the nozzle keeping it away. Even at that, the wall was painfully slow to respond to the blast of direct laser heat. A shield made from the ship wouldn’t work.
“Jac!” At Jaron’s call, I turned the torch off and pivoted to see what had him so alarmed.
A woman with a rifle had hopped into the ship. “Juliet and Jaron Monroe? Tatiana Hall?” She didn’t wait for us to respond. “I’m lieutenant Dunn and part of the rescue team. I’m here to get you to safety.”
I stared at her in disbelief. “The people who shot down the ship we were on are claiming to be here torescueus?”
“We had to neutralize all the vorpyr before they realized what was happening.” She said impatiently. “Let’s move.”
“To where?” Jaron held a hand up in a stop motion. “We need to know where we’re going. What if we get separated from you?”
“There’s a shuttle to take you to the main ship half a klick to the northwest of here in a clearing.”
Relief swelled on Tatiana and Jaron’s faces, but all I felt was sick.
“What’s happening out there?” I asked. It was a stupid question, but my brain was trying to process the horrifying event and right now I just couldn’t.
