Jordan is on her side near the scaffolding, blood dark on her clothing, face pale, eyes—eyes open.
Still alive.
Thank whatever cruel god runs this universe.
She tries to push herself up with bound hands and fails, jaw clenched so hard I can see the strain even from here.
My heart does something stupid in my chest.
I don’t let it slow me.
“SMOKE!” Jessa screams.
Canisters burst, flooding the platform with thick gray clouds that swallow sightlines and break optics. EM disruption pulses ripple out, making drones jitter and rifles glitch. My boarding teams move like shadows inside the fog, controlled bursts of stun fire dropping shooters before they can line up clean shots.
I hit Jordan’s side in two strides, dropping to one knee beside her.
She looks up at me, eyes glassy with pain and dust, lips splitting into a tiny, vicious smile.
“Took you long enough,” she rasps.
My throat tightens.
“Shut up,” I growl, and my hands are already cutting her restraints—polymer cuffs snapping under the cutter’s heat. Her skin is cold and slick with sweat. The smell of blood hits me—metallic, sharp.
She flinches when I move her. I swear under my breath.
“Where’s—” she starts, then coughs, face twisting.
“Later,” I snap. “Breathe now.”
Med team surges in—Dr. Senn and two techs with a hover stretcher. They slide it under her with practiced speed.
Jordan’s hand—free now—grips my sleeve weakly.
“Morazin—” she whispers, eyes fierce even through pain.
“Alive,” I say immediately. “In restraints. On camera.”
A flicker of relief crosses her face, then she winces, breath catching.
Morazin’s voice—distant now, furious—echoes from somewhere behind, dragged down a corridor by my men.
“YOU THINK THIS ENDS IT?” he screams. “THEY’LL BURY YOU—THEY’LL BURY HER?—!”
Jordan’s eyes close briefly, then open again, blazing.
“Let him scream,” she whispers, voice ragged. “He sounds… desperate.”
I lean close, voice low. “Stay with me.”
Her mouth twitches faintly. “Not sentimental, remember?”
I snarl softly. “Don’t start.”
The med team wheels her toward evac under smoke cover. My boarding teams keep firing controlled bursts, pushing Morazin’s remaining guards back, cutting off angles, erasing threat.
Renn’s voice hits my ear. “Boss, reinforcements incoming—multiple signatures now. We gotta lift.”
