“No, that was just one,” T’arq replied grimly.
“Remind me how many charges we put out?” she choked out.
“Twenty-six.”
“Fuck.” She closed her eyes and gripped the handsets of the co-pilot’s chair.
T’arq couldn’t agree more. If they didn’t get away, they were going to be blown to bits with the rest of the enemy base, caught up in the blast wave that would rip them into pieces. He pushed the shuttle to move as fast as it could away from the Xakul position.
A second blast was chased by a third until there was a cascade of explosions that rocked the ship repeatedly. T’arq flew like he had never flown before, using everything at his disposal to dodge flying pieces of debris and rock as they shot through the asteroid belt at a pace he would have previously considered reckless.
A siren sounded.
“Incoming Xakul fighters,” Laila said.
“Domik?” Zac asked.
“Plasma cannon primed and ready,” he replied.
Zac scanned a tablet in his hand before tapping the screen decisively with a finger. “T’arq, can you take us on a route that will weave through all those fighters? Let’s finish the job.”
T’arq grinned. “I thought you’d never ask.” This was the flying he lived for. “Ready for a wild ride?”
“You mean that wasn’t wild?” She gaped.
“Now, T’arq!” Zac shouted.
T’arq had no time to reply as he flew the shuttle into the middle of the closest group of Xakul. As soon as they were within range, Domik blasted the lead ship with the plasma cannon. T’arq dodged and weaved between fighters, over the top, and underneath, before sailing easily through the gap and away from the enemy fleet, which now resembled a heap of space junk.
As he plotted the route out of the asteroid field, he glanced at Krystal, who was gripping the armrests tightly, her face pale. “Are you ok, Krys?”
“Have you ever been on a rollercoaster?” She choked out.
He had no idea what she was talking about it. “What?”
“Never mind. Yes, I’m fine. Never better. Totally wonderful. Absolutely amazing.” Her words were punctuated by the bouncing of one knee.
T’arq grinned. She was nervous, but he knew exactly what to do. He sang. A burst of laughter came from behind him and soon Laila had joined in, and then CJ and finally Krystal.
And that’s how T’arq came to be flying a cloaked shuttle away from Xakul fighters while singing Highway to the Danger Zone.
* * *
As the Zataras emerged in their sights, T’arq was thankful to see no Xakul in sight. Or at least, none that weren’t now space junk.
“Ooo. Someone had a bad day,” CJ joked, and Tarq’s lips twitched in amusement.
He guided the ship into the hangar, setting the shuttle down in its designated spot and powering down the engines. As the ship’s pressure equalized with that of the starship, T’arq opened the ramp to the cargo hold so the crew could disembark.
The hangar bay was filled with Taureans and humans alike. Repair crews were working on damaged ships while those that were ready to be flown were being refueled. People rushed this way and that, the overall effect chaotic.
T’arq stepped off the ramp, the last to leave the shuttle. Krystal was standing with Laila, heads close together as they talked. His chest felt tight as he took a step closer. She glanced at him, then turned and walked away.
“Krystal?” He called out, but she didn’t turn. He called again, louder, “Krystal!”
She stopped, and squaring her shoulders, turned to face him. “Yes?”
He stalked toward her, stopping when he was just outside of arm’s reach. He didn’t trust himself to just reach out and pull her into his arms. This was important. He couldn’t screw this up.
