He was bringing danger to his mate.
His crew. His home. He’d brought them here.
And he could get them away.
“Captain!” He yelled.
Tanin turned, fists up and ready for whatever threat Vytln was trying to warn him of. He wasn’t ready for Vytln to grab him by the wrist. He jerked him to the side, put his other hand on his back, then threw him.
His captain flew further down the hall. Away from the crowd of males that immediately fell on Vytln, taking advantage of his opening.
Vytln grunted, feeling their heavy weight, their fists, their hands, their blows. But he kept his eyes forward as Tanin hit the ground and rolled, coming back up on his feet.
The only male he respected in the universe looked at him, expression tight, as Vytln let himself be grabbed, hit, and dragged backwards. There was anger in his captain’s eyes. And he knew why. Tanin had not given him permission to sacrificehimself. But it was this, or risk them shooting Haven, or an outside wall around her.
Tanin was back up on his feet, but the males with the plasma pistols were still shooting. He could see the way his captain’s eyes narrowed before he turned and ran, disappearing around the same corner Haven had.
There were a few more plasma bolts melting the metal walls on his heels, but no one else chased after them. Of course not. They’d achieved their objective.
And they weren’t gentle with Vytln as they dragged him back over the bodies of those who had fallen in the attempt. His shoulders were wrenched back painfully, and mag cuffs were snapped on his wrists, entirely too tight. And once his hands were controlled, they punched and kicked him with impunity, laughing and whooping in their victory as they pulled him away.
Leaving the rest of Vytln’s crew safe.
Chapter 42
Haven
Haven didn’t realize how far those guys had managed to break through until, drawn by her curiosity and need to know, she cautiously moved to look around the corner. She thought they’d still be back by main storage, or maybe in the hall just outside of it. She didn’t realize they’d gotten so far that they were only a single turn away from her.
She’d only looked around the corner long enough to realize that they were there, to recognize Vytln’s huge form fighting back, before she turned and ran. Trying to put more distance between herself and that fight.
But she was still trapped because she needed to be close enough to the outside terminal for termites to work on the hijacker. And they weren’t done yet!
She went around a second corner and put her back to the wall, bringing up her tablet to check on their progress again. She figured if they came around that corner, she’d just run to the shelter and hope that the others could finish the job without her.
She was gnawing on her bottom lip, watching the progress of her termites, cursing them for taking so long and apologizing for cursing them in equal measure.
“Come on, come on,” she hissed.
They were so close. Just a bit-
Heavy boots running her way made her gasp. She turned to run even as Tanin was coming around the corner. She barely had a chance to identify him through his helmet when he grabbed her by the upper arm and jerked her along.
“Wait!” She looked back, but Vytln wasn’t there.
“Helmet on,” Tanin ordered, not stopping. “You’re going to the shelter room.”
“But my termites-”
“We’re out of time.”
“Where’s Vytln?”
He didn’t answer, just continued dragging her along. Vytln still wasn’t running with them, and neither were their enemies. Haven’s belly sank, but she refused to think about what could have happened to him. He was fine. He was just… buying them time. That was why Tanin was running like this. To get away from him… buying time.
“Alred!” Tanin barked as the lights flashed.
Haven opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Tanin was turning and grabbing her helmet. He shoved it on her head and pressed the seal. Trapping her inside the envirosuit. It took a second for the microphone to sync up and turn on, buyingher just a brief break from the ever present shriek of the ship alarms.
