As he hobbled back, he looked over the body of his little brother, really expecting to feel something. Anything at all. Maybe sadness for the loss of his closest blood relation. Or maybe victory and justice for wrongs finally paid back.
But he really did feel… nothing. This game of chase and catch, this anger and resentment, it had all been one sided. Vytln would have lived the rest of his life, completely unconcerned about Kldyn and his family if he had just let it be. And now that he was dead, Vytln felt only concern for his crew, grief for his ship, and the desire to hold his mate in his arms once again.
Turning from Kldyn’s dimming body, he moved to the envirosuit he had discarded and began the slow, painful process of pulling it on.
Chapter 48
Haven
Haven had never seen a dead body before. She thought she’d have a bigger reaction to the one laying prone and flat on the viewing room floor. That was Kldyn. A person. A person she had seen and spoken to – however briefly. And they were gone. Surely, she should feelsomething.
And she did. But it was only relief and worry for Vytln who was grimacing as the envirosuit sealed around him. It was just a bit too tight, as Kldyn was smaller than him, especially in the shoulders. But it still sealed without issue, and Vytln stood with his helmet in hand, watching as she approached through a second hole she cut in the wall – the sofa she had set on fire with the first hole was still burning.
“Are you okay?” She asked, wanting to touch him, reaching out a hand, but stopping herself. She couldn’t see the glow of his scars through the envirosuit, so she was afraid to put her hand down and hurt him any further.
But he took her hand and placed it over his own chest, holding it there so she could feel the steady, singular, strong beat of his heart.
“I’m fine,” he assured her. “What about the others?”
Haven quickly filled him in on everyone hiding in the shelter room, and he nodded once.
“Yes. That’s probably the best thing they could have done. We did our best to reinforce the shelter as much as possible, but there was no way to test it. However…”
“He tried to thinking of something else,” Haven said, stepping back so she could fetch her own helmet. “But the problem was being that we didn't having enough time. And Alred…”
Vytln looked at her when her voice trailed off. “Alred?”
Haven walked slowly to the viewing window and looked out on the wreckage of the Humility. It wasn’t even recognizable as their ship anymore. Just a desolate debris field. But her eyes moved over all the familiar parts and pieces, searching. She had deliberately not messed with the exterior lights so she could still see…
“There!” She pointed at the glass as Vytln limped over to her side.
“What is it?”
“That’s the upper bridge, isn’t it?” She looked back at him. “I am recognizing the outer roof panel. Alred’s core should being there. Or nearing there.”
“Alred stayed behind,” Vytln said. It wasn’t a question. “His core was in the upper bridge, you said? Then it must have been in one of the consoles. I know what those look like. If I can get out there, I can search for it.”
“Wecan searching for it,” Haven corrected, giving him a harsh look. “Alred saying that he tried to sending a message to Ikvar of the peacekeepers. If he is having enough time.”
“That’s a big if,” Vytln frowned. “Connecting to the communication relays and trying to track him down through them would have taken… longer than he had. Did he have a backup plan?”
Haven shook her head. “He got the coordinates to bringing us here. But none of us knowing where we even are.”
Vytln hummed thoughtfully. “Alright. Then, we figure out where we are. We can take one of the evac pods from this ship. At the very least, we can use it to tow the shelter room. I helped build that thing. I’m sure it survived that explosion. It had to. Maybe a little battered, but I wouldn’t be afraid to bet credz on it remaining uncompromised. But it has no thrusters or communication abilities. It can be moved though and, even better, it can survive re-entry. If there’s a planet or something nearby, we can get there in an evac pod.”
“Would Alred bringing us to a planet?”
“A planet, a moon, a colony. Something. Obviously, not something inhabited, or someone would have called the peacekeepers about our being here and the explosion. But somewhere that Alred knew well enough he could get the coordinates in the short time we had.”
Haven cocked her head, noticing the expression on his face. “Do you know where that being is?”
“I have an idea.” Vytln shook his head. “Irrelevant. For now, let’s focus on what we can do. Or actually, whatyoucan do.” He gave her that same tender, adoring look again. “I am atyour mercy, my little pest. How are we tormenting these people here?”
“Depends.” Haven looked him over carefully. “Are you wanting them to get away?”
“Get away?” Vytln looked surprised at the suggestion. “Why would I want that?”
“You killing Kldyn.” She couldn’t bring herself to look at the body. She might not care that he was dead, but it was still uncomfortable, having death so close. “I didn't knowing if you would wanting the others spared without him.”
