Page 93 of Shielded in the Shadows

In the Vespira’s cockpit, I dropped into the co-pilot’s seat just as the comm screen activated. It mirrored the panel aboard the stealth runner—including the previous comms between Jonor and Sjer.

As Jonor had claimed, Sjer had allowed him to steal the stealth runner and follow us alone, with the agreement that as soon as our destination was reached, he’d send a simple coded transmission with the rendezvous coordinates. The Fleeting Fancy would wait in orbit around Trakhan until then, pretending to believe we were still on the outpost.

Their subsequent discussion of what Sjer and the rest of the Fancy’s crew planned to do to me as payback for my actions on Ghira Station was both illuminating and highly creative.

Their comms had ended as soon as Keela and I had departed aboard the Vespira, probably to help ensure we didn’t detect the stealth runner’s presence on our tail. As angry as I was that their ploy had worked and nearly resulted in Keela’s death, at least I could use it to my advantage now.

Posing as Jonor, I sent the encrypted coordinates for the stealth runner’s location. Minutes later, Sjer sent a reply: a coded phrase that confirmed the Fancy was on its way to Saistea at top speed.

I slumped back in my seat and let out a breath. “Lumos, send a secure message to Deckmaster Byx and request confirmation that the Fancy has departed the outpost.”

“Affirmative. Sending now.”

While the AI contacted our Wundi friend, I hauled myself to my feet. I didn’t need to check on Keela, but every moment I spent away from her side left me feeling incomplete, as if I were missing a limb.

On my way to medbay, I stopped by the galley to make a mug of tea. Like the coffee aboard the Vespira, it was sourced directly from Bacora and exquisite. Perhaps I could persuade Byx to part with a case.

Tea in hand, I peeked in on our heroic Zwee. She was back to her natural pink color, clean of Jonor’s blood, and curled up in the exact center of her bedding nest with her eyes closed and her antennae drooping. When I paused in the cabin doorway, she opened one eye briefly and let out a sleepy little warble. Adorably lethal indeed.

Yes, our guardian would have nothing but the best meals from now on. I’d see to it personally.

In medbay, I gathered the rest of the equipment and supplies I needed to heal my remaining wounds and settled into the medic’s seat next to the pod.

“First Mate Nadal, I have received confirmation from Deckmaster Byx that the Fleeting Fancy has left Trakhan Outpost at a high rate of speed,” Lumos reported. “He believes you are clear to return via the Mborsi shipping lane. Shall I disconnect from the stealth runner and prepare our vessel for departure?”

I considered. “Can you set a self-destruct sequence on the runner that would be triggered when someone attempts to access its controls from inside the cockpit?”

“It would be my pleasure to do so,” Lumos said, sounding positively smug. “Automatic hatch lock on trigger, followed by a three-second countdown?”

“Perfect.”

“Perhaps you would like to record a personal message that would appear on the cockpit screens prior to detonation?”

I grinned, though no one but the AI was present to see it. “You are cold-blooded, Lumos.”

“I will take that as a compliment, First Mate Nadal.”

“It was intended as one.” I took a deep breath and let it out. “No recording. I’ll be satisfied knowing they’re dealt with.”

“Very well, sir.” The AI was clearly disappointed by my decision. “It will take me only a few minutes to set up the auto-destruct and prepare for departure.”

“Good. Set course for Trakhan and maintain cloaking and shadow mode for the duration of the journey.”

“Affirmative.”

With my wings already attended to, I used a dermal regenerator on the deep cut on my left arm. Thanks to my genetically enhanced ability to heal, the wound had already stopped bleeding and begun to close. Ordinarily I might have simply used the same membrane I’d applied to my wings, but the instinct to ensure I was ready and able to defend my mate drove me to expedite the process.

“Self-destruct sequence set and the Vespira is ready to depart,” Lumos said as I finished healing the cut and took a long drink of my tea before moving on to the next wound. “Permission to launch?”

“Granted,” I said, setting my mug aside. “Thank you.”

“Of course.”

I barely felt the lurch when the vessel lifted off. I couldn’t recall experiencing a smoother launch on any ship I’d ever traveled on.

For all this ship’s tech and comforts, though, I craved the familiar colors, tiny rooms, basic food synth, and stiff co-pilot’s seat of the Nivilus. Keela’s pride and joy. Our home.

And just a few minutes later, we were slicing unseen through Saistea’s upper atmosphere on our way back to where we belonged.