The Alien's Equal (Drixonian Warrior #7) - Ella Maven Page 0,45

doors, most likely reinforced, held firm. I wasn’t sure how long that would be the case. More Kulks would be arriving.

Still on my back on the floor, I rolled over to find Justine digging through her pack. “Get to the controls.” I grimaced as my voice trembled, weak with pain.

“I’m looking for medis!” Her eyes were wild as she pawed through our supplies, tossing things everywhere.

“I have some in my pack,” I said. “Stop worrying about me and get to the controls.”

“Your leg is shredded!” She cried out, and that was when I saw the tear tracks on her cheeks. She was panicking, her hands shaking and her face pale.

“Justine,” I sought to keep my voice even. “I will live.”

“Nero.” Her voice caught as her worried gaze dipped to my injury.

“Go,” I reached for my long-range weapon. “I need to hold our position and keep them from taking back control of the pod.”

She bit her lip. “How are you going to do that?”

I pointed to a porthole window. “I’m going to shoot at anything that gets close to us.”

“So, wait… I—”

“You’re going to have to do disable the security system yourself.”

Her breathing sped up until she was nearly panting with anxiety. “This is FUBAR,” she muttered, shaking her head. “Tit’s up. For fuck’s sake, I’m trying to be positive here, Nero, but I can’t think straight with you bleeding all over the goddamn floor—”

“You can do this,” I grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “I know you can.” She sniffed as her gaze trailed to my leg. I avoided looking at it again. “Come on, little bird. Do this for me so we can fly.”

She nodded wordlessly, her eyes a bit dazed as she staggered to her feet and stumbled toward the control panels. The hub looked exactly as I thought it would, so what I’d taught Justine would be relevant. A wheeled chair sat in the middle of the rectangular pod. Along each long wall were control panels. The one with a dozen monitors controlled the security system and the other with fewer screens controlled the city’s communication, utilities, and data bank. Justine sank down in the chair, her body tiny in the room meant for the tall Uldani and broad Kulks.

Grabbing my long-range gun from where it was strapped to my back, I crawled over to the porthole window. Punching it out with my machets, I set the tip of my laser gun in the hole I created. Then I placed my eye at the scope, and waited.

Jarapin had been right. They wouldn’t risk blowing the entire pod to pieces, but they’d do their best to gain entry and take us out. If I could hold them at bay, Justine would have time to hack into the system.

A vehicle whizzed by, and I aimed at the driver’s head. Pulling the trigger, I watched the arc of laser fire sail through the glass to nail the Kulk driver right in the neck. His head lolled off his body and the vehicle, with a Kulk passenger set to lob a laser bomb, tilted wildly to the side before sailing to the left and dropping like a rock.

I glanced behind me to see Justine sitting at the control panel, her trembling fingers motionless. Her lips were moving and her hair that had escaped from her tie circled her head in wild waves.

“Justine!” I barked at her.

Her head went up, and she looked on the verge of a total mental shutdown. “I can’t—” she swallowed. “I can’t think. I can’t...” She shook her head helplessly.

I resisted cursing. This wasn’t her fault. We’d barely had time to practice. Even the most experienced warrior would be panicking at all that had gone wrong. I fired off another shot at a passing vehicle before turning back to her.

“Focus.” I kept my voice calm but firm. “Picture us back in my hut. Remember my voice and what I taught you. Start with their communications satellite.”

“Right.” She swallowed heavily as her eyes darted across the massive control panel.

“Focus on our goals, little bird.” A shudder ran down her body at my lowered voice. “Remember what we’re fighting for.”

A sob burst from her lips as she covered her mouth with her hand.

“You can do this. I know you can.”

Her shoulders heaved as she inhaled deeply. “Focus, Justine,” she murmured to herself. “Focus. Communications satellite. The mission.” She licked her lips as her gaze met mine for a brief second. “Our future.” She tapped at a screen and the