I aim both the weapons toward it. Figures hop out, they go to Jarren’s prone form and one bends over him. Heads swivel as if looking for something…or someone. Did they spot me when the light hit us?
“Mouse?” Niall calls.
Such is my relief, my legs give out for real. And more tears fall. Lots more. My team came for me.
“Mouse?”
“Here!” I stagger to my feet. Then I stumble from the trees and right into Niall’s embrace. It’s better than flying in the Q-net.
His hands run over my back. “Is it gone?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Hysterical tears. Another super power.”
He laughs then sobers. “Can you walk? We need to move fast.” Niall releases me.
“I—”
Radcliff arrives. “Let’s go before they figure out we’re here.” He sweeps me over his shoulder and runs to the shuttle as if he isn’t carrying an extra…er…fifty or so kilos.
Niall’s right behind him. We enter and Radcliff orders the pilot—Morgan—to take off. I’m dropped gently into a seat while he goes into the cockpit. Beau and Elese are securing an unconscious Jarren into another seat, while Niall claims the one next to mine. Within seconds, we’re airborne.
The shuttle suddenly veers to the left. I scramble to click into the harness as the craft makes another hard turn. I clutch Niall’s hand. A bright white light stabs through the windows. It turns an angry red as the roar of an explosion rams into us. The metal floor shudders under our feet. We spin around and drop through the air, becoming weightless. My stomach pushes into my esophagus. Terror wars with nausea. A brief thought flashes that, despite my efforts, I’m still going to get the people I love killed. At least I’m taking Jarren with us. It’s not as comforting as you’d think.
The shuttle lurches forward then accelerates. I’m pressed back into my seat as the engines howl with the strain. After an eternity, the craft levels off. The engines ease into their normal growl. Niall glances at me and I relax my death grip on his hand, but I don’t release it; there might be another missile.
A few minutes later, Morgan calls, “We’re clear. No pursuers.”
They must have figured out that we have Jarren on board. The four of us share big goofy grins. Elese whoops.
“Thanks so—”
“None of that,” Beau says to me. “This is what we do.”
“And we’re extra motivated when it’s one of our own.” Elese hands me a couple of energy bars. “Figured you’d be hungry.”
The adrenaline in my blood has worn off and my stomach growls in response. But my hands are shaking and the wrapper is being…stupid. Niall takes it from me, peels it off with ease, and hands it back.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on bed rest?” I mock growl between bites.
“I thought you were glad I disobeyed orders.”
Ah. He received my message.
Lacing his fingers in my free hand, he says, “Besides, no way I’m lying in bed when my girl calls for help.”
I squeeze his hand. “What about Rance and Zaim?”
“I didn’t even have to ask. They also wanted to come along in the shuttle, but they’re not as good at disobeying orders.”
“And you’ve had lots of practice,” Beau says sourly, but it’s obvious from his grin that he’s kidding.
“You must have taken off soon after we left. How did you avoid getting spotted by Jarren?” I ask.
Beau’s grin widens. “We went the other way.”
Too much has happened for me to puzzle it out.
“We flew around the other side of the planet,” Beau says. “Jarren picked almost the exact opposite side of the world for his base. We could dig straight through it and come up right next to him.”
“But still you were only a few minutes behind.”
Elese laughs. “They wasted some time trying to shake off a hitch hiker. And Morgan pushed this bird well past the speed limit. Girl is a serious adrenaline junkie.”
“I heard that,” Morgan shouts back.
“Sorry! Officer Morgan is a serious adrenaline junkie. Better, sir?”
“Much.”
She smirks, leans toward me, and whispers, “Girl is a bit of a diva, too.”
I shake my head. Someday I’m going to threaten to tell Morgan she said that in exchange for running less laps. Then again, being in better shape certainly helped me today. My arms and legs ache, but I’m alive. A shudder rips through me at the thought of how close I came. A phantom pressure sits between my shoulder blades.
“Hey,” Niall says, sensing my panic. “It’s all right. You’re safe. And it worked out better than expected.” He tilts his head