Claim of Eon - Anna Hackett Page 0,10
hug the young recruits.
She touched the helian on her wrist and felt it pulse. It was the only thing she’d felt truly close to her entire life. She respected her fellow warriors, counted Malax as a friend, but she’d never go to him for personal advice or comfort.
Finally, Thessa appeared in range.
“On-screen,” Malax called out.
Thessa was a small, forest moon, and the four pirate ships were clustered together in orbit.
“Take them out,” he ordered.
“With pleasure,” Sabin replied.
Missiles launched from the Rengard, arcing through space. Impassively, Airen watched as the pirate ships turned to face them.
But it was too late. A few missiles were all it took.
The first ship blew into tiny pieces. The others tried to run, abandoning their people on the ground. Typical.
But Sabin and his team were ruthless. Moments later, all the ships were just space debris.
“Let’s get to the surface,” Malax commanded.
Airen saw one of Sabin’s rare smiles. “I’ll assemble my team.”
Malax kissed Wren. “We’ll be back soon.”
“Be careful down there,” the woman said.
When Airen entered the hangar bay with several of her warriors, she’d already formed her helian armor.
She spotted Donovan, suited up in his Terran spacesuit. The high-tech fabric clung to him, highlighting every muscle in his body. He could pass for a warrior, except for the short hair and darker skin.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Oh, I’m past ready,” she said.
They all settled in their seats aboard the shuttle and pulled their harnesses on. The shuttle took off, several others following behind them. Malax rose, standing behind Sabin’s pilot seat. His gaze was on the viewscreen.
The small, green moon got larger, and then they were descending into the moon’s atmosphere.
Plumes of smoke rose up in the early-morning darkness. As they neared the science outpost, there was a violent explosion on the ground.
Cren. Airen tried to calm her racing heartbeat. There were children at this outpost, families and scientists. They weren’t all warriors.
These pirates would pay. The Kantos would pay.
As soon as they landed on the outskirts of the community, every warrior on the shuttle stood.
Malax pressed the side door controls. “Let’s save our people. Protect our Empire.”
They poured out of the shuttle and broke into a run, moving in formation, weapons forming on their arms.
She glanced at Donovan. He held his rifle with total ease. It was clear he knew how to use it well.
The sharp scent of smoke filled her senses.
“Look out for traps,” she warned Donovan. “The pirates are well known for that.”
They sprinted through the trees, and Airen’s senses sharpened. She was a warrior and she was ready to fight.
Ahead, the ground gave way in a few places. Several warriors fell into freshly dug holes that had been covered by leaves.
She heard cursing.
“Pull them out,” Sabin ordered.
“There’s some sort of chemical in the bottom,” someone cried out. “It’s burning!”
“Anyone hurt?” Malax boomed.
“No!”
Cren-cursed pirates. Airen watched Donovan’s body tense. She scanned ahead. “What?”
Suddenly, he spun and jumped on her. They hit the ground, just as several projectiles whizzed over their heads.
“Down!” Malax roared. The war commander crouched behind a tree.
“You okay?” Donovan asked, moving off her.
She nodded, dusting herself off as they crouched.
“There.” She spotted movement in the trees.
Donovan moved. Fast. He leaped up.
“Donovan!” she whisper-yelled.
He ran across the ground, his powerful body moving like liquid. Several projectiles peppered the ground behind him.
Heart pounding, Airen formed a blaster on her arm and shot a blast of energy into the trees. She heard a scream.
Donovan got closer, his weapon drawn. He fired up into the branches, then swiveled and fired again. He moved and squeezed off another shot, using his weapon like an extension of his body.
He disappeared into the trees. A second later, he strode out, dragging a writhing pirate behind him.
“Tie him up,” Malax ordered. “Once we subdue the rest, we’ll have a nice chat with our new friend.”
The pirate was injured and bleeding, and Malax’s tone made him blanch.
Another explosion rocked the outpost.
“Let’s move!” Airen yelled.
Donovan used his laser scope, zeroing in on a running pirate and fired.
The laser hit the man, and he stumbled and fell. The Eon woman he’d been chasing flew into the arms of an Eon man, sobbing against his chest.
These Eon weren’t warriors. They were scientists and their families.
A blast of energy filled the air, and he turned to see Airen firing on a trio of pirates. He didn’t understand the intricacies of how the helians converted energy, but it was amazing to see the helian weapons at work.
Malax sprinted forward, Sabin one step behind him. Both men