Star Raiders (25 page)

“A bit shook-up but fine. This ship came out of a blind spot created by the space anomalies in this area. They hit us before we even knew they were there.” Shy nodded. “How bad’s the damage? Can you engage?”

“A few dings. Force field is holding. But the weapons system is stil down. We can’t return fire. Even if we get them online, it’l be a close fight. They have a class-one battle cruiser! Regulan design!”

“Damn!” Though older, the
Independence
had weapons that matched any cruiser’s when they were online. Kedar had designed and built her wel . Nothing he’d done since could match her for power or endurance—probably one of the reasons she’d never been caught or destroyed. But without her weapons she was no use in protecting Uta.

Shy felt Greyson behind her. Despite the conflict between them, his presence gave her strength. “Can you make out who’s attacking?”

“Dempster,” Greyson answered before Able could speak. “Somehow he tracked us here.”

“The attack on Verus. I knew we slipped away too easy. He must have tagged
Liberty
with a homing device. That’s how he found us at Ramin Five,” Shy guessed.

“Took you long enough to figure it out,” a strange but familiar voice said over the com.

Shy froze. “Dempster.”

“You can cal me Simon.”

“I’l cal you dead, you fujerking bastard.” She wanted to reach through the com and wrap her fingers around his neck.

Dempster’s chuckle sent a chil of foreboding down her spine. “Tsk-tsk. Such language from a lady. I’l have you know my parents were legal y wed.”

“What do you want?” She forced the question through clenched teeth.

Greyson rested a hand on her shoulder. His warmth helped her maintain composure when al she wanted was to rage at her enemy and smother him with insults.

His easy tone grated on Shyanne’s ragged nerves. “You know what I want.” She sneered. “I can’t give you Kedar’s love.”

Dempster’s rasp of laughter chil ed her blood. “I stopped chasing that il usion a long time ago.”

“You’re like a stray dog with his nose pressed against the window of a butcher’s shop, longing for what he knows wil never be his.” She was thankful the vid portion of the com was malfunctioning and he couldn’t see the terror reflected in her eyes. “A sad, mangy, pathetic, little dog.”

“Your tongue hasn’t grown any less sharp since last we spoke.” Dempster’s tone was now hard and low with menace. “Guard it wel , lest someone sees fit to remove it,” he growled. When he spoke again, it was softly. “What I want now is infinitely more valuable and…obtainable.”

Though Shy knew the answer, she played his game and asked, “And that is?” Greyson’s fingers tightened on her shoulder in unspoken support.

“Why, the pleasure of your company, my dear. Of course.” His voice oozed false charm. “That can save everyone down there.”

“No!” Greyson’s and Able’s shouts echoed her own inaudible whisper. Her stomach rol ed in protest. Her knees went weak and only her grip on the console kept her upright.

“I didn’t hear your answer over the shouts, my dear. Think careful y before you reject my offer. The lives of your friends and comrades rest in my hands—or in yours, real y. I have the firepower and time to obliterate your little planet. Come to me and I’l leave them in peace. I’l give you an hour to decide.” Without another word, Dempster terminated the link.

Greyson watched, helpless, as Shyanne sank into a console chair. Her lips looked marble blue against the stark white of her skin. She closed her eyes.

“You can’t turn yourself over to him, Shyanne. It’s suicide,” Able commanded over the com.

“Suicide would be easier,” Shyanne whispered. “He doesn’t want me dead. He just wants me to wish I were.”

“There’s no guarantee once he has you he’l keep his word and leave Uta alone,” Greyson added. He couldn’t let her sacrifice herself. Despite her deception and their blood bond, he couldn’t turn off his emotions: He loved her. There had to be another way to save the innocents.

If they could stal for time, he could activate his UTD and cal for help. It was a thin hope. He doubted Dempster would wait the thirty-six to forty-eight hours it would take for the nearest base to respond. But even if Dempster would agree to wait, how could he convince her to stal without revealing its existence?

“Are any of our ships on the ground operable?” she asked the control er.

“Two.
Liberty
and the new ship. Dane’s.” Dempster had left one ship for Shyanne to use. It seemed that, because of
Lady Hawk
’s stealth ability, his targeting system hadn’t even seen her on the ground. That was a lucky break.

“Get them both ready to fly,” Shyanne ordered. “Evacuate the rest of the personnel to the caves.”

The tower control er hurried to do her bidding.

Greyson grabbed her arm. “You’re not going up there.”

“You have no say in the matter,” she snapped, and tried to jerk free of his hold.

The sharp motion sent a shaft of pain behind his eyes. His head throbbed. He swayed, but didn’t let go. Shyanne went stil and added in a softer tone, “But I’m not giving in to his demand. We’ve a few tricks up our sleeves yet. Sit down before you fal .” She tugged free of his hand and turned back to the com. “Able?”

“Yes, Captain.”

Greyson remained standing, afraid if he sat down he wouldn’t get up again.

Apparently during the explosions he’d hit his head harder than he thought. He heard the relief in Able’s voice.

“How long can you hold
Independence
between Dempster’s ship and the planet?”

“As long as you need, babe.”

She gave a smal laugh. “Good. In fifty minutes, move into position. In the meantime see what you can do to block their planet scans. No sense letting them know what we’re up to down here. And get that blasted weapons system back online!”

“Aye-aye, Captain.”

Shyanne turned to Greyson. “Come on. Now’s your chance to show me just what
Lady Hawk
can do.”

“What have you got in mind?” He swal owed the bile in his throat as he fol owed her out of the tower and across the tarmac to his ship.

She stopped next to
Lady Hawk
, which had been knocked off the pad by a laser blast. The ship sat at an angle, but aside from some dings didn’t look damaged. “You snuck up on
Independence
undetected. Can you do the same to Dempster’s ship?”

“Possibly, but then what?
Lady Hawk
doesn’t have the weaponry to take down a class-one battle cruiser.”

“No, but if we get close enough we can take out her shields, maybe even her weapons system. Once those are disabled, the crew can use
Independence
herself to blow Dempster to hel .” She quickly laid out her plan to detach the bridge and ram Dempster’s ship with the bulk of
Independence
set to self-destruct. Her colorless lips were tight with determination.

He remembered her lecture on
Independence
’s self-destruct option. “It’s a risky move. The explosion might not destroy Dempster’s ship.” She shrugged. “What other choice do we have? Even if
Independence
gets her weapons back online, she’s fairly evenly matched with Dempster’s ship.

There’s no guarantee she’l be the victor.”

He nodded, then wished he hadn’t. Every movement made his stomach rol and his vision blur. To keep from fal ing, he leaned against the side of
Lady Hawk
.

Shyanne lifted his chin with her fingertips and studied his face. The feel of her cool fingers on his skin soothed the pounding in his head.

“You’re in no condition to fly. Go to the caves with the others.” He blinked away the blurring, swal owed heavily and pul ed himself straight.

“There’s no way you’re going alone. I’m fine.”

Concern warred with need in her eyes. Then she nodded and reached for the hatch. “Let’s go.”

“Shyanne!” Matha’s frantic cal stopped her. The older woman charged across the buckled tarmac, her hair in wild disarray, blood streaking her face and clothing.

Shyanne caught the woman as she stumbled. “Are you hurt?”

“No, no. Not me.” Matha’s voice slurred with her sobs.
“Rian.”
What little color remained in Shyanne’s face drained away. Whoever Rian was, it was clear he meant everything to her. A pang of jealousy stabbed Greyson.

“He can’t be. He’s out with Tomas!”

“I’m sorry,” Matha cried. “I cal ed Tomas to bring him home. He needed to see you, and you needed to see him before you left.” She glanced over at him. “And he needed to meet Greyson.”

“Where is he? How bad?”

Though Shyanne’s voice was low and control ed, Greyson sensed the turbulent emotions brewing inside her.

“In town.” Matha took Shyanne’s face in her hands. “It’s bad. Real y bad.”

“No!” Shyanne’s control shattered. She took off at a run.

Chapter Seventeen

Greyson started after Shyanne, but Matha’s hand on his arm stopped him. “Let her go.”

“I need to be with her. I need to help her.” Seeing Shyanne’s pain negated al his anger. No matter what she’d done, he couldn’t wish this on her.

“The only way you can help her is to save her boy.”

“Her boy? Rian is her
son
?” The information rocked him. “He’s a child?”

“Of course. What did you think he was?”

“How old is he? Who’s his father?”

“Nearly ten. And I think you know.” Matha gave him a searching look.

“He’s mine?” Distaste soured his brief joy. He’d fathered a son with his sister.

“Why didn’t she tel me?” But when had he given her the chance?

“There’s no time for this,” Matha said. “He has a head injury. He needs surgery, but our doctor was kil ed when the hospital was hit. Eldin and the
Independence
’s med bay are his only chance. Can you get him there?” Greyson thought of their plan to destroy the
Independence
along with Dempster’s ship. If they carried it out, Shyanne’s son would die. If they didn’t, the boy along with everyone on Uta would be kil ed. It was a devil’s choice.

Rian lay on a makeshift cot in the dim cave. Shy knelt at his side. Amid the cries and whimpers of the other injured, he was stil and quiet. His normal y tan skin looked pale and waxy. His thin, boyish chest rose and fel erratical y.

The smel of blood and antiseptic stung her nostrils. Through the years she’d seen the aftermath of many attacks; her mind had registered the pain and anguish of the survivors, but she’d never let it seep into her heart, to make her feel what they felt. To do so would have left her helpless to act. This time she was powerless to prevent the agony from paralyzing her. If Rian died, nothing else mattered.

For a while Brina sat with her, then left to help care for the others. The girl’s unspoken sympathy nearly shattered Shy’s thinly held control.

Crying loudly, a little girl sat next to an injured woman. Through her pain, the woman murmured soft assurances, and the girl’s sobs quieted.

Memories of another child drifted through Shy’s mind, one laughing and playing hide-and-seek with a serious, dark-eyed boy much like Rian. Loud noises.

Screaming. Hard hands grabbing her. Crying out for her mother. A woman fal ing, blood blossoming across her chest. The flash of fire. Acrid smoke fil ing her lungs…

She shook her head. These memories meant nothing, were mere remnants of her childhood nightmares. She cradled Rian’s hand in hers. His fingers felt cold and fragile, unlike his warm, strong grip when he was awake.

The medic had explained what Rian needed—brain surgery to relieve the pressure—or he’d die. It was a surgery no one on Uta could perform. She had to get him aboard
Independence
, to Eldin. How could she do that? She didn’t know.

But whatever the cost to her, Rian must survive.

She sensed Greyson’s presence before she saw him. Her skin went cold and clammy. She turned her head. He stood behind her, looking down at Rian. This close together, no one could mistake the connection between man and boy. The pain in his eyes echoed that in her heart.

“Why didn’t you tel me I had a son?” he asked.

In a spurt of anger she said, “Would it have mattered?” His silence was an answer. The pain in his eyes made her flinch with guilt.

She’d stolen ten years of his son’s life from him. The warmth generated by her rage drained away, leaving her icy cold.

His shoulders sagged. “You’re going to do it—surrender yourself to Dempster, aren’t you?”

“There’s no other way.” Shuddering with the knowledge of what she was about to do, she tore herself from Rian’s side and stood. “I need your help.”

“On one condition.”

She bristled. “My son’s life lies in the balance and you want to make deals? No more deals. With or without you, I’m getting Rian aboard
Independence
. If you won’t take him, I’l find someone who wil .”

As she turned to leave, he caught her arm in a punishing grip. There’d be bruises. She welcomed the pain.

“You’re the only other pilot capable of flying
Lady Hawk
in stealth mode. And you have another destination.” His grip and tone gentled. “I’m not turning you down.

Rian is my son, too. Help me help you.”

She nodded. Time was running short. In less than thirty minutes Dempster would demand her answer. Without Greyson’s help, Rian would die. Whatever he wanted from her she’d give. “What condition?”

“Wait one minute.” He went over to a medic, one of the few trained personnel remaining from the hospital. After a brief argument, the medic looked at Rian, then nodded and handed over a smal bag. Greyson returned to her.

“Come with me,” he said. “What I have to tel you, no one else can hear.” When she hesitated, he added, “They’l bring Rian to the
Lady Hawk
.” With one last look at Rian, she fol owed Greyson out of the cave.

Neither Shyanne nor Greyson spoke until they reached the landing port. As she’d ordered, both
Lady Hawk
and
Liberty
were prepped and ready to fly. What was left of the tarmac and the tower were both deserted.