Page 15 of On a Rogue Planet
Dathan, bare-chested with cargo pants riding low on his hips, raced forward, a slim-line fire suppresser in his hands. On his left was his wife, Eos, carrying another suppresser, her long dark hair flowing out behind her. On Dathan’s right was Niklas, taller and broader than Dathan, his face more serious and studious.
Another body barreled out of the hangar, following close behind the trio.
Lala, teenaged bomb maker extraordinaire, danced up beside Niklas wearing a pair of neon pink pajamas. A droid the size of a small ball whizzed around her head in a dizzying dance while another bug-shaped droid clung to her shoulder.
The cavalry was coming.
Moments later, Mal heard the clang of metal and the hiss of a laser cutter. A wave of pressure swept the cockpit as air—sweet, sweet oxygen-filled air—flooded the ship.
“Mal! Fuck.”
Dathan stormed into the cockpit and raced to her side. Nik was there seconds later.
She heard a hand-held suppression unit being used and felt hands pressed to her throat, brushing the hair off her face.
“She’s alive.” Intense relief in Dathan’s voice.
“Let’s get her out of here.” Nik’s voice. “The ship’s fire suppression system is working but can’t keep up with the fire.”
“She’ll be pissed. She loves this ship.”
She did. She forced her eyes open. “I’m awake.”
Dathan touched the side of her face. “Shit, Mal, what happened?”
“Fired on.”
“What? Why?”
“Save it, Dath,” Nik said. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Wait!” Mal felt Dathan unstrapping her. “Got to get Xander, too.”
“Xander?” Dathan spun, finally noticing she wasn’t alone.
Nik was unruffled. “You get Mal. I’ll bring him.”
Mal intended to walk, but as soon as she stood, her knees gave way. Dathan swept her into his arms and headed out. Over his shoulder, Mal saw Nik heft the unconscious Xander over his shoulder with a grunt.
Dathan stormed off the ship and across the landing pads to where Eos waited with an arm around Lala.
“Mal, are you okay?” Eos hovered as Dathan set Mal down.
Mal gulped in large quantities of fresh air. Instantly, she felt much steadier. “I’m fine. Enviro was failing, but I’m better now.”
“We’ll check you out in the medbay, just in case,” Dathan said.
Nik arrived, leaned down, and laid Xander down on his back.
Everyone gasped.
“A Centaxian,” Eos breathed.
“And he’s wearing a fucking Centax Security uniform,” Dathan growled.
“Over one hell of a tight, hot body.” Lala rubbed her hands together. “Yum, yum.”
Everyone ignored her.
