And if he could hurt the PRAXIS Group in the process, so much the better. World-eating bastards.
Suddenly, Mara turned and stalked toward her ship. She punched in the entry code, and the hatch opened with a hiss.
She said over her shoulder, If youre not on the Arcadia in five minutes, Im leaving without you. Then she marched into the ship, muttering.
Captain Esen looked at the space where Mara Skiren had stood, and he did the same. He expected her to leave an afterimage, like a solar flare burned into the eye.
Her file doesnt do her justice, the captain murmured.
Not much would, sir.
Its not going to be an easy mission.
That is an understatement, sir. Breaching the natural barriers surrounding the Smoke Quadrant,
infiltrating the region of the galaxy known for its ruthless criminals, finding Lieutenant Jur, getting both her and her ship to safety. A challenge, yes, but Kell had undertaken missions just as perilous.
When it came to himself or other members of the Black Wraith Squad, he had complete confidence.
Throw a wild card like Mara into the situation, and all of his carefully planned stratagems became lunar dust. She unbalanced everything. Including him.
Ill bring Lieutenant Jur back, sir.
Captain Esen nodded as if this had never been in doubt. Her Wraith, too, Commander.
And if the Wraith is too damaged to fly He knew the 8th Wings protocol for such situations but wanted direct confirmation from the captain.
Destroy it.
Which meant that there was a possibility he might be stranded, or consigning himself to capture or death.
Of course, sir. He knew without consulting the chrono on his wrist brace that his five minutes were almost up, just as he knew Mara would leave without him if he didnt get his ass on to her ship.
Time to go. He gave the captain a salute, which was returned.
Good luck, Commander. Captain Esen glanced meaningfully at the scavenger ship.
Kell grabbed the duffel bag hed stowed nearby. Black Wraith Squad doesnt need luck.
This mission, you just might.
Taking a deep breath, he boarded the scavenger ship. He had already familiarized himself
with the ships specs. The cockpit at the front connected to a galley, and sleeping quarters lay just beyond that. For one person, the ship would be small but comfortable. For two, however, the situation would be less accommodating. Extremely uncomfortable, actually.
He navigated quickly through the narrow passages to stand just outside the cockpit. Mara sat in the captains chair, running a diagnostic and plotting a course. Her shoulders stiffened at the sound of his boots on the floor. She didnt turn around.
Id tell you to grab a seat for take off, she said, but there isnt one.
Incorrect. He dropped his bag and strode toward the galley. There, at a tiny table, were two seats, the only grudging acknowledgment that someone other than Mara Skiren might be on her ship.
He unlatched one chair and carried it back to the cockpit. She did turn around then, watching as he latched the chair down to the metal grid on the floor of the cockpit. Right beside her. He gave it an experimental shake and was glad to see that it didnt budge.
Now you have a copilot. He dropped into the seat and fought his smile when she scowled at him.
Swiveling back to the control panel, she punched in the launch sequence. The ship hummed to life. The bay doors retracted, revealing the darkness of space, the multitudes of star systems and the gleaming lights of 8th Wing ships on patrol. His pulse kicked a little just to see it. Didnt matter how many times he launched for his own patrol or on a mission. In some ways, he was still that dirty-faced kid staring up at the night sky, wishing himself among the stars.
This wasnt a routine mission, not by a long shot. He had a difficult task ahead of him, and an even more difficult woman beside him.
The lights from the control panel illuminated her face, and again he was struck by how incongruously aristocratic she looked, how coolly beautiful. The sidelong glance she gave him,
though, revealed that she was profoundly unnerved by his presence.
Well, she rattled him too. They were even.
Launching, she murmured, in five, four, three, two, one. Hang on to your balls, Commander.
They blasted off.
Chapter Two
ArcadiaNot very difficult to find the culprit behind the Arcadia s sudden loss of size.
As she piloted toward the Smoke Quadrant, she sent another wary glance out of the corner of her eye. The 8th Wing flyboy was studying the control panel intently, his dark brows drawn down in concentration. His presence beside her was large, warm, masculine. Foreign. Unwanted.
Planning a mutiny?
Frayne didnt look up from his scrutiny of the controls. If I jettison you, I cant get to the Smoke Quadrant.
Nice . Why the inspection?
I always learn whatever ship Im on. Never know when Ill need to take the controls.
Mara bristled. You arent getting your hands on my ship. I promise you that.
He turned to her, and even this slight adjustment of his posture made her feel hemmed in,