Before he grasped the controls, he drew his pistol and shot the security panel beside the wide hangar doors. They slid open, giving the ship a way out.
Almost as soon as the doors open, mercs came pouring in. He fitted his hands to the ships controls, and the cockpit and gunner position closed, sealing him and Mara within the Black Wraiths protective shield. Plasma fire bounced off the ships exterior. But he had more than just plasma pistols and rifles.
He and Mara blasted the mercs with the Black Wraiths guns. The controls of the turret were intuitive for someone as skilled as Mara, and the result was a pile of debris where mercs used to be.
But the damn slime kept coming. He saw mercs running for small, armed ships. It was going to be a fight the whole way.
Buckled up?
All in.
Hold on to your balls, Skiren.
They took off to the sound of her husky laughter.
Kell loved the pitch, deep in his gut, that arose from overcoming gravitys hold. It didnt matter if he was on patrol, training, or on a missionthe sensation of flight, of breaking free never stopped delighting him. Even now, with mercs on his tail and an energy storm to navigate, he savored the sense of forcing his way to freedom.
Mara felt the same. He heard it in her continued laugh as they shot into the sky.
Damn. These Wraiths have a kick to them.
Best fucking propulsion systems in the galaxy. He patted the control panel.
No wonder you 8th Wing hotshots are so eager to fly them. A thrust like this is better than sex.
Better?
Close second. With one exception.
He wanted to ask who that exception might be, but the mercs were closing in and the Black Wraith neared the bottom edge of the storm. The mercs fired. He avoided the pursuers blasts, guiding his ship in quick, tight evasive patterns.
Gods. He took a deep breath. Feels good to fly again.
Feels good to be flown, Mara replied, then cursed as she squeezed off several rounds at pursuing mercs. Two went down, but more kept coming. And only a handful turned around when they saw that Kell headed straight for the storm. The lure of profit overrode their sense of self-
preservation.
The ship bucked as it pierced the thick energy clouds. He engaged the filters and rode the storm.
What had been a painful, shuddering trek in Maras larger, less advanced scavenger ship felt far more sinuous and fluid in the Black Wraith. He had only to think where he needed his ship to be, and it slid perfectly into place.
But it wasnt an easy glide. Lightning and plasma fire streaked around them as mercs kept up their pursuit. He did not flinch when a bolt of lightning struck a close-flying merc ship. Hunks of metal went everywhere as the ship tore apart. Mara cursed at the explosion, then cursed once more, this time in exultation, as more pursuers dropped back, daunted by the storm.
Two mercs jostled their ships into position ahead of the Black Wraith. Through his ships sensors, he noted that the mercs were powering up their magnetic tow nets. Clearly, they wanted to keep the Black Wraith intact so Gavra could try and sell itand him and Mara.
Like hell.
He timed it exactly. He saw the coalescing energy that presaged a lightning strike, and guided the ship close. Pushing the mercs right where he wanted
them to be.
A boom as lightning obliterated one merc ship. Maras gunfire from the turret took care of the other.
The mercs that remained finally grew some brains. They peeled off in retreat.
Mara shouted her jubilation. If we had time, Id kiss you.
His blood, already hot from the thrill of combat, turned incendiary at her casually thrown words.
It was primitive and brutal, his need. They had fought together, fought well, and now his body demanded that he claim her. Now. But that was impossible. He had to get them through the storm,
through the Smoke Quadrant, Ildens Lash, and then make it back the rest of the way to base. Danger at every stage. No time for giving in to his hunger for her.
And the Black Wraith was advanced, but not advanced enough to suddenly accommodate two people making love in the cockpit.
For the first time Kell cursed his ship.
He piloted the Black Wraith through the remainder of the storm, riding the tempests swells and pulses. Abruptly, the thick clouds gave way. The ship broke through to the dark quiet of space.
The Arcadia waited for them.
Gods, I wasnt sure I would see you two again, Celene said over the comm.
Dont insult me, Kell replied.
I forgot my rescuer was the indestructible Commander Frayne.
With help, Mara added. Hows my baby? Concern threaded her voice.
She took the storm like a champion slange wrestler. No damage to the hull.
Mara let out a sigh of relief. Thanks for taking care of her.
A friend of Kells
Friend . He wondered if Mara considered herself his friend. Gods knew, he thought of her as that, and more. He didnt just desire Mara. He admired her. Liked her. He wondered if what she felt for him was strong enough, if she could alter her flight plan to bring him into her life.