Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle #1)(29)

“De’sai …”

“One of the refugees making a run for it,” Finian reports, hands on his hips. “Trying to save their own hind parts while alerting our new friends ab—”

He gets no further, his voice cutting off as the shuttle soundlessly explodes into a million glittering shards, spinning out into space. We all watch it, nobody even seeming to breathe, until Zila breaks the silence in her strangely calm voice.

“One Syldrathi war cruiser, Wraith class, turning straight for us, sir.”

“Maker’s sake,” Ty mutters.

“Transmission incoming,” she reports.

“Onscreen,” Ty orders, turning to his sister. “Scar, work some magic.”

“Magic?” Scarlett raises one sculpted eyebrow in disbelief. “I left my wizard’s staff in my other pants, Bee-bro.”

Tyler meets her gaze squarely. “You got this, Scar.”

An image blossoms to life on the main display. It’s a beautiful young woman, a Syldrathi like Kal, Aedra, First Taneth, like everyone here except the Legionnaires. Her skin is olive, almost golden, her silver hair pulled back into a series of ornate braids. Black armor makes broad shoulders squarer, and it’s adorned with what might be blades. Her canines are filed into sharp points as well—or maybe they just come that way. She’s speaking in what I assume is Syldrathi, but as she registers Scarlett’s features, her scowl deepens, suspicion slipping into her icy tone.

“What are you doing here, Terran?”

“My name is Scarlett Jones,” Scarlett replies smoothly. “My squad and I are representatives of Aurora Legion, here in Neutral Space on an aid mission.”

“You are meddling in Syldrathi affairs.”

“We’re providing medical assistance to refugees, as per the provisos in—”

“Those who aid enemies of the Unbroken become enemies of the Unbroken.”

Scarlett runs one hand through her red hair, widening her stance, bracing herself as though she’s about to throw a punch. “With all due respect, the Aurora Legion is a neutral party in your conflict, ma’am. I advise you to withdraw. We are authorized to respond with force in the event our safety is threatened.”

“Threatened?”

The young woman shakes her head and sneers.

“We make no threats, little Terran. Only promises. Ready your souls for the Void’s embrace. In Caersan’s name, you will be purged.”

The screen drops into sudden black.

“That’s your idea of magic?” Finian asks softly.

“Shut up, Finian!” Scarlett snaps in reply.

“They’re accelerating,” Zila says, calm as ever. “ETA four minutes.”

“Zila, send the mayday,” Ty commands. “Loud and wide as you can.”

Scarlett’s running her hand through her hair again, leaving it a mess. “Nobody’ll respond. If the Terran or Betraskan defense forces hear it, it’s policy not to. And if there was another AL ship within range, we wouldn’t have been sent here in the first place. This is all us.”

Ty simply nods, and presses on. “Finian, you have the bridge. Keep working on those missiles. Zila, stay with him, keep on comms.”

For once, no sass—the two of them simply murmur an acknowledgment and get to work. I think that scares me more than anything else has so far.

“Looks like we’re going with your plan, Kal,” he continues. “You, me, Scar, arms ready. We’ll head for the cargo bay. First Taneth, gather up anyone among your people who has a weapon and meet us there.”

Kal and the Syldrathi girl are already moving toward where the First Taneth and I stand by the door, and Tyler’s eyes are on me as he draws close.

“I don’t suppose you’ve had any combat training?” Ty asks softly.

“Um,” I say. “I mean, I took a self-defense course at school?”

“You cannot intend to send her down there?” Kal says.

Tyler glances at the taller boy. “Give her a sidearm.”

Kal bristles at the suggestion. “That is unwise, sir. She will only be a liability.”

“Hey, listen here, Lord Elrond … ,” I begin.

“We face adepts of the Unbroken,” Kal says to Tyler, not even looking at me. “Syldrathi are faster and stronger than Terrans. And these ones are trained from b—”

“I appreciate the warning, Legionnaire. But we’re in it up to our necks here.”

A small electronic chirp sounds from my breast pocket. “Well, if I may offer an opinion—”

“No, you may not,” Tyler tells Magellan. “Silent mode.”

My uniglass falls quiet as Ty turns to me. “Look, Auri, I’m sorry. I don’t even know what you’re doing here, but we need everyone in the ring or we’re all dead. If you can pull a trigger, we could use you. Will you help us?”

My heart is in my throat and my palms are damp. And I’m a million light-years from home and two hundred years out of time, and none of this makes any kind of sense. But if we’re all going to die anyway …

“Okay,” I say quietly.

I find myself crammed in the cage elevator with the rest of the team. Kal holds out a dangerous-looking high-tech pistol, and the words “She will only be a liability” are echoing in my head as I snatch it from his hand.