Ayna’s bearings returned in doses as gunfire hissed to and fro up above. She recognised the looming station, the support platforms and shantytown, and as it dawned on her that it was all at an odd angle she started noting her own body.
She lay on her back on the slopes just below the platform, angled downwards. Experimental movements didn’t result in any pain worse than bruising. The drop wasn’t that long and reflexes or luck had softened the landing. And the falling bridge had missed her.
Ayna awkwardly rolled over onto her stomach, then started the process of getting all four limbs underneath her. The fighting above seemed to be in movement, along their original route to the docking area. And she couldn’t very well just lie here and relax. She had to get up and run, in either direction. Anything other than wait to choke on the fumes or get noticed and shot.
She managed to rise, stumbled, corrected herself, and looked around for her dropped pistol. She turned just in time to see the Kavian Hunter bear down on her. Instinct kicked in and she went for her shock baton with practised speed. But the Hunter was faster.
Ayna didn’t even really understand what happened next. All she knew was that the world spun before her eyes and suddenly she was face-down in the slope again, with an arm wrenched behind her back.
A metal collar closed around her neck with a disconcerting click, and immediately a cowl attached to the back of it began closing. It slid over the back of her head, then the top, and held in place as she was Ayna could only squirm as the dark material closed over her eyes, cutting off sight, then her mouth, muting her gasps, then slid down past her chin and closed on the other side, cutting off all sound.
Cowl sealed, an automated voice stated into her ears.
An armoured knee pressed down on her back, and Ayna tried flailing about as her other arm was seized. The collar shocked her at the violent movement, and she collapsed limply into the slope.
Cuffs closed around her wrists, and the Hunter then pulled her to her feet. The cowl was as tight as a second skin, making breathing a labour even though the material was permeable.
Blind, deaf and mute Ayna could only feel as the Hunter insistently pulled on her upper arms. And she could only comply. The collar would shock her at any resistance. So, hating every step of it, she was led off by the Hunter.
# # #
The maintenance door slid open and Kiris was the first person back inside the station. Bers was the second, half-supporting and half-carrying Jaquan along.
A shot hit the outside wall, and Gaylen and Herdis hurried inside. He closed the door and activated the lock. There was a good chance the mercs had breaching charges, and a not inconsiderable one that they’d actually use them, station security be damned.
So he didn’t stop to savour relatively fresh air, or having made it out of the immediate firing line at last. He didn’t give his wheezing lungs or aching muscles a break. He just hurried on.
“Up, up, up!” he said, and went up the narrow flight of stairs as fast as the traffic in front would allow.
“What about Ayna?” Herdis said.
“We can’t win this,” Gaylen said. “We just can’t. Jaquan, say something!”
“Something!” the man croaked out.
Herdis had hurriedly slapped a bandage on his wound, but more was needed. They needed to board the Addax.
Bers was wheezing by the time they topped the landing, clearly feeling his own wounds now that the fight was wearing out of his system. Gaylen stepped in and took Jaquan’s working arm from him and wrapped it around his shoulders.
With his own fatigue the man felt three times his weight, but he bore it.
“Come on, pal.”
They moved over to an uncovered elevator, and Gaylen thought he heard a sound in the distance, over Jaquan’s groaning and his own fatigue noises. Maybe it was old wiring hissing away. Maybe it was the maintenance door being worked on.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
The elevator began its upward journey.
“We need... to take off,” Gaylen said. “We... they will have a ship, probably ready to go. And it’ll be better armed than ours. We need a head start. “So y... you guys get on board. Herdis, start working on Jaquan here. Kiris, Bers, get everything started up. I’ll handle the undocking and be right over.”
“Alright,” Kiris said, leaning forward for a tiny bit of rest.
“And Bers, fasten your coat up.”
The fringer looked down on the blood he’d spilled over himself, then complied.
The elevator stopped, and up one final set of stairs they went before reaching the entrance section of the Inner Ring. The crew shuffled to the right, to the dock they’d rented, while Gaylen holstered his pistol and walked briskly to the left. He didn’t have more running in him just yet.
“Dock 12-11, the Addax, we’re taking off,” Gaylen said to the dock manager, looking bored within her little booth.
“What’s going on?” the woman asked, noting the state he was in and glancing at live footage of 12-11.
“Nothing relevant. Because we’re leaving.”
He got out his wallet and counted out the standard fee for the hours they’d spent on the station.
“How much for the charge?”
“Look, is there-”
“How much, please?”
Annoyed at his brusqueness, she nonetheless brought it up on a screen and he counted out the rest of the bills. It was far less than it should have been; the engine would still be at low power. But he’d manage. He had to.
He slammed the money down and turned without a further word. A tiny reserve of strength had returned and he ran awkwardly for the dock. He made it through the door without getting shot, and there was the Addax, his prize for all of this. The charging cable had already been detached and the ship was powered up.
“I’m coming in!” Gaylen shouted through the airlock to be sure he wouldn’t be shot as he entered.
Herdis had deposited Jaquan on their medical table and was cutting away his shirt. Bers leaned heavily against a wall, keeping watch with a pistol in his hand. And Kiris poked her golden head out of the engine room.
“We’re good to go!” the Chanei said. “I think.”
“Then we’re going,” Gaylen said, and used what felt like the very last of his energy to hurry up the stairs.
He passed through the living room and into the cockpit. He wiped some of the sweat off his brow, then lifted the Addax off the floor. The dock door opened and out they went.
Well, I messed this one up, Gaylen thought as he climbed through the atmosphere.
He let out a long, harsh sigh.
The ship was leaving the planet’s gravity well when the Incoming light flared up, along with a sound alert. Gaylen didn’t recognise the number, but did open the channel.
“Yes?” he said wearily.
“This is the captain of the Blue Strike mercenary team,” said the same harsh, altered voice he’d heard in the shantytown.
“Do you have anything relevant to say?” Gaylen asked. “Because if this is just some tough guy posturing I’m going to cut you off.”
“We want that cylinder. The one with the yellow X.”
“I noticed.”
“Do you know what you’re transporting?”
“It’s unprofessional to ask those kinds of questions.”
“You and your crew aren’t professionals, Gaylen Qin. WE are.”
“Hardly the cream of the crop, though. I know some military types who’d be less than impressed with your performance back there.”
“You enjoyed a double dose of amazing luck this day, Gaylen Qin,” the captain retorted. “And there were only three of us. Now the Brecke Browns are out of the picture, and next time you will be facing our full numbers. This is your last chance to turn around and save yourself and your crew.”
“No,” Gaylen said, glaring out into space.
“Then you have a death mark on you, Gaylen Qin,” the mercenary said. “We will remember, and we will find you on the lanes. And your death will-”
“Tough guy posturing...” Gaylen sighed and cut off the call.
He faced space. He considered opening the intercom and saying something to his crew. Something fitting or reassuring, but he couldn’t think of anything. His best friend was shot, Ayna’s fate was unknown, and their opposition was at best just as bad as before.
For a few breaths he just sat there in silence and felt sweat trickle down seemingly every part of his body.
Then he hit leap.