"This will go much faster if you let me explore. I'll let you know when I see something."
Luph and Zoe snickered behind me. Over the comm came the sound of a sharp inhalation. Tucker’s amused glance bounced from Sloane to me as if waiting for the end results of a football game.
"Point taken," Sloane acknowledged, raising her hands. I looked up briefly and smiled to take some of the sting out of my words. She nodded her head and smiled tightly back at me.
"They also have…" Nova drifted off before she pulled up her screen to project it against the wall, "a backup system."
"Can you hack into it?" Sloane asked.
"On it," Nock replied.
"Hey, that's mine," Nova protested.
"Kids," Sloane warned.
"There!" I called out excitedly, pointing at an igloo-like building.
"Are you sure?" Sloane asked, narrowing her eyes. "It looks like all the others to me."
"Positive," I nodded. "See that?" I made the drone send us an image of large pipes running from the building to the others, almost like roots.
"Well, I'll be damned," Sloane grinned. "Nice job."
She rose from her chair. "Listen up, boys." All of us did, even though we knew she was addressing the four Space Guardians. "Get your gear and get ready to rock and roll. I want you locked and loaded the moment Alice cuts the power and Nova kills the backup system."
"Yes, ma'am," all four resounded over the comm.
My heart became very heavy. I wanted to call out,be careful, but bit my tongue instead. Hannah looked pale, and Nova looked like she was ready to throw up. Luph sank into a chair, clutching her chest. All four of us were aware of the danger our men were about to step into.
"Hold on," I stopped them. We had been so busy focusing on turning the security system off that one important factor had escaped our minds: "This also turns off the forcefield."
"Are you positive?" Sloane's gaze on me was hard. I knew what was at stake here. If I was wrong, and we flew down there to meet our men—bang. We'd be goners.
"She's right," Nova confirmed. "I don't even have to cut the backup; the shield will be down once the main power is off."
A quick cheer broke out. "Well, cut it off then. Boys, wait for us." Sloane ordered.
XYREK
"What about us?There's nothing out here," Vraax complained over the comm, sounding more than unhappy about still being on patrol around Darlam and missing out on all the action.
"We all know a fleet can materialize out of nowhere," Sloane responded. "I need you guys up there, sorry."
Noodar grinned at me. He still looked a little worn around the edges, but he was ready to storm the Ohrur's compound like the rest of us. I wouldn't trade places with Vraax and Raasla for any price in the universe.
"And what exactly are we supposed to do when thatarmadamaterializes?" Raasla threw in. It was probably the longest sentence I had ever heard him utter.
"Warn us," Sloane threw back immediately.
"Frygg." Raasla cursed.
"You guys kill some for us," Vraax sounded resigned.
"You got it, brother," Tucker replied.
The two had a complicated relationship. Tucker and Sloane were friends before she met Vraax, and Vraax was understandably wary of Tucker and Sloane's friendship—I would be, too, if Alice had a male friend like that. Tucker didn't waste any opportunity to tease Vraax. Or rile him up, but they’ve worked to build trust and a tentative brotherhood.
"Luph's ship is going to stand out," I warned. It wasn't an Ohrur ship.
