Continuing to tap at the screens in her station, Jun stepped aside to make room as she seamlessly slid into place beside him and took up his work. “It’s Barnes. The contact was one of his Dolls I set free after the firefight on Crovia Nine. He sent a team after me. Not Raiders, professional cutthroats. I took out four of them, but they’ll be back.”
Boom faltered, and then started tapping even faster, fingers moving more quickly than humanly possible with the help of her glowing augments. “Barnes. Shit.”
Wiping sweat from his brow onto his shoulder while one hand and an attachment with ten additional fingers all tapped at his screens, Axel squawked from his station. “Shit is an understatement. There isn’t a planet big enough to contain the pile of excrement you’ve landed us in, Captain. Congratulations, you’ve sealed our proverbial doom.”
The ship lifted off the ground, and Jun careened into his console, then regained his footing quickly to pull up his own screens. “Anyone who wishes to leave my Crew can do so at any time without repercussions.”
Axel blew a raspberry without taking his focus off his work. “Who said anything about leaving? Facing certain doom is like, an easy Tuesday for us here on Park’s Crew, right, gang?”
A cheer came over the coms from Marco.
Theo strapped into his flight harness, struggling with the fastenings. “Quite right. It has been nothing but adventure and suspense from the moment we met. I’ve had a whale of a time, to be honest. Can’t wait for more.”
Axel sent him a fleeting grin and then turned back to curse at whatever was on his screen. “That’s right, Doc. Life after abduction really suits you, I can tell. Plus, having your pretty face around makes the captain practically giddy.”
The tips of Jun’s ears flushed a slow, sure red that sent something joyful streaming through Theo like jets of bubbles.
“You mean he’s usually even grumpier than this?” Some of the bubbles fizzled out in his voice, sending it floating up and away on a gust of levity.
The rest of the Crew’s resounding agreement overwhelmed Jun’s answering growl, interrupted only by Axel’s sudden gasp.
“The station has a lock on us. I have to switch to manual to break it. Hold on to your butts, guys. This is gonna get a little bumpy.”
Jun locked his feet into the metal braces beneath his console, holding on to the battered handholds at either side, as Boom rushed to strap in at her station. Jun swiveled to Theo, relief flitting across his expression when he saw his harness in place. “Marco, lock in and give us full thrusters on my mark.”
Axel started to take slow, measured breaths, hands steady on his controls.
“One.”
Boom cursed as her station lit up, fingers flying across her screens.
“Two.”
Theo gripped the base of his chair, offering a small nod to Jun when he sent him one last glance.
“Three. Hit it!”
Nothing happened.
Theo released his held breath and was about to ask what was happening when the entire ship tilted onto its side. He ducked to avoid a flying cupful of Axel’s snacks while Jun grunted and held on, muscles straining. Theo desperately wished he had taken a seat.
“Nothing to be alarmed by, folks. Just a little—” Axel hauled back and punched his attachment into a lever that had gotten stuck halfway. “—technical difficulty!”
Perhaps there was a solid foundation to Jun’s method of percussive maintenance after all. Theo would have to apologize for his skepticism, assuming they survived this.
The ship righted itself with a jolt, shuddered, and then the buzz of maximum speed hit Theo’s bones. It made his hair stand on end and his eyes water.
Jun checked on his Crew. “Everyone alright? Marco?”
Boom’s rapid tapping paused for a fraction of a second when there was no answer, her gaze flickering to Jun and back.
Jun leaned over his station, his teeth bared. “Marco, report!”
“—ine, I’m fine! Just a bit—” He grunted as something crashed in the background with the telltale tinkle of broken glass. “—busy, Captain!”
The tense line of Jun’s shoulders relaxed incrementally.
Boom let out a whoop that brought all their attention to her. “We’re free! No readings indicate a lock or even a trace. We should be okay, for now.”
Jun released his locked boots and went to her station. He gave her a curt nod. “Good. Axel, stand by for orders. Dr. Campbell, you’re coming with me.” He was across the bridge in a few strides to remove Theo’s harness quickly and efficiently.
Theo’s jaw dropped when Jun took his hand and led him out into the lift. “What’s happening; where are we going?”
Though Jun’s palms were sweaty, his grip was sure and strong. “You can’t be here any longer. It’s gotten too dangerous.”
Theo decided to focus on one issue at a time. “Is this because of that man who doesn’t like you? Barnes?”
Jun huffed out a humorless laugh and speared Theo with his gaze as the lift door opened. “Do you remember when I told you I had bad news?”
Theo usually tried to forget bad news, actually. It was Ari’s job to remember that sort of thing. Life was much better that way. He trailed along behind Jun as he led them down the hallway. “Vaguely.”
They came to a stop outside of the docking bay. Jun opened a wall panel and retrieved a small armory of defensive weapons, stashing them about his person as he spoke. “Well, it just got worse. Barnes’s compound holds the main stockpile of holozite. The stockpile that we need, according to your translations.”
Theo accepted a new detonator and tucked it into his empty pocket with a puzzled twist of his brow. “Okay, but— You haven’t even gone after it yet. Why would he send men after you?”
Jun closed the panel and reached for Theo’s hand. He faltered with surprise when Theo shrank back with a stubborn chin to await his answer. “He
