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The Toad’s voice on the sub-coms is scratchy, but clear. Aelon successfully bluffed him. His move of entering weapons range showed so much confidence that it shook the Toad. As long as he brings those Orbs onto his ship and behind his shields and armor, it’s going to be all over for him.

If the explosives don’t detonate too soon. What did Iunia even rig them with?

“How disappointing,” Aelon scoffs. “I thought I might have one last battle. Very well. I’ll have my man drop the Orbs off into your vicinity.” Then, Aelon’s eyes narrow. “Ifany oneof your ships passes by the drop point, it’s a declaration of war. This deal has exhausted my goodwill towards Toads. Count your lucky days that you came across me when I had more to lose than you did, because I’m still hungry for your blood, Toad.”

Before the Toad can respond, Aelon cuts the feed. He’s immensely confident in the face of the Toads, daring to provoke the species to show his strength. He doesn’t have to pretend that he’s unaffected by the Toad. I feel it in his aura.

Aelon nudges the sub-coms link.

“You hear all that, Garrick?”

“Loud and clear, Captain. Dropping payload.”

Aelon turns his ship around, backing away from the Toad Mothership. As our Reaver flies away, and the Toad weapon locks fade behind us, I feel like the pressure of the gun barrel has just been lifted from my temple.

The danger remains constant – but the dull horror of knowing your life could end in a split second – with nothing you can do about it – slowly fades away.

I watch as Garrick’s Reaver flies past us, and the doors open. The air-field blocks the emptiness of space from rushing into the cramped cockpit. I’m reminded of the ship captains of Old-Earth, who ventured into the open seas with nothing but wood protecting them from the water sluicing in. One hole could be the end of their vessels – and, to me, trusting an air-shield is the same feeling of being out in the elements.

Garrick’s triad throw out huge boxes into space. Even for the huge, muscular warriors, it takes all of their effort to lift them. Each must be filled with at least three Orbs. I’m surprised they managed to fit them all in the cargo bay of such a small ship.

I peer through the glass of the cockpit as those crates float through space. Each one contains an unbelievable fortune. Those Orbs were supposed to have made me rich.

Now, I’d just settle for alive. I don’t need money anymore – I just need my triad to be safe.

Iunia stands up, getting a better look.

“Each one of those boxes has a surprise hidden in it that can hurt him. Together, that Toad Mothership will be crippled – and if the Orbs join in, it’ll be annihilated.”

I’m confused. “The Orbs? What do you mean,join in?”

Iunia doesn’t take his eyes off Garrick’s triad as they continue unloading the Orbs.

“Orbs have a mind of their own – and that mind is hungry for killing. That’s my theory, anyway. People scoff, but I think there’s more to them than just a source of energy. I think, if they’re motivated to, those Orbs couldaddto the destruction.”

Orbs. There’s one powering the very Reaver we’re flying on right now – and the thought that they could be sentient makes me very uneasy. It also makes the irregularities with Orb-Shifting suddenly seem more ominous – more deliberate.

Garrick’s triad finally closes the door of the Reaver, after the last crate is flung out into space. They float there as the ship retreats.

Aelon follows. The Toad Mothership hangs back instead of moving towards the Orbs. Its hanger bays open, and it sends out a fleet of thirty assault ships.

I gasp, until Iunia places a reassuring hand on my arm.

It’s a move meant to intimidate us.

Meelon could have sent just a couple of ships to pick up the packages, but he wanted to show off his might. He wanted to demonstrate his overwhelming numbers.

Aelon, however, still hasn’t taken his eyes from the packages. They float in space, seemingly innocent and harmless.

“What did you use for explosives?” He asks.

Vinicus chuckles. “The mad chemist put together something I’ve never seen before.”

Mad chemist?

“I used an old mixture of chemicals that were used in the Galactic Wars,” Iunia explains – apparently the ‘mad chemist’ his battle-brother was referring to. “I learned how to back when we were running out of resources and had to make do. It’s a concoction so old it shouldn’t even be detectable by modern scanners.”

Shouldn’t.