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The magnetic locks disengaged.

With a roar of plasma and fire, she launched the racer out of the Corvette’s hold and into the extensive rear bay.

She shimmered through the shield of the massive destroyer, her Xander-approved credentials holding.

The speedster bolted into the vast, endless dark, chasing peace, the stars, and blessed silence, seeking answers that might bring clarity to her searching heart.

24

Chasing Wolves In The Night

SAVVINE

The stars blurred past her as Savvine gripped the controls of Xander’s racer.

The cockpit’s glow painted harsh blue lines across her face, shadow and light slicing down her cheekbones in equal parts like war paint.

The engine’s growl beneath her was a balm and adrenaline.

When she launched into the void, it was like tearing free of gravity itself.

She took a safe route at first, winging well within theSombra’ssecure zone.

She kept to it, recalling Xander’s warning, until the ache in her chest overwhelmed her.

Fokk, she missed her parents.

She longed for her mother’s lasagna, a glass of her best Chianti, and a touch of her sage wisdom.

Along with her father’s back rubs and reassurances that it would all be OK.

If only she had the chance to run Xander past them, it might have helped with her crowding doubts and worries.

‘I just need to get home,’ she whispered, as if her voice might carry to theEterna, her family, and Abby.

She tried to connect to them through her neural node, but there was no signal. The link was still blocked.

Then she had a wild tear.

Perhaps she’d find a window or a gap in the patrol net around the Bianchi flotilla. Maybe then she’d sneak aboard and make contact.

In Xander’s racer, the time would be halved to theEterna.

She decided to take the risk and apologize later, whispering a prayer to the stars and her man for his forgiveness.

She slipped past theSombra’sfurthermost perimeter and the minefield, and the security network recognized the speedster as friendly.

Stealthing the racer, she plotted a course that evaded her ark ship’s security grid, which she knew like the back of her hand.

She surged on, her hopes building.

All she needed was a glimpse, just one call, just one real connection to those she loved.

Soon,Eterna’smassive silhouette showed up on scanners.

She slowed the pinnace and skimmed by an asteroid field to reduce trace visibility.

That’s when the radar screamed.