Page 27

Esthi and I wash up in the shower after mating, but I’m already eager to feel her again. As she bends over to wash her legs, I steal the opportunity to pick her up and slip inside of her once more.

She gasps and giggles, then sings my name with her lovely human voice, “Armor.”

I can’t help myself. I’m crazy for her. “You put it out there. I lose control when I see your gorgeous body or even pick up a whiff of your scent.”

She braces herself on the stall door and moans, then pushes backward, sheathing me further inside of her.

Esthi’s core grips me. “Ooh. This position, yes.”

“Already?”

Her tight pussy clenches again. “Yes!”

I get the signal and penetrate her in rapid pumps, quickly finding my release.

When I set her down again, Esthi’s legs nearly give out. She chuckles and frantically steadies herself.

“Too much?” I ask.

“Never.” She turns around, kisses my chest, and finishes washing herself.

When we are dried off and dressed in fresh Solcruean armor that someone has marked with a gold torch symbol on the chest plate, we exit the room.

“Nice,” Esthi mutters as she looks down at the symbol.

CrazeArmor: Hope you’re awake. Approaching the nebula now.

“Come on,” I tell Esthi. “Let’s head up to the cockpit to check our progress.”

She’s first out of the door and into the hallway. “So, feel any different?”

I shrug and notice the ease of movement in my back. “Why?”

“I upgraded your wing mounts so you can release them with a mental command, not just mechanical latches. I also upgraded your shield generator and infused your synthflesh with hydramidium. That one took some help from the medics and Evo.”

“Armor,” a female greets me as we join the group in the deck. Her eyes and head gleam with tracework. “Welcome. I am Navi, Craze’s mate.”

“Thanks for getting us through the portal and for coming to assist,” I say.

She dips her head cautiously as if it is heavy. “I have a cybernetic implant that allows me to communicate with your kind and control many things, from ships to portals and more. Sevrin was a real sweetheart, cutting my skull open.”

Esthi takes my hand in hers. “She’s like a human version of a CyberPilot.”

Navi smiles and returns to look through the windows. “Approaching nebula now.”

Craze joins us, giving me a pat on the back. “Glad you’re on your feet. Got a little something for you.”

I glance back in the direction he points to see Karambit smirking as he and Mace each carry one of my wings to the cockpit.

“Got a few upgrades, Boss,” Karambit remarks.

I walk up to him and inspect his repaired husk. “You’re still with us. I am happy, Brother.”

“Rebel is better than Atox. Don’t tell them I said that,” Karambit chuckles.

“I’m right fucking here, Karen .” Atox rounds Mace’s side with an eye roll.

Karambit flips him off, grins, and adds, “You would’ve let me die.”

Atox sighs. “Rebel has infected my programming. I am learning to break the rules and try risky repairs.”

I grip Atox’s shoulder. “I am grateful you are with us, however you wish to operate.”

Mace clicks his tongue. “Easy to say when you had a cybertech working on you.”

“Pretty sure she gave me the workout.” I wink up at Esthi like she once did to me. When her cheeks flush, I know it was the right move.

Karambit whistles suggestively while Mace whoops.

“Alright, you horny hotskins,” Atox grumbles. “Let’s get our Brother out back together.”

They motion for me to turn around, so I do. My back jerks as they merge my heavy wings with my brackets. Alerts fill my vision.

Left Wing: Online. Shield extender - operational.

Right Wing: Online. Shield extender - operational.

Squadron Shield: Ready.

I curl forward and stretch my wings as best as I can in the cockpit and feel their weight has evened out since I wore them last. I pull the tips forward and admire the smoothed-out blades.

“Magma and a few others spent some extra time reshaping and bolstering your wings with hydramidium,” Esthi states.

“Thank you, everyone.” I glance around at them all as I run a hand over my repaired side.

“Breaching perimeter now,” Fracture reports. He and Evo are in the pilot’s seats in front of Navi, guiding us after the radiant chrome BlazeStar and hundreds of other vessels into a vibrant nebula filled with indigo, violet, and fuchsia clouds. White orbs dot the space, drenching it in light.

Esthi hugs me from the side.

“Did Mother get repaired?” I ask.

“Yes.” Esthi beams up at me. “Titans are impressive with how they work together to get shit done so fast.”

“How many Brothers did we lose?” I ask.

Atox shifts closer to the windows. “We gained two. Yeti and Fenrir are back in operation. No Titans down that Rebel, or I , couldn’t save.

But we lost nine females during the Venom hit and the perforation of the BlazeStar.

Brothers are working on hydramidium reinforcements on the BlazeStar as we speak. We won’t let that happen again.”

Ranger and the rest of Craze’s crew join us as our ship emerges from a vibrant cloud of stardust into a cavity.

“There she is,” Craze says with a smile.

Fracture high-fives Evo. “We’re home, Brother.”

“Feels good,” Evo remarks. “Contacting Rogue Mothership now.”

The coms crackle, and a voice pops through. “Ravenger Three, Aegis 189 confirming ping. BlazeStar, Aegis 189 confirming ping.” The woman pauses. “Wow, that’s a lot of Rebel ships. I am Lotus, CP-577. Chasm has the bridge.”

“We are glad to see you,” another voice booms. “Please form up your fleets around us. We have a lot of work to do.”

Clover cuts in. “A new war is just beginning. Solcrue will regroup after our escape, pull in fresh forces, and hunt us down.”

I tighten my grip around Esthi. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

She looks up at me with her gorgeous blue eyes and kisses me. “And I’ll be sure you’re capable of keeping that promise and coming back to me every night.”

I nibble her ear. “Inside of you is what I prefer.”

Esthi blushes and rests her head on my chest. “I love you.”

“We will be ready,” Chasm says. “And this time—Brothers, Sisters, and Rebels—we will win because we are finally united once again.”