Page 64 of Heartless

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Zarren Helion

Shock.Horror. Rage. Terror.

I put it all away and activated my comm. “Kayn, Raz, get the fuck over here. I need you. Now!”

Chloe was watching me, waiting. “What happened?”

“A Nexus unit grabbed Willow and transported her off the ship.”

“Oh, god.” My infallible commander turned pale and grabbed onto the doorframe for support.

“Who is the best pilot here?”

“You know who.”

“Oberon.”

Her nod confirmed it. Fuck.

Didn’t matter. If he was the best, he was fucking coming. “Get him. Now.”

“On it.”

I took two steps and turned back. “How did that thing get through our shields?”

“I don’t know.”

“That’s a problem.” I looked around at the perfectly good ship. It might as well be a scrap heap if we couldn’t keep the Hive from transporting in on top of us. “Initiate Protocol Nine.”

And I thought Chloe couldn’t get any paler.

“Nine. Are you sure?”

“Do it. And get my ship into position.”

“Yes, sir.” She turned around and went back to her comm station. I didn’t wait to hear what she said to Oberon. Didn’t fucking care. The only thing that mattered was going after Willow as quickly as possible.

I activated my personal comm, ready to tell Oberon to get his ass moving. Chaos erupted. Too many voices, all shouting.

“It’s an ambush.”

“Fuck!”

“Behind you—”

“Down! Get down!”

Rukzi roared, in a killing rage.

Bedlam. I couldn’t untangle one Atlan’s voice from another. Chloe’s calm orders fell over the top of them like water putting out a fire.

“Retreat to level four. Elevators there will take you to high ground. There’s a perch. You can pick them off from there.”

“Moving. Move! Move! You heard her!”

“Oberon, transport to the ship immediately.”