Page 63 of Craze

Once Craze has dismounted, I initiate a shield around his Brother’s parts and take him by the arm. “Look who showed up.”

Craze glances in the direction I motion. He stills, looks at me, then wipes his eyes as he walks toward Ranger. The two share a firm hug.

“I am so sorry, Brother,” Craze says, shaking his head.

“It’s okay.” Ranger pats him on the back.

“Was hibernation terrible?” Craze asks as he steps back.

Ranger shakes his head and waves us toward the cockpit. “No. I kept dreaming of you fighting for me, of seeing the stars and our brothers going through the portal. I would have been happy to go with such memory files.”

“So about the portal,” Jeela says. “We won’t fit through with this beast.”

Craze nods as we enter the cockpit. “We don’t want to be so in the face about it. That’s usually my tactic but that’s also how coilguns get pulled and traps ruin everything. So we’re taking the long way to scout and—”

Craze is cut off by a bullet that pings around inside the cabin. He ducks, charges behind us, and swats the gun out of the Solcrue’s hand, then launches him away from us with a boot to his stomach.

The Solcrue hits the far wall, drops to his hands and knees, coughs, and then sneers at Craze. “You, baby-faced tin man. If she can control a ship with her mind, she can control you!”

Macabre gives me a worried look. He’s the most skeptical of the lot.

I encourage others into the cockpit then initiate a shield between them and Craze. I stay in the open with him, hoping it proves my point.Maybe I could but I never would.

The Solcrue, a pilot by the badge he wears, gets to his feet. “I bet you’re shittin’ ions you’re so full of radiation. It’s got to be a mess up there in that knucklehead of yours.”

Craze quietly fumes and tenses his fists.

“What, no come back?” The pilot snorts. “Pathetic.” He turns to me. “As for you.”

Craze tenses. “You keep your damn mouth shut about my mate or I will put these knucklesthroughyour head!”

The pilot glances at him. “Boy, she has you around her finger.”

I lean back, against a wall, knowing Craze doesn’t need my help.Switch off.

The light in my eyes fades, and I lift a hand toward Craze. “Deal with him however you want, my love. You don’t need me.”

Craze smirks. “I do. Inotherways.”

“Ha, but you need permission?” The Solcrue still slides back a step as Craze stalks toward him.

Craze growls. He grabs the pilot by the chest of his uniform, lifting him until his feet dangle above the floor. “Say what you want about me. I do not care. But you do not get to eventhinkabout talking down to my mate.”

Craze smashes the pilot into the wall. “My brothers.”Slam. “Or my human sisters.”Slam. “Aboard this ship.”Slam.“Or any others anywhere in this universe, Solcrue scum!”

I turn away until Craze is done. I hear the trash chute open, suction shut, and clunk as it empties into space.

Craze huffs a sigh. “Now, where are we at with getting us out of here. Hyperdrive work?”

Ranger glances at me, amusement touching his eyes from where he sits in the pilot’s seat. “Ready when you are, Commander.”

Chapter 21: Navi

Switch on.I drop the shield and take the copilot’s seat Ranger motions to. I don’t know what the protocols are or how military functions, but I know I can count on the Titans to help me—help us—learn. Eliana, Aeri, Jeela, and Shavih are already strapped in behind me.

“Once we’re up to speed, we’ll be able to get up and move around again,” Ranger says. “You know, if you want todoanything else. Tangle and I will remain posted here.”

The Titans buckle in and signal that they are ready.

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