Page 65 of Honor Bound

“Pie,” Julia and Josh automatically corrected in unison.

“That is what I said,” Sergi retorted with a grin.

La’Rue guided the shuttle with a skilled hand. Roan breathed deep, calming breaths as the shuttle docked with a soft thud, the magnetic clamps locking it into place. The airlock hissed as it pressurized, opening to reveal the sealed hatch at the top of the space lab.

La’Rue exhaled slowly, her knuckles relaxing on the controls. “We’re locked in.”

“Bantu, time to earn your keep,” Sergi said, flashing the young man a grin. “Connect us.”

Bantu’s fingers flew across the keyboard. His expression was calm, but sweat glistened on his brow. The seconds dragged like hours, every soft click of the keys amplified by the surrounding silence.

Then, the console chimed. Bantu looked up, a crooked grin splitting his face. “I’m in. Nice coding, General.”

A collective sigh of relief rippled through the shuttle. Even La’Rue chuckled softly, her tension easing just a fraction.

“Good job. This makes up for what you did to my ship,” Roan jested, clapping Bantu’s shoulder. “Let’s get the hatch open.”

Sergi and Packu were already opening the shuttle’s hatch to reveal the one below it. The first stage of their plan had worked—but the real danger was just beginning. Sergi pried open the panel covering the hatch’s manual release. A faint layer of space dust fell away, revealing the control mechanism beneath.

“This hasn’t been touched in years,” Packu muttered, reaching down while Sergi held the cover out of the way to work the manual levers. The hatch hissed open, revealing a brightly lit, narrow tunnel leading into the labyrinthine ventilation system below.

Roan turned to Julia. “Once we’re in, remember to stay close.”

She lifted her Gallant staff, the faint etchings glowing in the dim red light of their shuttle. “I’ll be right behind you.”

The hatch swung inward with a squeak on its hinges. Sergi looked up at La’Rue and gave her a wry smile.

“If I get caught?—”

“I’ll come for you,” La’Rue interrupted, her voice steady. “Just don’t make me have to.”

Sergi winked. “I’ll do my best,” he said before disappearing down the hatch.

Roan stepped to the edge, his eyes scanning the bright interior below, his grip on the edge of the opening, listening to the rumble of the space lab’s core. The sound was low and constant, a reminder of the volatile weapon lying in wait beneath their feet.

Without another word, he dropped down, landing silently on the metal deck below. He turned and reached up, helping Julia down after him.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

Roan caught sight of Josh and Sergi as they disappeared down the conduit tube to his left. Packu stood waiting for Bantu’s sign that he had deactivated the sensors to the right. Roan returned his focus to Bantu. The younger man’s fingers hovered over the tablet in his hand.

“That’s the last of the sensors along this feed of conduits. I’ll monitor them and see if I can access more of the ship’s controls in case you need me. Packu, are you okay with the charges?”

“I got this,” Packu said, sliding the strap of the bag containing the charges over his shoulder. Sergi and Josh are going to place some along their way.”

Roan nodded, his eyes narrowed as he looked down the corridor ahead. The air smelled faintly of chemicals and ozone, a sterile, metallic scent that clung to the back of his throat.

“We’ll head for the containment labs,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Julia, here,” Cassa said, lowering a satchel filled with explosives.

Roan’s mouth tightened as he stepped forward, his hand brushing Julia’s when he took the bag. “I’ll take those. We don’t want any unexpected fireworks.”

Julia lifted an eyebrow, her lips curving into a slow, knowing smile. “I thought you liked the fireworks I set off.”

Roan’s eyes twinkled with amusement at the unexpected teasing in Julia’s eyes. He leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur.

“Oh, I loved the fireworks you set off, especially the explosion at the end. I just prefer the kind that leave us both breathless—and in one piece.”

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