Page 70 of Honor Bound

When the storm came, he would be ready.

Or so he told himself.

CHAPTERNINETEEN

Sergi pressed his back against the cold metal wall of the corridor, his pulse steady, his breathing calm despite the tension thrumming around him. The corridor was dimly lit, with rows of recessed lights casting a pale blue glow across the floor. Smooth metallic walls reflected the light in patches, broken only by the occasional security console or service door. Ahead, the reinforced doors of the weapons room loomed—silent, but holding deadly potential.

Footsteps echoed in the distance, growing louder as two Legion soldiers approached. Sergi lifted an eyebrow at Josh, who gave him a wry smile and a slight nod. No words were needed.

The soldiers strode past, their boots clanging against the floor in a steady rhythm. Sergi waited until they were almost out of earshot before stepping out. With practiced ease, he leveled the Gallant staff at the nearest soldier, releasing a sharp pulse of energy. Josh mirrored his movements, and both men caught the collapsing soldiers before they hit the floor.

Grabbing the unconscious guards beneath the arms, they dragged them into a nearby supply room. The door slid shut with a soft hiss, enclosing them in a cramped space filled with storage crates and shelves stacked with maintenance equipment.

“You’re disturbingly good at this,” Josh said, crouching down to bind and gag the guards. His voice was low, edged with dry humor. “It almost seems as if you’ve done this a time or two.”

Sergi grimaced as he pulled off one guard’s uniform. “More like a few dozen.”

Josh’s brow lifted, and his lips twitched with curiosity. “A few dozen? Should I be surprised?”

“Depends.” Sergi shrugged, pulling the dark gray uniform over his head. “You’re not the only one with military training.”

Josh’s eyes narrowed, but his expression remained amused. “You don’t say.”

Sergi smirked. “Your instincts are sharp. You might have guessed.” He fastened the uniform and glanced at the unconscious guards. “Let’s just say my handlers would be very disappointed in me if they saw me now.”

Josh chuckled. “I seriously doubt that.” He tugged on the guard’s jacket and peered through the crack in the door. “Clear. Let’s move.”

The corridor outside was empty again, the faint hum of the ship’s environmental systems the only sound. Josh motioned for Sergi to follow, and they crossed the hallway in quick, purposeful strides. The heavy doors to the weapons room hissed open, revealing a large, sterile chamber illuminated by harsh overhead lights.

Three massive sonic cannons dominated the room, their sleek forms lined with blinking control panels. Half a dozen Legion soldiers moved around the space, monitoring the systems and checking readouts on holographic displays.

Sergi’s grip tightened on his staff as he and Josh exchanged a look. No need for words. They moved like shadows.

The first soldier didn’t even see Sergi coming before he dropped, a pulse of energy taking him out silently. Josh darted to the left, disabling another soldier before the man could sound the alarm. Sergi spotted one guard reaching for his blaster and acted on instinct, firing a sharp pulse that sent the man crashing into a console. Josh turned, nodding his thanks before stepping over the unconscious body.

In seconds, the room was lit up like a fireworks celebration as the rest of the soldiers realized they were under attack. The battle was over in under thirty seconds.

“We’re clear,” Sergi whispered, scanning the room.

The two men worked quickly, planting charges at the base of the first two sonic cannons. Each explosive was carefully positioned, designed to disable the weapons and render them useless without triggering the automated security protocols. Everything was going smoothly—until they reached the third cannon.

Sergi froze, his eyes narrowing as he examined the device. A faint blue glow pulsed from a cylindrical unit attached to the cannon’s side. Recognition hit him like a punch to the gut.

“Josh,” Sergi said, his voice tight. “We’ve got a problem.”

Josh glanced at him, then followed his line of sight to the glowing unit. His face darkened. “Is that…?”

“A containment unit.” Sergi stepped closer, his pulse quickening. “Even if we blow this place, there’s a chance the unit will survive and fall through the atmosphere.” He traced a finger along the smooth surface of the unit. “We need the neutralizing agent.”

Josh muttered a curse. “Any chance it’s in here?”

Sergi scanned the room, his mind racing. “Doubt it. It would be in the containment labs with the other units.”

Josh’s eyes met Sergi’s, the gravity of the situation sinking in. “We’ll have to improvise. We can’t leave this here.”

Sergi nodded, tension coiling in his chest. “I’ll handle the charges. You double check the room to see if there is a neutralizing agent here.”

The room fell into a tense silence as Sergi worked on wiring the explosives and Josh searched for the reagent, their movements swift and precise. Each second felt like a lifetime, the threat of discovery looming over them like a shadow. Outside, the hum of the ship’s systems continued—oblivious to the storm brewing within.

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