Page 71 of Honor Bound

Sergi had just finished wiring the last of the explosives when Josh came back, shaking his head. His eyes narrowed, the flickering blue light filling him with a sense of foreboding.

“Damn it.” He tapped his commlink. “Roan, Julia, this is Josh. We’ve got a situation here. One of the sonic cannons is fitted with a containment unit. We’ve disabled the cannon, but wecan’t neutralize the unit without the neutralizing agent.”

* * *

Roan and Julia worked in unison, systematically destroying the iROS parasites in each cylinder. When he reached unit number six, he frowned. His eyes studied the empty area where the containment unit should have been. His gut tightened as unease settled over him.

“Wait,” he said, touching Julia’s arm when she entered the lab. “One’s missing.”

Julia’s eyes followed his. “It’s been moved,” she murmured, her brow furrowing. “Where?—”

Josh’s voice crackled through the commlink, cutting her off. “Roan, we’ve got a containment unit down here attached to a sonic cannon. There’s no way to neutralize it from here.”

Roan exchanged a grim look with Julia. “We’ve got the neutralizing agent,” he replied. “It’s here with us.”

“Perfect,” Josh said. “We can make our way to you. We’re disguised as Legion soldiers, so we should be able to get there without too much trouble.”

Roan hesitated, thinking through the logistics. His eyes narrowed in thought. “Come to the containment lab and help Julia destroy the remaining units. I’ll take the neutralizing agent to the weapons room and deal with the containment unit there.”

“Got it. On our way,” Josh confirmed.

Julia’s eyes widened. “Roan, wait. You can’t go through the ship alone. It’s too dangerous.”

Roan shook his head and pointed to the two dead scientists slumped in the corner. “We’ve been lucky so far,” he said grimly. “Each lab is self-contained with dedicated scientists. But once the order is given to transfer the units to the weapon’s room, things will change. We’re running out of time.”

Julia swallowed hard, glancing at the bodies and then back at Roan. “Be careful,” she pleaded, her voice soft but steady. “Hurry back.”

Roan’s lips curved into a faint smile behind the clear shield of his white containment helmet. “I promise.”

She reached out, her gloved hand touching his arm. It was a fleeting gesture, separated by layers of protective gear, but it held weight—an unspoken connection neither of them could deny.

“I’ll be waiting,” she whispered.

Roan gave a curt nod, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer before he turned and moved toward the door. As it hissed open, his heart pounded, but not from fear of what lay ahead. His only fear was not making it back to her in time.

* * *

The corridors of the space lab stretched before Roan, sterile and dimly lit, their metallic walls vibrating faintly from the hum of the ship’s massive engine core. The weight of the vial in his hand was a stark reminder of how close they were to either success or catastrophic failure.

His breath came in steady, measured beats, every sense heightened as he moved silently through the labyrinthine passageways. His boots made no sound against the floor as he paused at an intersection, his eyes scanning both directions before turning down another corridor. Covered in the protective gear and still wearing the helmet, the soldiers and other scientists ignored him as they passed each other.

He was close now—just one level below the weapons room.

Roan’s thoughts flickered back to Julia. Focus. Get the job done. Then go back to her. The promise echoed through his mind, sharpening his determination. He adjusted his grip on the vial containing the neutralizing agent and pressed forward.

His tension built with every step, the air feeling heavier as he neared his destination. The weapons room was on the far side of the level, sealed behind a reinforced door. He pulled the security key out and swiped it against the scanner.

“Come on,” he muttered as the screen blinked red twice before turning green. The door hissed open, revealing the cavernous space beyond. Rows of sleek sonic cannons lined the walls, their barrels pointed menacingly toward the sealed turrets.

He automatically scanned the interior. Sergi and Josh must have hidden the bodies of the crew who were assigned to the unit. His eyes locked onto the active containment unit—its glowing blue liquid swirling ominously inside the transparent cylinder attached to the cannon. His pulse quickened as he crossed the room, each step deliberate and measured.

He reached the containment unit and crouched, carefully sliding the vial into the small injection port on the side. The blue liquid inside churned. Roan exhaled, his hand steady as he reached to push the vial in all the way to break the seal to activate the neutralizing agent.

The hair on the back of his neck stood on end before he could, a sudden sixth sense prickling just as the soft hum of the doors opening reached his ears and warning him he was no longer alone. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

Coleridge.

Roan straightened slowly, his hand still resting on the containment unit as he heard the slow, deliberate click of boots on the floor.

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