Page 79 of Honor Bound

The shuttle lurched to the side, metal groaning under the strain as La’Rue wrestled the controls. Julia gripped the edge of her seat, her pulse thundering in her ears as she tried to focus through the chaos outside the viewport. The space lab was tearing itself apart in a violent cascade of explosions that lit the infinite darkness of space like an expanding supernova.

Outside, Legion fighters swarmed in a chaotic dance of destruction, their engines blazing red as they maneuvered through the debris field. Massive chunks of the space lab spiraled away, crashing into nearby Battle Cruisers and sending shockwaves that rocked the shuttle with bone-rattling intensity.

“Hang on!” La’Rue barked, her knuckles white as she adjusted the thrusters. The shuttle dipped and swerved between two enormous chunks of the lab, narrowly avoiding a fiery collision.

Julia’s breath caught in her throat as another explosion burst in front of them, fragments of glowing metal showering across the shuttle’s hull with a sharpping-ping-ping, temporarily illuminating them.

“We’re sitting ducks out here!” Packu muttered, weaving to the front and waving Sergi out of the co-pilot seat.

The shuttle shuddered again, the viewport flickering as La’Rue pushed the engines to their limit. Julia pressed her head back against the cool metal of the bulkhead, her heart racing at the sheer scale of the battle unfolding before her.

Legion Battle Cruisers loomed like dark leviathans, their massive forms dwarfing everything around them. Flashes of light erupted from their cannons as they fired on the rebel ships that had suddenly appeared. The endless void of space was illuminated by streaks of blue and red energy.

In the distance, Julia spotted an intact containment unit floating amidst the debris. A chill ran down her spine at the thought of what could have happened if they hadn’t neutralized the iROS.

La’Rue let out a sharp curse, yanking the controls to the left as a Legion fighter screamed past them, its engines blazing like twin suns. Julia instinctively ducked, even though she knew the fighter couldn’t see them.

“They’re retreating!” Packu exclaimed.

Julia’s eyes widened as she saw the Legion ships shifting formation, breaking away from the battle. For one fleeting moment, hope flickered in her chest—until the sight of more Battle Cruisers advancing crushed it.

“More of them… They just keep coming,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the engines.

Then, in the distance, a new formation appeared—a fleet of sleek, smaller ships, their silver hulls glinting in the light of the distant stars. They were followed by larger Gallant Battle cruisers. Julia’s breath caught as they surged toward the Legion forces with lethal precision.

“Gallant fighters!” Cassa shouted, her voice filled with awe and relief. “General Gomerant’s fleet is engaging the Battle Cruisers!”

The tension in the shuttle lifted slightly as the rebel fighters maneuvered between the Legion ships, their controlled movements swift and coordinated. Explosions lit up the darkness as several Legion Battle Cruisers took heavy damage, their hulls cracking under the relentless assault.

And then, like a beacon of hope, theTracerappeared—a massive warship bristling with weapons, its sleek lines cutting through the chaos like a predator stalking its prey. Its cannons fired in quick succession, taking out two Legion fighters in a burst of fiery debris.

“This is theTracer,” Hutu’s calm, commanding voice crackled through the comm. “La’Rue, we’ll be ready to receive you as soon as possible. We’ll spirit you away before the Legion knows what hit them.”

La’Rue blew out a breath, her eyes flicking toward the viewport. “Copy that,Tracer. We’re heading your way, but we’ve got company.”

The shuttle veered again as La’Rue threaded it through the debris field, dodging rotating chunks of the space lab and skirting dangerously close to a disintegrating Battle Cruiser. Sparks showered the cockpit as the shockwave from another explosion buffeted the shuttle, sending it into a brief spin before La’Rue righted it.

Julia’s heart leaped into her throat as she felt Roan sink down beside her, his breath warm against her ear. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her close. She turned her head to look at him, her eyes scanning his face for any sign of serious injury.

“You’re hurt,” she whispered, her voice trembling. Her fingers brushed against the wound on his shoulder, the fabric of his shirt damp with blood.

Roan winced but shook his head, his lips curving into a faint smile. “I’ll be fine… Just give me a minute. I need to hold you first.”

Julia’s eyes stung with tears she hadn’t realized she was holding back. She buried her face against his chest, breathing in the scent of smoke and sweat and Roan. For the first time since they had boarded the space lab, a wave of relief washed over her, leaving her weak and trembling.

“I thought I lost you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Roan rested his chin on the top of her head, his hand gently stroking her back. “You didn’t. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

His voice dropped lower, barely a whisper. “Is now a good time to tell you that I love you?”

Julia’s breath hitched, her fingers curling into his shirt. “I love you, too.”

Roan’s eyes darkened, the weight of everything they had survived pressing down on them. His voice trembled with emotion as he added, “My father’s dead.”

Julia pulled back just enough to cup his face in her hands, her thumb brushing against his cheek. “It’s over,” she whispered. “We did it. You did it.”

Roan nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. The battle still raged outside the viewport, but for this moment—this single heartbeat—they were safe.

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