Page 29 of Black Star

Viktor held up a hand while he processed the information. Viktor’s link with the ship wasn’t very strong yet, and it took time to understand what the ship was trying to tell him.

“The explosion was on the enemy vessel. It seems one of our girls planted an explosive device on the outer hull. There’s only a handful of them left, and their ship’s completely disabled.”

“What about the women, Viktor?” Damon gritted the words out. He could give a flying fuck about anything else at this point. He’d deal with it later.

“They’re both alive --” Viktor moved to the compartment beside the hatch where the woman had exited and grabbed two short tether lines, “-- but they’re both injured. Phoebe not so bad as the other woman, but they both need help.”

“I’ll go with you.” Damon moved toward the gaping hole in his ship. “Just let me shut down those force shields and letBlack Starmake temporary repairs. HasSword Breakergotten here yet?”

“Just pulling alongside us now, Sir.” Viktor tossed him a tether when he pushed off in his direction. “Black Starhas apprised them of the situation. They’re awaiting your instructions.”

“Have them ready their medical unit. They’re better equipped than we are.”

Viktor nodded. “Understood.”

“Let’s go.”

“You concentrate on finding the women. I’ll keep us attached to the ship.”

With Viktor’s strength, Damon didn’t doubt for a moment he could keep them both from floating off into space. “Keep me posted on their condition.”

“Will do.”

Once they got around the hull breach, Damon had a chance to look at the vastness surrounding them. He didn’t like being so exposed on the threshold of something that empty. It was strangely peaceful, though. The only thing keeping him grounded with reality was Viktor’s slight tug on the tether every now and then as they moved together.

“There’s one of them!” Damon had to restrain himself from shoving off from the ship in the direction of the body gently tumbling in space. Instead, he gave the gentlest of pushes, floating out to the end of his tether.

“That should be the other woman,” Viktor commed. “Phoebe is near the hull breach just outside the temporary barrier. She’s fine, but running out of oxygen. Tie on to this one quickly and let’s get Phoebe.”

Viktor pulled them back and they went after Phoebe. She had just enough oxygen to keep her conscious until they got back to a pressurized area.

Damon hurried to get everyone to the medical unit and checked out. He was worried about Phoebe -- so much he felt like his heart was going to explode -- but there were many more who had been injured in this attack. All of his crew were important to him.

“Sword Breakeris opening her aft cargo bay doors for us.” The smaller ship had pulled dangerously close, but the two ships seemed to move like dancers who had anticipated each other’s movements for a very long time.

The four of them floated into the bay and into an airlock. A few seconds later, the airlock pressurized and the crew ofSword Breakerhelped carry the two women to the medical unit. Damon lost his grip on Phoebe. He yelled her name, desperate to get to her, but Viktor held him back. She made eye contact with him and gave him a weak smile as they whisked her off. It would have to do for now.

Damon stood there with Viktor. Just the two of them remained. Damon sank to the deck, his knees unable to support him any longer. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

“I know, my friend. You love her.”

“Yes, Viktor, more than I’m comfortable admitting to just anyone, but it’s not only that. How many did we lose? I don’t even know. In all my years, I’ve never lost a crewman before.”

Viktor reached his hand to Damon. “That’s why you’re a good commander, Damon. Men the Empire has in command now don’t care about the lives lost, only the power gained.” He pulled Damon to his feet. “We’ve got to get back to theBlack Star. I think something’s happening.”

“Like what?” Damon had a sinking feeling he knew. He also had an even worse feeling he knew why. It was the only explanation.

“That carrier is now on an intercept course and will be here in less than ten standard minutes. We’ve got no time to spare.”

The two men got permission to take a shuttle and headed back to theBlack Star. It was time for the most feared ship in the known universe to earn her reputation.

Chapter Seven

The medical unit on this new ship was smaller than that of theBlack Star, but it was a great deal more comfortable. This was a ship built with her crew’s comfort in mind. For all the technology she saw, and all the comforts afforded the patients here, Phoebe didn’t see nearly enough staff. From what she could gather, there was one doctor and three nurses. Compared withBlack Star’s one doctor, she supposed it was a lot, but there were at least eight men injured in the fight, not to mention Diamond, who was by far the most critically injured.

Everyone’s time was taken up with the care of Diamond, the woman who had initiated the daring assault, and the men were left to wait until someone was free to tend them. Phoebe’s injuries were minor. She’d been hurt worse on the station and managed to treat herself.

Looking around, she saw things she could do. The man sitting next to her was burned from his knee down, the flesh red and covered with blisters, but not charred and blackened. It probably hurt like a son of a bitch. If she put some clean cloths over it and found clean cool water, she could at least give him some temporary relief. It wasn’t anything she hadn’t done before for the females in the lower part of Graves Station.

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