Page 49 of Black Star

TheSword Breakerengaged three Hand ships an instant later. He had thought the real challenge would come from the Vok’nair ships. However, each Hand ship proved to be almost as great a battle. With so many enemies against them, Viktor knew they had to get rid of the ships easiest to defeat in order to even up the odds, and they had to do it quickly. Also, they had a finite number of torpedoes, and lasers weren’t as effective. Running out of ammo wasn’t an option.

“Three carrier ships destroyed,” Viktor reported. “Three war ships are gone, too.”

Damon’s smile was positively vicious. “Now, let’s get the rest of them.”

The two ships engaged the fleet from opposite ends of the field, each using the special talents they were designed with.Sword Breaker’s speed and agility proved to be a handful for their enemies as he spun a deadly dance through them, leaving a trail of destruction.Black Stardid much the same, but her armament and firepower were much greater, and her larger size made for an easier target. Viktor noted she often ended up between theSword Breakerand danger as if protecting him with her greater strength. If he concentrated, he felt the love and worryBlack Starfelt for her counterpart. It was too much emotion. He couldn’t handle it in his current state.

“What’s the count, Viktor?” Damon issued commands calmly, as he always did. Now, Viktor wondered how he managed it. Stripped of his control, his instincts were pushing him hard. He wanted to run around the room screaming to relieve some of the tension. A kill would sate him even better. He shook his head and tried to focus on counting ships instead. How many were destroyed, how many disabled, how many still fought them.

“Eighteen destroyed. Five unable to pursue. That leaves us twelve between the two of us.” Viktor’s heart beat wildly, and sweat broke out all over his body. Too soon. This was too soon. He needed to get away from everyone, but if he left now, it would destroy the concentration of the entire command center. Chaos in the command center was deadly in battle. He had to hang on until the battle was done.

Again, theBlack Starrocked and bucked as her shields took hit after hit.Sword Breakertried to fight through to her aid, but the Vok’nair ships held him off. Viktor got the distinct feelingBlack Starwas trying to get through to him, but he couldn’t hear her. His ears roared, and his pulse beat loudly in his head.

Viktor reached out with his telepathic senses for the first time since leaving Draggoon. Other than communicating with theBlack Star, he never used them unless he was on his home world because any time he had to use the skills he possessed as a vampire, the nature of what he was -- a predator -- made the temptation too great. The scent of blood drew him like a two-dimensional being to a cosmic string. His link with the ship -- and the constant use of the extrasensory skills given to his race -- was probably what had pushed him over the edge into the Blood Burning.

Diamond. He had to find Diamond. Her presence alone could help him hold onto what little sanity he had left. Ranier gave him a worried glance, but he was too busy to do much. Viktor nodded at the younger man, hoping to reassure him. Ranier needed his mind on the ship because Viktor was in no shape to help him.

“Look out!”

Viktor wasn’t sure who yelled, but his attention snapped back to his control panel. “Collision course, Damon.” He managed to get the words out, but his ears were ringing louder.Diamond!

She can’t hear you, but I can, Viktor.

Black Star’s voice was more tender than he could ever remember hearing it. How she broke through his haze of need for violence in the most non-obtrusive way he’d probably never know.

I’m losing control.

Just hold on a little while longer. I’ll bring her to you.

Ranier --

Will be fine, the ship interrupted. Don’t worry about him. Focus on Diamond.

If the ships collide at this pitch, everyone in the command center could be killed. I’ve got to get Ranier out of here. Everyone needs to abandon the command center.Viktor’s heart pounded in his chest.

No. Something’s not right.Black Star’s whisper inside his head was distant, like she was focusing on something other than him.Concentrate, Viktor. Look at their formations.

“Where’sSword Breaker?” Viktor hadn’t meant to speak aloud, but once the question was voiced, he got a sick feeling something was very wrong. He scanned his screens and tried to process what he was seeing.

Help me! I can’t see what they’re doing!Viktor screamed in his mind. He couldn’t focus enough to analyze their attack pattern. Itlookedlike the Vok’nair and Hand ships were working together now, but his fog-filled brain couldn’t wrap around the flight patterns. It all seemed too complex and random, but heknewit was a battle plan.

“Ranier,” Viktor managed to squeak, “can you see the patterns they’re using? Can you see what they’re trying to accomplish? Are we the primary goal?”

“Stand by.” Ranier broke away from his nav console and swiveled to an adjacent console that was a mirror of Viktor’s own. Damon glanced at Viktor, but otherwise kept his focus on the battle. “No.” Ranier moved his fingers from one console to the other and theBlack Starhad to compensate for his split attention. “Not us.” He turned to face Damon. “Sword Breaker. They’re coming at us, but the angle is slightly off. They’ll miss us by meters, but they’ll be going at the perfect speed to forceSword Breakerto dock with them. They’re going to board him.”

“Mikiel!” Damon stabbed the ship-to-ship comm. “Get your ship out of here! Now!” Damon jumped to his feet as he spoke. For a commander so in control to now show so much fear, he had to suspect something far worse than a collision. Something in his voice told Viktor Damon knew exactly what was going on.

“Don’t worry, my friend.” Mikiel sounded supremely confident in his people and his ship. “They can ram us all they want. They won’t even pierce our primary shields, and the secondary shields would hold them if they did.”

“They’re not going to ram you. They’re looking for a weak area in your shield for boarding.” Damon was actually trembling. “They’re after Nadira, I’d bet my life on it!”

There was no response from Mikiel, but Damon sprinted for the door. “Taren, with me! Rainer, keep my ship safe from them --” He stabbed his finger at the viewscreen. “-- and him.” He pointed at Viktor.

Viktor bared his teeth and hissed.

Chapter Seven

Diamond ran down the corridors of theBlack Staras fast as she could, shoving crew members out of the way as she went. She had to make it to the command center. Viktor needed her. If he was as close to the edge of control as the ship thought he was, she had no time to lose.

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