Page 27 of Black Star

“Phoebe, can you make it to Damon’s quarters?”

“Who said that?”

“There’s no time to explain. You need to go to the captain’s quarters and lock yourself in until either he or I tell you it’s safe.”

“What’s going on?” Phoebe knew this conversation was real and not the result of head trauma only because the voice had precipitated her head trauma to begin with.

“Don’t be difficult! Just do as you’re told before you’re taken!”

An explosion rocked the ship this time. There was a sound suspiciously like that of a hull breach. Phoebe had heard it only once. Three women on Graves Station lost their lives that time. “Was that a hull breach?”

“Yes! Get to Damon’s quarters and hurry. We’re being boarded!”

Phoebe didn’t waste any more time contemplating the wheres and whys of the disembodied voice. Things were happening fast, and she very much didn’t want to get caught in the middle of them.

She ran down the hall, colliding with two crewmembers wearing the remnants of tattered space suits -- Toshie and Brenner. Toshie looked like half his face had been burned off, and Brenner was half carrying, half dragging him toward the medical unit.

Phoebe immediately grabbed Toshie’s other arm and put it over her shoulder. “What happened?”

“We were ambushed.” Brenner grunted as he shifted Toshie’s weight to allow for Phoebe’s assistance. “Damned cultists waited until we had everyone on board here orSword Breaker, then attacked.”

Phoebe was betting they were after not only their “stolen” people, but theBlack Starherself for salvage. It was how they made their “fleet.” They captured the ship that had the parts they wanted and incorporated the technology into whatever vessel they needed it on. As a result, no two ships of the Hand were alike, and that made it difficult for anyone to identify a lone ship as belonging to the Hand.

“Captain Singh is trying to fight them off, but he’s going to need the vampire’s help.” Brenner said that like asking a vampire for help was worse than being taken by the Hand.

“The vampire. Viktor?”

“Hell, yes, Viktor! If the captain lets that man loose, blood will flow like a river. Not only that, but it will be hard to get him back under control.”

Brenner carefully lifted Toshie and laid him on an exam table. The doctor, whom Phoebe had met only briefly at the last meal, examined Toshie carefully. “Leave him to me. I’ll start the grafts and see if I can stop the burn’s progression. If I don’t, he won’t be fit for anything other than cybernetic recycling.”

With nothing more to do, Phoebe and Brenner left the unit. Brenner scrubbed a hand over his face. He looked worried, and scared.

“I’m sure the doctor will help him, Brenner. What happened?”

“Plasma burn. He got caught in the flash fire when the bulkhead gave way.”

A sickening feeling washed over Phoebe. “Damon?” she whispered. “Is Captain Singh all right?”

“He was burned, but not badly. Thank the stars he and most of the others managed to get atmospheric suits on before the inner bulkhead failed. Right now, they’re fighting those thrice-damned fanatics. With that section of the hull exposed, it’s not easy.” The young man looked nervously back the way he came. “I’ve got to go. The captain will need all the help he can get. Excuse me, ma’am.”

Phoebe thought she might be sick. Damon needed her, but if she was captured, she was as good as dead. She started back to the cabin, but stopped after a couple of steps. No. If Damon lost, they’d find her wherever she was. If it was meant for her to die, it would be at Damon’s side.

Chapter Six

“Keep heavy fire on that ramp! It’s the only way in or out!” Damon fought through the pain. His right leg and hip hurt, but he’d live. If he didn’t lead his men in this fight, they’d all very likely die. They were a great crew, but they weren’t terribly experienced.

Except for Viktor. And he had to keep the cyborg vampire out of this or he would die. That wasn’t acceptable to Damon.

The men of theBlack Starfought fiercely, but they couldn’t afford to lose another man. TheBlack Starwas vastly outmanned, but they still held the advantage in firepower.

“Why haven’t the temporary bulkheads automatically engaged, Captain?” Juanas, a young man fromSword Breaker, fired off several shots, his automatic comm unit keying up when he spoke inside his airtight suit. “If that hole was sealed, we could move away and blast those bastards into oblivion. Not to mention fighting with no atmosphere and no gravity ranks up there with eatingyassatturds.”

“Because they’ve stationed two men directly under the breach. The computer won’t engage until they move. A safety feature I could do without right now.” Damon repositioned himself, braced against a support beam and fired again. Juanas was right. Damon thought he’d rather eat theyassatturds.

“Did the women all make it?”

“All but one. Last I saw of her, she had on a mask, but I don’t know if she got a suit.”

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