Page 28 of Salvaged By the Alien Pirate

I trigger the emergency protocol I embedded deep within the ship's systems, a last-resort measure I hoped I wouldn't need. It severs my neural connection to the ship abruptly, violently—a digital amputation that sends fresh waves of agony through my consciousness as my implants struggle to compensate for the sudden loss.

But it works. Kira's attack, channeled through my connection, finds itself suddenly untethered, her digital presence ejected from our systems as the emergency firewalls slam into place.

I slump in the tactical chair, blood trickling from my nose as my implants struggle to recover from the trauma. My enhanced vision flickers, data streams fragmenting and reforming as my systems attempt to stabilize.

"Neon?" Cirdox is beside me, one hand on my shoulder, his crimson eyes dark with concern despite the obvious pain of the bond-sickness. "What happened?"

"Emergency disconnect," I manage, my voice rough as if I've been screaming. Maybe I have. "Had to cut the neural link to force her out. She was using my connection to attack the ship."

Another impact rocks the bridge as an Eclipse weapon finds its mark. The lights flicker, emergency systems kicking in as damage reports flood the command displays.

"Shields at forty-two percent," Zara announces, her russet fur standing on end. "We can't take much more of this, Captain."

"We won't have to." Cirdox returns to the command chair, his movements fluid despite the fever evident in his glowing markings. "We've reached the asteroid field. Execute navigation pattern Epsilon-Three."

The ship banks sharply, diving between massive chunks of rock and ice that drift in complex patterns through the void. The maneuver puts solid mass between us and our pursuers, temporarily shielding us from their weapons fire.

"They're still following," I report, forcing myself to focus on the tactical display despite the lingering pain in my neural pathways. "But they're being more cautious now. Spreading out to try to box us in."

"Let them try." Cirdox's voice carries a predatory confidence that belies his weakened state. "This is our territory now. Zara, implement shadow protocol on my mark."

She nods, fingers dancing across her console as she prepares whatever 'shadow protocol' entails. I watch, curious despite the gravity of our situation, as she activates a series of commands that seem to alter the ship's energy signature.

"Shadow protocol active, Captain," she confirms, a hint of anticipation in her tone.

"Execute dive maneuver in three... two... one... mark!"

The ship plunges suddenly, thrusters firing in a complex pattern that sends us hurtling toward a particularly dense cluster of asteroids. For a terrifying moment, it seems we're about to collide with the jagged surface of a massive rock—then at the last possible second, the Void Reaver rolls, slipping into a narrow crevice that's barely wider than our hull.

"Kill main power," Cirdox commands as we settle into the shadow of the asteroid. "Auxiliary systems only."

The bridge darkens as non-essential systems power down, leaving only the dim glow of emergency lighting and critical displays. Through my enhanced vision, I watch as our energy signature diminishes, becoming nearly indistinguishable from the background radiation of the asteroid field.

"Eclipse vessels are continuing on our projected course," Zara reports, her voice hushed as if the enemy might hear us through the vacuum of space. "They haven't detected our position change."

"They're hunting a ghost," Cirdox says, satisfaction evident despite the strain in his voice. "Let them chase shadows while we slip away."

I lean back in the tactical chair, allowing myself a moment of relief as the immediate danger passes. My implants are still recovering from the forced disconnect, sending occasional jolts of pain through my neural pathways, but the worst has subsided.

"That was impressive flying," I admit, glancing at Cirdox. "I didn't think a ship this size could navigate those gaps."

A smile touches his lips, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes. "The Void Reaver has many talents, neural specialist. As does her crew." His gaze lingers on me, seeing more than I'm comfortable with. "Including you."

Before I can respond, my neural interface flickers with one final message, faint but unmistakable:

THIS ISN'T OVER, VALKYRIE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU HIDE, NO MATTER HOW FAR YOU RUN, I'LL FIND YOU. AND NEXT TIME, I WON'T BE SO MERCIFUL.

Chapter 10

Cirdox

“You’reburningup,Captain.”Zara’s voice, laced with concern, cuts through the throbbing pressure behind my eyes. I feel her hand hovering near my forehead, hesitating just before contact. I flinch, a wave of hypersensitivity making my skin crawl.

“Just...adjusting to the Haven’s recycled air,” I manage, the lie tasting like ash in my parched throat. The words scrape against the raw edges of my vocal cords, a physical manifestation of the fire consuming me from within. I clench my jaw, fighting the urge to collapse into the command chair and surrender to the bond-sickness entirely.

“Recycled air doesn’t make your markings glow like molten lava.” Zara’s russet fur bristles as she steps closer, her vulpexian senses undoubtedly detecting the subtle chemical changes in my blood, the erratic pulse of bond-sickness raging through my veins. “And it certainly doesn’t make your wings tremble like they’re about to tear themselves apart.”

I force my wings to stillness, folding them tight against my back despite the agonizing pressure building beneath the membrane-thin edges. “A little...atmospheric disturbance. Nothing I can’t handle.”

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