Page 53 of Sawoots Story

WhenTheInstigatorcomes online, the first thing Aelon will do is send Reavers after us. They’ll pull up from the moon like locusts.

They were waiting for the Toads, but now they will have a new target. Us.

“Yes, Captain,” Theme and I say in unison as we settle into the huge gunning seats. I’ve never been behind the controls of an Orb-Beam. I get a frisson as I wield the controls, knowing the immense power of those bloodthirstythingsthat I now operate. If we run into any Toads, I’ll give them a brutal welcome.

Tasha plunks herself down in the massive commander’s seat. It’s built for an Aurelian, but she looks right at home. You could put her behind the controls of a space station or a speeder and she’d be instantly comfortable. I shift in my seat, straight-backed with proper posture to try to fit in the chair built for a seven-foot-tall, five-hundred-pound alien warrior.

We jolt off the ground. There’s no roar of engines like theWayward Scythe. Reavers are sleek, silent, deadly. It takes Tasha a second and she’s adjusted to the new machine, steadying us as we hover above the metal floor of the loading bay.

I look back at the dozens of Reavers in different states of repairs. At least six of them are operational enough to come after us.

I hold my finger over the trigger of the Orb-Beam, lining up a shot. I should destroy them while their shields are down…

But if I do, it’ll be six less Reavers to fight against the Toads.

I can’t make this decision. Luckily, I don’t have to. “Tasha? Should I blast the other Reavers, so they can’t follow us?”

“Hold your fire. They stole from us, but they’ll need every ship they’ve got if the Toads come back.” I’m instantly relieved. I didn’t want to destroy the beautiful ships before they were needed.

Theme clears his throat. “We might not be willing to Orb-Shift with those rumors you’ve heard, but Captain Aelon is insane. He might risk it. We need to blast the Reavers, or we’ll definitely be re-captured.” His voice is nervous, and he’s probably right. The targeting array shows he’s locked in on one of the Reavers, though his aim is as shaky as his voice.

“Stand down, Theme! We’renotleaving them with fewer defenses than they already have. You know Aelon won’t shy away from a fight, even if he’s outgunned.”

“That’s not our problem!” But then Theme checks himself. “I’m sorry. Youarethe captain. I won’t shoot.” The light blinks out on the HUD. He’s not targeting anything anymore.

We blast forward, the Orb-Powered engine silent as we dart through the shimmering haze of the air-lock and into the freedom of empty space.

I let out a whoop as we punch out.

I made my choice. I’ll live with it. I’m full of adrenaline, a free woman again. I’m no longer caged like a little bird.

Endless space opens in front of us. There’s no rules, nothing stopping you from building your fortune and creating your destiny. Tasha and I went from starving youngsters to owning our own ship and building a crew. Aelon’sInstigatorwill just be one more close call on our list of near-death experiences.

“I can’t believe it! You got us out!” I scream out in crazed relief, still cognizant of the massive bulk of the alien warship that’s been rendered temporarily impotent. All those guns and tractor beams can do nothing to stop us from darting away. I brace myself every second for the pull of the beam, but it never comes.

We’re out, and we’ve got an Independent Reaver to show for it, powered by a single, massive Orb.

It’s not the score we set out for, but it’ll get us afortuneat the less reputable space stations on the fringes of Rogue Space.

Something gnaws at me.

Garrick predicted a universe of chaos. A great war.

If we sell this Reaver, what will it be used for?

The kind of buyer who takes possession of a stolen fighter ship might use it to harry civilian ships trying to flee the devastation of the coming battles. Could we sell this ship knowing it might go to the hands of a pirate?

“Well,” scoffs Tasha. “I think Theme gets the credit for this mission.” She’s too modest, giving all the credit to the Technician, but she’s right. Without his skills we’d be stuck onThe Instigator.

Without his skills, I’d be in Garrick’s arms. I couldn’t last another day without surrendering to the need that kept building and building…

I feel a twinge in my heart. Part of me aches to go back, even as we just escaped.

“I just did what I could,” responds Theme, his voice still nervous. That will never change. But with our help, he’s learned how to face that fear and surmount it. He’s no longer the green rookie that we found and brought on. The three of us together are a worthy team. Instead of selling the Reaver, we could use the high-powered machine to do jobs.

And how long until Aelon hears about a trio of humans doing heists with an Independent Reaver? How long until he tracks us down and takes back what is his?

“How long do you think we have, Theme?” Tasha’s voice is calm.

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