Page 79 of Sol Survivor

“I’ll open the door a little.No need to freeze us all.”Sonja tapped the console.The door groaned as it inched open.

Vic activated her shield and slipped through the crack.After waiting for the door to start closing, she hurried to catch up to Drafe and Caah, jogging toward the red ship but a blip on the horizon.She smiled.Yet another thing she wanted to thank Sebastian for—a free ship.

As fit as she was, by the time she climbed the ice shelf circling the base, she gasped for air.Men in suits patrolled around the red cruiser, military blasters in hand.

“A dozen.That means four apiece.”She counted on her fingers.“They’re a little blinded by their helmets.We can strike from behind.”

“That is the coward’s way,” Drafe said.She would swear before the Q.C.C.that his scowl traveled through the neck device.

The urge to roll her eyes gripped her, but the infantile action was wasted on Qaldreth warriors.“Got any other ideas?”She arched a brow.“Divide and conquer.They’re expecting us, so anything we do will be met with their full force.”

Caah gestured to the ground.“Drop from the ledge.If we land well, we can disarm three.”

Drafe peeked over the edge.“The rest will fire at us, but at least it will be face to face.”

“As long as we can start this instead of debate it, I’m in.”She peered at the soldiers closest to her.The drop was significant, two levels high.She would need to land on her cybernetic leg to absorb the impact.“Ready.”

She waved at Drafe and threw herself off.

“Vic.”

Laughing, she dropped on top of a guard, crushing his spine, then fired at the closest two, before rolling behind the landing pad of the cruiser.Confusion reigned with the rapid-fire of blasters.They aimed for the ledge, not realizing that Caah and Drafe had split, both planning to fall from separate positions.Sliding under the cruiser, she duck-walked across, prepared to add cover fire.

As Drafe and Caah plummeted, she fired, drawing the soldiers’ attention.Seven more died.

“They’re everywhere,” a soldier screamed and banged on the door to be let inside.He died, smearing blood down the steel while his oxygen escaped in a hiss.

“Where’s the twelfth man?”Vic asked, unable to see anyone’s legs but Caah and Drafe’s.

Behind you.

At Aehort’s warning, she spun and fired without hesitation, catching the soldier by surprise.

“Got him,” she chuckled.“See, what did I say?Easy.”

“You will receive chastisement when we return to theAroagni,” Drafe growled as he hoisted her from under the cruiser.

“Oh, am I due for a good spanking?”At the idea, heat uncoiled in her core.She pinched her thighs together.Now wasn’t the time.

“I am right here.”Caah tossed her a glare.“Burro Lento, humpback.”

Sonja responded, “Roger that, Caah.En route now.”

“So, any ideas how to open the doors?”Vic smiled and pointed at the sec cams.

Caah scanned a panel with his wrist.It flickered green while he typed on the holographic images glowing in his skin.The panel flashed red.He pursed his lips and continued.

“You do know there’ll be a fresh wave waiting for us.”She pressed her shoulder to Drafe’s.

“I expected as much.”He tugged a ball out of somewhere.“One of Caah’s gas canisters.”

She studied his body, layered with his thick symbiotic armor.Where were the pockets?“I knew there’s a reason I find you incredibly sexy.”

He chuckled.“Only one reason?”

“I cannot wait for time away from you two.”Caah raised his head to glance at them.“I am a little envious, to be honest.”

“Find your own female.”Drafe curled his arm around her waist.

---