Page 44 of First

A prayer formed on his lips, asilent plea to the gods he no longer believed in. His unit was loyal, their bond forged in the fires of a thousand battles. They might question his choices, condemn his actions, but they wouldn’t abandon him, any more than Zar’Ryn had. He clung to that belief, alifeline in the storm.

The ship lurched violently, an energy blast striking its hull. Lights flickered, then died, plunging the bridge into darkness. Emergency systems engaged, bathing the compartment in a dim, red glow, awarning sign of their precarious situation.Vexx!It was practically a repeat of the attack of the Marauders.

“Life support systems compromised,”Rory reported, her voice distorted, an electronic rasp that added another layer of anxiety to the already dire situation.“Hull breach on multiple decks. Iam detecting boarding parties.”

It wasn’t over. He still had to protect Winn. He had to get her out of this, away from the coming onslaught.

“Rory,” he barked, desperation edging his voice. “Get Winn out of here. Transport her to the escape pod. Now!”

“But, Jo’Nay…”Rory’s voice held a note of protest, totally at odds with how a normal AI should behave.

“No time to argue,” he snapped, the urgency overriding his usual calm demeanor. “Do it!”

He heard the hiss coming from the direction of the escape pod signaling its launch, felt a pang of loss as Winn was ripped from his side, but he knew it was the only way. He couldn’t allow them to capture her, to use her as leverage, to harm their unborn child.

The bridge doors hissed open, revealing a squad of Vettian enforcers. Their armor gleamed menacingly in the red light, their weapons trained on him. They were the embodiment of the Vettian government’s power, ruthless and efficient.

Jo’Nay met their gaze, his expression unyielding. He knew he couldn’t win, knew he was fighting a losing battle, but he wouldn’t surrender. He would make them pay for every inch of ground.

He lunged, his sword slicing through the air, adefiant arc of silver light that momentarily illuminated the darkness.

The enforcers responded with a practiced ease, their weapons firing. Jo’Nay deflected the blasts, his sword humming with power, his movements a whirlwind of centuries-old training. He was a First, awarrior unlike any other. He was skilled, seasoned, and utterly determined. But even the greatest warrior could fall against overwhelmingodds.

He managed to take down two of the enforcers, their bodies collapsing, their armor smoking and sparking, but more were closing in. Pain seared through his arm as an energy blast grazedhim, areminder of his vulnerability, of the limits of his strength. He stumbled back, his grip on his sword tightening, his breath ragged.

He was trapped and defeated, but he’d bought Winn time. Time to escape. Time to survive. That was all that mattered.

The enforcer captain, atall, formidable figure whose face held the harsh lines of countless battles, stepped forward, his weapon lowered, his gaze unwavering.

“Jo’Nay, First of Alpha Legion,” he said, his voice a deep rumble that held a hint of grudging respect. “You are under arrest. Resistance will ensure your death.”

Jo’Nay lowered his sword. He had no strength left, no fight left in him, especially after his recent battle with the Marauders. He’d lost this battle. But he hadn’t lost Winn. He hadn’t lost their child. He hadn’t losthope.

“I surrender,” he rasped, each word a struggle against the exhaustion that threatened to engulfhim.

“An excellent choice considering what we have found in your escape pod. Had you not surrendered, we would have destroyed the pod.”

He stiffened. “What have you done with her?”

The enforcer captain’s lips curled into a harsh smile. “Taken her aboard my vessel, where she will be dealt with,” he replied, his voice cold, his words like shards of ice. “As will your… abomination.”

Rage flared within Jo’Nay, awhite-hot surge that momentarily eclipsed the pain and exhaustion. He wanted to attack, to tear this enforcer limb from limb, but he restrainedhimself. He couldn’t afford to act rashly. He had to stay alive. He needed to find a way back toWinn.

“You’re making a mistake,” he said, forcing his voice to remain steady, his tone laced with an icy defiance that echoed the cold, unforgiving depths of space. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with. You think you can control me? Control what I’ve become? Destroy my mate without going through the appropriate authority? Idemand my right to stand before the Vettian Council and be heard.”

The enforcer captain’s smile faltered, replaced by a flicker of doubt. Good. Let them question their choices, let them fear the power they sought to control. He had planted a seed of uncertainty, aseed of rebellion that would grow within the ranks of the warriors. They would learn that the Vettian government’s control was built on lies, on fear, and on the suppression of their basic rights. The apples, the key to their freedom, were out there, and he would ensure that knowledge spread like wildfire through the ranks.

The enforcers bound his wrists, the metal cuffs a physical reminder of his defeat, mirroring his time with the Marauders. He surveyed the ravaged bridge, the shattered remnants of his defiance, the bodies of the fallen enforcers, atestament to the price he’d paid for his choices. It was a scene of destruction, of loss, but it wasn’t the end. It was a new beginning.

He closed his eyes, drawing in a deep, steadying breath, summoning his strength and resolve. He would endure this. He would survive this. He would find Winn. He would ensure the safety of their child. He would challenge the Vettian government’s control, expose their lies, and offer his brothers a choice. He had to. For Winn. For their child. For the future they were fighting for. He would not give uphope.

Notever.

Chapter 20

WINN CLUTCHEDJo’Nay’s arm as they stood together in the belly of the enforcer’s ship. The sterile air of the chamber seemed to press down on her, its metallic tang biting at the back of her throat.

The journey here had been grueling, with no respite from the cold, impersonal environment of the vessel that now carried them toward judgment. Every hum of the ship’s engines, every flicker of the overhead lights, only deepened the knot of unease in her stomach.

---