Page 79 of Warrior's Reign
:If YadFi is going to strike, they’ll wait for a signal from Adevega,: Icolo said. :Reign, nudge her.:
:We have a potential security breach.: Evvek spoke, voice shorn of its usual amused drawl. :Reign.:
She shifted in her chair, moving closer to Ibukay.
“That’s an interesting perspective,” the moderator was saying. “Your candor gives us all something to ponder.”
“When I was being raised,” Adevega said, her voice gently amused,“Ill-mannered children were not allowed to offer opinions in the presence of their elders.”
“Yes, the Earth republic feels the same way,” Reign said, not at all fooled. She heard the seething. “Dissidents are frequently escorted to prisons and never seen again.” Nudge. Nudge.
Ibukay’s cough increased, and Reign realized her friend was laughing, not strangling with outrage. Well, at least someone was amused.
:Nudge harder. If she’s wavering, she’ll need an excuse to give the signal.:
Reign went all in. “Furthermore, theEyahunhasn’t said what will happen to the alien citizens on planet if the Treaty is abolished. On Earth, historically, an ousted tribe and its hybrid offspring isn’t permitted to live. Our school books are full of the recounting of mass genocides.”
Silence descended.
“This. Is. Outrageous.” Adevega stood, stage lights bouncing off her scales. “I refuse to participate in an intelligent discussion with a barely sentient creature.”
:That has to be it.:
TheEyahunswept toward stage left as the crowd roared, her coterie of aides hastening behind. Energy sized across Reign’s shoulders, tugging on the fine hairs on her nape.
Damnit, she shouldn’t have hesitated.
Reign grabbed Ibukay’s wrist and dragged her under the conference table just as a soundless concussion rippled through the air. Their body shield sprang into existence, deflecting energy and debris. The impact took them down to forty percent immediately.
Fuuuuuck.True fear struck her core. The audience wouldn’t be protected from this kind of blast—this arena wasn’t equipped with audience protectives.
Her ears rang. Nothing she could do until the healing nanos under her skin deployed. Whipping out her blaster, she activated her secondary offensive shields and rose to a crouch.
“We have to move,” she shouted.
A swarm hit the stage. Vykhan leaped down as two of the medical guards approached. She glanced up at the demolished shield of the soundstage. He’d been literally hanging out above them the entire time. Reign let the med guards take Ibukay, falling into defensive position as they lifted theBdakhunand escorted her out of the amphitheater.
“Adevega,” Reign snapped. “She left the stage right before the blast.”
“Not now,” Vykhan said, calm voice razor sharp. Good. Her ears were working again. Together they got Ibukay up andmoved.
:Adevega’s clear of the blast perimeter.: Evvek said.
“Casualties?”
They were in a transport and gone. A different team would comb the auditorium and begin to investigate what happened. Reign was strictly personal security. At least officially. She and her team would do their own investigating.
:None reported yet. Several injuries. Med bots were automatically deployed, and emergency personnel are now on site.:
“Account for everyone,” Vykhan said.
They were at the palace, airspace cleared for emergency speeds, in minutes. Ibukay was ushered into the medbay, and Reign turned on her heels after it was clear her presence was superfluous.
Vykhan’s hand darted out and grabbed her arm. “Remain for treatment.”
“I’m fine,” she said, shaking him off. “I need to get back onsite.”
“That was not a suggestion. You are restricted from duty until cleared. After cleared, report to theBdakhun.”
