Chapter 12

A JARRING alarm shattered the quiet of Jo’Nay’s ship. Red alert lights flashed, casting an eerie glow on Winn’s face. The gentle hum of the ship’s engine, once a comforting lullaby, was replaced by a cacophony of warnings as Rory announced the imminent threat . “Multiple unidentified vessels approaching. Energy signatures indicate hostile intent,” she announced.

Jo’Nay reacted instantly. He moved with more speed and grace than usual, activating the ship’s defenses and sealing off vulnerable sections. The viewscreen, moments ago displaying a breathtaking vista of swirling nebulae and distant stars, now showed a swarm of ships, their jagged silhouettes emerging from the darkness like predators closing in on theirprey.

Jo’Nay cursed. These were no ordinary raiders. These were the Marauders, anotorious band of space pirates feared throughout the Nine Galaxies for their ruthlessness and greed. Their ships, amotley collection of cobbled-together hulks and stolen vessels, bristled with the latest weaponry, atestament to their disregard for law and order. He recognized the unmistakable glint of plasma cannons, weapons capable of tearing through even the most reinforced hull. Marauders had been the bane of his existence during his centuries as an Intergalactic Warrior.

Alarm, cold and sharp, emanated from Winn, but she drew a deep breath and focused on him. He hoped she believed he would protect her, would fight to the death to keep her safe. But the sight of those approaching ships, their destructive intent so evident, would not be easy to defeat.

The first volley of plasma fire hit his ship with the force of a supernova. The vessel shuddered violently, the impact throwing Winn off balance. He caught her, his grip strong and reassuring.

“Hold fast, little one,” he murmured, his voice calm despite the chaos erupting around them. He knew his ship, amarvel of Vettian engineering, could withstand a considerable amount of punishment, but the Marauders’ relentless assault was taking itstoll.

He shoved Winn into the copilot’s seat and fastened himself into the pilot’s. Instantly, he threw the ship into a series of maneuvers. The ship groaned in protest as Jo’Nay pushed it to its limits, the inertial dampeners struggling to compensate for the sudden, violent feints.

Alarms blared, their shrill cries a symphony of chaos as the Marauder ships closed in, their weapons spitting fire. The bridge vibrated with each impact, achoking haze of burnt wiring and plasma residue permeated theroom.

“Shields at 60%! Hull breach on deck four! Life support systems compromised!” Rory’s voice, usually so soothing, blared with its staccato rhythm of critical reports.

Scorch marks, black and ugly, marred the once pristine hull. The air crackled with heat, the sharp smell of smoldering metal cutting through the chaos as the ship’s defenses strained to absorb the relentless barrage. The control panels, once glowing with a soft, pulsating light, now flickered erratically, their delicate systems struggling to cope with the onslaught.

His Vettian senses heightened, he could feel the ship screeching under the strain. He knew they couldn’t withstand this assault for long. The Marauders, driven by greed and a lust for destruction, were relentless. Their numbers were overwhelming, their firepower exceeding anything he’d encountered before.

One of the Marauder vessels, its prow emblazoned with a strange logo of a snake-like object, broke through their weakened defenses. Its plasma cannons fired a blinding onslaught at Jo’Nay’s ship. Winn screamed as an explosion rocked them, the force of it snapping her against her restraints.

Though clearly terrified, she remained silent, watching him, his movements a blur of controlled aggression as he fought to keep their ship afloat, to buy them time. He was grateful she wasn’t interfering.

Suddenly, ablinding flash engulfed the bridge, searing through the viewport with the intensity of a newborn star. Jo’Nay barely had time to brace before the ship lurched violently, the sudden impact throwing him against the control panel with bone-jarring force. Pain radiated through his side, sharp and unforgiving, as the air filled with the acrid stench of burning circuitry.

He groaned, the sound ripped from his throat and lost in the deafening cacophony of alarms and the roaring aftermath of the attack. Sparks rained down like fiery hail, casting erratic shadows across the bridge as the lights flickered and died, plunging the area into a twilight haze lit only by the faint glow of emergency indicators.

The engines sputtered once, twice, and then went silent, leaving an oppressive stillness that seemed to press against his ears. Only the crackle of charred wiring and the faint hiss of escaping gas broke the silence—asinister symphony of destruction that spoke of critical damage. The ship shuddered beneath him, its structure groaning as if in protest.

Jo’Nay forced himself upright, gripping the edge of the console as the room tilted around him. His vision blurred, and he blinked rapidly to clear it, the taste of copper lingering in his mouth. Blood? No time to dwell on that. His gaze darted to the viewport. Outside, amass of enemy ships loomed like predatory beasts circling their wounded prey, their weapons glowing ominously as they prepared for another strike.

Another shudder rippled through the ship as a secondary explosion rocked the aft section. He swore under his breath, his fingers flying over the remaining functional controls. The diagnostics flickered in and out, their fragmented readings confirming what he already feared—critical systems were failing one byone.

Winn rushed to his side, her heart pounding in her chest. “Jo’Nay! Are you alright?” she asked.

His vision blurred. “A mere flesh wound, little one. Nothing a Vettian warrior cannot handle,” he said. He tried to stand, but his legs buckled beneathhim.

Winn gasped. “You’re hurt!”

He looked up at her, awry smile twisting his lips. He couldn’t lie to her. He was injured. And getting weaker by the moment. “The engines are down. We cannot get away.”

He realized with a chilling certainty that the Marauders had breached the ship. Their magnetic grappling hooks, massive claws of reinforced metal, had torn through the hull, their points of entry glowing with molten metal. The air hissed as the pressure seal failed, the sound adding to the cacophony of the attack.

Heavily armed Marauders, their faces hidden behind grotesque masks, poured onto the ship. Their weapons, amix of crude blades and advanced energy rifles, gleamed in the flickering light.

Winn shrank against Jo’Nay and he wished he could reassure her that he’d protect her, but even a Vettian warrior couldn’t stand against such overwhelmingodds.

Pushing himself to his feet, he drew his sword, the energized blade humming with power. He knew he couldn’t defeat them all, but he would defend Winn to his last breath. He stood before her, ashield against the approaching storm.

“Winn, get to the secure chamber now!” he barked, his voice cutting through thedin.

“But—” Winn’s protest came instantly, her wide lavender-tinged eyes filled with fear and defiance. She clutched her abdomen, her protective gesture a reminder of the precious life growing withinher.

“No arguments,” he snapped, his tone leaving no room for debate. “Rory, initiate lockdown protocol for Winn and the child.”

“Affirmative,” Rory intoned, her voice calm amidst the chaos.

Jo’Nay cast one last glance at Winn as she reluctantly retreated to the reinforced chamber. Her fear struck him like a blade, carving deeper than any wound inflicted in battle. For a moment, he faltered, caught between his need to reassure her and the brutal reality of their situation.

“I will come for you,” he vowed, his voice softer now, though it carried an unyielding promise. Her gaze lingered on his for a heartbeat longer, trust battling against terror in her expression. Then she disappeared into the chamber, and the door hissedshut.

He couldn’t afford distractions, not now. His duty was clear: to protect his mate and their unborn child at all costs.

The Marauders were relentless, their attacks precise and coordinated. Jo’Nay had encountered their ilk before—mercenaries and Marauders working under the Syndicate’s shadowy directive. But this assault bore the mark of something more deliberate, more personal. They knew who he was, that he’d survived his Final Flight, and had come prepared to takehim.

The bridge’s holographic interface flickered to life, displaying the boarding parties’ breach points. Multiple entry vectors—three teams, heavily armed. Jo’Nay calculated his odds in an instant. Slim. But survival wasn’t his primary objective; securing Winn and the child was. He clenched his jaw, suppressing the rising tide of dread. For Winn, for their future, he would face whatevercame.

He retrieved his weapon, the energizing hum of the blade singing a familiar tune of violence. Jo’Nay’s long hair swept behind him as he moved with lethal grace toward the main corridor. The Vettian warrior training ingrained in him took over, every step measured, every sense heightened. Memories of countless battles flickered in his mind, ghosts of past victories and the price he had paid for them. None of it mattered now—only the present, only this fight.

The first Marauder appeared, ahulking figure clad in black tactical armor. Jo’Nay moved like a shadow, his blade slicing through the Marauder’s defenses before the enemy could raise his weapon. The man fell with a gurgled cry, his comms unit sparking as it hit the floor.

“One down,” Jo’Nay muttered, his voice devoid of satisfaction. The fight had only begun.

The next wave came swiftly, their boots pounding against the ship’s metallic floors. “Remember. We’re to take him alive,” said the lead Marauder.

Interesting. Jo’Nay surged forward, his blade a blur as it deflected plasma bolts. If they wanted him alive, that gave him an advantage. He closed the distance between them in seconds, his movements a deadly dance of precision and power. The Marauders fell, their armor clattering as they hit the ground.

Each strike was precise, each movement imbued with a calculated purpose. Yet beneath his warrior’s focus, an insistent voice whispered of the stakes—Winn’s safety, the child they had created together. The thought of losing them burned like fire in his veins, driving him onward with a ferocity that bordered on desperation.

“Rory, report,” Jo’Nay commanded, his breathing steady despite the chaos.

“Three boarding teams confirmed. Two teams advancing toward the engine room. Another team en route to you and the secured chamber.”

A growl rumbled deep in Jo’Nay’s chest. His grip tightened on the blade’s hilt. He would do whatever necessary to protectWinn.

He raced down the adjacent corridor, his movements fluid despite the ship’s shuddering impacts. The Marauders’ tactics were ruthless, but their greed made them predictable. They wanted Winn. And they wanted him, apparently alive. And they would stop at nothing to achieve their objectives.

The next group of Marauders was waiting for him, their weapons trained on the intersection ahead. Jo’Nay didn’t hesitate. He hurled a plasma grenade into their midst, the explosion sending a shockwave that echoed through the ship. He charged into the disarray, his blade slicing through the survivors with ruthless efficiency.

“You are persistent,” he muttered to the last Marauder, the man’s face pale with terror as Jo’Nay’s blade silencedhim.

His comm device crackled to life. “Jo’Nay,” Winn’s voice broke through, filled with urgency. “They’re at the chamber door!”

His heart clenched. They’d gone around him to reach Winn. “Stay inside. Do not engage.”

“I’m not leaving,” she replied fiercely. “But I’m not hiding either.”

He cursed under his breath. There was no time to argue. He sprinted back toward the chamber, his focus narrowing to the immediate threat.

They turned as he approached, their weapons firing in unison. Jo’Nay deflected the incoming plasma with precise sweeps of his blade, his body a blur of motion. He dispatched the first Marauder with a spinning strike, the blade severing armor and flesh. The second fell moments later, his weapon clattering uselessly to the floor.

The remaining Marauders retreated, regrouping further down the corridor. Jo’Nay seized the opportunity and raced to the chamber containing his mate. His fingers flew over the control panel to strengthen the chamber’s defenses.

Winn’s voice whispered through the comms, soft but steady. “Jo’Nay, you don’t have to fight them all. We need you alive.”

Her words pierced through his battle haze. She was right. Fighting to the death served no purpose. He couldn’t protect her or their child if he was gone. He took a steadying breath, his mind racing through alternative strategies.

“Rory, calculate an escape route,” he ordered.

“Negative,” Rory replied. “Hostile forces have compromised all external access points.”

Jo’Nay’s jaw tightened. No escape. Only survival.

Heavy footfalls signaled the arrival of reinforcements. He braced himself, his blade raised, but his movements slowed by exhaustion and injuries. The Marauders surged forward, overwhelming him with sheer numbers. His blade sang through the air, but a plasma bolt struck his shoulder, sending a hideous, incapacitating pain radiating through his arm. He staggered and fell to one knee, gasping as his vision blurred. His sword dropped to thedeck.

“Finally,” a deep, rasping voice declared. Jo’Nay knew that voice, had dealt with this creature before. Skarrp .

Jo’Nay looked up, the pain nearly unbearable, to see the Marauder leader striding forward. Skarrp’s grin was predatory, his satisfaction evident. He was a towering brute with a scarred face and a blood-red eye patch. His voice, aguttural growl, echoed through the bridge. “Yield, Vettian, and you and your female pet may live another day. Resist, and you both die, here. Now.”

Jo’Nay met the Marauder’s gaze, his voice filled with hatred. “You will have neither of us,” hesaid.

The Marauder laughed, aharsh, grating sound. “One way or another, Iwill take you both.” He raised his hand, and the pirates behind him broke through the reinforced chamber, dragging Winn out. “Do you truly wish for the female to die?”

Jo’Nay noticed Winn closing her eyes, bracing for the inevitable. He wished he could hold her, comfort her. But he had to remain strong. “No.”

“Then surrender and you will live.” Skarrp lifted an eyebrow. “Live to fight another day, mayhap, yes?”

How it grated to face defeat at Skarrp’s hands, something he’d never have done before Winn. But keeping her and their child alive trumped all. Without a word, he kicked his weapon in Skarrp’s direction, signaling his surrender.

The Marauder laughed in delight. “The great First, Intergalactic Warrior Jo’Nay brought low. What a prize.”

A sharp, crackling sound filled the air as a bolt of plasma fire tore through his chest. He cried out, his body jerking. Falling. Utterly out of his control. It felt as though a bomb had exploded inside of him. He vaguely registered Winn screaming.

Skarrp’s expression darkened. “I told you I wanted him alive,” he snarled, his voice dripping with fury. Without hesitation, he drew his blade and ended the subordinate’s life in a single, savage stroke. Blood pooled at Skarrp’s feet as he turned back to Jo’Nay, squatting in front of his crumpled form. “By the Nine Galaxies! He still lives!”

Jo’Nay’s vision faded and he struggled to breathe. The pain was excruciating, unlike anything he had ever experienced. He could feel the plasma energy burning through his flesh, disrupting his Prime healing abilities. It would take a miracle for him to survivethis.

The Marauder, his voice filled with greed, barked an order. “Take them both. The female will fetch a good price in the slave markets. The Vettian, though wounded, may still have some use.”

Rough hands grabbed Winn, pulling her away from him. She struggled, kicking and screaming, but the pirates were too strong. They bound her wrists with energy shackles, the metal biting into her flesh. He hated that she could only watch helplessly as they lifted him, his body limp, his white hair and chest stained with blood.

“Don’t hurt him!” she cried, her voice raw with fear and desperation. “He’s injured! He needs medical attention!”

“We will see,” Skarrp replied, his tone smug. He gestured to his men. “Take the warrior to the brig. Make sure he doesn’t bleed out. Ihave plans for him.” His gaze shifted to Winn, who stood trembling but unyielding. “As for you, little human, you’ll join the others. Put her in the cell with the other Earth women.”

Winn stepped forward, her voice steady despite her fear. “If you’re taking us, you’ll need the apples and seeds we have on board. Use them to feed the women. If you want them alive for the slave markets, they’ll need food.”

Skarrp’s eyes narrowed, his expression flickering between amusement and irritation. “The apples?”

“They’re in the ship’s galley,” Winn insisted. “Take them.”

For a moment, Skarrp seemed to consider her words, but then his amusement vanished. “I don’t take orders from slaves.” With a sudden, vicious motion, he backhanded her. The force of the blow sent her crashing into the bulkhead. Her head struck the metal with a sickening thud, and everything went black.

“Take her,” he growled. “And find those vexxing apples. Why waste our supplies on the slaves when we can use the warrior’s.”