Chapter 20

Chapter 19

WASTING NO time, Jo’Nay loaded his mate onto his ship and headed for the med bay to have his wound repaired. They needed to leave the Nine Galaxies before Skarrp’s surprise showed up. The instant the med disc repaired and cleared him for duty, he headed for the bridge.

The air seemed to crackle with a palpable tension. He felt a tingling at the base of his skull, afamiliar harbinger of danger that had accompanied him through countless battles across the galaxies.

He glanced at Winn, his human mate, in a deep, exhausted sleep on the bio-lounge. Her delicate features were surprisingly peaceful, even more beautiful now that she carried his child. His child . Amiracle in defiance of Vettian law, and a symbol of the hope he dared to clingto.

“Rory,” he said, his voice barely audible, alow rumble that didn’t disturb Winn’s slumber. “Report.”

To his disbelief, she appeared as a holographic image of a woman who appeared part-human and part-Vettian with long red hair and green eyes, but also bronzed skin, pointed ears, and inverted eyebrows.

Despite her appearance, she remained ever vigilant, responding instantly. “Multiple energy signatures detected. Vettian vessels. Approaching fast.”

Hope collided with suspicion. “Are any of them from my unit?”

“Negative. Vettian enforcers.”

Skarrp. It had to be related to the unknown message he’d sent. Afinal act of retaliation.

Jo’Nay immediately sent out a signal to the surviving members of his unit, alifeline of sorts, an offer of a future they’d been denied. Now the Vettian enforcers were closing in, their vengeance swift and merciless. He was only one against close to half a dozen warships. Not goododds.

Jo’Nay spared his mate a swift glance. If he’d been alone, he’d have fought them. He’d have sacrificed himself in the hopes his death would draw attention to the plight of all IWs. But he wasn’t. He had a mate and child to consider.

A guttural curse ripped from Jo’Nay’s throat. They’d been careful, meticulous in covering their tracks. He’d believed they had more time, time to unravel the secrets of the apples, time to formulate a plan to dismantle the Vettian government’s control over the Intergalactic Warriors, time to offer his brothers a choice: life or the “Final Flight.” Now, that precious time was slipping away, replaced by the looming threat of capture and punishment.

He had defied Vettian law, transgressed the sacred code of the warriors. He’d reversed his programming. He’d taken a mate. He’d fathered a child. He was prepared to face the consequences, to fight for his newfound freedom with Winn. Would he even be given that opportunity?

“Rory,” he ordered, his voice sharpening, the warrior’s instinct taking over, “prepare for evasive maneuvers. Weapons systems online. Shields at maximum.”

The ship hummed to life, its engines roaring, apowerful vibration that resonated through the decks. Lights dimmed as Rory diverted power to the weapons systems. Acold and harsh red light spread across the bridge.

His mate stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She met his gaze, her initial grogginess dissolving into an apprehension that he’d do anything to eliminate.

“Jo’Nay?” she whispered, her voice husky with sleep. “What’s happening?”

He couldn’t explain. There wasn’t time. He had to take her safety.

“Go to the reinforced chamber,” he commanded, urgency lacing his words. “Now.”

“Again? Is it more Marauders?”

He shook his head. “Vettian enforcers.”

She sat up, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach, aprotective gesture that filled him with a pang of both tenderness and concern. “But… what about you?”

“I will be fine,” he lied, offering her a reassuring smile that felt foreign on his lips. “I have to stay at the controls. It is but a precaution. Rory will take care of you.”

She searched his face, her lavender-blue eyes, usually so full of warmth and light, now clouded with fear and uncertainty. He knew she saw through his facade, knew she didn’t believe his words. Fortunately, she didn’t argue. She trusted him. That trust, unwavering and absolute, fueled his determination to survive, to shield her from the coming storm.

He watched as she disappeared into the reinforced chamber, her movements slow and deliberate. The small, armored compartment wasn’t much, but it was the best protection he could offer. He programmed Rory to initiate emergency protocols, to detach the safe chamber and launch it into space, camouflaged as debris, should the ship be boarded. Winn would be safe, adrift in the vastness of space, but alive. He’d find her. No matterwhat.

Turning back to the controls, he braced himself for the fight.

The viewscreen flickered, displaying tactical data that Rory rapidly compiled. Five Vettian warships, their silhouettes stark and predatory against the vast canvas of space, were rapidly closing in, their weapons targeting hisship.

“Transmitting hails,” Rory announced. “They are demanding your surrender.”

Jo’Nay ignored the demands and adjusted the ship’s course, maneuvering through the incoming fire, pushing the engines beyond their recommended limits. He was a master pilot, centuries of experience etched into his very being. But the Vettian ships were relentless, their pursuit a testament to their determination to bring him to justice.

“Shields failing,” Rory’s voice reported, the calmness replaced by a note of urgency. “Hull breach imminent.”

Jo’Nay gritted his teeth, his hands moving with a practiced ease across the control panels. He needed to buy them time. Time to get Winn to safety. Time to send out a beacon of hope to his brothers.

He engaged the emergency transponder, adesperate plea, afaint signal that could easily be lost in the vastness of space. He knew it was a gamble, awhisper against the roar of the cosmos, but it was all hehad.

“Rory,” he commanded, his voice strained, each word a battle against the mounting pressure, “transmit this message. ‘To any surviving members of Alpha Legion. This is First Jo’Nay. Iam under attack. Need immediate assistance.’”

“Message transmitted,” Rory confirmed.

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 grazed him, 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 restrained himself. 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.

Not ever.