Tharion
THARION
T he cell door hissed open, and Grax sauntered in, a smug grin plastered on his face. I kept my expression neutral, not giving him the satisfaction of a reaction.
“Well done, Vinduthi,” his voice dripped with false praise. “Your kind always were cold bastards.”
I met his gaze, my red eyes boring into his. “When do I get out of here?”
Grax chuckled, the sound grating on my nerves. “Patience, my friend. Once we confirm the information, you’ll be free to go.”
“And how long will that take?” I growled, letting a hint of irritation seep into my voice.
“As long as it takes,” Grax replied, his tone suddenly cold. “Don’t forget your place here.”
With that, he turned and left, the door sealing shut behind him.
I wanted to hold Lina, to comfort her after the ordeal we’d just been through. But the ever-present cameras in the cell made that impossible. Instead, I grabbed her roughly, pulling her close as if I were threatening her.
“You did well,” I whispered, my lips barely moving. “You bought us time. I’ll get us out of here.”
Lina’s eyes widened in surprise, but she caught on quickly. She struggled against my grip, playing her part perfectly.
“Let me go, you monster!” she cried, loud enough for the cameras to pick up.
I licked her neck, keeping my voice low. “I’m going to keep you safe. I don’t know why, but that’s what I’m going to do.”
She nodded imperceptibly, then resumed her struggling. “Please, don’t hurt me!”
“Keep it up,” I murmured. “Make it look believable.”
As we continued our charade, I scanned the cell, looking for any weakness we could exploit. The energy fields along the walls hummed with deadly power, and the door was sealed tight.
“I don’t have any weapons or tools,” I said quietly. “Any ideas?”
Lina’s eyes lit up. “My commpad,” she whispered. “The one I used for taking orders at the cantina. It’s in my pocket.”
I grinned. “I can work with that.”
With a show of force for the cameras, I shoved Lina away. She stumbled backwards, her mouth wide with mock fear. I reached into her pocket and pulled out the small commpad.
Before she could react, I smashed it against the floor. The device shattered, its components scattering across the cell.
Lina’s shock was genuine this time. I winked at her, then bent to gather the broken pieces.
My gaze settled on the flickering golden energy fields lining the walls. What I was about to do would hurt. A lot. But it was our only chance.
I approached the nearest energy field, the broken commpad components clutched in my hand. Taking a deep breath, I plunged my arm through the shimmering barrier.
It felt like my flesh was being flayed from my bones, my nerves set ablaze. I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to scream.
“Stop!” Lina cried out, her voice filled with genuine terror. “It’s going to kill you!”
I ignored her, focusing all my willpower on the task at hand. With trembling fingers, I manipulated the metal components, searching for the right combination to short out the energy field.
My vision blurred, darkness creeping in at the edges. Just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, there was a loud pop and a shower of sparks. The energy field flickered and died.
I collapsed to the floor, my body wracked with pain. Lina rushed to my side, her hands fluttering over me uncertainly.
“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I managed a weak smile. “Aww, were you worried about me?”
She scowled, but I could see the relief in her eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself. I just don’t want to be stuck in here alone.”
I chuckled, then winced as pain lanced through me. “Help me up. We need to move before they realize what’s happened.”
Lina slipped her arm around my waist, supporting me as I struggled to my feet. We approached the cell door, now the only barrier between us and freedom.
“Any more brilliant ideas?” Lina asked, eyeing the solid metal door.
I grinned, despite the pain. “Just one. Stand back.”
Summoning every shred of strength I had left, I reared back and slammed my fist into the door. The metal dented under the impact, and I struck again and again, ignoring the protests of my battered body.
Finally, with a screech of tearing metal, the door gave way. Alarms blared as we stumbled out into the corridor beyond.
“Come on,” I growled, grabbing Lina’s hand. “We need to move. Now.”
My body screamed in protest as we ran through the dimly lit corridors of the underground base. The pain from the energy field still coursed through my veins, but I pushed it aside. Survival was all that mattered now.
Lina stumbled, her human reflexes slower than mine. I tightened my grip on her hand, practically dragging her along.
“Keep up,” I growled, more harshly than I intended.
“I’m trying,” she snapped.
The alarms continued to blare, the piercing sound echoing off the metal walls. Red emergency lights flashed, casting eerie shadows as we ran.
Fragments of conversation drifted out as we passed sealed doors:
“...breach in sector seven...”
“...Trefter’s gonna have our hides...”
“...that human bitch better be worth it...”
I filed the information away for later. Right now, escape was our priority.
We rounded a corner and skidded to a halt. Three guards blocked our path, their weapons already raised.
“Stop right there!” one of them shouted.
I shoved Lina behind me, my eyes darting around for anything I could use as a weapon. There was nothing but bare walls and flickering lights.
The guards advanced, their energy rifles humming with deadly power.
“Last warning,” the lead guard said. “Stand down or we’ll?—”
I didn’t let him finish. With a snarl, I lunged forward, my speed catching them off guard. I slammed into the first guard, driving my fist into his solar plexus. As he doubled over, I grabbed his rifle and swung it like a club, catching the second guard across the face.
The third guard managed to get off a shot, but I twisted away at the last second. The energy bolt sizzled past my ear, close enough that I could smell the ozone.
I brought the rifle up and fired, the recoil jarring my already aching arms. The guard’s chest exploded in a spray of blood and viscera, painting the wall behind him.
The second guard was struggling to his feet. I didn’t give him the chance. Another shot, and he collapsed, a smoking hole where his head used to be.
I turned back to the first guard, who was still on his knees, trying to catch his breath. Our eyes met, and I saw the fear in them. Good. He should be afraid.
“Please,” he wheezed. “I have a family...”
I hesitated for a fraction of a second. Then I remembered where we were, what they had done to us. What they might have done to Lina if I hadn’t been there.
The rifle barked once more, and the guard slumped to the floor.
I turned back to Lina, expecting to see horror on her face. Instead, there was a mixture of awe and... something else. Something that made my blood heat up in a way that had nothing to do with the fight.
“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice raw.
She nodded, her eyes wide. “That was... intense.”
I grunted in acknowledgment, then bent down to search the bodies. I found a smaller sidearm and held it out to her.
“Take this,” I said. “You might need it.”
Lina hesitated, her hands shaking slightly as she reached for the weapon. “I’ve never used one of these before.”
“Point and shoot,” I said, demonstrating the grip. “Try not to hit me.”
She managed a weak smile at that. “I’ll do my best.”
We continued down the corridor, moving as stealthily as we could. The pain in my body had faded to a dull throb, my Vinduthi healing already kicking in. But I knew I was far from peak condition.
As we approached an intersection, I held up a hand, signaling Lina to stop. Voices drifted from around the corner:
“...heard there was a firefight in sector seven...”
“Doesn’t matter. We’ve got orders to secure the human female at all costs.”
“What’s so special about her anyway?”
“Above our pay grade, mate. But word is, she’s got information on some secret planet. Spice, they say. Enough to make the Trefter Syndicate the most powerful outfit in the galaxy.”
“Shit, really? No wonder the Obsidian Dawn’s after her too.”
I glanced at Lina, who looked as confused as I felt. What the hell had she gotten mixed up in?
Before I could ponder it further, footsteps echoed down the hall. They were coming our way.
“Get ready,” I whispered to Lina. “Remember, point and shoot.”
As the first guard rounded the corner, I opened fire. The rifle’s energy bolts tore through his chest, dropping him before he could even cry out.
But there were more behind him. A lot more.
“Run!” I shouted, pushing Lina ahead of me as I laid down covering fire.
Energy bolts whizzed past us as we sprinted down the corridor. I could hear the guards shouting, their heavy footfalls not far behind.
We burst through a set of double doors into a large storage area. Crates and containers were stacked high, creating a maze-like environment.
“This way,” I said, pulling Lina behind a stack of crates just as our pursuers entered the room.
“Find them!” a shrill voice shouted. “They can’t have gone far!”
I peeked around the corner, counting at least eight guards spreading out to search the area. This wasn’t going to be easy.
“Lina,” I whispered, turning to face her. “I need you to create a distraction. Can you do that?”
Her grip tightened on the sidearm. “What do you want me to do?”
“When I give the signal, start shooting. Aim high, over their heads. Just keep them busy while I flank them.”
“Okay,” she said, her voice barely audible. “I can do that.”
I reached out, cupping her face with my free hand. Her skin was soft, warm.
I forgot about the danger we were in, lost in the depths of her eyes.
“Be careful,” I said, surprised by the intensity of my own words.
She leaned into my touch, just for a second. “You too.”
Forcing myself to focus, I moved away, crouching low as I circled around behind the guards. When I was in position, I gave a low whistle.
Lina popped up from behind the crates and started firing. Her aim was wild, but it did the job. The guards ducked for cover, shouting in confusion.
I emerged from my hiding spot, my rifle already blazing. Three guards went down before they even realized what was happening.
But then one of them spotted me. He raised his weapon, aiming not at me, but at Lina.
Time seemed to slow down. I saw his finger tightening on the trigger. Saw Lina, exposed and vulnerable. Saw the energy bolt streaking towards her.
Something inside me snapped.
With a roar that was more animal than sentient, I charged forward. My rifle clattered to the ground, forgotten. I wanted to feel their deaths with my bare hands.
I reached the first guard and tore into him, quite literally. My fingers, suddenly more like claws, ripped through his throat. Blood sprayed, hot and coppery, across my face.
The others tried to react, but they were too slow. Too weak.
I moved among them like a whirlwind of death. Bones crunched under my fists. Flesh tore beneath my teeth. I lost myself in a haze of violence and rage.
When it was over, I stood amidst a sea of broken bodies, panting heavily. Slowly, the red mist faded from my vision, and I became aware of my surroundings again.
Lina stood a few feet away, eyes wide with shock. The sidearm hung limply at her side, forgotten.
“?” she said hesitantly. “Are you... are you okay?”
I looked down at myself, covered in blood and gore. My hands shook, coming down from the adrenaline high.
“I’m fine,” I growled, my voice rough. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head, taking a tentative step towards me. “No, I’m okay. Thanks to you.”
I grunted, uncomfortable with her gratitude. I hadn’t saved her out of any noble impulse. The thought of her being harmed had triggered something primal in me, something I didn’t understand, didn’t want to understand.
“We need to keep moving,” I said, retrieving my rifle from where I’d dropped it. “There will be more coming.”
Lina nodded, falling into step beside me as we made our way towards what I hoped was the exit.
As we moved, I wondered about the snippets of conversation we’d overheard. A secret planet? The Obsidian Dawn? The Trefter Syndicate? What had this human woman gotten herself involved in?
I glanced at her, noting the determination in her eyes, the set of her jaw. Whatever it was, I had a feeling our troubles were far from over.