Page 126 of Stars in Halo

‘There he is,’ came the shout.

The man with an arm on Katya panicked.

He barked something into his wrist comm.

Seconds later, a burst of fire hit the security personnel’s crafts.

An unseen ship began firing at random at the Zanyrian law enforcement troops.

One of the police flyers imploded in spectacular fashion.

Chaos erupted through the hotel foyer.

Guests leapt. Others fell to the ground, their screams mixing with the sounds of gunfire and explosions.

‘I’ve stirred up a distraction,’ Akira roared. ‘With me.’

He headed to a side door. ‘Through here.’

The buccaneer led them and plunged them through an emergency doorway.

Katya’s heart pounded as she and her brothers followed Akira past the mayhem. Flashing lights illuminated their path, and the acrid scent of smoke filled the air.

Outside, the cops turned to the firing ship and started shooting at it.

The hotel’s AI boomed over the speakers, telling all patrons and employees to duck and find their way to the safe rooms at the end of the lobby.

Beyond the shattering glass walls, guests who’d been playing volleyball scattered while others jumped from the beach and swimming pools.

Still, Akira and his entourage streaked through palm-lined paths towards a five-seater flyer hovering above the side car park, its engines humming with readiness.

Before Katya processed it all, Akira ushered them inside the vessel, locked the hatch, and left the ALMQ gendarmes outside.

The King’s soldiers dashed to a second waiting craft, ducking fire and returning it as they tried to escape.

‘Strap in,’ Akira shouted as the D’Hanna’s found crash couches and seats in haste.

Moments later, they lifted off, rocketing away from the chaos at the hotel.

Katya craned her neck, gazing at the wild scene below her, flinching as the ALMQ flyer blew up into smithereens.

A sudden acceleration pressed Katya back into her seat, her mind reeling, body thrumming from adrenaline.

They hurtled through the atmosphere, leaving Zanyria’s twinkling lights behind.

In half an hour, they rendezvoused with Akira’s freighter, Clawed Vengeance, hiding in the shadow of Zanyria’s moon.

Once inside, Akira led them to a lower deck storage room. ‘Move fast and change into the jumpsuits we’ve made available. Then join me on my bridge.’

On Zanyria, Xion raced to aid those in need.

He lifted children and vulnerable guests out of the line of fire.

He darted through the turmoil, his movements fluid and efficient as he navigated through the terrified individuals and the debris of the exploding flyers.

His focus was singular, his mind calculating the best course of action to ensure the safety of as many people as possible.

At the heart of the pandemonium, he spotted an injured security personnel trapped under a pile of rubble.

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