Page 133 of Stars in Halo

‘Prepare for evasive manoeuvres,’ Akira roared.

The navigator obeyed, digits moved over the controls, her face screwed in dread.

The sound of explosions reverberated through the cockpit as lasers and missiles streaked past their ship, narrowly missing them.

With chaos unfolding around them, Katya saw an opportunity to make her move.

She unclasped her restraints and lunged towards the door.

She’d almost made it when she was kicked off her feet, flying to the ground.

A body landed on her, and grabby hands rotated her.

She locked eyes on Akira, hovering over her, blood dripping from a cut on his temple. ‘Just where the hell do you think you’re going?’ he roared.

She wrestled back, kicking hard, throwing him off her.

‘You can’t and won’t keep me from my family,’ Katya growled, her eyes blazing. ‘I’m leaving.’

She darted forward but didn’t get far. Korin appeared before her. ‘Leaving so soon, sis?’ he smirked.

Just then, the freighter was rocked with the impact of more missiles, and her brother went flying in the air, crumpling into a heap over the environmental controls.

Her traitorous pair of other siblings ran to his side without a second glance at her.

The lights in the corridors flickered, and then a boom sounded as a wave of energy passed through the ship, wiping out all electrical signals.

Darkness fell, leaving only a few emergency warning beams and flames flickering.

‘Hey!’

Lit up by the glowing blaze behind him, Akira had risen again and charged towards her.

Katya lost all inhibitions and lunged at her ex, catching him off guard with a decisive right hook to his jaw.

His disbelieving expression was followed by even more of the same when she landed a roundhouse kick.

The satisfaction of seeing him stagger, fall and pass out gave her life, and she bent over him, searched his pockets, stuffed her own zipped compartment with what she found and then wheeled around to her feet, racing for the yawning bridge exit.

Xion’s voice rumbled into her Sable node earring, his tone calm yet commanding. ‘Katya, we’re close. Find a way out, preferably in a space suit.’

‘On it,’ she called out, sounding bolder than she felt.

Heart pounding, Katya made her way through the besieged ship, dodging fires and navigating the chaos of collapsed bulkheads and walls.

She cried with joy when she came upon an emergency hatch.

Yanking open the lever, she let herself inside.

Eyes wild, she nabbed one of the suits hanging on a hook.

‘Katya, talk to me,’ Xion rasped.

‘I’m at an airlock; I think it’s on the ship’s starboard. I’ve got a large space suit, and it says I’ve got enough air for an hour. I’m going to jump.’

She paused for a second. ‘Come for me, kodan.’

‘As if I’d abandon you, khaliya,’ he growled. ‘We’ll use your node signal to triangulate your position. Be safe.’

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