Page 137 of The Edge of Dawn

Dragek let out a puff of exasperation.

Things had gotten out of hand extremely fast.

And Tarak… he was just taking it all in his stride, as cold, implacable, and indomitable as ever.

“Your reserves are far from depleted, aren’t they? You could hold qim again for a decent period of time.”

“Probably,” Dragek agreed.

Amun chuckled softly.

Dragek resisted the urge to punch him.

“Good. Your task is simple. Go after the ones that intend to kill me. If the worst-case scenario comes to bear, you must pursue them at all costs. Cloak yourself and walk through that world as if you were a ghost. Leave none alive. Do you understand, Dragek?”

Dragek could have resisted. He could have questioned why the general had chosen him above all others. He could have given in to the niggling voice of fear in the back of his mind—what would happen to him if he were to fall through that machine, a fucking ancient Zor portal with a tesseract inside?

But she was with him, so he didn’t worry about any of that.

Besides, he was rather looking forward to hunting the ones that dared upend the order of the Universe.

He’d decided he liked the current order, and he wanted to keep it this way at all costs.

He supposed he owed it to Tarak and Jade for letting him know another existence outside of being a wretched Silent One.

“Good.” Tarak dismissed the holo and walked forward. There was an air of inevitability about him. He pulled one of his twin swords—sheath and all—and handed it to Dragek, hilt first. “You’re going to need something a bit more heavy-duty for this battle. Use it.”

Dragek couldn’t believe it. Tarak’s own sword?

Reverently, he took it. The blade seemed to vibrate faintly as if imbued with Tarak’s own energy.

“I trust you’re a proficient swimmer.”

“Like you, there isn’t any environment I can’t fight in. We’re going underwater, then?”

“Indeed.”

As the cruiser punched through Duxuth’s turbulent atmosphere, Dragek held the commander’s sword tightly and tried to center himself. He ignored Amun’s chaotic aura altogether, reaching for the one thing that meant more to him than life itself.

A human.

How things changed.

How he’d changed.

That wily Tarak. Even Ashrael and Noali. They’d known something when they’d sent him to retrieve Jade.

They’d known.

Not that he objected.

Hold on, Jade.

Oh, there’s no way I’d do anything but that. I feel like… if I let go of you now, the entire Universe might unravel. Even though that’s impossible. I’m just a simple Earth girl, but that’s how I feel about you.

She laughed: a low, throaty sound that wrapped around his heart and threatened to steal him away. His entire mood changed in an instant. For a sublime moment, he was away from the darkness and the oppressive, overhanging feeling of constant threat.

No. You’re far from simple, my love. Anything but that.

---