Page 60 of Ruin

The room was a study in excess. The floor and desk were made of real wood—a rarity in space. Luxurious furnishings that didn’t appear the least bit comfortable fought for attention with dozens of alien relics and souvenirs from far-flung planets displayed on shelves lining the walls.

“I’m in,” Hush announced from behind the desk, the grim expression on his face highlighted by the holo-screens hovering above the surface.

Lira joined him as he moved to stand beside Hush while Beep positioned itself at the entrance.

The more he read, the worse it got. His stomach churned as the full scope of Onyx Corp's activities were laid bare. Information on secret alliances and political machinations was the least of it.

They’d been razing entire worlds in order to mine them of the veherium, leaving nothing but barren wastelands in their wake.

He clenched his fists, anger, shock, and disgust making his blood boil.

He still didn’t know what the hells this element did or what made it so godsdamn important, but he knew if Onyx Corp wanted it badly enough to decimate planets, he for fuck sure didn’t want them to have it.

Lira’s small hand on his forearm drew his gaze to her. The horror in her eyes had him wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her in close. Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, he sent one last narrow-eyed glare at the holo-screen.

“Copy everything an’ send it to Whisper,” he directed. “Then find the flight deck. We’re takin’ this ship.”

“I was hopin’ you’d say that.”

He glanced over at the body. “You get proof of death?”

“Yep.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

While Ruin checkedto ensure her harness was secure, Lira leaned to the side to gawk at the flight deck of Gaius's ship. It was a far cry from Vargot’s rundown old cruiser.

Two pilot stations were situated in the middle, both equipped with advanced control systems. Plush jump seats, one of which she was strapped into, lined the back wall, and the front was a floor to ceiling viewscreen that stretched the entire width of the room.

Confident she was thoroughly fastened, Ruin straightened and handed her a meal bar from his pocket. Taking it with a smile and a happy sound, she unwrapped it while he and Hush each claimed a station and Beep took up his post at her side.

Within seconds, the faint vibration of the engines firing up hummed through the decking. Status reports flashed across theguys’ holo-screens, and navigational information lined the main view.

She fidgeted with the harness straps, a mix of nervous energy, anxiety, and hope turning her stomach into knots as they exited the atmo-bubble. Skeldra Spaceport gradually shrank on the display.

Vargot was dead. This moment was real. She knew these things. But there was a voice in the back of her mind, whispering, wondering if this was all an elaborate daydream. Just another fantasy she’d concocted to escape from the hellishness of her life.

“Bird.”

Jolting, she jerked her head up and blinked to focus on Ruin’s face. “Mm?”

“What’s wrong?” Obviously seeing the question on her face, he added, “Your breathin’ picked up.”

Flutters and warmth instantly replaced the knots in her stomach. “You listen to my breathing?”

He dipped his chin in confirmation, ears purpling just a little, but didn’t look away, still wanting an answer.

Lira licked her lips nervously and whispered, “This is real… right? This isn’t another one of my daydreams?”

Did it make any sense to ask if he, and all of this, was a figment of her imagination? Not in the least. If he was, he’d just tell her what she wanted to hear. But she still waited for his answer with bated breath.

His expression softened. “Yeah, little bird. This is real.”

Exhaling, she relaxed into the seat. “Thank you.”

“Any time.”

She could see he meant it. He’d be there to reassure her, without judgement or thinking she was crazy, any time she needed it, and that meant more to her than she could put into words.

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