Page 48 of Game on Askole

Aunt Tess’s worried voice broke into my glee.“Please tell me you and KeeKee are okay. Lilkee cut the vid when you killed the first wannabe. My God, there was so much blood. We’re all kinda freaked out. Did you blow those bastards to kingdom come?”

“We’re okay. Most of the blood was from the wannabes. Tihar and his warriors are taking care of the Legionnaires’ ships.”

“What a relief. Those fools will never underestimate a Jones again.”

Tihar butted in,“This is not the time for female chatter.”

“Listen, buster, you can’t keep me from talking to my cousin,”Aunt Tess shot back.

“I can.”

Aunt Tess’s link with me snapped.

“That was rude.”

Tihar countered,“Do you wish to die?”

“No.”

“I have sent you the coordinates to take you back to Tanith and the code to pass safely through the field of death satellites. Leave the battle zone immediately,”Tihar ordered.

“Marines don’t run.”I dragged my finger across the targeting console until the crosshairs were centered on the Legionnaires’ ship. I brought the weapons systems online and fired.

A missile whizzed across the view screen and scored a direct hit on the launch bay. A blinding white explosion lit up the view screen. That took care of any pursuit.

“The Legionnaires have a second ship,”Tihar rumbled.

“Fuck.” I checked the tracking scanner. Yep, there it was. The blow to my head had knocked me off my game. Not a good thing.

“A single Marauder cannot take out a class two destroyer.”

“That’s what the Tai-Kok thought until I brought down their dreadnaught. Color them surprised.”

“You are my chosen. You will obey me in this. Return to Tanith. Now,”Tihar commanded.

The urge to submit to his will grew stronger and stronger. He was as bad as the Coletti.“Back off.”

“The mating dance will not let me. I am driven to protect you at all costs. If you die, I will become catatonic.”

Crap. Was he telling me the truth? Probably. I had felt Kaylee’s parents die, and the stunning mental blows had knocked me on my ass. Tihar hadn’t lied to me, yet. He came when I yelled for help and took out the wannabes trying to kill me. A big plus. If Tihar did lose consciousness, the Legionnaires would blow him to kingdom come. I couldn’t let that happen. I was kinda attached to the not so jolly black giant.

“Retreat,”Tihar the Persistent demanded.

An annoying buzzing noise grabbed my attention. The targeting screen was lit up like a Christmas tree. “Running is out. There are twelve fighters heading my way.”

Tihar warned,“The destroyer is charging its laser cannons. Your shields cannot take a direct hit.”

Tell me something I didn’t know. I rolled my eyes when KeeKee skittered wildly across the scanner, trying to catch the blips.“No! Bad baby.”I scooped her up and put her on my head.“Stay. Do not move.”

“Me want play.”

“Behave, youngling,”Tihar interjected brusquely.

KeeKee tunneled into my goopy hair.“No like him.”

Tihar decreed, “Do whatever is necessary to stay alive.”

“That’s the plan. Relax. The only ones dying are the Legionnaires. Mwah-hah-hah.”My berserker rage had reared its ugly head. I wrapped my hand around the control stick, rolled the ship sharply, and unleashed a barrage of laser fire.

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