Page 89 of Stars At Dusk

‘Felt something. Someone or something is out here.’

The pair were utterly oblivious to the fact they’d been physically infiltrated.

Kage and Riv nodded at each other, then retreated into the warehouse, jogging towards the corvette. The armoured clones were still milling around the gunship, looking increasingly frustrated.

Kage and Riv heard them report back to the suits.

They watched the confusion unfold with amusement as they glided to the corvette’s entrance. The two Riders waited for a beat while the unsuspecting clones circled about below, sure they were missing something.

When no eyes were on the corvette, Kage and Riv slipped back into it and jogged to the command deck.

‘Mirage, we’re good to go,’ Kage called out to Mirage, pulling off his helmet and lapsing back to speaking out loud. ‘Let’s get this party started.’

‘In five,’ Mirage confirmed.

Seconds later, a rush of roaring, lethal rail guns clattered above them. Aura’s holo screen showed the ceiling above the corvette collapsing. Large chunks of roofing and cladding fell to the ground.

The clones reacted, firing wildly, but they’d no mark to focus on.

The rafters kept falling apart, and one corner collapsed on top of the milling men.

‘That just took out two of them,’ Kage growled.

‘I’m showing weakening life signs. But, wait, no life signs now,’ Mirage added.

‘Damn,’ Kage said, genuinely distressed.

Riv’s lip twitched. ‘Collateral, brother. Play the game, and you’ll win some, lose some.’

‘Always such a comfort,’ Kage snarked back. ‘A fount of care and warmth you are.’

‘Anytime,’ Riv replied coolly, seemingly unmoved.

The rail guns ceased, swinging back into standby while above, the roof was gone. In its place was the lit sky of Enia and Glimmer hovering mid-air.

‘Tractor beam released,’ Mirage intoned.

‘Thrusters ready,’ Kage confirmed.

The Aura jolted as the powerful beam tagged onto it and lifted it into the air.

The two Riders heard the clatter of gunfire against its lower surface, which died off as soon as they were up and away.

‘Mirage, can you extend Glimmer’s stealth sheath over us?’ Riv asked. ‘We don’t have enough power here on the Aura.’

‘No problem.’

And just like that, both ships flickered into invisibility.

The two gunships lifted high into the atmosphere above Enia. Glimmer ghosted quickly out of Enia’s ionosphere using thrusters. An acceleration burn kicked in, and they were back in the swirling hyperspace vortex in minutes.

Mirage worked Glimmer’s controls to extend a tractor beam was powerful enough to maintain the force field required to keep it and Aura in place together. Which also helped when she stretched out a shielded air bridge between both ships, allowing the two Riders to glide back onto Riv’s boat.

Once back inside Glimmer, Kage headed to the master quarters to wind down, shedding his meta suit, freshening up quickly and shrugging back on his Sable jumpsuit.

Riv did the same. Then they met in the galley for a quick chow.

The aroma of a delicious, rich tomato soup liberally laced with garlic and chilli oil wafted in the air.

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