“Always.”
She flashed him a smile brighter than a supernova and tipped her head toward the shuttle. “He’s in there?”
“Yes. I dropped two of his lackeys before they could get inside, but I counted three inside, Absalom and two others. Their shields are down, but I can’t risk using another plasma grenade. One more and the hull’s going to buckle, and after the first one they blasted away any cover close enough for me to throw another one accurately.”
Her eyes widened and she stared at him for a second in shock. “You set off a grenade in here?”
“You’re surprised? I thought we already established I’m insane.”
She shook her head. “What am I going to do with you?”
“I’m hoping we kick this guy’s ass, have a hot shower together, and then lock ourselves in my quarters and stay naked until we get home.”
“Magi, this is an open channel. None of us need to hear that,” Dante complained.
“Deal with it,” Eric shot back then looked at her. “Suggestions on how we get the sardines out of the can?”
“I have no idea what a sardine is, but yeah, I have a plan. You’ll like it. Give me a plasma grenade.”
“You’re both insane,” Dax interjected. “And I’m fraxxing ordering you both to refrain from blowing up yourselves, or anything else!”
“Commander Rossi, you seem to have forgotten something,” Nyx replied in the sweetest voice Eric had ever heard her use.
“What would that be?” Dax demanded.
She held out her hand to Eric and he placed his last plasma grenade in her palm.
“I’m a free agent, Commander. I don’t have to follow your orders.”
“Dammit, Nyx! Don’t get my ensign killed!”
“I don’t plan on it.”
“Do I get to know the plan?” Eric asked, though he had a good idea what she had in mind. There weren’t many things they could do with a plasma grenade, and they all involved moving fast to avoid getting blown up.
“I throw this and we run like hell. I’m fast enough to get us through the doors before it goes off. You got the shields down, so one more hit should cripple them.”
“Works for me. Commander, you think you could open the doors for us once we start running?”
“I’m on it,” Trinity stated. “I’ll close them, too. It’ll be faster if I do it from here. You two just focus on getting out of harm’s way.”
“Thank you, Trin,” Nyx said then reached over and grabbed his belt at the back. “Have I mentioned how sexy it is when you get all rough and grabby with me?”
She rolled her eyes and leaned in to kiss him. “Quiet, or Dante will start complaining again.”
“Damn right I will. I’ve backed the Malora off in case the hull gives way. All clear and waiting on you two.”
“Ready?” she asked him.
He held up a hand and indulged in one last attempt at diplomacy. They needed Absalom alive if at all possible, and once Nyx tossed that grenade, the doctor’s chances of survival would drop. “One second. Hey, Doc. Last chance to surrender!”
Absalom responded immediately, his tone both superior and somewhat bored. “The arrival of Subject One hasn’t changed the situation. She was my prisoner for years and despite her constant threats against me, she never managed to do me harm. I see no reason why that would change now. She is a blunt instrument, a tool that has outlived her usefulness.”
Eric snarled. No one talked about Nyx that way in his hearing. “If you don’t kill him, I will.”
She winked at him. “You’re sexy when you get all growly like that.” Then she stood and yelled “I haven’t outlived my usefulness yet! I still need to take you down.” Then she hurled the grenade, turned, and ran across the shuttle bay so fast all he could do was try and keep his legs under him. Their momentum carried them through the doors and across the hall to slam into the far wall of the corridor – hard. Nyx hit half a step before he did, putting herself between him and the wall.
He managed to catch most of his weight on his arms, bracing himself so he didn’t crush her too much. They were both grinning as an explosion rocked the floor beneath their feet, the doors closing as decompression sirens started to scream.
She had never looked so beautiful. Eyes as bright as molten steel, cheeks flushed and smudged with traces of blood he knew wasn’t hers. Her black body armor was molded to her body and showed off her curves in a way no military uniform should have managed to do. “You blew a hole in the ship.”
“I did.”
“You are the sexiest woman in the galaxy right now.” Desire swept through him and he moved in close enough his lips brushed hers as he murmured “I love you, my starshine.”
“I love you, too, my lunatic.”
He kissed her then, both of them laughing and giddy with adrenaline as they held each other tight. Mouths open, tongues tangled, bodies rubbing together despite the armor they both wore. He needed to feel her, to taste her, to prove to himself she was here, alive, well, and his.
He relished every stolen second, knowing it would be a while before they’d have time alone. She brushed his cheek with bloodied fingers, and he knew their time was up.
“Ready to finish the mission?” he asked.
Her lips curled up in a feral smile. “I’ve waited my whole life for this moment.”
“I know.”
She cocked her head. “You’re not going to remind me you need to interrogate him?”
He knew she had always planned on killing Absalom. As much as they needed him alive to interrogate, he wasn’t going to stop her if that’s what she needed to do. He shook his head.
“He won’t, but I will,” Dax chimed in over their still-open comms.
“What’s the situation in the shuttle bay, commander?” Eric asked.
“Messy. Someone threw a plasma grenade and blew a hole in the hull,” Dax retorted, his tone as dry as dust. “From what we can see on the monitors, the shuttle is crippled but more or less intact. Trinity has deployed repair droids to the breach site and they should have a temporary patch in place shortly. Once we re-pressurize, the two of you, along with myself and Jessop will go in and make arrests.”
Nyx nodded. “Trip, Any update on my clone?”
“Sabre and I are taking her to the Malora’s med-bay now. She’s going to be fine, Nyx. I’ll stay with her,” Cris replied.
“Thank you.”
Eric saw the relief wash over Nyx at the news. It was subtle, but undeniable. After years of hiding her feelings, she was finally letting them show. He took her hand and squeezed it and she flashed him a grateful smile.
“You two stay where you are and guard the door in case they’ve got pressure suits in the shuttle. Trinity will watch via monitor and let you know if there’s any movement. Blink and I are on our way. Sabre, I need you to check the computer situation and make sure our download is going smoothly.”
“We’re on it, sir.” He moved away from Nyx, but kept hold of her hand as they turned and faced the doors. He had no intention of letting go unless they were attacked, and even then, he was ready to shoot one-handed.