His target grunted when the ball hit.
Barus flickered into view as his camouflage failed. Bending forward, he breathed heavily through his mouth. “I’m glad you didn’t hit me any lower with that.”
Dagon tried but could find no smile. The ball and chain retracted, morphing into the armor on his forearm. Crossing to the low bench that circled the room, he picked up the scabbard and slid his sword home.
“It wasn’t your fault,” Barus said behind him.
His words did little to ease Dagon’s troubled spirit. “I am aware.”
“The Earth woman was too far away.”
And she had died alone.
Three days had passed since he had spoken to her. Her oxygen supply had long since run out. But she had not made a single sound. She had wept no tears. She had not begged them to come faster. She had not gasped or struggled to find her last breath. She had simply… slipped away.
Every man on the bridge had grown more tense as that twenty-sixth hour had approached. Though the comms that linked them remained open, they had heard nothing from her since she had told him she was going to sleep for a bit.
No other ships had been closer.
None could have saved her.
“Take comfort,” his friend and second-in-command said gently, “in knowing she must have died of her wounds in her sleep. It was the most merciful death she could have found in her situation.”
Dagon nodded, knowing it was true. He also took comfort in knowing that if she had died in her sleep, then she had died unafraid. “She was not what I expected of an Earthling.”
Barus nodded. “The Sectas described them as a primitive, warring society full of people quick to hate anyone who was different. The fact that they captured and tortured the Lasaran princess confirmed that.”
“And yet Eliana risked her life to save countless Lasaran men and women.” Dagon had spoken with Tiran, commander of the Lasaran ship Tarakona. The two of them had become friends after being brought together in the biannual war games conducted to train Lasarans, Yona, Segonians, and additional alliance forces to fight together in battle against the Gathendiens and other enemies. According to Tiran, some Lasaran escape pods had been recovered. And many of the Lasarans inside them had credited Eliana with getting them there swiftly and saving their lives. “She was very brave.”
“And did not deserve the fate dealt her,” Barus agreed. He had not been present on the bridge when they made contact with Eliana, so Dagon had replayed their conversation for him.
A click sounded in Dagon’s earpiece.
“Commander Dagon,” Janek said, voice tense, “your presence is requested on the bridge.”
Dagon tapped the earpiece. “What is it?”
“I believe I’ve picked up something on comms.”
Dagon glanced at Barus. “You’ve located one of the pods?”
“No, sir. I think…”
Dagon waited. Janek was not usually one to mince words. “Janek?”
“I think it’s the Earth woman. I think Eliana may still be alive.”
His heart jumping in his chest, Dagon swiftly turned and strode out of the training room.
Eliana? Still alive? Impossible.
And yet his steps steadily increased until he was jogging toward the lift, Barus right on his heels.
Moments later, he strode onto the bridge and speared Janek with a look. “Explain.”
Janek looked up from his station. He cast the other crew members on the bridge a quick look.
All were silent, their faces solemn.
Janek’s lips tightened. “I wanted to believe her,” he admitted. “When she said she could slow her heart rate and make the oxygen last longer, I wanted to believe her. So I left the comm line with her open and…”
“And what?” Dagon prodded impatiently.
Janek hesitated, as though fearing all would doubt him. “I think I heard a moan.”
Barus shook his head. “That’s not possible.”
Janek ignored him and speared Dagon with a look. “I know I heard something.”
Dagon strode toward his seat. “Let me hear it.”
Everyone remained silent as they all listened carefully.
Dagon strained to detect even the slightest rustle of her suit, the sound of a soft breath, anything… but heard nothing. “Eliana,” he called.
No response came.
Janek shook his head. “I know I heard something.”
Dagon trusted him. “Eliana,” he said louder.
A sigh carried across the line.
“Max?” Eliana mumbled.
His breath caught.
“I was having the worst dream,” she complained groggily.
Murmurings erupted among his crew.
Dagon’s heart began to slam against his ribs. How was this possible? “Eliana?”
She emitted a sharp grunt of pain, then—sounding much more alert—said, “Ah hell, it wasn’t a dream. That sucks!”
He shared an astonished look with Barus.
“Dagon?” she said. “Are you there?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you for leaving the line open. How long was I out?”
“Three days.”
“Damn. I had hoped I’d sleep longer than that.”
“My apologies. I woke you. We hadn’t heard from you in a long time.”
“And you thought I was dead?”
“Yes,” he admitted.
When next she spoke, her tone conveyed a smile. “I told you I could make the oxygen last longer. How much do I have left?”
“Press the blue button on your sleeve again.”
A female voice speaking Lasaran announced, “Fifteen hours and forty-two minutes of oxygen remaining.”
Barus shook his head. “How did she make ten hours of oxygen last three days?” he asked in Segonian.
Dagon shook his head.
“What did she say?” Eliana asked.
“You have fifteen hours and forty-two minutes of oxygen left.”
“Damn. So I’ve already used up almost half of what I had?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t suppose you found any allies who were close enough to swing by and pick me up, did you?”
“No. All were farther away than we are.”
“Are you still headed my way?”
“Yes.”
“Have you found any other survivors?”
“No. But the Lasarans have recovered several escape pods.”
“Were any of my people rescued?” she asked, hope brightening her voice.
“Not yet.”
“Oh.”
“But we are all still searching.”
“Thank you.” She had a nice voice, deep for a woman and a little husky from sleep. He didn’t like hearing the disappointment that darkened it now. “What about the Yona? Has anyone found any of them yet? I know those guys look and act as though nothing ruffles their feathers, but I’m sure they don’t want to die out here either.”
“No Yona soldiers have been rescued yet.” He opted not to tell her that the bodies of several had been drifting in space near some wreckage found by his fellow Segonians. The soldiers had done what they were trained to do—they had remained on the ship, fighting until the last minute, and died when the ship was blasted apart.