Talen
The knoll walls moved and groaned. Its lights throbbed in a dark, warning red. Hands spread against those walls, Sirius poured power through the touch. His autumnal reds glowed, his outline a crackle of energy. It wasn’t enough. The knoll was not letting us go, not while the Hunt was close. And it was close. Its oily touch probed at the back of my mind for a way into my fear, where it would root around and turn over my fears, using them against me.
And as Sirius fought the knoll, somewhere above, Kellee, Sota, and Kesh faced the Hunt alone.
I touched two fingers to my temple. <<Shinj… come to me>> The warcruiser’s thoughts touched my own, slipping in around those of the Hunt. The ship had no voice, that was what a pilot was for, but her emotions were clear. Sparking, crackling fear. Sharp anxiety. <<I cannot reach Kesh. Find her. Protect her>>
Her answer was acceptance and loyalty. Shinj was coming.