Baron stood outside the bridge’s door, blockaded against entry. To his left, Kessia knelt beside the door, its control panel off as she worked on it. She’d done something to the computer in the engine room, using it to set the lighting system on some sort of delayed shutdown. While she had done that, he’d gone back into the storage room and rifled through their attackers’ clothes for any other weapons. He’d secured two knives and a few more guns, along with a strange assortment of small sticks that Kessia had informed him were credit banks. He’d left the credit sticks in the map room and convinced Kessia to take two of the guns, wanting her to be armed in case he failed in this endeavour.
Kessia glanced down at a small handheld tablet she had set on the floor beside her and drew in a deep breath. “Two minutes and counting. Are you sure you want to do this? We can come up with a different plan.”
Amusement trickled through Baron as he met her worried gaze. “This plan is fine. Do not fear.”
“I’m not afraid.” She lied, turning her attention back to the door panel she was working on.
If nothing else, he found her bravado charming. His fingers shifted on the grips of his weapons, knives in his upper hands and guns in his lower hands. In two minutes, the lighting system for the entire ship would shut down, affording him complete darkness to hunt his prey. Kessia was set to cycle the door lock system, allowing him a moment to race inside, and then she would escape back to the map room to await his return. It may not be the safest place, but it would at least afford her the ability to see anyone who managed to escape the bridge.
“Okay, it’s almost time.” Kessia tucked the tablet under her arm and looked up at him, her features drawn with anxiety. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes. We will do this and take the ship for our own.” His hard demeanour faded as he gave her a soft smile. “Trust I will return soon.”
He watched her take a deep bracing breath, her eyes closing briefly as if to steady her resolve, and then the lights went out. They were plunged into darkness and Baron blinked, the membrane that altered his vision covering his eyes. Instead of Kessia’s soft features, she became a glowing mass of vibrant colours. Heat radiated from her, creating an aura around her form, and sparks of life glinted among the swirl in time with the beat of her singular heart. He wished to reach out and stroke her unusually soft cheek, wanting to see how that intelligent mind of hers lit up at the contact, but refused to give up his grip on his weapons.
There would be time in the future. He would make sure of it.
“Now.” He commanded quietly.
He saw her deft fingers moving in the dark, touching wires to chips in a bright burst of power. He heard the clank of the door lock sliding free and the woosh of the passage opening. Colourful forms turned toward the doorway, panic in the darkness making their movements uncoordinated. His prey lay before him, frightened and disorientated. They were all that stood between him and keeping Kessia safe.
Baron bared his fangs and plunged into the room.
He lashed out with his knives, not wanting the flare of laser fire to give him away. One went down immediately, his blade slashing across its throat. As its compatriots heard its final gurgled gasp, they rallied, weapons coming up as they realized they were under attack.
Baron ducked as laser fire cut across the room, filling the air with the scent of ozone. He moved fast, not wanting them to be able to pinpoint him in the strobing light of the weapons. He grabbed the nearest raider, slicing his knife into its gun arm until the blaster dropped from nerveless fingers, and then used the thrashing body as a shield while he hurled one of his knives across the room into the throat of another.
As the body dropped, the raiders panicked, assuming there was more than one attacker in the confined space. They flailed in the darkness and he picked three more off easily, following their heat signals.
As he turned for another, a body crashed into his. He felt the heat of a blaster muzzle against his bare stomach and growled, shoving it away just before the trigger was pulled. The sear of the shot cut across his thigh, drawing a hiss from him, and he bared his fangs. He knocked the weapon from the raider’s hand, hearing the insect-like creature hiss at him before the pirate plowed a fist into his abdomen. They grappled, exchanging blows until Baron got frustrated. Lowering one of his guns, he shot the bastard in the knee. As the raider toppled, Baron shot the raider again, this time in the head.
The body dropped at his feet.
A weight hit him from behind, the momentum carrying him forward until he tripped over his last attacker. They crashed into an instrument panel, sparks flying as they shattered the glass control screen. A rough arm circled his throat, tightening to cut off his air as they struggled.
Baron flipped his grip on the remaining knife and stabbed backward, aiming for the body behind him. There was an insect-like hiss of pain and the arm around his throat tightened even further. His lungs ached, mouth open as he gasped for air he couldn’t get, and Baron got mad. He dropped his guns, hearing them thud to the floor, and reaching over his head. His clawed fingers felt the Rehulian’s hard carapace, catching a grip even as the alien shook his head to dislodge him. Baron tightened his hold, sinking his claws into the tough carapace, blood beginning to pour over his fingers.
The bright flare of his dark vision started to fade, the lack of oxygen taking its toll, and he felt his knees collapse. They crumpled to the floor, neither willing to relinquish their hold, knowing the first to give in was the first to die.
Baron flexed his fingers. Determination pounded in his veins even as his vision went completely dark.