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“Talon Six, what do you want us to do?” Rombard asked as he looked down at his Uligart counterpart. Keeling winced at the pain as he alternated stretching first one leg, then the other in an attempt to alleviate some of the burning sensation in his abdomen.

It wasn’t Keryn who answered. Instead, a thick, gravelly voice cut into the radio traffic. “This is Penchant. We had some trouble at the port. McLaughlin is hurt pretty bad.”

Rombard frowned and shook his head. Without waiting for a reply from anyone in the town, the Oterian preemptively responded. “Penchant, I can’t raise Keryn on the radio. Secure the Cair Ilmun and get ready for an immediate evacuation.” Turning his attention to the rooftops, he continued. “Cerise, I know you’re worried, but don’t you dare leave us right now.”

Confirming his fears, he watched the Avalon launch from the roof and fly toward the port on the far side of town. With both Keeling and McLaughlin injured and Cerise gone, the Oterian knew he was on his own. His fears were even more reinforced by the fact that neither Keryn nor Adam had responded during any of the dialogue between the rest of the team. Rombard cursed loudly into the radio before reaching down and scooping up Keeling in one of his enormous arms. The Uligart curled into a ball and groaned at the sudden movement. Breaking their cover, Rombard sprinted down the street; Keeling’s screams growing increasingly louder as the Uligart tried to stop the shaking in his intestines.

The town’s blocks flew by in a blur as Rombard’s massive legs picked up momentum and he charged toward the rear of the town. Around him, muted only by Keeling’s yells of pain, the gunfire increased. He felt the sting of rounds grazing his muscular legs and arms and felt the bite of a round connecting with his left shoulder. Through it all, he continued moving, knowing that to stay in one place was certain death.

Though the air was full of the sound of gunfire, Rombard heard a single round echo through the air louder than any other. The town seemed to grow suddenly quieter as blood splashed across the Oterian’s face. Staggering to a slow walk, Rombard looked down at the now silent body cradled in his arms. Keeling’s head lolled forward, drooping limply and rolling from side to side. The entire back of his head was split open; his dark blood splashed across the Uligart’s clothing and staining Rombard’s fur.

Snarling, Rombard dropped the body and swung back toward the approaching townsfolk. Clutching his heavy rifle, the Oterian switched the selector switch to fully automatic as he braced himself for the impending recoil. As he squeezed the trigger, his ears rang from the sound of cannons exploding near his head. The bullets leapt from the end of the rifle in rapid succession, shredding the people who stood unprotected in the street. Shifting his aim, Rombard fired into a balcony laden with shooters. The torn bodies of townsfolk were visible only briefly before the entire area was consumed by a cloud of dust, as the wood and plaster building behind them was decimated by the rounds.

Though still outnumbered, the Oterian made great headway toward getting himself free of the town. Attaching another drum of ammunition to the bottom of the rifle, Rombard smiled at the red glowing barrel as he squeezed the trigger once more. He howled in anger at the townsfolk as he continued firing. Turning his aim once more, a bullet tore into the top of his right shoulder as another caught him in the side of the face. Staggering, he looked up and saw a pair of riflemen standing on top of a nearby roof. With Cerise gone, no one had stopped the militant members of the community from regaining the high ground. Though his shoulder ached from the gunshot, Rombard tried to raise his rifle toward the new threat. Both riflemen opened fire, the bullets tearing into the Oterian’s body. His knees buckling, he slumped to the ground and stared up toward the dark cliff face. With a curse to the Avalon still on his lips, the Oterian’s last breath slipped from his body.

They were dead. She knew it in her heart without even having to ask over the radio. The rest of the team was already dead and she and Adam would soon be following suit.

Keryn huddled behind the overturned table, feeling lost and alone. The townsfolk had yet been able to get into the building, but they were growing closer. Every time she had ever entered combat, the Voice had always been there to support her. Subconsciously, it guided her decision making and military tactics. Though often unwanted, the Voice gave Keryn comfort when times were rough. Now, facing a staggeringly superior force, she realized just how alone she truly was.

The concerned calls on the radio had gone unanswered. Keryn yearned to reply, but simply didn’t know the answer of what to do next. Her lack of confidence bled over her frustration, the two feeding one another until she felt unable to move; frozen in spot even as enemies grew even closer.

Adam continued to fight as though he hadn’t noticed her pressed tightly against the protective table. His rifle fired time and again, sending assaulting townsfolk flying from the broken window. The street beyond was littered with bodies of those foolish enough to get within range of Adam’s barrage.

Sliding back down behind the table, Adam reloaded his rifle. He glanced over at her huddled form, but Keryn barely acknowledged his presence. She pulled her knees tighter to her chest and wrapped her arms protectively around her legs, as she bit back the tears that stung her eyes.

Adam, to his credit, didn’t belittle Keryn. He barely spent more than a second looking in her direction before continuing his reloading. When he spoke, his voice was barely over a husky mutter, barely audible in Keryn’s ringing ears.

“I don’t know what’s going on in your head, but you need to get over it and fast. I know you’re scared. I know this is new to you. But you only have one of two options. Either you fight with me, or we both die. I don’t know about you, but I’m not a big fan of the latter.”

Keryn opened her mouth to reply, but the words never came. She closed her mouth again and stared off at the wall.

“I got it,” Adam continued. “You’re not an infantryman. You’re much better off behind the controls of a ship. You’re good at fighting, but this really isn’t your style. I understand all that. But I also don’t give a damn about any of that. You don’t get to choose your situations. You just adapt and overcome any adversity thrown at you. Believe me, I’m not happy being in this situation. But I sure as hell won’t lie down and let these bastards kill me!”

Keryn whispered something softly, beyond Adam’s ability to comprehend.

Adam looked around the corner, ensuring that no more townsfolk were approaching the open window. “What was that?” he asked over his shoulder.

“They’re dead and it’s my fault,” Keryn said pathetically. “I led you all into a trap.”

Adam turned sharply toward her. “Yes, you did.”

Keryn looked at him in disbelief. She had expected a myriad of responses, but not that. Adam had always been her biggest advocate, and yet he was now just as quick to turn his back on her when she needed him.

He shook his head when he saw her stunned expression. “You led us into a trap. There’s no denying that. But you didn’t do it on purpose. You couldn’t have known that the entire town was going to turn on us. So you led us into a trap. So what? That act alone doesn’t make you a poor soldier or a poor leader. My last commander walked us right into a trap too. It cost a lot of people their lives. But to this day, I have nothing but the utmost respect for him.

“My point is, either you can sit here and feel sorry for yourself or you can accept that you made a mistake. You may have led us here, but you didn’t kill us. Cardax did that. He turned these people into a bunch of bloodthirsty monsters. And right now, while we’re discussing your shortcomings, he’s making his way toward the port so he can escape this planet. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to see him dead for what he did here.”