The Space Empress He Craved

Chapter 135

POV: Lyra

Plasma blades.

Void take them. They brought plasma blades.

I shouted across the battlefield, "Kaelari! Watch for plasma weapons! They're coming! Ten blades! Maybe more!"

Most Rogues were stunned. Some got distracted, exchanging glances and linking: 'How did she know?' Their blade-carriers hadn't even emerged from the corridor yet.

I can smell the ozone from the charge packs, you amateurs.

The Kaelari defending Forest Gloom grew cautious, watching for the telltale blue glow of plasma. Orion ordered Lyrokans to shield any Kaelari from plasma blades—the energy only caused minor burns to Lyrokans but could slice through Kaelari armor like paper.

As I crushed a Rogue's windpipe, Juan's mind-touch came through. 'Lyra, how are things looking?'

'Not a good time, Juan!' I linked back in annoyance while breaking another Rogue's neck. 'They're led by... Jake and Iris.'

Pause. I thought he'd severed the link when I threw another Rogue into the wall, until Juan's surprised voice came through. 'They're alive?'

'Well and angry.'

Juan scoffed in amusement. 'Jake's still bitter about your 'no,' huh? Iris must be pretty mad too. She's always been jealous of you. Maybe—'

'Juan, can we do this later?! Better yet, let's not do this at all!'

'Yeah, okay. I'll let you get to it, little sister. But please be careful.'

Little sister. He only uses that when he's really worried.

When the link ended, I extended my combat blade and leaped, driving it into the neural center of a Lyrokan attacking Phelton. The Rogue lost balance as Phelton kicked forcefully, sending the Rogue into the station's waste disposal shaft. Phelton threw me a grateful nod before moving to the next enemy.

I sprinted toward the plasma blade signatures, where most Kaelari were fighting. Orion saw me running and realized the Lyrokan warriors weren't evenly distributed to defend my species.

The Emperor linked his warriors, demanding they eliminate opponents quickly to reach the Kaelari sooner. Orion's initial plan was methodical termination, but with plasma weapons present, he couldn't afford extended engagements. He threw two Rogues against the bulkhead with enough force to crush their skulls instantly. Seeing the Emperor could eliminate two simultaneously, Rogues started attacking in groups of four.

Orion used the techniques Toby and I had taught him, finding they worked even in enhanced combat mode. He sent all four into the waste disposal, their bodies instantly vaporized. The Lyrokan warriors accelerated their attacks, trying to reach us faster.

The first plasma blade I detected was held by a Lyrokan in full combat mode. I'd never fought an enhanced Lyrokan with standard gear before, but I knew their weak points from tactical studies. The Lyrokan saw me coming and tried to strike, but I leaped high, the blade missing me—much to Orion's relief, who kept glancing over while fighting three annoyingly fast Rogues.

I landed on the Rogue's shoulder and yanked the neural nodes behind its ears with precise force. It howled in agony. I'd read about the soft tissue there, how Lyrokans lost balance when those nodes were pulled at specific angles, causing extreme pain.

Smelling more plasma weapons approaching, I tore the Rogue's neural nodes completely off as it screamed. Its comrades growled in rage, pushing past defenders to reach us. Before they arrived, I flipped off its shoulders, kicking its chest. Its body slammed against the station wall, the blade falling from lifeless fingers.

I grabbed the blade immediately, going for Rogues attacking my people. I eliminated two attacking Clement, another three attacking Raden. The Rogues seemed to communicate, warning each other I was armed. They retreated, letting their Lyrokan allies continue the assault.

'Star-heart, the plasma weapons. Where are they coming from?' Orion linked while breaking Rogue limbs.

'Where I eliminated the first blade carrier!'

With an authoritative signal through the station's emergency frequency, Orion sent his warriors to that location. They signaled compliance, racing there.

As Clement, Tate, and I prepared to attack an approaching Rogue Lyrokan, a growl came from the side. Iris pounced on me, throwing me down. She wasted no time trying to claw my face with her enhanced nails. Thankfully, I closed my eyes, avoiding blindness.

Suddenly, Iris's claws froze mid-air. Despite her efforts, she couldn't move them. Worse for her, she seemed to be deactivating her combat enhancements involuntarily. Her enhanced features were reverting to normal.

What in the void?

I didn't question it, reaching for the dropped plasma blade and driving it through Iris's heart. With a tormenting scream, she lost all strength. Tate kicked her body away as Clement helped me up after we'd eliminated the Rogue Lyrokan.

My curious eyes scanned for an explanation of Iris halting and reverting mid-fight. Then we caught Iris's last words, spoken with labored breath: "You. Idiot."

Tate and I initially thought she meant Tate, until we followed her gaze to Jake.

Jake did that? Jake saved me? Why would he—

Oh. Oh no. He still thinks he has a chance. Even now.