Fury to the Stars (Universe in Flames Book 2) by Christian Kallias Page A

sentries
weren’t able to regain control of the facilities, Chase thought. It was
beginning to be more and more difficult to advance, as the floor was layered
with an increasingly thick layer of dead or dying convicts who had failed to
escape. In fact, he realized as he got closer, he was soon going to lose enough
speed that it was only a matter of time before he and his companions joined
them.
    There was a split second’s pause, a brief moment of
hesitation, then Chase let his instincts take over.
    He leapt up—up and onto the side of the wall. But he
didn’t stop there. Without slowly his body for a second, he began sprinting
reverted across the very ceiling.
    “Chase, what the—” he heard Daniel say, trailing
behind him. But there was no time to explain. And to be perfectly frank, he
didn’t understand it himself. All he knew was that time was running out and
this was what he had to do.
    In no time at all, he was upon his foe. He joined
both his hands together and used them as a hammer to strike the mech right in
the face. It flew and crashed tens of meters away. Before it could get back on
its feet, he lifted his hand and sent an ice-blue fireball flying its way. A
second later, the mech had exploded. The guard crawled out from inside, still
smoldering, and Chase was by his side in an instant.
    Using a bit of the same healing magic he’d conjured
for his new insect friend, he revived the man just enough to get him breathing
again.
    A moment later, Tar’Lock was at his side. “Is that
wise?” he asked doubtfully.
    “I don’t really care,” Chase replied. “He might just
get to live for another few minutes depending on how things go inside this hell
hole, but I didn’t want to be the one who drew his last breath. He was only
doing his job after all. We’re the intruders here.”
    Tar’Lock nodded but stared at Chase speculatively.
“I must admit it was an impressive takedown.”
    “Yeah, I’m starting to get used to my powers.”
    The insect made an impressed clicking sound. “I’d
hate to be on the wrong side of things, whether you master them or not.”
    Chase chuckled. “Well, I don’t know you very well,
but I doubt that will happen. I really appreciate your help and hope you can
stay with us when we reach Earth.”
    “Is that an official invitation?”
    “Did it sound like anything else?”
    It was Tar’Lock’s turn to laugh. “I’m sorry. After
years in this place, I’m not used to acts of kindness, no matter the
circumstances. Thank you, Chase. I accept your invitation.”
    “You’re welcome. Now with all due respect, let’s get
the hell out of here.”
    They rushed back to the landing bays where the rest
of the party was waiting near the Omega fighter. The cloak was not fully
operational anymore and the silhouette of the ship blinked in and out of
existence, giving it an almost creepy vibe. Chase approached and it de-cloaked
fully, as it was programmed to do so.
    “I think we can fit three people in the cockpit,
perhaps Tar’Lock as well,” he declared. “It won’t be a pleasant flight, but
hopefully it will only last a minute tops.” He touched a panel at the back of
the ship and a small ramp lowered to the ground, revealing a small cargo hold.
“I’m afraid two persons will have to crawl in there.”
    Ryonna stepped forward. “My son and I should go in
there.”
    “I’m not sure you’ll both fit.”
    “We’ll just have to. There’s no room for us in the
cockpit. Ronan, get in.”
    While Ronan was just a young Droxian, he was still
as tall as Chase, but he fit without issue in the small cargo hold. However,
there was no way Ryonna could do the same—no matter how hard she tried—without
at least one limb sticking out.
    Chase glanced around nervously as the shouts of
oncoming sentries drifted their way. Ryonna followed his gaze and took a deep
breath. The next second, she snapped her leg at an absurd angle and folded it
up along beside her.
    “That’s it,