Talson Temptations 2: Talson's Test by Marie Harte Page B

Val advanced on the captain, all but in his face. “Nor can he explain why those same shields are down. We’ve been attacked by two Cam class vessels, no doubt pirate but small enough to have gone undetected as a threat by our scanners. Problem is, with those shields down and the fighters missing, they can stall us if they hit our lower port engines, and with the way we’ve been rocking and rolling, I’d say that’s their plan.” Z shot the sweating captain a knowing glance. “Interesting they knew just where to find our hidden engine mounts when the exhausts are at least a five-length below us.
    And to disengage the shields, one has to know the proper codes, codes very few on this ship possess.”
    The captain swallowed audibly and took a step back from Val and Z. Before he could run, Val used his telekinesis to haul the man onto a nearby stool and held him tight with a band of psychei . The weaker Otra could only sit in Val’s angry psychic embrace.
    “I know how to handle this.” Z glanced to the ship’s offensive weapon controls.
    He’d trained for just such an occurrence, but had never thought they’d have to put those practices into effect.
    Val shot the captain a dark look. “Did I mention our offensives are coincidentally malfunctioning?”
    “All of them?” Z jerked his gaze back to the captain in surprise. Their saboteur had done a damn fine job of sinking the ship, so to speak. As it stood, they were nearly dead in space, a vessel begging to be boarded and overhauled.
    Adri’s warm hand gripped his own.
    “I can help,” she said quietly. My fire is strong, Zaret. Let me show you.
    Remembrances of her lying so still on the ground shook him.
    It’s not just me, she reminded him. We need to save everyone on the ship, iriu . Trust me. I can do this.
    Are you sure?
    Between living and dying? Yes.
    He knew she was right. The pirates would take the ship to their nearest station, salvaging all the precious metals and items they could, raping and/or selling what women and men they figured would make them currency. The rest of the passengers would be killed, and only the lucky ones would die quickly.
    Okay, then let’s do this. Both of us. Use my psychei to aim your fire. The minute you feel any pain, break away. I mean it.
    Yes. Fine.
    I swear I’ll spank that ass for weeks if you don’t. I won’t lose you now. Not when I’ve finally found you.
    She smiled, her love so sweet and giving he knew he couldn’t live without her.
    Z took a deep breath and prayed for calm. Okay. Aim for that vulnerable spot on the ship, right there . He mentally showed her where to hit the pirate vessels as one passed through the bridge’s viewport.
    Z watched in awe as Adri stood back and stared into space, transfixing her gleaming eyes. The dark purple of her irises suddenly took over the whites of her eyes, and her pupils turned from black to bloody red, a pinpoint of energy that grew as she drew from him. She closed her eyes and fists, drawing hard on his psychei .
    Z himself felt a moment of weakness, and then boom .
    The luxury liner rocked as fragments of metal hit the outer hull. Quickly calling forth whatever temporary shields hadn’t been damaged by the pirate’s attack, he watched through the viewport as the burning ships quickly died, the flames smothered by dark space.
    The world around him grayed. Odd moments of bright colors, a woman’s laughter, and the sights and sounds of myriad destinies converged in his mind. But the one that mattered most drew him.
    He swayed on his feet and nearly fell when he turned, only to see Adri on the ground. Blood dripped from her nose, eyes and ears. Her entire body was covered in flames that slowly tapered, taking most of her clothing with it. Behind her Val stood with a phaser in hand, his gaze locked on something behind Z.
    “Put it down,” Val yelled.
    Before Z could figure out what had happened, Adri stirred. Thank God. Then pain, a fissure of energy burst from his