1. She shoved her hands underneath the wall fountain, then rubbed her face with the cold water. It helped to rejuvenate her. She took a deep breath and met her own gaze again. “Concentrate. Anchor yourself. You’re taking nearly two hundred crewmembers on what could be a one-way ticket to hell. The last thing you need is to be distracted.”
2. The claxon abruptly cut off in mid wail. The echoing quiet was unnerving. Once she was able to readjust herself to the overwhelming calm, she caught the faint sounds of explosions and muffled booms echoing in the distance. Someone was firing on her ship, and judging from the repercussions, her ship was firing back. Although she didn’t know for certain who was attacking them, she had an idea who it was, but she’d have to wait until she reached the bridge before she could confirm.
3. “What good would it do? How many years have you been in the GF, Lieutenant? How many commendations have you garnered? How many times have you been forced to think on your feet in a life-or-death situation? And I’m sure the rest of us will agree with me that this is a life-or-death situation. It’s also true Captain Crockett may not have the answers, but there’s a chance she just might. I’m betting she knows this ship better than all the rest of you combined, but feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.”
4. She shook her head, hoping to clear her vision. Swiping her eyes with the back of her arm, she saw his face was wet from his own tears, when Beck’s head lolled onto his chest. She knew without having to check that he was out of it. From what she could see around them, more figures floated in the weightlessness, put into a sort of stasis by the mist. Whatever the toxic cloud contained, it was dangerous, and she prayed it wasn’t lethal.
5. They continued to look out into the arena, but nothing moved and nothing appeared. Rylee took the momentary lull to check on the rest of her crew. She didn’t dare ask who had been with them who’d died. Right now she couldn’t deal with that knowledge. She needed to keep her head in the game and check on the survivors. She needed to give what words of comfort she could to those who were wounded, and words of encouragement all around. It would be small comfort to them, but she felt she needed to make the effort, if for no other reason than she was their captain, and they depended on her.
6. Rylee was swept up by her crewmen, all of them unabashedly shedding tears as they exchanged hugs and slapped each other on the back. She had difficulty accepting the sudden surge of people welcoming her, when a pair of steel-strong arms she instantly recognized literally swept her off her feet and crushed her against his chest. Rylee threw her arms around the man’s neck and buried her face in his shoulder as they held each other for several long, wonderful seconds. When he finally released her, he stepped back, and she realized he wasn’t going to kiss her. She debated whether to kiss him instead, but something restrained her.
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