Honorbound waited until the last possible moment before she moved, hoping she would see the cargo ship flying towards her at any moment. Or better yet, that any of the others would make contact with her. But she waited in vain and there were too many Federation ships beginning to surround the station now. She couldn’t afford to sit still any longer. 

Honor flipped several switches on the console, firing up the engines. The ship began to hum as the lights came on, and she strapped herself in, knowing the ride was about to get rough. 

Steelsong echoed throughout the ship as she urged the Viper forward. Several Federation ships began turning in her direction as she appeared on their scanners. 

Honor pressed a button that was not a part of the original design of the ship. It was one of Mik’s special modifications, and  today it would hopefully help keep him alive. 

Lasers began flying as their twin cannons went into automatic burst mode, and she turned the ship slightly, strafing the sides of the Federation Warships. Several fighters began tracking her, firing with their own, military grade cannons. The Viper fired back, tracking their movement, and Honor brought her around for another strafing run. 

One of the Warships began to move, slowly blocking out the stars as it slid forward. Honor turned and began running away from Ventura, trying to keep just out of the Warship’s range. 

She had one of the ships on her tail. She would have to hope it was enough to give the Captain an opening. 

The Warship opened fire and Honor began pulling the yoke from one side to another, spiraling through space as bright lasers flashed by. A few came so close to the windows that they nearly blinded her. 

The Viper shook as she twisted and turned, trying desperately to stay ahead of the Federation ships. Honor spun the ship around and dove directly under the nose of the Warship, lasers glancing off their outer shell as the cannons continued firing. 

You’d better get moving, Captain. She winced as a glancing blow on their wing sent a rattling shudder throughout the ship. I can only keep this up for so long. 

Darryn finally caught sight of Mik desperately trying to pull Jaxon’s bloodied form down the hallway. From the blood trail, it didn’t look like he’d made it very far. But he wasn’t giving up. 

Darryn ran up next to Mik and placed a hand on the kid’s shoulder. He jumped, startled, and turned a tear streaked face towards Darryn. He looked as if he was about at the breaking point. 

“Captain…”

“I’ve got him, kid,” Darryn said calmly. “Get back to the bay.” 

It took a moment before Mik seemed to register the words. He nodded wordlessly, then stood up, stumbling back from Jax’s body, continuing to stare at the blood covering everything. 

“Go, Mik,” Darryn kept his voice calm, but insistent. “I’ll take care of him.”

Mik nodded and turned to go, his pace increasing as he got farther down the hallway until he was finally running at full speed. 

Darryn turned back to Jaxon, surveying the damage. Starfire. It didn’t look good. 

He threw Jaxon’s arm over his shoulder and stood up, hauling the man to his feet. Jax groaned and coughed weakly. 

Well, at least you’re still alive. “Hang in there, Jax.” Darryn started heading back towards the docking bay. “We’ll get you back to the ship and Honor’ll fix you right up.”

“Told you this was a lousy job…” Jax’s voice was weak, but the sarcasm was a good sign. 

Darryn hesitated for a moment, but he had to ask. “How bad?”

“Just Razers…No casualties…”

So all that blood was from Jax. Good, and yet not so good at the same time. 

Jax groaned as Darryn picked up the pace, jostling him. Sorry, Jax. But it can’t be helped. We’ve gotta get that cargo ship off the ground, ASAP. 

Mik dashed into the docking bay, heart racing and eyes focused on only one thing. The spaceship in front of him. 

Eralis was arguing with Rocoram next to the cabin door, trying to get the Gath to lift off. Rocky noticed Mik running past and his face cracked into a wide grin. 

“Rocoram think it time to leave Federation ship. Think we not welcome here.”

Mik barely heard him as he ran by, ducking past him into the cargo ship. He had to get moving. He had to get away. 

He fell into the pilot’s seat and started firing up the engines, hands running on autopilot, automatically knowing where to go. 

Have to focus on the ship. Have to block out the blood. 

He jumped as a large hand fell on his shoulder. “All is ok, little one?” Rocky’s low voice rumbled behind him. It seemed distant; foggy even. “Is wrong?” 

Mik couldn’t answer. His heart was pounding and he was starting to hyperventilate now that there were no more buttons to push. He gripped the yoke, knuckles turning white as he squeezed. 

Have to block out the blood. Have to get away. 

“Finally!” Eralis yelled from inside the cabin. “Now, can we get out of here!”

“Mik, get us off the ground!” Darryn’s voice cut through the fog like a shot. Mik sprang into action, slamming the throttle forward and spinning the ship around on the spot. He urged her forward as the bay doors slowly opened, nearly scraping the top and bottom of the ship as he squeezed through. 

“Rocky, take care of Jax!” Darryn slid into the small cockpit as the Gath exited. “Mik, how are you holding up?”

Mik didn’t answer. He stared wide-eyed at the ships filling the space around Ventura, focusing on the calculations in his head. 

“Mik!” Darryn grabbed his shoulder, trying to force the kid to turn towards him. “Are you alright?”

Mik jerked the yoke sideways, tilting the cargo ship as lasers began chasing them through the cold expanse of space. There was a yell from the cabin behind and a thud as someone hit the wall. 

“What in the name of sanity is going on up there?” Eralis. 

Blood. Jax lying slumped against the wall. Have to get away from the blood. 

The cargo ship felt like a slug, barely responding beneath his hands. The Federation ships were much faster, turning on a dime and rocketing towards him at the speed of light. 

Mik kept turning the ship, looking for an opening. There had to be a way out. There was always a way out.

The cargo ship shuddered as a laser hit their tail, spinning them around. Mik fought with the controls, trying to regain control. There was another heavy thud in the back, followed by Rocky’s rumbling voice. “Rocoram think should sit before self get hurt.”

“Shut up, Gath!” Eralis did not sound pleased. 

Darryn gripped the back of the pilot’s seat, somehow keeping his balance as they were tossed from one side to another. 

Too many lasers, Mik thought, grateful for the momentary distraction. Gotta get out of here. 

As the ship lumbered forward, he caught a glimpse of empty space to their left. One shot. He turned the ship in that direction, urging every inch of speed out of her that he could. 

The fighters moved to cut him off and he pushed the yoke down, trying to get underneath them. Alarms blared as the ship shuddered again and sparks erupted from one of the consoles. 

Mik slapped at buttons and levers, trying to coax a bit more out of their lumbering ride. Blood streaked the console, coming off his hands.

 Have to get away from the blood. 

Darryn squeezed his shoulder and pointed to something in the distance. “See if you can make it to that debris field!”

Mik’s eyes landed on the dark shapes spinning through the void. Trash, engine parts, whole junked ships. The perfect hiding place. He sent the cargo ship straight towards it. 

“I’m sorry, did you say debris field?” Eralis shouted from behind them. 

The ship shuddered and lurched forward as another laser slammed into them. Mik pushed the throttle as hard as he could, but he had already coaxed as much speed out of her as possible. 

We’re not going to make it. 

Another ship appeared in front of them, seemingly on a collision course, its distinct profile blocking the stars. Mik actually smiled as the ship flashed by just overhead, lasers beginning to fire as she passed. 

Good old Viper. 

The debris field was in reach. Mik darted in and out of the various bits of spinning junk, just barely avoiding some of the larger pieces. He spun the yoke, checking the radar and the window for signs of pursuit. The Viper appeared to be keeping them busy. 

He slammed on the brakes and flipped all the switches. There was a grinding shudder as the cargo ship powered down, everything turning off. They were left in sudden silence, the green glow from the emergency life support the only thing illuminating the ship. 

“What happened?” Eralis shouted from inside the cabin. 

Mik peered through the debris, looking for any sign of the Viper. He caught a few glimpses of her here and there. She was dodging the Federation ships, leading them as she spun out towards the stars. The glow from her engines flared up and then she was gone, moving at a fast clip away from the station. Most of the fighters followed her. The rest scanned the debris field for the next few minutes, searching for the cargo ship. Eventually, they gave up and moved back towards Ventura, taking up a ring around the station. 

Mik’s hands remained on the controls, the grip seeming to be the only steady thing in his life at the moment. 

Darryn placed a hand on his shoulder. “Good job, kid.”

Mik nodded wordlessly, still trying to process what had just happened. 

Darryn gently pried his hands off the yoke and spun the pilot’s chair around. “It’s ok, Mik. We made it.”

Eralis appeared in the doorway behind him. “No thanks to either of you. We should have been in the air long before they had the station cordoned off.”

Darryn’s eyes flashed and he turned towards the Fed. “Do you want to explain what happened back there?” His voice was dangerously calm. Mik’s breath hissed between his teeth and he gripped the sides of the chair. 

Eralis didn’t seem to notice the warning signs. “Your crew’s incompetency nearly got us all killed. If you had the ability to make the necessary sacrifices…”

Eralis trailed off as Darryn lunged forward, grabbing the Fed by the collar. He actually lifted the man off the floor a few inches before slamming him into the wall. “I want to know why you nearly got my crew killed! And if I don’t like the answer…”

Darryn drew one of his pistols and held it to Eralis’ skull. “I will shoot you!”