Read Enemy Games for Free Online

“We’re good.”
    She watched Damen. He worked his console like a master musician playing a polytonal Taggite organ, minus a Taggite’s two extra arms. Concentration put creases in his forehead and at the corner of the one eye she could see. A tick in the fine muscles of his jaw provided evidence of worry.
    Jayleia threw another barrage of laser fire at the mercenary, hardly waiting for the targeting indicators to flash red.
    The missile impacted their shields and detonated, not on the nose, as V’kyrri had predicted, but amidships, right behind the door where she’d boarded. The impact flung them off course. Lights flashed on the cockpit consoles, bleating and chirping messages she couldn’t hope to understand.
    “Hull integrity intact. Shields holding. Oh, nice shot!” V’kyrri hollered, punching controls that seemed to help Damen wrestle them into position for another try at the big cruiser.
    She looked at the view screen. Their ship spun and swung, flashing the merc ship in and out of the field of view. Blue smoke streamed behind the vessel.
    The mercenary fired on the Sen Ekir . The science ship rocked, but their shields deflected the weapon’s energy.
    Giving the mercenary no time for another shot, Jayleia fired the lasers again, followed immediately by an array of missiles.
    “That’s right,” Damen muttered when the big vessel canted their way. “Leave the unarmed craft alone.”
    “Broadcast another message,” V’kyrri suggested. “Make it plain she’s aboard. The Ykktyryk came in after the first message to the Sen Ekir .”
    “We’ve proven that we’ll rise to the Sen Ekir ’s defense,” Jay said. “They’ll use it as a lure.”
    Both men swore.
    Laser fire sliced through their shields. They shuddered, momentum stalling, and rolled. Alarms tried to wail, then sputtered and died. The lights failed. The atmospheric engine choked and the nose pitched toward the steaming jungles below.
    “Spawn of a Myallki bitch,” Damen swore. “Where’d they get the power for that shot?”
    “Restart!” V’kyrri demanded, unbuckling his restraints.
    Damen punched in a rapid-fire command. Nothing happened. “No go!”
    V’k threw himself out of his chair and down the companionway. She heard the bang of engine access panels opening as he went.
    “Found it! Ten seconds!”
    “Why aren’t they finishing us?” she muttered, turning back to the view screen. “They’ve got us dead to rights.”
    “You nailed them,” Damen answered, approval in his voice. He flashed her a brief grin when she glanced at him. He fought his controls, muscles standing out in his arms and shoulders as he struggled to keep the ship airborne. Sweat beaded his temple and trickled down one side of his face. “I got you a shot at their tailpipes and you shoved those missiles straight up their . . .”
    “Online!” V’kyrri shouted.
    “Get up here!” Damen yelled, punching in the sequence for what she assumed would be a hot start on his atmospheric.
    The engine roared to life, pitching the ship in an arc into the atmosphere. Jay heard V’kyrri cursing as he crashed to the deck plating.
    “You should have kidnapped Raj if you’d planned on breaking bones,” she called down the companionway.
    Damen chuckled.
    Jayleia’s heart warmed at the sound.
    “I specifically requested a comedienne,” V’k retorted as he limped into the cockpit and took his seat. “Is the Sen Ekir safe?”
    “They’re clear. Transitioning to star drive,” Damen said, studying his panels. “And they’re away.”
    Part of her relaxed in response to the relief in Damen’s tone. She hadn’t gotten the people she cared about killed. When it came to the Sen Ekir , at least, it appeared she and her kidnappers were aligned.
    She eyed the two men as they worked. They weren’t allies, but neither were they enemies, per se. How far could she trust them?
    “Why didn’t the Erillian make a move while we were disabled?” Damen muttered.
    She