Planatae

Diversion

Jasper had urged Akion to take them as fast as the aquajet could go; they'd watched as the fighter maneuvered itself into the breach it had created only moments before.

He was confident that its attention was almost entirely directed on the ship, but he directed Akion to cut the engines once they were a few leagues away. Momentum did the rest; they glided silently towards the ship. It was easy to locate the breach; most of the scene's remaining smoke was being funneled out around the hole, and a floating trail of debris they swerved to avoid was as good as any trail.

"There it is," Akion breathed, and they both craned their necks to look at the still-steaming hulk of the fighter. From further within, Jasper could hear the faint sounds of suffering. He tensed up, wishing he could somehow block the screams. They were like hooks, pulling him backwards into dark memories, where his days had been filled with blood.

Focus, the Old One murmured in his head, and with an effort, he pulled himself back together.

Although the fighter filled the gap in the hull, there was enough space for them to squeeze through.

Jasper had clambered past Akion while the pilot kept the aquajet steady, and scrambled onto the ship. He scurried under the fighter's struts, hoping the darkness would keep him hidden.

Patched you in, came a sudden message through his feed. The notification startled him badly, and Jasper fought to keep his cool as he responded.

Noted, Annika, he answered, and opened the new comms feed that had appeared in his vision.

Who is this? The question came immediately.

My name is Drift, Jasper responded. Me and an aquajet pilot have just reached your breach. We're hoping to provide medical support.

There was a pause.

Where are you now? We're currently dealing with an active intruder. Is there any more firepower available? Can you provide support?

Jasper was already responding before the last of the questions had reached him.

I know there's a damn intruder. I'm currently hiding under their fighter!

A pause, then: ...you're under the fighter?

Yes! He was distracted from his feed for a moment by the sound of a booming voice. He tried to pick out words, but the space beneath the fighter made everything indistinct and echoing.

He's going to kill us. Even through the abstraction of the feed, Jasper could sense the woman's matter-of-fact tone, the lack of hysteria. Another message followed: He will kill me and everyone else on the ship. If you have the capacity to take him out without tampering with the pilot's electronics, you could save us all.

But wait- Jasper floundered for words, thrown off-kilter by the plea.

He was cut off, I'll buy as much time as I can. Either you can help us, or you can't.

Then the comms feed went dead, leaving Jasper with only his thoughts and that loud, angry voice.

This is where you prove yourself, the Old One said, its thoughts burning with intention.

I don't have a choice. If they die, I'm probably going down with the ship too.

There was no time to waste. Akion! Jasper messaged through the feed. Danger! Get me the harpoon! NOW!