The Starlight Lancer

Chapter 135: The Breakoff

"People? People don't change. They'll pretend if they need to, if there's something they want, but deep down they're still the same. No more can a person alter their fundamental being, than a limphor could swap its coat with a sibling."

—Novelist Frydik Vantoori, in the narration of his novel The Ace of Kolagera

Zaina cursed at herself while running full speed through the forest. She knew Reida was up to no good—why hadn't she listened to her gut? She'd gotten so excited about getting off Diraxus, about getting Gizmo fixed, that she'd let her guard down and tried to be helpful—and that was the exact thing Reida had been waiting for.

This wasn't going to be like last time, though—this time Zaina was a lancer, and this time Reida wasn't getting away.

The forest whizzed by, but there was something strange up ahead—it looked like Baeus's hover-bed, but it was on its side, tipped over into the mud. She gasped upon getting close enough to realize that was exactly what it was.

She ran and turned it right-side up—and gave a deep sigh of relief as Baeus, a frightened expression on his face, said, "Zaina?"

"Oh, thank Byzon you're alive," she said, pulling the hover-bed close to her chest. "I thought she killed you."

"No, but she has Kazlo! Go—my pod will reset itself! Go! There's still time!"

She set Gizmo down beside the scholar. "Watch him."

Zaina resumed her high-speed spring toward the landing zone, filled anew with fury. How dare Reida treat her friend like that!

Curiously, the ship was holding position overhead. Once Zaina broke into the clearing she saw why.

There, Reida was standing watch, scrapshot at the ready, while two pirates in makeshift armor loaded an unconscious Kazlo into Baeus and Zaina's ship, which was already turned on. Reida frowned the second she laid eyes on Zaina and quickly darted inside.

Zaina broke into a full sprint while the ship pulled away from the metal landing platform. It was a moment from taking off when Zaina laid her prosthetic hand on it, grabbing one of the still-engaged landing prongs. Her weight was enough to bob the ship so that Zaina's boots touched the ground—she then activated the magnetic function on them, adhering herself to the landing pad.

Every muscle in Zaina's torso and legs tightened. It took every ounce of her strength to hold the ship in place while its engines squealed and groaned. Zaina strained, gritting her teeth.

"Reida, stop!" she shouted.

The engines roared, and the ship nearly escaped Zaina's grasp. She tightened her grip, bearing her teeth as her entire body tensed, summoning more physical strength than ever before. The ship started to rock from side to side, trying to loosen her hand, but Zaina remained firm.

Through gritted teeth she spat, "I'm—not—letting—go!"

With her spare hand she grabbed her particle hook-gun and shot the tracking tip directly into the ship's belly. It wasn't much of a plan, but she needed to do something—trying to hold the ship in place was a losing battle.

Baeus broke through the treeline. "Zaina! What are you doing? Are you insane?"

She kept her grip tight. "Can't—let her—get away!"

"You have to let go, Zaina!"

"NO!" she shouted. A guttural shriek exploded from her chest while she strained to keep Reida from escaping.