Balance (The Neumarian Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF Page A

nodded, turned on his heel with a dramatic about-face, and marched to the lift, taking Raeth’s heart with him.
    I wanted to comfort my friend, but we all had a job to do. Putting aside thoughts of Ryder, trusting the council to keep him safe, I kept watch for more suicide fighters. One of the pilots manning the controls sopped the blood away from his eye with a rag and took reports from the navigator at his side, who operated her controls with one arm, her other hanging limp at her side.
    Open a channel between Raeth and I. S B-06 can’t take much more damage. I’ll call out the craft she’ll compensate with coarse alterations. I requested of my father.
    His father’s gaze traveled over me, before he returned to the captain’s chair. It’s about time. You back with us now?
    Yes, I get it. Emotions buried like a good soldier , time to fight and save your ass.
    His shoulders and back shook twice, but I heard his chuckle in my mind. Watch the language, young lady.
    Really?
    I had to say it once since I never had a chance to when you were young.
    Point taken. Let’s get out of this mess first then you can try to parent me all you want.
    My father pressed buttons on the side console of his chair. Sounds like a plan.
    The banter didn’t feel forced like our usual conversations. Perhaps that was a step in the right direction.
    Raeth, can you pilot? I wasn’t giving her a choice really. I knew she needed something to focus on, besides Penton’s dangerous situation.
    Yes. Let’s clear the sky.
    Just what I was thinking. The less fighter pilots the more chance Penton has to succeed and stay safe.
    We’re ready, I announced to my father, disregarding the fact he’d already heard our conversation.
    Harrison leaned forward in his chair . “Ensign Maloy and Barkok report to the mess hall for treatment.”
    “Sir, with respect , we’ll remain at our post. You need us,” the shorter man, Ensign Maloy replied.
    “I have it covered. Go.”
    The two at the center console glanced at each other then rose, Ensign Maloy wavering. Barkok steadied him then helped him to the lift. Raeth already controlled the ship from the terminal.
    “Sir, instruct our own fighters to remain away from our ship ,” I said. “If one needs to board, give me warning. I’m taking down anything metal in the sky close enough that the mist won’t interfere.”
    “Understood. Give the order.” Harrison told the com operator.
    I sat back and connected with my gift, no longer scared of the power within me. Even if I melted a few things on our own ship, it would be minimal damage compared to what those fighters did.
    At first, I couldn’t connect. The mist’s interference kept me limited. The heat within that small corner of my body where my gift bubbled finally zapped to my fingertips, out my body and clipped a plane.
    Raeth, port side. My voice sounded shrill in my own head. Calming my speech to a moderate tone, I said, I can’t give exact coordinates with this static in my head.
    Just tell me which s-side. We’ll do our best.
    Another plane broke through the mist and I shot a boulder of fire at it, disintegrating it into dust seconds before it rammed our stern.
    “She’s amazing, she’s definitely a Bellator,” I heard Fallon say from behind me. He’d returned from helping them carry bodies from the bridge to the mess hall, but I didn’t respond, remaining focused on the world outside our craft.
    “Corporal Bellator , straight ahead,” Fallon said. “A clear spot through the mist. There. You see the emperor’s docking bay? Those fighters have one purpose, launch and ram. They have limited maneuverability and fuel, forcing them to return to the ship if they miss the target and make another run. Can you disable it?” Fallon asked.
    As if my gift split in two, my right hand targeted a fighter at our starboard side while my left concentrated on the emperor’s docking bay.
    My fingers drew power from the edge of the console, melting the