Balance (The Neumarian Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF

metal and drawing more power. I pinpointed the spot that would cause the most damage to the Emperor’s ship and shot fire to the bay door. My power weakened. Split between two areas, there wasn’t enough energy intake to compensate for the output.
    With a glance at the viewfinder, useless since one of the fighters rammed the cameras, I grabbed hold with both hands and drained it to slag. Ignoring the fighters outside, I shot the energy straight to the docking bay. An eruption of smoke, orange and blue flame filled the entire side of the ship.
    The energy had been so powerful it shot me backwards, knocking Fallon to the ground. He recovered and propped me back into my seat. The ship banked a hard right and rose.
    “Pilot Windslow requests disembarkation.”
    “Granted.” Harrison replied.
    Raeth swung the SB-06 around and lit the sky with gunfire before she steadied and swooped down closer to the ground. Still connected, I felt the small craft leave our ship, as if a piece of my hair was yanked from my scalp.
    Two fighters gave chase, ducking in and out of the mist , too close for a precision zap without risking Penton’s ship. I held my breath, willing him to land safely. Once he did, I’d blast those metallic beasts from the sky.
    My hands shook.
    My head ached.
    My body longed for a break.
    But I continued to fight, taking down three more fighters.
    “He’s landed,” t he com operator relayed to the bridge.
    “Hvala bogu,” Raeth muttered. I didn’t need to understand Neumarian to know she was relieved.
    Harrison slammed his palm down on his armrest. “Call all fighters back and get us out of here.”
    M ist faded with the swirl of our engines, allowing a clear view of Penton’s ship just as one suicide fighter nosedived into it, sending a plume of smoke into the sky.
    The com operator immediately swiveled to Raeth. “He made it out. A message got thro ugh just before…”
    Raeth nodded . It wasn’t until she turned toward me that I saw the tears streaking down her face. I could tell she struggled to stay with us, her mind longing to check out, to not deal with this world. Her psyche had crashed along with Penton’s plane. But she was a soldier and she fought to maintain control as she maneuvered the plane.
    You’re doing great , I encouraged her.
    She turned back to the monitors and swung by the emperor’s ship. It turned to give chase, but the large breach in its side slowed it down. We were so close, close enough that I could have easily finished off the massive ship, but without drawing more energy from other parts of the SB-06 , I was too weak. Even the Triune’s powers had limitations.
    We continued our evacuation of the area, stalling to board a few fighters in the vicinity. The rest of our forces were directed to land as far away as possible.
    Forced to leave Penton, our small fighters, and the council behind didn’t sit well with Father, Raeth or I, but it was the only chance we had to take the emperor down and offer us a fighting chance for the future.

 
     
    Chapter Four
     
     
    Moving to an unmanned console at the back of the bridge, I cremated the poor station to access just enough energy to take down the few remaining suicide fighters tailing us. Hot molten goo slid to the ground in a bubbling heap.
    “ Let it go before you drain energy from the hull.” Father warned. Forced to sit silent and wait for a report, sidelined from the fight, was torturous. To think, just a few months ago, all I wanted to do was live in peace in the make-believe Resort Territory implanted in my mind. Now, fighting was in my blood. My desire to protect those I loved and eliminate the powers that enslaved our people invigorated me.
    Fallon sat by my side. “You’ve grown up a lot in only a few months. Your ma would be so proud, and your pa already is. He’s not the touchy-feely kind of guy he used to be, but I can tell.”
    “I know you’re trying to distract me, but I promise I won’t melt anything