the tattered scraps of material clothes. His body had gone limp, his muscles unresponsive. It was for the best, subconsciously I knew that. Still, seeing him so helpless made my chest ache.
“Come on, let’s go sit down,” Crane said gently.
I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to stay with Erik, but knew I’d only be in the way. For the time being, I’d done all I could do to help him. Now, he was in the medics’ hands. Their ministrations and Erik’s will to live would have to be enough.
Crane led me past the metal benches, now lined with Coalition soldiers and refugees from Tramblewood. A Coalition man I didn’t know was bent over Frederick, applying something that smelled like disinfectant to the gashes on his face. He gave me a small half-smile as I passed. Next to him, Janelle winced as Jared spread burn cream over the right side of her neck. Others had first aid kits out tending to injuries that, while not life threatening, needed medical attention.
Instead of placing me in a seat in the main bay of the plane, Crane led me to the cockpit and gestured to the sitting area to the left of the entrance. I settled into a cushy armchair, letting my head fall against the headrest. I closed my eyes, now heavy with exhaustion, and silently prayed to anyone listening to save Erik’s life.
I felt Crane’s presence as he eased himself down beside me. I was no longer on an adrenaline high, and I’d used so much mental energy that I couldn’t have erected my mental walls had my life depended on it. However, I also found that I really didn’t care if Crane knew my thoughts. My display beside Erik’s sickbed had clearly shown everyone watching where my head was.
In the cockpit, the soldiers’ voices were muted, and most of the sound came in the form of beeps and buzzes from the navigation system. It was hard to concentrate on any one conversation, and more than anything I needed a distraction. I’d have liked to lose myself into the sweet oblivion of sleep, but my mind was humming too loudly for that to be a viable option. So, I decided to talk.
“Have you heard from Brand? Was his team able to get all your people out? Did they encounter a lot of trouble?” I peppered Crane with questions. My eyelids felt too heavy to hold open, so I let them droop as I spoke.
Crane sighed, measured his words. “Things could’ve gone worse,” he said finally.
When the Coalition President failed to elaborate, I pressed. “How much worse?”
“A lot. Brand’s team landed in the main courtyard just fine. It took them longer than anticipated to reach the cell block with our people. The route they took had more obstacles.”
I cringed. The cell block with the Coalition hostages was in the rear of the main building, close to the bridge – the bridge I’d destroyed. That was why both teams had planned to land there originally.
“There were causalities,” Crane was saying gravely.
“Who?” I asked, the pain in my stomach intensifying under the heavy guilt weighing it down.
At least now Brand had a legitimate reason to hate me, I thought dryly.
“Pat Asure and Link Mahoney,” Crane said.
Neither name sounded familiar. I tied to recall the faces of the soldiers who’d gathered in the command center for our strategy meetings. Regret mingled with the guilt when I realized that I hadn’t bothered to pay enough attention then to conjure up a single image now.
“Good men,” Crane added.
“Ian, I’m –”
“You don’t have any reason to be sorry, Talia. They knew the risks. Mahoney even volunteered for this mission. Besides, at least five of my people are going home to families who thought they’d never see their loved ones again.” He paused, and I felt his eyes burning holes through my suit. “But it’s not just about the people we rescued from Tramblewood, Talia. This mission has far-reaching implications. Tonight, we showed TOXIC we are serious, that we won’t let them bully us any longer. And, we’re
“Come on, let’s go sit down,” Crane said gently.
I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to stay with Erik, but knew I’d only be in the way. For the time being, I’d done all I could do to help him. Now, he was in the medics’ hands. Their ministrations and Erik’s will to live would have to be enough.
Crane led me past the metal benches, now lined with Coalition soldiers and refugees from Tramblewood. A Coalition man I didn’t know was bent over Frederick, applying something that smelled like disinfectant to the gashes on his face. He gave me a small half-smile as I passed. Next to him, Janelle winced as Jared spread burn cream over the right side of her neck. Others had first aid kits out tending to injuries that, while not life threatening, needed medical attention.
Instead of placing me in a seat in the main bay of the plane, Crane led me to the cockpit and gestured to the sitting area to the left of the entrance. I settled into a cushy armchair, letting my head fall against the headrest. I closed my eyes, now heavy with exhaustion, and silently prayed to anyone listening to save Erik’s life.
I felt Crane’s presence as he eased himself down beside me. I was no longer on an adrenaline high, and I’d used so much mental energy that I couldn’t have erected my mental walls had my life depended on it. However, I also found that I really didn’t care if Crane knew my thoughts. My display beside Erik’s sickbed had clearly shown everyone watching where my head was.
In the cockpit, the soldiers’ voices were muted, and most of the sound came in the form of beeps and buzzes from the navigation system. It was hard to concentrate on any one conversation, and more than anything I needed a distraction. I’d have liked to lose myself into the sweet oblivion of sleep, but my mind was humming too loudly for that to be a viable option. So, I decided to talk.
“Have you heard from Brand? Was his team able to get all your people out? Did they encounter a lot of trouble?” I peppered Crane with questions. My eyelids felt too heavy to hold open, so I let them droop as I spoke.
Crane sighed, measured his words. “Things could’ve gone worse,” he said finally.
When the Coalition President failed to elaborate, I pressed. “How much worse?”
“A lot. Brand’s team landed in the main courtyard just fine. It took them longer than anticipated to reach the cell block with our people. The route they took had more obstacles.”
I cringed. The cell block with the Coalition hostages was in the rear of the main building, close to the bridge – the bridge I’d destroyed. That was why both teams had planned to land there originally.
“There were causalities,” Crane was saying gravely.
“Who?” I asked, the pain in my stomach intensifying under the heavy guilt weighing it down.
At least now Brand had a legitimate reason to hate me, I thought dryly.
“Pat Asure and Link Mahoney,” Crane said.
Neither name sounded familiar. I tied to recall the faces of the soldiers who’d gathered in the command center for our strategy meetings. Regret mingled with the guilt when I realized that I hadn’t bothered to pay enough attention then to conjure up a single image now.
“Good men,” Crane added.
“Ian, I’m –”
“You don’t have any reason to be sorry, Talia. They knew the risks. Mahoney even volunteered for this mission. Besides, at least five of my people are going home to families who thought they’d never see their loved ones again.” He paused, and I felt his eyes burning holes through my suit. “But it’s not just about the people we rescued from Tramblewood, Talia. This mission has far-reaching implications. Tonight, we showed TOXIC we are serious, that we won’t let them bully us any longer. And, we’re
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