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terrible than it did in the twilight dawn.
Tapping one insistent finger in the air in the direction of the shuttle, Maymon firmly
claimed, The fire in the ship was entirely accidental. He opened his hands in a pleading
gesture and gave Talos a wide-eyed, offended look, demanding, How was I to know how to
shoot one of those new gun things?
Eyes narrowing in a disbelieving glare, Talos bellowed, Someone gave you a blaster?
Grimacing, Maymon hesitated then ruefully admitted, Stole it, actually. His gaze
darted to Rice for support, immediately pointing out his altruistic motives. But it was all for
a good cause.
Stepping forward, Rice touched Talos s weapon s belt, pulling his attention to her
earnest face. He saved my life.
Maymon grinned and winked at the doctor, eager to have her support in his campaign
to wiggle out of some of the blame for the rampant destruction on the island.
And the explosion? Talos looked from his lover to Rice and back again to the
suddenly pouting pirate. Half the beach is missing. How did you do that?
Taking the stunned accusation as a compliment, Maymon smiled and swaggered at bit
in place, proud of his resourcefulness. Cannon powder. He pointed at the open pit and
swept one arm around to indicate the entire surface of the now nonexistent hidden cave that
had been under their feet. Had bottles and bottles of it down there. He kicked at a large
piece of burnt rock by his bare feet and it crumbled into a pile of ashen rubble. The whole
island is made out of honeycombed rock. He wrinkled his nose and leaned in close as if he
was imparting some great secret. Not very stable, that.
Taking his eyes off the wounded Barlow, leaning heavily against the shuttle, Marius
looked over the edge of the pit and incredulously asked, Why would you take the trouble to
hide gun powder with gold? Rice came to his side and they both peered into the hole.
Details of the Hunt 135
Are you daft, man? Just as incredulous, Maymon huffed, Good powder s bloody hard
to come by. Near as valuable as the gold.
Nodding in sudden understanding, Talos chuckled and added, And you never know
when you ll need to blow a cannon hole in something.
Exactly! You d make a right fine buccaneer, me luv. Maymon smiled up at the bounty
hunter and moved closer to his lover.
Talos s expression softened and he made a soft, faint clicking ta-ti sound in the back
of his throat that brought a gleam of pleasure to the pirate s weary, dirt-smeared face. Talos
ran a concerned glance over the wet, disheveled young man and gently asked, You jake?
That I am, mate. He never touched --
A tiny sizzling crackle registered with everyone a moment too late and Maymon s
cocky reassurance was cut short by the sudden unexpected blast from an energy gun. Eyes
wide in uncomprehending shock, Maymon pitched forward, falling directly into Talos s
arms. He was unconscious before he hit the strong supporting arms of his mate. Smoke and
the smell of burnt flesh wafted up from a large, blackened circle on his back.
As the young pirate fell, Barlow came into Talos s sight over Maymon s shoulder.
Hands pressed to his wound, Barlow was still leaning against the shuttle. But now the dagger
was missing, and on either side of him stood one of the Betovan mercenaries, weapons drawn
and aimed at the group.
A spent energy blaster dangled from one of Barlow s hands, slowly dropping to the
sandy patch of ground at his feet as he proudly proclaimed, The pirate was right. Cheating is
the best way to win. Before anyone could react, the three disappeared in a shimmer of
teleporting energy.
Left holding an unconscious, critically wounded Maymon, Talos immediately scooped
the pirate up into his arms. Without looking anywhere except at his injured young lover, he
yelled, Marius, you and the dame, get the hell over here. Now.
Rice hesitated but Marius pulled her over to Talos and grabbed hold of the hunter s
belt.
Rice panicked at the closeness of the tight hug, but calmed down after a comforting
murmur from the commander. She hugged Marius close and hid her face in his shirt,
muttering, Why do I feel like I m so going to regret this.
Not sparing a moment to reassure anyone, Talos grabbed a hold of both Rice s and
Marius s clothing with his fingertips and closed his eyes to concentrate. Without even the
shimmer of an energy flux, the island was suddenly empty of humanoid life.
* * * * *
136 Laura Baumbach
Disoriented by the journey, Webb and Rice barely obtained their bearings before the
hunter thrust Maymon s unconscious body into Marius s arms and took his seat in the pilot s
chair.
Marius stumbled a little under the sudden weight and asked, What are you doing?
Talos didn t even glance at him. Something forbidden. I m going to time warp back to
the Pathos Six. Only by a couple of minutes, but fast enough to get Aidan to the sick bay
before we lose him. Hold on.
No waiting for anyone else to strap into position, Talos grabbed the arms of his chair
and closed his eyes again. The entire ship and its contents blinked out of time and then
rematerialized. The outside view screen showed them in orbit around the space station.
Demanding emergency clearance with Marius s codes, Talos docked the fighter and
grabbed the three others in a huge bear hug, interrupting Rice s attempts to apply pressure
bandages and burn sealant to the pirate s wound. With the exception of the hunter, they
swayed and staggered when Talos released them in the bright, sterile surroundings of the
sick bay.
Staff present in the room blinked and stared at their sudden appearance, then came
running as Rice began shouting commands for equipment and supplies. Rice bent over
Maymon, examining him while some of the staff began cutting off his wet clothing. Rice
listened to the pirate s chest and announced to her staff, He s got a pulse but he s stopped
breathing. Get the intubation set-up.
Talos caressed the visible side of Maymon s pale face and commanded, You goddamn,
brainless little shit, listen to me and just breathe, runt. Just keep breathing.
More medical people converged on them and Rice issued more orders. Tubes and wires
appeared and were connected to the young man. Marius and Talos were pushed further away
from the bed with the arrival of each new staff member and pieces of equipment as they
tried to save Maymon s young life.
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