Bryan’s warning came a split second too late. Pain exploded through Grayson’s side as a stun baton connected with his ribs. His vision whited out momentarily, muscles seizing, but he forced himself to move through it.

Alpha beastmen had higher pain tolerance than humans. He turned the spasm into a spinning elbow strike that caught his attacker in the temple.

They went down.

Grayson stayed up, but he was slowing now, too.

Across the room, Bryan had backed himself against the sofa. His knife work kept the enemies at bay, but he was unable to create any breathing room. Blood soaked through the shoulder of his uniform where the first sonic shot had hit, and his left leg dragged slightly.

Then a second shot took Bryan in the thigh.

His leg buckled, and he caught himself, still slashing at anyone who got too close. However, his movements had become desperate, defensive. The laser knife carved an arc through the air, its red glow leaving afterimages across Grayson’s vision.

It wasn’t enough.

Bryan was losing blood. Fast.

Grayson snarled, the sound coming from somewhere deep in his chest, somewhere primal.

Scales appeared along his forearms as his control slipped. He wanted to tear these attackers apart with claws and fangs. But transforming into an enclosed space would kill Bryan as surely as it would kill their enemies.

Grayson grabbed another fallen enemy’s sonic gun and opened fire, cutting a path toward his fallen comrade.

Three hostiles dropped. Four. Five.

The charge indicator on the weapon dropped with each shot.

Bryan saw him coming. His expression twisted into something between a grimace and a smile.

"Don’t talk," Grayson growled as he reached Bryan’s position, putting himself between Bryan and the remaining attackers.

"Wasn’t going to." Bryan’s voice came out thready, weak. "Just... wondering if you’ve got a plan, sir."

Grayson didn’t answer. His attention had fixed on a figure emerging from the boarding tunnel. This man looked different from the other.

It was their leader.

He was tall and broad-shouldered. He had a jagged scar that ran from his left temple to his jaw, pulling one corner of his mouth into a permanent sneer.

"Stop," their leader commanded, and his mercenaries immediately ceased fire.

The sudden silence felt almost worse than the violence.

"General Maxwell." The pirate leader’s voice carried a cultured accent, which was in contrast to his savage appearance. "Or should I call you now, CEO Maxwell? I hear you’ve traded in your military stripes for a cheap corporate title."

Grayson didn’t lower his weapon. "And who are you?"

The pirate leader’s smile widened.

"Oh, I’m sad. I thought our little dance at the Front Lines Sector 6 would have left a lasting impression." He gestured, encompassing the carnage around them. "But then, you were always more focused on the big picture than the details, weren’t you? That’s why you missed me the first time."

Grayson froze. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

That had been one of the bloodiest fights of his military career. It was a trap set by human collaborators working with the Zerg. He had lost a good chunk of his people that day. He lost some of his friends, and the masterminds had never been caught.

"I see you remember now." The pirate leader’s filed teeth gleamed.

"Now, I want you to remember exactly who’s going to end you today." He glanced down at Bryan, crumpled on the ground and barely conscious. "Your friend there doesn’t look so good. Sonic weapons are nasty things. If he doesn’t get medical attention soon..."

He left the implication hanging.

"What do you want?" Grayson demanded.

"Why are you angry?" The pirate leader feigned hurt.

"Anyways, I want exactly what anyone in my profession wants, General. Profit. And you—" he pointed at Grayson "—can give me an enormous amount of profit. They want you alive, preferably intact, though I’m sure they would accept some light damage if you try to... struggle."

Someone had put a bounty on him.

"The cuffs." The pirate leader gestured, and one of his men stepped forward holding a pair of neural suppressors. It was the kind of technology that prevented beastmen from transforming.

"Put them on willingly, and I’ll have my medic stabilize your friend. Refuse, and..." He shrugged lightly. "Well, we don’t really need him, do we?"

Bryan’s hand found Grayson’s ankle and grabbed with a weak grip.

"Don’t—," he said with a raspy voice. "Don’t you fucking dare."

Grayson just looked at him and thought.

Bryan needed medical attention immediately. Neville was somewhere else on the ship, hopefully safe and hidden. If he could buy time, if he could get Bryan stabilized and keep Neville out of this...

"Your word," Grayson said, and he hated how much it felt like surrender. "Treat him and leave everyone else on this ship unharmed."

The pirate leader’s eyes glittered with delight.

"You have it, General. I’m many things, but I honor my agreements." He snapped his fingers. "The cuffs. Now."

"No—!" Bryan cried in a small voice before completely losing his consciousness.

Grayson had no reason to hesitate anymore and ejected the charge pack from his sonic gun. He let it clatter to the floor empty. He pulled off his gloves and dropped them beside the weapon.

The mercenary approached cautiously, clearly still wary despite his advantage.

The neural suppressors closed around Grayson’s wrists with a cold click. The scales on his forearms faded, his enhanced senses dulling.

"Great." The pirate leader was satisfied. "Now then, let’s—"

A door hissed open.

Everyone’s head turned to look at the person.

It was Neville.

Grayson had to double-take when he saw him because he wore the same as the same uniform as the mercenaries.

He felt his throat tighten.

He felt fear, fear for Neville’s life.

But he also noticed that he had an unusually cold look. His clothes were also splattered with red. It looked like blood.

What did he do?

"Well, well." The pirate leader’s grin returned, sharper than before. "Who do we have here?"

Grayson watched as Neville looked around and tilted his head with a deadpan expression. A knife appeared in his hand, dripping with blood.