Thia looked up at Dancer. “He refused to tell them anything about you or the base.”

“Damn right,” Bastien breathed, then groaned as he rolled himself over. Hissing, he grimaced. “Bastards hit like kindergarten girls. I think one of them even pulled my hair and said I had cooties.”

Snorting, Dancer set Thia down beside her and Bastien. “I’m going to call for an evac.” He placed every one of his weapons down beside them, except for his two prized Andarion blasters. He changed out their cartridges before he tucked them into his holsters. “Anything moves, shoot it with extreme prejudice.”

Sumi dropped her gaze to his side and leg where he was bleeding profusely. “We need to tend those.”

“Call first. I’ll be back in a few.”

“You’re a stubborn beast, Dancer Hauk!” she called as he made his way to the door.

He turned back to grin at her. “You forgot to add sexy to that list.”

“Nah, that might go to your big fat head!”

Laughing, he vanished into the hallway.

Darice still looked shell-shocked. “How did he move like that?”

Thia rolled her eyes. “Uncle Hauk is a war hero, Darice. One of the best of his breed.”

Still lying on his back, Bastien turned his head toward Thia. “He’s Akuma, isn’t he?”

Thia gave him a blank stare. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah, you do. But that’s all right. He told me he was Sentella. Only one being I’ve heard of who’s almost seven feet tall and fights like that. Damn.” He laughed bitterly. “And here I offered to help him.” His maniacal laughter ended with a sharp groan.

Sumi moved to help him with his wounds as best she could. “Thank you, by the way.”

Bastien scowled at her. “For what? Getting my ass kicked or bleeding on the floor?”

“Keeping them safe.”

Bastien quirked his lips. “It’s good to play hero again. Forgot how much I missed it.” Sucking his breath in sharply as she touched the cut on his forehead, he growled at her. “Then again, this shit sucks! Gah, what was I thinking?”

But she could tell by the gleam in his eyes that much like Dancer, Bastien lived for the fight, too.

Hauk sighed at the sorry condition of the subspace equipment. It appeared to have been idle since Aksel died. The dust and extreme weather conditions had done a number on it.

But within a few minutes, he had it mostly working.

At least he hoped he did.