Watch Your Six: Fight until nothing’s left #MFRWhooks #SpaceOpera

NOTE: In this excerpt, italics indicates telepathic speech, other than Pietas recalling Elryk's voice. Elryk was his first commander, and more of a father to him than his own. Six and Joss can both hear Pietas using telepathy, but no one else. Six can hear only Pietas, although when Pietas replies, Six is aware of who spoke and generally what they said.
This scene takes place after the deadly worm attack.

From Watch Your Six: Fight until nothing's left

“Priest.” That word penetrated the cloying darkness blinding Pietas. The ghosts’ deadliest weapon. Their Ultra-killer. Bringer of permanent death. The reason for last rites. The only weapon Ultras didn’t run toward.

Flamethrower.

On your feet! Elryk’s voice. Get up!

They’d trained for this. Hours of practice. No sight. No sound. Reaction only.

Fight until there’s nothing left.

Then fight some more.

This... This threw him back to Enderium Six, trying to suck in air in a room filled with none.

Breath already released. None to drag in.

Someone murmured his name. Too soft to place.

No light anywhere.

Get! Up!

“Easy, amigo.” Six’s voice. Warm pressure on his shoulder, a firm squeeze. “I’ve got you.”

Those words crashed against his will. He had to fight. Move. Had to.

“Pi, I know you want to fight, but you can’t. Not yet. Not till I cut these bastards off you.”

Sound blurred. Voices. Strident. Shouting orders. Haze. Six swearing.

“Joss, get over here and talk to him! Tell him to relax and lay still so I can work.”

“You don’t tell Pietas to relax.” Joss’s voice carried through the darkness as she came closer. “You give him a job.” Her warmth replaced Six’s at his shoulder. “Everyone is safe, my king. We’re prying off the mouth-rings of these blood worms. They don’t let go when they die.”

Blood worms? Attacked. Where is Erryq? The panthers. Have to save the panthers. Is Tiklaus hurt? Where is Tiklaus? Tiklaus!

“Pietas.” Joss came closer to his ear. “Erryq is being tended to. She’s fine. Only one worm got her. The panthers are safe. The ghosts are removing their barbs while Tiklaus hovers like a warden watching prisoners. Every few seconds, it glances over here. Now, what I need you to do is stay as still as possible so Six can get these off you. Then you’ll be able to help others.”

I can’t see. Did they make me blind?

“No, my king.” She patted his shoulder. “We placed a cloth over your eyes so no blood splashes into them. As soon as we get the barbs off your chest, we’ll move the cloth.”

Annelida. Haemovora tenax. Tell Mother. Classify.

“I will, as soon as she arrives. Lie still now so Six can work. Can you do that?

Yes. Hurry. Need to get up. I can’t be lagging about when people need help.

“Lagging about?” Six let out a string of furious curse words. “You’re covered in barbs, bleeding all over the place and shot full of worm paralytic. I’d like to dig these out of you before that wears off. So do me a favor and shut up. Now lay there while I help put you back together. You!” His voice changed. Directional. “No. Do it like this. See? Good.” He muttered something inventive about asses and holes in the ground.

Pietas gave up and lay still. At least he wasn’t alone in being mouth-whipped. Hurry.

“I’d get a lot more done if you’d stop interrupting me. I’m working as fast as I can, damn it. These sons-of-bitches won’t let go.”

“Pietas.” Joss, close to him. “I sent the ghosts for their flamethrowers. We’ll burn this whole field if we have to. Everyone is safe. Most of us are atop the memorial.”

Most?

“Seven ghosts are clearing the field.”

No. I don’t want ghosts using those. Ultras should.

That would be ideal, my king, but the weapons are coded to their DNA.

Coded. One more thing out of his reach.

The fact that she’d mindspoken told him everything he needed to know. Joss might be practical, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be political. And there were other ways to fight.

But we discovered something, she added. The worms latch onto ghosts but they let go right away.

Dead already. Taste bad. Probably spit out Six.

“Hey!” Six responded on a laugh. “I’m right here.”