62 – Julie Catherine – “The Steel Dragon”

The dust cloud swelled and Morath seemed to grow before their eyes as her form expanded into a gigantic wave. As she reared to expel her force against the Establishment fleet, a monstrous steel dragon blasted out of the sky, hurtling it’s huge body directly towards the Fey. Its ice-blue breath shot a laser beam that swirled around Natalia and the baby, surrounding the two and forcing the infant from Natalia’s arms.

“NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!”

Natalia shrieked in agony and fell to the ground, writhing in pain and shock. In the seconds the group were immobilized with fear, the vortex lifted the baby into the cold belly of the steel dragon, and it sped back to the protection of the Establishment fleet before the wave could be launched.

Morath cried out in anger, and the dust wave subsided as she sank to the ground, grinding her fists in the dust in despair. They had been so close to annihilating the Establishment! But she could not risk harming the infant, and the High Commander had counted on that.

“Peoples of the Fey!” The voice boomed through the air, surrounding them with its force. “You have one hour to surrender the traitor Captain Yoran to us, or the child will die – and all Fey will die with him!”

Natalia shook her head wildly and her eyes pleaded to Morath. “Please, they will kill us all, whether they have my husband or not. There must be a way to save my baby!”