The Link Chapter 10

Woo! Ten chapters in this little project of mine. And to my (at this time) 11 followers, I thank you. In days when I wasn't feeling like writing, I would get this little email saying someone liked what I had written, and decided to hit that little follow and/or favorite button, which made my day, and I wanted to start writing again. After a while, I uploaded Chapter 9 a few minutes at the time of me writing the beginning of Chapter 10, and I want to thank you all again. A lot of people would argue that 11 isn't a big number, but to me, those 11 of you, and all of the people who have just stopped by, I thank you. And just checking the view count, this story has been viewed over 3,500 views, holy crap! I never would have guessed this story would have surpassed a thousand views, let alone three thousand five hundred of them! Thank you all.

(Damn that was one long A/N, onto the new chapter)

As she began to close the distance, my mind was running rampant, no way she was into me, it's not possible, my head was creating these false thoughts, trying to convince me this is some dream or a joke. The sincerity of Kitalla's words had been moving, she meant those words, she believed these feelings, she was initiating this...this kiss.

But the kiss never happened. And the feeling of the moment soon faded, the beating of our hearts instead replaced by the wailing of sirens.

We both snapped away from each other, albeit with our cheeks flush red and eyes locked with each other. Of course something would get in the way of this, but still, something wrong has happened, the sounds of alarms were proving that.

"What's going on?!" I hopped out of bed and let my helmet form onto my skull, the Pendragon markings and design morphing, conforming to my skull, and soon my H.U.D. was displayed, I took Kitalla's hand in mine, and we bolted for the exit to the infirmary.

"I don't know, we are supposed to evacuate!" A Chroma user, whose name escaped me for the moment, informed us of the situation, "Come on! Follow me to the hanger!" He called out, beckoning me and Kit to follow.

As we sprinted, I heard sounds of the Dojo's defense array power up. The sounds of salvos being fired out into space shook the walls, seeking out targets. Soon, return fire began to hit our Dojo, our small station in the infinite black of space, was under attack by something that we didn't even know.

We just ran away. Tenno should never run away.

Upon reaching the Hanger, I looked to see blue blasts of energy striking the outer wall as well as the Hanger's shielding, I sprinted to my Liset, and Kitalla took off towards hers, we both looked to each other, though our eyes were not visible, I could almost feel the worry emanating from her, and she probably saw the same from me.

"Ordis! Cycle engines! We are leaving now!"

"Understood Operator, cycling engines now, prepar-Buckle up Tenno!"

I looked back towards my own storage area, I went down and put my Kubrow in stasis, he need not get hurt in this. My own belongings were all locked down and secure, I practically lived in my Liset, so I didn't have items in the Dojo.

We took off and we started to prepare jump drives, but I saw something out the view port. Kitalla, she was almost to her ship. I sighed, she would be okay, but then...

The sound of air being pulled into the vacuum of space is horrendous. It was like metal being scraped along the walls, trying to cling on, but to no avail. I saw a few Tenno being pulled away, their screams being silenced when lances of blue rays of destruction struck them, destroying them in their frames, their husks floating about the empty abyss of space. Kitalla made it to her ship, but another streak of cyan energy struck her Liset, turning it into a burning wreckage, the flames burning even in the vacuum.

She can't escape, she will d...No! Not today! My mind was battling itself, and I took control of the Liset, flying to her, I opened our comm channel, speaking directly to her as the bottom hatch opened,

"Get in Kitalla!" I yelled in desperation, the salvos of devastation halted for a moment, this was our chance. And she jumped, clinging to the hatch door. She climbed in, and I quickly shut it.

"Strap in! Ordis, execute a random jump, tell the other ship Cephelons the same, whoever is attacking us won't be able to follow all of us, we can regroup later."

I gave Ordis the controls, and soon space began to warp around us, I could feel the jump drive powering up beneath me, the roar of the engines firing on all cylinders.

I fell down into my seat, I took one last look as I saw our Dojo begin to collapse, and a new sun appeared on the horizon for a moment, as the reactors melted down and imploded, the shockwave would have hit us had we not jumped a moment sooner, as I saw the other Lisets do the same.

"Holy shit...this...what happened..." I muttered to myself, not normally resorting to foul language, but this time was an exception. This was worse than when the Formians attacked the Relays, this was our home, and it was gone, and we didn't even see the enemy.

I looked back, seeing Kitalla in one of the side seats in the lower deck. Walking towards her, she looked up at me, her helm still on, but I could see her body language, she was afraid, she needed comfort.

"Kano..." She spoke just above a whisper, her voice was shaky. I knelt next to her and let my helmet unravel, I looked at her scarred helm's face, I reached my arms around her lithe form, and held her in a hug.

"You came back for me" she said slowly, her helmet folding back to reveal her beautiful features, "I don't know how to thank you."

"You don't have to, I promised to protect you, remember?" I assured her, pulling away from the embrace to look into her golden green eyes.

Her gaze showed strength, but she wasn't able to cope with all the events that happened so quickly, me collapsing, the nightmares I had told her about, our whole world, our home, just came crashing down around us, who wouldn't get emotional.

"Kitalla, I'm here for you, just tell me what you need and I will..."

She cut me off saying, "Kano, just...hold me...please." She slumped off her seat and into my kneeling form, my arms instinctually holding her close. She was trembling, and I started to gently rub her back, trying my best to soothe her. Trying so hard to soothe this broken soul...

To anyone who would have seen us, it must have looked...odd.

The fallen angel, the Valkerie, ruthless and engulfed in rage, was clinging onto the Excalibur, the warrior who stood for honor and compassion, a warrior of balance. I would not care for any comments someone could have made.

Kitalla needed someone in this moment, and I planned to be that very one. She could trust me, she could lean on me, I would give everything to ensure her safety and survival, even if that meant my life. With my home gone, my brothers and sisters spread across the system, I had little to fight for, except for the girl in my arms. She was who I now fight for, she was my light in the darkness now, as I had been for her.

"Hirashi...you are all I have left..." She said quietly, the truth in her words was heart wrenching. I was her one true friend, her...our...home was gone, and so much more, but I still remained.

"Shh...it's okay...I won't go anywhere. This ship, my ship, it is your home now. Should you choose, that is."

"Well, I kinda have to stay, someone has to keep you from getting into trouble." Kitalla smiled, and she looked back up at me.

"That's very true Kit..." I said, smiling sheepishly.

"H-Hey Hirashi?" She asked, sounding a little nervous.

"Yes?"

"Promise me something."

"Anything."

"Promise me, that you won't let go..." Her hold on me tightened a little, but I kept my small and reassuring smile.

"I won't let go, I promise."

I know, long update times, but I will be trying my best to do more frequent updates, but I can't promise anything yet, you guys are all so patient, it is really nice to know you won't all be angry if I don't update frequently. Anywho, I'll see you all in the next one. Peace