289 Pierce (1/2)

[Guys… I'm sorry.]

[Mindy? Mindy!] Darian called.

[Darian. They're coming. Two Tier 8's. Sharphorn and Three-Arms are headed straight for you.]

[Blast!] Darian would have spewed bad words if he hadn't been considerate of Mindy's state of mind. [Gary! Hurry up!]

[We're going as fast as we can!] Compared to Mindy's mental voice, Gary's was tiny, like a little squeak.

[Kor'ag! We've got incoming!] Darian warned.

Kor'ag-dras roared, filling the skies with fire, but it was already all he could do to hold back the swarm of Tier 7 flyers. Adding another two more Tier 8's on top of all this… [Tim! George! We need backup!]

[We're already throwing everything we've got at them!] George's answer was filled with frustration.

Then, there was a short silence.

[Tim?] Darian dared ask hopefully, even as Three-Arms and Sharphorn approached.

[I'm sending over the Wind Emperor.] Tim said at last.

[Can you manage?] Darian was amazed. [Two Tier 8 Spectres with just Khar'al-dras?]

[We don't have a choice.] Tim's tones were grim and deathly quiet. [The airship must get through. Everything depends on it.]

[Tim… what do you intend to do?!] George spluttered.

[I intend to last at least as long as Mindy did.] Tim answered. [And hopefully not embarrass myself.]

[Mindy! Can you still fight?] Darian asked.

There was silence.

[Mindy? Mindy! Are you all right?!]

The only reply was the howling of the cold, indifferent wind.

[Mindy, hang on! We're coming!] George sent out. [I'm sending the Red Fang for you!]

In the meantime, Sharphorn had already arrived. Leaving Three-Arms in his dust, the fiercest of the Tier-8 Spectres charged headlong toward Kor'ag-dras.