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“Humour me for a moment,” Keagen said, panting for breath as he crouched behind a shattered remnant of a stone wall. “Just tell me again exactly why I work for you?”

Whatever Catlin’s response was, it was lost amidst the crackle and thump of energy discharged from a blaster and the resulting explosion that showered them in stone fragments. Taking advantage of the momentary cloud of dust, the pair darted for the relative safety of an alleyway.

“Care to repeat that?” Keagen swept his sweat-dampened reddish-brown hair out of his eyes with a flick of his head as he rested his hands on his knees. “I didn’t quite catch that over the sound of us almost dying.”

“I said, ‘Because you’re a sorry bastard who can’t get a job anywhere else.’” At that exact moment, a bullet ricocheted off the ground by Catlin’s feet, causing her to jump back in fright.

Keagen looked up at Catlin and grinned, his smile lighting up his eyes and highlighting his youthful features. “That’s funny; I thought I heard you say something about the thrill of danger.”

Catlin shot him a dirty look and tried to smooth her short blonde hair in an attempt to regain her cool. “Let’s get moving,” she said, trying to brush the worst of the dust off of her white leather flying jacket with pilot’s red and black chevrons stitched to the sleeves. “It seems to have died down, and unless you want me to use you as a human shield, I suggest we seize the moment.”

“Look at me,” Keagen said, standing up straight and throwing his arms wide. “I’d barely cover a small child, let alone you.” Catlin had to admit that he was right; even at twenty-two, Keagen still retained a set of boyish looks that were only accentuated by his diminutive stature and thin frame. Even though Catlin wasn’t tall or bulky herself, she’d still have trouble hiding behind him. Not that she’d seriously consider it, but it was fun to tease him.

Catlin crept to the entrance of the alley and peered around the corner. “All they need is one shot right on target.” And then, under her breath, “We can only pray they’d be so lucky.”

“Hey, I heard that!” Keagen said.