"We're almost there," Kaelar said. "Lyra, start your prep."

  Lyra’s fingers danced across her device. "Southern perimeter drones... neutralized. Surveillance cams in Sector Three... overridden. We’ve got an opening."

  At the rear of the ship, Kirana, Zephyr, and Draven readied themselves. Kirana took a steady breath and glanced at Zephyr. "You ready?"

  Zephyr nodded once. "You don’t need to ask. I’m always ready."

  Draven gave his weapon a final check. "Remember, once we’re in, time’s short. Don’t engage unless it’s absolutely necessary."

  Kaelar turned toward them from the cockpit. "Brace yourselves. We’re coming up on the insertion point."

  The ship glided soundlessly, touching down beside one of Erevos’s outer buildings. Its lights dimmed completely, becoming a shadow among shadows.

  "We're here," Kaelar said, powering down the engines. "You all know your roles. Move fast. Move quiet."

  Kirana, Zephyr, and Draven dropped down the ramp, landing like phantoms. They moved swiftly toward the air duct Velaria had mapped earlier.

  Inside, Lyra worked her interface with rapid precision, her hands gliding through the holographic controls.

  "Sector Five drones... disabled," she reported. "You’re clear to proceed."

  Kaelar kept his eyes on the main display. "You’re doing good, Lyra. But don’t linger, we don’t know how long this cloak will last."

  Lyra didn’t look up. "I know. I’ll make sure they see nothing."

  Meanwhile, Kirana, Zephyr, and Draven reached the ventilation shaft. Vega’s voice filtered through the comms. "Your armor’s cloaking function lasts sixty seconds per cycle. Use it wisely."

  "It’s enough," Zephyr muttered, tapping a control on his suit. He vanished, his outline barely a ripple.

  Kirana followed, activating her own cloak. They slipped into the shaft like mist.

  With a quiet smirk, Lyra whispered, "Desert Ninja and the Sand Goddess ride again."

  Draven’s voice crackled in the comms from behind. "Careful. They’ve got thermal sensors in some sectors. Don’t stay still too long."

  "We know," Kirana whispered back. "Keep your eyes on the perimeter."

  The pair moved with feline grace through the shaft, lit only by the pulsing red of emergency lights. Machinery hummed below, a low, mechanical growl reverberating through the bones of the underground maze.

  Velaria’s voice came calm and clear. "Proceed to the east corridor. There’s an emergency stairwell at the end. Go down one level, then head north."

  Zephyr met Kirana’s eyes and nodded. "You heard her. Let’s move."

  Kirana inhaled, gripping her plasma bow. "Stay sharp. This place feels like a trap."

  They reached the stairwell and began descending cautiously. Each step echoed faintly amid the mechanical drone. Their cloaks flickered, the charge nearing depletion.

  Velaria came through again. "Your cloaks are nearly spent. Find cover before advancing."

  Zephyr pointed to a narrow door. "There. We can recharge inside."

  They slipped into a small storage room. Kirana sealed the door and re-engaged her cloak.

  "How long to recharge?" she asked sharply.

  "A minute. Tops," Zephyr replied, checking his weapon. "Not a second more."

  Velaria added, "Once powered, continue north. Another stairwell leads deeper underground."

  Recharge complete, they exited and followed the twisting hall. The air grew colder. Tension wrapped around them like wire.

  Then, footsteps. Heavy. Close.

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  Kirana gestured sharply. "Two guards."

  Zephyr eased his chain-spear free. "I’ll take the right."

  Kirana nodded. "Left is mine."

  In a blur, plasma met armor. Kirana’s arrow struck dead center. Zephyr’s chain coiled around his target’s neck, silent, swift, final.

  "Clear the scene," Zephyr whispered, dragging the bodies into shadow.

  "We need to move. Fast," Kirana urged.

  They descended five more levels, dispatching guards with silent precision. Finally, the heart of Erevos loomed before them, a research core wrapped in cold metal and pulsing blue light.

  Velaria’s voice sharpened. "You’re near Aelina’s chamber. But be warned, this sector will be heavily guarded."

  Before they could press forward, alarms shrieked. Crimson light bathed the walls. The building came alive with mechanical fury.

  "Damn it!" Kirana growled, drawing her bow.

  Velaria’s voice was urgent now. "They found us. Systems detected the breach. All main gates are sealed. You need to get out, now!"

  Outside, Kaelar stood by the ship with Lyra. In the distance, enemy drones swarmed like metal locusts.

  Lyra’s eyes scanned the console. "They’re closing in. I’ll try to jam some of them."

  Kaelar stepped from the ship, rifle in hand. "Hold the ship. I’ll handle the welcoming committee."

  Kaelar moved swiftly, his rifle crackling with streaks of blue plasma as he fired at the approaching drones. Tiny bursts erupted in the sky, one, two, three drones down, but their numbers kept multiplying, like an endless tide.

  "Kirana, Zephyr, get out, now!" Kaelar’s voice rang through the comms, sharp with urgency.

  Inside the facility, Zephyr faced a swarm of guards converging from every direction. He spun his chain spear with precise aggression, knocking enemies down one by one.

  "Go, Kirana!" Zephyr shouted, swinging his weapon wide to force several guards back. "Get Aelina out of here!"

  Kirana burst into the chamber. Aelina lay motionless inside a transparent capsule, her body entangled in cables that pulsed with dim light.

  "Aelina..." Kirana’s voice broke, a tremor of raw emotion slipping through.

  Draven appeared at the doorway, his expression strained. "We have to go. Troops will be swarming this place any second."

  Kirana carefully unplugged the cables connected to Aelina’s body, then lifted her limp form. "Help me, Draven."

  Draven stepped forward, cradling Aelina in his arms. "I’ve got her. You cover us."

  Kirana nodded, drawing her plasma bow and taking point. "Zephyr, we’ve found her. Heading your way!"

  Zephyr, still locked in combat, answered with a ragged breath. "I’ll clear the path. Hurry!"

  With Aelina in Draven’s arms, they ran through the labyrinth of underground corridors. Zephyr soon rejoined them, sweat streaking down his face, his grip on the spear unshaken.

  "Kaelar, we’re en route to the exit!" Draven called over the comm.

  Outside, Kaelar was still locked in battle with the drones, the skies a canvas of plasma and smoke. "Move fast! The ship’s prepped but we can’t hold this line forever."

  Aboard the ship, Lyra monitored the screen, her fingers trembling. "Kirana, the drones are multiplying. You have to move, now!"

  At a junction, Kirana turned to Draven. "Get her on the ship. We’ll draw them away."

  Draven hesitated, but then ran, clutching Aelina closer. Kirana and Zephyr darted in the opposite direction.

  They ducked behind cargo stacks marked with the Erevos insignia, the air thick with engine rumble and stomping boots. Their armor flickered, energy shields nearly depleted, scorched by plasma fire.

  Zephyr leaned against a crate, breath shallow. "Kirana… we can’t keep this up. There’s too many."

  Kirana’s hand tightened around her bow. Her eyes met his, resolute. "We don’t have to win. We just have to give Aelina time. That’s enough."

  Zephyr nodded, gripping his spear. "You know this might be it."

  She paused, then gave him a small, tired smile. "If it is, then it’s worth it. For our daughter."

  "Always," he said.

  Elsewhere, Draven sprinted toward the waiting ship, Aelina cradled against him. Kaelar, watching from the pilot’s seat, activated the exterior cameras.

  "Lyra! Ramp, now!"

  The ramp lowered with a hiss. Draven rushed in and gently placed Aelina into the ship’s med-pod. Lyra immediately initiated diagnostics.

  "How is she?" Draven asked, panting.

  Lyra stared at the readout. "Stable, but weak. We need distance, fast."

  Kaelar’s voice was steel. "Ramp secured. We’re leaving."

  The ship launched into the air, engines roaring. In a blink, it disappeared under stealth mode, leaving the battleground behind.

  Back in the cargo yard, Kirana and Zephyr remained. They ambushed guards in the shadows, silent, precise. Zephyr dragged one into the dark, his chain slicing through the air. Kirana loosed arrows of plasma that cut through silence and flesh alike.

  "They won’t stop," Zephyr said, watching the endless wave approach. "We can’t hold forever."

  Kirana wiped sweat from her brow, her shoulder seared. "We don’t need forever. Just long enough."

  But then,

  A new sound emerged. Heavy. Deliberate. Not boots. Something worse.

  Inside the Erevos control chamber, President Caius Dalthar stood with pride before a holographic display of Eudora, hybrid weapon, second generation. She stirred within her capsule, exuding a presence both alien and familiar.

  Eudora’s eyes snapped open, glowing a deep red. Her face bore the shape of Aelina’s, but distorted, twisted by intent. Armor melded to her skin radiated dark energy, its weapon systems activating with eerie synchrony.

  Scientists reported in clipped tones. "All systems operational. Full energy. Cognitive sync established."

  Caius’s lips curled into a thin smile. "Perfect. Upload the targets. Kirana and Zephyr. Eliminate them."

  The holographic screen shifted, images of Kirana and Zephyr now tagged: TARGETS LOCKED.

  "Release her."

  Footsteps, slow, thunderous, echoed through the cargo yard.

  Kirana and Zephyr exchanged a glance. Something was coming. Something worse.

  Zephyr gripped his weapon tighter. "You hear that?"

  Kirana nodded, gaze sharp. "Yeah. I don’t like it."

  From behind stacked crates, a figure emerged.

  Aelina’s mirrored face. A weapon’s soul. Her body shimmered with shadow and fire, every step deliberate, her crimson eyes locked onto them.

  Zephyr staggered. "She… she looks like Aelina..."

  Kirana stared in silence, jaw set. "No. That’s not her. That’s something they made to destroy us."

  Eudora halted, analyzing.

  Then, with a voice that scraped metal and menace, she spoke:

  "Targets acquired: Kirana. Zephyr. Elimination protocol engaged."