12:37, February 10, 2295

  Terminal 5, Songnei Starport (松內星港), No. 340-9, Dunhua North Road, Songshan District, Taipei, Taiwan, Imperium of Dragons territory

  Lorna moved through the dimly-lit corridors of Terminal 5, her steps faltering as waves of dizziness washed over her. The fluorescent lights above flickered, casting shadows that seemed to come alive and beckon. Her hand instinctively reached for the silver cylindrical object in her beige trench coat – what was it called again? The name was just beyond her grasp, like a forgotten melody.

  A pack of Bone Fiends emerged from the shadows ahead, their skeletal forms illuminated by the pulsing lights. But instead of charging, they stopped. Their bone-white heads tilted in unison, studying her with an unsettling curiosity.

  "Welcome, sister," a voice echoed in her mind, ancient and vast. "Your transformation begins."

  Lorna's breath caught in her throat as she stumbled backward, her hand trembling as she drew her 10mm Magnum. The weapon felt alien in her grip, its weight and purpose suddenly unfamiliar. She aimed at the nearest Bone Fiend, finger on the trigger, but something stayed her hand.

  "What…what's happening to me?" she whispered, her voice cracking. The Bone Fiends approached slowly, almost reverently, their usual aggression replaced by an eerie gentleness. A Skuggr emerged from behind them, its insectoid form moving with unexpected casualness as it bowed its head in her direction.

  The throbbing in her head intensified, accompanied by visions of purple and red skies. The world around her began to blur and shift, reality bending like a dream. She sank to her knees, the 10mm Magnum clattering to the floor as tears streamed down her face.

  "I won't... I can't..." she sobbed, her body shaking uncontrollably. The creatures gathered around her, forming a protective circle, their presence both comforting and terrifying. The voice in her head grew stronger, more insistent.

  "Embrace what you become. The hunger. The power. They are yours now."

  She reached for the fallen weapon – what was it called? Something with numbers. Her fingers wrapped around the familiar grip of the... the white L-shaped gadget. Why couldn't she remember its name? The metal felt cold against her palm as she lifted it, staring at the object with growing bewilderment.

  "Your old tools mean nothing now," the voice whispered. "Let them go."

  New sensations flooded her consciousness as she put the gadget back in her coat's side pocket. The air hummed with energy she'd never noticed before, crackling with potential. Her body felt lighter, stronger, as if the very atoms of her being were realigning. A surge of power coursed through her veins, and without thinking, she channeled it outward.

  A wave of blue psionic energy erupted from her hand, far more potent than any spell she'd cast before. The corridor's metal walls buckled under the force, leaving deep impressions in the reinforced steel. The display of power should have drained her, but instead, she felt invigorated.

  "Such strength," she murmured, staring at her trembling hands. "But who am I? What am I?"

  The Radi-Mons remained docile, almost admiring. A larger Skuggr approached, its chitinous head lowering in what appeared to be a gesture of submission. The sight filled her with equal parts revulsion and fascination.

  Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor, accompanied by the distinct sound of armored boots. The Radi-Mons tensed, their bodies shifting to defensive positions around Lorna. Through her hazy vision, she made out the approaching figures – Bloodtroopers, their crimson armor gleaming under the flickering lights.

  "There she is! Lorna Weiss, the Psi Lynx!" one shouted, raising his weapon.

  Ten Bloodtroopers formed a semicircle, their rifles trained on her. The Radi-Mons hissed, but made no move to attack. They seemed to be waiting for her command.

  Lorna felt power surging through her again, stronger this time. Her mind screamed at her to use the L-shaped gadget or the silver cylindrical thing in her coat, but she couldn't remember how. Instead, she let the energy flow freely, feeling it build to a crescendo.

  "Take them," the voice urged. "Show them your true power."

  The Bloodtroopers advanced, their shouts tearing through the air, spiked deep red armors clanking like tanks. Bone Fiends leaped forward with savage grace while Skuggrs charged from the shadows, mandibles clicking with murderous intent.

  "No...they're too strong for you. They…" Lorna whispered, watching the Radi-Mons – her newfound kin? Her enemies? – rush toward the crimson-armored soldiers. She raised one hand to point at the Bloodtroopers with a finger gun.

  "Glacies Lunae Fulgur!" The incantation flowed from her lips as her eyes rolled back in an inexplicable pleasure. A bolt of frosty blue energy erupted from her fingertips with unprecedented force, far beyond her normal power. The enhanced spell became explosive and caught two Bloodtroopers in its path, flash-freezing their armor and sending them crashing into the wall.

  A Bloodtrooper's Thermal Battleaxe cleaved through a Skuggr, the creature's death cry piercing Lorna's heart with unexpected grief. She watched in horror as the coordinated soldiers made short work of the monsters, their heated weapons cutting through bone and chitin with practiced efficiency.

  "Your family falls," the voice in her head growled. "Will you let this stand?"

  Another Bloodtrooper charged at her, Thermal Battleaxe raised high. "Die, Alliance bitch!"

  "Scutum Lunaris!" Lorna's bubble-shaped psionic shield materialized to envelop her, but something was different. As the two-handed axe struck her barrier, frost crept along its heated edge. The weapon's glow dimmed and died, its power nullified by her enhanced defense.

  "Dragon's dong!" The Bloodtrooper stumbled backward, his hands shaking as he stared at his useless weapon. "What the fuck are you?"

  "Fulmen Argentum!" Lightning exploded from Lorna's fingertips, no longer a single bolt but a web of silver-blue destruction. The spell chained between three Bloodtroopers, their armor conducting the enhanced energy as they screamed in agony.

  But as Lorna's eyes returned to their normal positions, she saw the remaining Radi-Mons fall quickly to the other soldiers' axes, each death sending waves of anguish through her psyche. Tears streamed down her face as she watched the last Skuggr collapse, its life ebbing away.

  "They were... they were just..." she choked on the words, her rational mind warring with new, alien instincts. These creatures were her sworn enemies, yet their deaths felt like losing family. "Why? Why do I feel this way?"

  The five surviving Bloodtroopers regrouped, their confidence shaken by her display of power. Lorna's enhanced abilities had taken their toll – her limbs felt heavy, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The voice in her head grew distant, fading like radio static.

  "The Psi Lynx is alone," one Bloodtrooper called out. "Form up!"

  The Bloodtroopers advanced in orderly formation, their Thermal Battleaxes humming with heat. Despite her exhaustion, Lorna felt the power surge within her again, demanding release. She wondered why she wouldn't use the blue potion — what was its name again? — to replenish her spent Aether.

  "Glacies Lunae Fulgur!" The enhanced frost bolt erupted from her hands with devastating force, catching two Bloodtroopers in its path. Where her normal spell would have merely slowed them, this version flash-froze them completely. Their armored forms shattered like glass as they toppled.

  "By the Emperor..." one of the remaining soldiers whispered, his voice trembling. "Monster!"

  The voice in Lorna's head returned, a whisper of dark satisfaction. "Show them your glory, my soon-to-be Hundkynda."

  Her vision blurred as another wave of dizziness struck. The corridor seemed to twist and stretch, its walls pulsing with impossible colors. Through the haze, she saw the three Bloodtroopers circle her, their movements betraying their fear.

  "Fulmen Argentum!" The lightning that burst forth was different this time - not just enhanced, but transformed. Silver-blue energy coalesced into writhing tentacles that reached for her enemies with terrifying intelligence. The soldiers tried to dodge, but the lightning pursued them, wrapping around their armored forms.

  For a moment, time seemed to stop. The Bloodtroopers hung suspended in the crackling web of energy, their bodies rigid with pain. Then, with a thunderous crack, the spell detonated. The explosion sent their smoking forms flying in different directions, leaving only the acrid stench of ozone and burnt metal.

  Lorna collapsed to her knees, her entire body trembling with exhaustion, her blue eyes rolling back into her head again. Each breath felt like inhaling fire, and dark spots danced at the edges of her vision.

  "What's...happening to me?" she gasped, her voice barely a whisper. The dead Radi-Mons lay scattered around her, their presence still tugging at her altered consciousness. Beside them, the Bloodtroopers' bodies smoldered, testament to power she never knew she possessed.

  That's when she detected it - a new scent cutting through the chaos. The delicate sweetness of sakura perfume mingled with something darker, more masculine. Heavy footsteps echoed from the shadows, approaching with measured confidence.

  Two figures emerged into the flickering light, their presence commanding even in silence. The Imperial man radiated an artificially youthful appearance that belied his true age, his muscular build enhanced by extensive cybernetic modifications. A pair of red sunglasses concealed his gaze, but Lorna could feel his cold assessment.

  Beside him stood a woman, also of Imperial complexion, her amber eyes fixed on Lorna with predatory intensity. Her jet-black hair was styled in an intricate updo adorned with traditional hairpins, and her black silk robe whispered against the ground as she moved. But compared to Dilinur, this woman was shorter, had more prominent eyes, and was somehow more arrogant.

  "Well," the woman spoke, her voice rich and melodious despite the underlying menace. "What do we have here?"

  "Who the fuck are you?" Refocusing her gaze, Lorna breathed out, her sappire eyes locking onto the pair.

  "I am Kaori Ouyang," the woman announced, her amber eyes gleaming in the flickering light. "And this," she gestured to her companion, "is Iron Roach. Though I suppose introductions hardly matter now."

  "Any last words before you die?" Roach lifted his head tauntingly.

  Lorna struggled to her feet, her legs threatening to buckle beneath her. The world continued to swim in shades of purple and red, making it difficult to focus on her new adversaries. But as she stood straight, a grin formed on her lips. "It is you who've come to die."

  "Made quite a mess here," huh?" Roach observed, nudging a fallen Bloodtrooper with his boot. "Ten of Dinu's finest, and all those Fenris dogs too. Impressive."

  "Do you know this name?" Kaori asked suddenly, her voice taking on a sharp edge. "Lieutenant Jun Wang?"

  The name stirred something in Lorna's foggy memory, but everything before today felt distant, dreamlike. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts as she reached a hand to her forehead, a bead of sweat tracing down her cheek.

  "Two years ago, assassination mission in Shanghai," Kaori continued, her composed demeanor cracking slightly. "You put a bullet through his head after getting him to sleep with you. He was more than just my superior officer. He was..."

  "I can't remember," Lorna gasped, the effort of speaking sending waves of pain through her chest. "I don't fucking care..."

  "Of course you don't," Kaori's laugh was brittle. "Just another mission for Lorna Weiss, the murderous slut. But Jun meant everything to me. And now..." She drew her Thermal Daggers in a fluid motion, their edges igniting with a searing cinder-like glow. The twin blades hummed with barely contained energy, heat waves distorting the air around their curved surfaces. Each dagger was a masterwork of Imperial engineering, their hilts wrapped in black-red silk that matched Kaori's robe. "Now I'll make sure you remember."

  "Bitch is acting crazy. Eh, Kaori?" Roach sneered, his cybernetic hands reaching for the weapon at his belt. A silver-red Electrified Nunchaku unfolded with a menacing crackle, blue electricity arcing between its titanium segments. Each strike of the chain against itself sent sparks flying, illuminating his artificial face in brief, azure flashes. "Keeps looking at the sky, rolling her eyes. What, you high?"

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  The voice in Lorna's head stirred again, weaker now but still present. "Fight them, my prize. Do not let them take you."

  Lorna's hand moved to her coat, seeking the cylindrical object – what was it called? A sword of some kind? But her fingers couldn't seem to grasp it properly. Everything felt wrong, alien. Her enhanced powers had left her drained, vulnerable.

  "Diego," she whispered, withdrawing her hand to press against the Psi Shield Device on her left ear instead. "Terminal 5. Engaging two enemies. Imperials."

  "Copy that," Diego's voice came through clearly. "Xin's already en route. Hold on."

  Kaori lunged forward, her daggers leaving trails of heat in the air. "Enough talking. This is for Jun."

  Iron Roach circled to Lorna's left, his cybernetic movements fluid and predatory. "Don't worry," he grinned, the expression not quite reaching his eyes behind those red sunglasses. "We'll make sure you stay alive long enough to really feel it."

  Lorna raised her trembling hands, trying to summon what remained of her power. But the words of her spells felt heavy on her tongue, and the world continued to twist and blur around her. She was alone, transformed, exhausted – and for the first time since arriving on this island, truly afraid.

  "Glacies Lunae Fulgur!" The incantation burst from Lorna's lips with desperate intensity. A massive bolt of frost, far beyond her normal capabilities, erupted toward her attackers. Kaori barely managed to dodge, the spell freezing part of her silk robe, while Roach rolled to the side, cybernetics whirring under his metallic jacket.

  "Such power," Kaori breathed, her amber eyes widening as she noticed the deep gouges the spell had left in the reinforced walls. "But at what cost?"

  Lorna staggered, her vision swimming. The enhanced spell had drained more of her remaining Aether than she'd anticipated.

  "Fulmen Argentum!" Silver-blue lightning exploded from her hands, no longer a simple arc but a devastating web of energy that filled the corridor. The electricity seemed alive, pursuing her opponents. Roach's cybernetics sparked dangerously as he barely evaded, while Kaori's daggers absorbed some of the power, their heat intensifying to near-white.

  "The fucking Nucleus Virus," Roach growled, his sunglasses reflecting the fading lightning. "Make you strong. But unstable. Sloppy."

  He was right. Each enhanced spell left Lorna more drained, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. The world tilted and spun around her as she tried to maintain her footing. The voice in her head had faded to a distant whisper, offering no guidance.

  Kaori struck first, her Thermal Daggers leaving trails of fire in the air as she closed the distance. Lorna instinctively reached for her sword again, but her fingers refused to cooperate. Instead, she summoned what remained of her power.

  "Scutum Lunaris!" The shield materialized, stronger than ever before, but the effort sent waves of agony through her skull. Kaori's daggers struck the barrier, their heat dissipating in a hiss of steam.

  But Roach had circled behind her. His Electrified Nunchaku caught her across the back, sending arcs of blue electricity through her body. Lorna screamed, her shield shattering as she fell to one knee.

  "Jun died quietly," Kaori advanced, her daggers humming with menacing heat once more. "You won't have that luxury."

  Lorna tried to resist, to summon one more spell, but her body betrayed her. The enhanced powers that had let her defeat ten Bloodtroopers now exacted their toll. Her muscles spasmed, refusing to respond as darkness crept at the edges of her vision.

  "We have all the time we need…" Iron Roach advanced, his lips pulling back in a sinister grin, his powerful frame moving with triumphant fluidity. He wielded an electrified cord and lassoed Lorna's wrists, binding them tightly behind her back. A jolt of electricity surged through her body as he lifted her up and roughly pushed her against a stone pillar.

  "Fuck!" Lorna winced from the pain in her neck, feeling warm blood trickling down her spine. The air was thick with the stench of sweat and ozone as their eyes locked for a brief moment before he secured her, leaving her barely conscious form tethered to the frigid metal post. The curve of her breasts stood out beneath the tight blue turtleneck.

  Watching from the sidelines, Kaori's amber gaze glimmered with confidence. "I wonder if there's someone important to you" she purred with a hint of satisfaction. "It'd be such pleasure to make them watch before you die." Her dark chuckle echoed throughout the confined space.

  Roach's laughter filled Lorna's ears as he tightened the bindings around her wrists, his cybernetic hands unnaturally cold against her skin. She gritted her teeth, blood oozing from her wounds as she fought against the restraints, her body aching with the pain of it all.

  "Pure Alliance arrogance," Roach sneered, stepping back to admire his handiwork. "To assume you could come to our land and do whatever you want."

  Lorna's cerulean eyes blazed with defiance, but her voice was weak. "You won’t…break me."

  "Won’t we?" Kaori stepped forward, her twin Thermal Daggers burning brightly in her hands, casting menacing shadows on the ground. The scent of sakura perfume mingled with the acrid smell of burnt flesh as she drew nearer, a wicked smile playing across her full, crimson lips.

  With a searing flash, Kaori traced the heated blade on Lorna's cheek, crafting a line of agony down her face. Lorna bit down on a scream, her fingernails digging into her palms as she fought for control. Amidst the pain, her mind raced, searching desperately for an escape, any hope of salvation from this torment.

  "Your bounty is 60,000, right?" Roach asked mockingly, watching Lorna's struggle with amusement. "But Governor Qin mentioned something about 'needing experimental subjects'. Last foreigner infected with the Virus was worth 100,000."

  "And she'd deserve it, too," Kaori replied, her amber eyes shining with excitement as she examined Lorna. "My, the way you squirm is…satisfactory."

  As Lorna's vision blurred from the pain, she heard the distant sound of an engine approaching at breakneck speed. As the glass wall broke to reveal a fusion-powered, green-painted car, hope flared within her, a fragile ember struggling to ignite. Xin, she thought, praying that it was him.

  "Imperial Legion scum!" A familiar voice rang out, followed by the thunderous impact of the green-painted car plowing into Roach, crushing him beneath its weight. Lorna's heart soared.

  "Xin!" she cried out, one side of her face hurting as a mixture of relief and terror soared in her mind. He emerged from the vehicle with his 10mm Magnum drawn, ready for battle. His AI-assisted aiming system locked onto the remaining Wu-Li soldiers, taking two of them down with lethal precision.

  "Thomas! Lorna…" Xin shouted, the shock and anger in his voice palpable as he looked in Lorna’s direction, seeing her tormented form.

  "Get her out of here!" Thomas roared back, engaging in a brutal hand-to-hand fight with Kaori, his bionic arms whirring with each fierce blow while two Fist Blades emerged from them.

  As Xin rushed to Lorna's side, she could barely focus on his face through the haze of pain and exhaustion.

  "Sorry, Lorna. I wish I could drive faster…" His hands trembled as he removed the restraints, and she collapsed against him, her body wracked with sobs.

  "Thanks, Xin…" she whispered, her words almost lost amidst the chaos around them.

  "Lorna...where's your..." his voice trailed off, searching for the word, kneeling down.

  "Medi-Vap," she gasped, her world narrowing to the excruciating pain coursing through her body. She struggled to stay on her feet as Xin helped support her weight. "In my chest pocket."

  With trembling hands, he pulled out the small device from her trench coat. "Hold on," he urged, holding it to her lips.

  Desperate for relief, Lorna inhaled deeply, feeling the cool mist fill her lungs. As she breathed out, she felt the burning pain in her body begin to subside, replaced by a soothing warmth that crawled through her veins.

  "Keep breathing, okay?" Xin whispered, his eyes never leaving hers, their unspoken connection amplified by the intensity of the situation.

  Suddenly, a vibration came through the space as a bloodied figure emerged. Iron Roach, with his crimson sunglasses shattered, his eyes slits of red, heaved his body up from beneath the crumpled car with a guttural grunt, his artificial face twisted in rage. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, mixing with the saliva that hung in the air from an open wound on his cheek. His muscular frame gleamed like polished metal. He growled like a wounded animal as he approached.

  Xin tensed at the sound, his slender form rigid as he turned to face the relentless man. His 10mm Magnum was lifted and held with both hands, targeting the Imperium agent's metallic sheen. The AI-assisted targeting system locked onto Roach's chest, but as Xin pulled the trigger, the bullets bounced off Roach’s flesh.

  "Ha! That basic gun won’t scratch my hide!" Roach's eyes betrayed his sadistic intent, the fire in them matching the rage in his voice. "Don’t know who you are. Don’t care. You won’t live to see another sunrise." He snarled, tottering forward.

  Lorna clung to Xin's arm, her breath coming in shallow gasps that belied her exhaustion. Her turtleneck suit was torn and stained with blood from the wounds inflicted on her, but she remained strong, standing up. Her blue eyes were now clouded by pain and fear. Yet still, she refused to back down or show weakness. Not now, not in front of Xin.

  The air crackled with tension as they confronted each other. The sounds of the city were muffled, distant, as if time itself had slowed down to watch this deadly dance.

  Sweat beaded on Xin's forehead, his grip on the pistol tightening. He glanced over to Lorna, his voice heavy at the sight of her battered form. "Lorna, I'm here. I can hold him off while you — "

  But Lorna's focus was suddenly drawn upwards as the thunderous roar of a StarWhale shuttle pierced the air, descending upon them like a guardian from the heavens. The sleek craft, a marvel of aerospace engineering, gleamed with a polished, obsidian sheen under the pale light of the moon. Its body was a fusion of aerodynamic curves and angular precision, the design echoing both beauty and brutality. Six powerful rotors, encased in protective rings, whirred with a near-silent efficiency as the shuttle hovered with an almost regal grace, casting a sweeping shadow over the battlefield below.

  The StarWhale’s windows reflected the tumultuous skies, its hull exuding an aura of invincibility. Diego, ever the master pilot, guided the shuttle with pinpoint accuracy, the hum of its engines resonating deep within Lorna’s chest. The very air seemed to vibrate with the craft's presence, a tangible force that breathed life into their desperate situation.

  As the shuttle descended further, the side hatch slid open with a hiss of pressurized air, revealing Emmanuel framed against the stark interior.

  "Baw-lah-eh See-kah!" With a fluid motion, he leaped from the StarWhale, his Lunar-enchanted Kinetic Submachine Gun blazing to life in his hands. The sharp staccato of gunfire shattered the tense silence, each shot infused with the radiant silver blue energy, as if Osram itself manifested amidst the chaos.

  In her fluttering black silk robe, Kaori recoiled under the onslaught, her movements a blur as she dodged Emmanuel's deadly barrage of quantum blue bullets, bumping into Iron Roach by accident.

  "Thomas, now!" Emmanuel shouted, his deep voice echoing between the walls as he provided cover fire for his comrade.

  Seizing the opportunity, Thomas lunged at Kaori with a desperate ferocity. As the clash of their blades sent her and Roach flying backwards, Lorna rose from the floor.

  "Thank you," she whispered to Xin, her voice barely audible. The tender vulnerability in her eyes spoke volumes.

  "I’m glad," Xin replied, his gaze never wavering from hers.

  Suddenly, a cacophony of guttural roars, claws scraping against metal, and the stench of decay heralded the arrival of more creatures — Radi-Mons from the Fenris Horde. The gnarled, twisted forms emerged from the shadows, surrounding both the members of SIMU and their adversaries.

  "Shit," Lorna hissed, her eyes darting between the encroaching monstrosities and her teammates. Pain still coursed through her body, but she swallowed it down. "We need to move. Now!"

  "Agreed!" Thomas grunted as he and Xin offered support to Lorna, their arms wrapped around her waist. They began to half-run, half-stagger towards the StarWhale, their steps desperate and labored.

  "Yikes. Who invited you folks, Skarn’s secretary?" Emmanuel said, a note of grim amusement in his voice as he fired off shot after shot at the approaching horde. His form provided a stalwart rearguard as the rest of the team retreated, each shot buying them precious seconds. And then, he too turned around and jogged after them, boarding the shuttle.

  "Diego!" Lorna called out, her vision blurred with pain and exhaustion. "Do the takeoff, now!"

  "Understood," Diego's voice crackled through their comm devices, the StarWhale's engines revving in anticipation, soaring towards the sky that remained purple and red as Lorna looked.

  "Next time, Alliance filth!" Roach snarled from beneath, his teeth bared in a feral grin as he turned to face the oncoming swarm of monsters. Kaori stood beside him, her Thermal Daggers sizzling menacingly in the air. Turning around, the two Imperials charged into the fray, leaving the SIMU team to escape.

  13:00, February 10, 2295

  Inside StarWhale V2-15, 1,000 meters above Songnei Starport

  The cold, sterile light of the StarWhale's interior bathed Lorna's face as the shuttle's ramp closed behind them, sealing the cacophony of battle outside. Her breaths were steadying as she sat down in the cyan-colored seat, her chest heaving with the exertion of their desperate escape.

  "Guys. Thanks," Lorna managed to choke out, her voice hoarse and trembling. "Couldn't have made it without you. All of you."

  Thomas sat across from her, his metallic arms shining in the dim lighting of the shuttle. "We're just happy you're alive," he said.

  "Beautiful sun, huh?" Emmanuel mused as he approached the window, wiping down his Kinetic SMG with a tissue. "This tropical blue sky almost makes me homesick."

  But just as his words echoed through the cramped space, a chill crept down Lorna's spine, icy tendrils wrapping around her limbs and settling in the pit of her stomach.

  Gasping, Lorna turned towards the window where outside, the sky remained a deep shade of purple and red. Instead of the bright noon sun, there was now a black void. It was an undeniable hallucination.

  "I can't see blue," Lorna spoke tearfully. Her skin was slick with sweat and her body shook uncontrollably as the frigid sensation intensified. "All I see is red and purple..."

  "Lorna, are you okay?" Xin asked with concern as he sat next to her. The sunlight streaming in from the window cast a warm glow on the surface of his black-rimmed glasses. But even that golden reflection began to darken as Lorna looked at him.

  "Oh no," Emmanuel's voice trembled as he turned to look at her with fear in his eyes.

  "Diego!" Thomas yelled towards the cockpit. "Have you contacted Doctor Nikki?"

  "Already have, Tom. Flying as fast as I can," Diego's voice came through, but Lorna could barely hear him over the intense pain coursing through her body.

  "It’s…happened," she whispered, panic rising in her throat like bile. She tried to steady herself, but her legs buckled beneath her, sending her hurtling forward.

  Xin was there in an instant, his slender frame catching her with surprising strength. Lorna's head fell against his chest, her cheek pressing against the rough fabric of his green hoodie. The thrum of his heartbeat reached her ears.

  "You’ll be okay, Lorna. I’ll — " Xin's voice was filled with concern as he held her close, his trembling hands seeking to provide comfort.

  "No, Xin. I'm not okay..." she clung to the sound of his quickening heartbeat, even as she felt herself slipping into darkness. "You need to…stay away from me..."

  "No. No, I won’t," he promised, but the dread in his voice betrayed him. "I’m here for you. I mean, we are here with you."

  "Xin," she whispered weakly, feeling herself succumbing to the darkness as the StarWhale's engines hummed around them. "You don't understand..."

  Her eyes fluttered shut, her world narrowing to a single point of dimming light.