[The gate creaks open] The enormous gate creaked open, revealing a bustling scene within. Soldiers, distinguished by their uniforms and races, hurried along two distinct paths. On the left, Valkaryann troops marched in light mechanical armor, their sheathed blades glinting at their hips. To the right, soldiers in hooded clothing and lighter armor carried cargo and documents, moving with purpose.
"I guess Captain Mandibles is this way," Rhox muttered to herself, following the Valkaryann soldiers along the left pathway. She walked until she reached a yard, flanked by two barracks on either side and the Admiral's building in the center.
[Shouts and brawls fill the air] As she arrived, the yard was alive with chaos. Shouts, brawls, and the occasional gunshot echoed from every corner. Valkaryann troops engaged in brutal sparring matches, their comrades forming a circle around them, laughing and cheering. The air was thick with the energy of combat and camaraderie, a typical scene among the Valkaryanns, who were notorious for their reckless behavior. Despite the brutality of their training, they seemed unconcerned with the injuries they inflicted on each other. Rhox knew all too well that Valkaryanns possessed remarkable regenerative abilities, allowing them to recover quickly from even the most grievous wounds. However, this strength often led them to overestimate their capabilities, charging headlong into battles and meeting untimely ends.
In the midst of the chaos, Rhox's attention was drawn to a group of Valkaryanns practicing their swordsmanship. Their movements were graceful and precise, a stark contrast to the rough-and-tumble atmosphere around them. The fluidity of their swordplay was mesmerizing, a deadly dance that spoke of years of discipline and training.
[Rhox approaches the Admiral's quarters] After a few moments of observation, Rhox made her way toward the central building, known as the Admiral's quarters. As she approached a door adorned with skulls and bones from various species, she knocked firmly. The handle seemed to be covered with trophies of past battles, a testament to the Admiral's conquests.
A voice from inside asked, "Name and purpose?"
"Rhox Aggro, here to meet Captain Mandibles about the mission he sent me on," Rhox replied, her tone lighthearted with a hint of a joke.
The voice responded warmly, "Ah, Rhox, welcome back, ACE."
[The door clicks open] The door clicked and swung open, and Rhox stepped into the dimly lit hallway. Inside, Valkaryann soldiers stood at attention, guarding the passageways, while Lakvi personnel bustled about, managing documents and logistics. Rhox exchanged a few greetings with the soldiers and Lakvi, who acknowledged her presence with respectful nods.
[Knocking on the Admiral's door] Finally, Rhox reached the Admiral's quarters and knocked on the door.
From inside, a familiar voice called out, "Since when did you knock, Corvi?"
[The door bursts open] With a playful grin, Rhox kicked the door open and announced, "I'm back, Captain Mandibles!"
Gunn, the Admiral, sighed heavily. "This fucking...," he muttered, trailing off. His mandibles clicked in a rhythm that spoke of both irritation and amusement.
[Rhox tosses a leather bag] Rhox tossed a leather bag onto Gunn's desk, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Mission success," she declared.
Gunn opened the bag and carefully examined the artifact inside. Turning it over in his hands, he remarked, "Hmm... I thought I'd be getting a destroyed or broken artifact," his mandibles clicking thoughtfully.
He then looked up at Rhox, curiosity piqued. "So, how did you steal this undetected?"
Rhox scratched her head, a sheepish smile spreading across her face. "Actually..."
She recounted the events of the mission, detailing her infiltration into a heavily guarded facility on a snow-covered planet six systems away. Her task was to steal the artifact without being detected, to avoid being placed on the government's "List." However, Rhox had been caught on a security camera, triggering alarms and alerting the guards. With no other options, she had fought her way through, leaving a trail of bodies in her wake, including that of a government official.
[The room grows tense] Gunn's expression darkened as he realized the gravity of the situation. "You killed a Pillar!?" he shouted, slamming his fist on the table. The tension in the room was palpable.
Rhox shrugged, unrepentant. "He was in my way," she said matter-of-factly.
Gunn cursed under his breath, his frustration evident. "They'll know I'm involved now. I've been after that artifact for a long time... Damn it, this could ruin everything!"
Rhox scoffed, crossing her arms. "Your fault for sending me in the first place. You know I'm not great at staying undetected."
Gunn sighed, rubbing his temples. "I didn't think you'd go and kill a Pillar. Now we're both on their radar. This isn't going to end well…damnit"
Gunn's malevolent glare lingered on Rhox, a heavy silence hanging in the air between them. After a moment, his expression shifted into a tense smile as he extended his hand toward her. "It's fine," he said with a hint of resignation, "at least I got the artifact."
Rhox reached out to shake Gunn's hand, her expression easing. "Glad it's settled—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Gunn suddenly flung her with a force that sent her flying out into the yard. The soldiers in the vicinity paused, their activities coming to a halt as they watched the scene unfold. One Valkaryann soldier chuckled and muttered, "Here we go again, boys."
[Thuds reverberate] A series of tremendous thuds echoed from inside the Admiral's building, shaking the ground as if a giant were sprinting. The earth trembled with each step, and soon Gunn emerged, leaping high into the air with swords drawn, aiming straight for Rhox.
"DIE!" he roared as he descended upon her.
Rhox, recovering quickly, rolled to the side just in time to dodge Gunn's blade. The Valkaryann soldiers, now fully engaged, began playing aggressive war drums, a tradition meant to boost the morale of fighters during battles and duels.
"This again, Gunn? Seriously?" Rhox shouted over the pounding drums.
Gunn's mandibles clicked rhythmically as he sneered. "Damn right, Corvi. I'll use this opportunity to teach you a lesson."
[Drums intensify] The two stared each other down, the tension palpable as the drums beat louder, synchronized with the shouts and cheers of the Valkaryann soldiers. The air was thick with anticipation, each combatant poised for the next move.
In a sudden burst of motion, Rhox activated the auto cannon embedded in her new synthetic arm, unleashing a barrage of piercing rounds at Gunn. Gunn, however, skillfully parried the bullets, spinning both his swords in a rapid, circular motion to deflect the projectiles. With a fierce battle cry, he charged at Rhox.
"Witness this, Corvi! This is called VALKARYANN SWORDSMANSHIP!" Gunn bellowed as he launched a coordinated attack. He moved with lightning speed, feinting to the right before thrusting his right sword toward Rhox's body while his left blade slashed horizontally at her legs.
Rhox leaped back, narrowly avoiding the strikes, only to be met with a downward slash from Gunn. She raised her synth arm, deploying an energy shield just in time to block the attack. The force of Gunn's assault caused Rhox's knees to buckle, forcing her into a kneeling position.
"Nice tech, Corvi, but you'll never defeat me on the ground!" Gunn taunted, pressing down with all his might.
Rhox smirked defiantly. "Oh yeah?"
In a swift, unexpected move, Rhox fired an energy pistol hidden behind her shield, aiming at Gunn's foot. The shot landed, causing Gunn to grunt in pain and step back, clutching his injured foot.
"Do you think I'll let you regenerate, insect?" Rhox taunted as she lunged forward, only to be caught off guard by a sudden spray of blood from Gunn's wound. Reflexively shielding her eyes, she created an opening that Gunn exploited, striking her in the stomach with a powerful blow. Rhox was sent hurtling through the air, landing hard on the ground.
[Blood splatters] "Nice hit... that hurt," Rhox gasped, spitting blood as she struggled to rise. Her eyes blazed with anger. "Now you've crossed the line... you asshole."
[Distance created] She leaped backward, putting distance between herself and Gunn, and began to cock her synth arm. Gunn laughed derisively, his confidence unwavering.
"Again? Your bullets are futile. I'll parry them easily... a pitiful struggle, Rhox!"
Rhox's eyes narrowed with determination. "That is if you can parry them all, idiot," she retorted, unleashing another barrage of piercing rounds.
Gunn continued to parry the rounds with ease, laughing as he advanced slowly. The tension in the air was electric, the outcome of their clash uncertain.
Rhox swiftly transitioned her arm to projectile launcher mode, unleashing five cluster bombs in rapid succession toward Gunn. The sudden barrage forced him to dodge, his focus divided as the bombs exploded around him. Capitalizing on his disarray, Rhox switched to the auto cannon, its plasma rounds firing at a blistering pace. Gunn staggered, his usually graceful movements faltering as he dodged and parried the relentless onslaught. His attention momentarily wavering, Gunn noticed Rhox charging toward him with an energy blade in hand.
"You dare challenge me in SWORDSMANSHIP? THEN COME!" Gunn bellowed, his voice resonating with both challenge and confidence.
Rhox, however, had set a trap. As Gunn braced himself for the duel, she launched a flashbang at him, averting her eyes just as it detonated. The blinding light left Gunn disoriented, staggering and slashing erratically. Rhox seized the moment, swiftly moving in and using her energy sword to sever his legs.
"I AIN'T DONE YET, RHOX!!" Gunn roared, regaining his senses. He defiantly shouted, "COME ON!" as he propelled himself forward using his arms and wings, despite his grievous injuries.
Rhox responded by deploying a smoke bomb, enveloping the area in thick, black smoke that obscured vision. Despite the smoke, Rhox's Corvi heritage endowed her with the ability to see in low light, allowing her to track Gunn's movements. She leapt onto him, her synth arm crackling with EMP energy. She delivered shock after shock, each jolt causing Gunn to convulse in pain. He tried to grasp her, but the continuous assault overwhelmed him, and he lost consciousness.
[Smoke clears] As the smoke dissipated, the gathered soldiers stared at the scene before them: their admiral, Gunn, lay unconscious and legless on the ground. A moment of silence passed, then erupted into cheers and laughter. Some soldiers exchanged money, congratulating themselves on winning bets. "HAHA! I TOLD YOU RHOX WOULD WIN!" one exclaimed, counting his winnings.
Rhox, catching her breath, looked around at the chaotic scene and chuckled, "Crazy motherfuckers."
The revelry was cut short as the gate to the yard swung open forcefully, and a squad of hooded troops stormed in. At their head was a woman with pointed ears, her face partially obscured by her hood. Rhox caught a glimpse of her face, a familiar visage beneath the shadow.
"Ah... Gel," Rhox muttered, recognizing her.
The woman, Gel'hyne Laxuva, surveyed the scene with a critical eye. She immediately ordered her troops to transport Gunn to the medical wards, reprimanding the Valkaryann soldiers for their raucous behavior, noting she could hear them from her building. With a curt nod, she turned to leave, casting a brief glance at Rhox.
"Shit... Gel... wait!" Rhox called after her, urgency in her voice.
Gel paused only long enough to say, "In my office," without looking back.
"As you say..." Rhox murmured, watching her leave.
As Rhox made her way through the corridors, her thoughts drifted to her past with Gel. She remembered how Gunn and Gel had risen to their positions as admirals and the tender, albeit complicated, love that had developed between her and Gel. The memories were tinged with sorrow, recalling the tragedies that had shaped their bond. Rhox felt a pang of guilt, realizing she had not informed Gel of her whereabouts during her mission outside the Black Glen. The weight of their shared history and the pain it had caused hung heavy on her as she prepared to face Gel once more, knowing their conversation would stir deep, unresolved emotions.