Kal's breath was heavy as he moved down the corridor, every step a reminder of the urgency flooding his mind. Lian was missing, and the thought that she'd been taken by one of his enemies filled him with both fury and dread. Behind him, Dex followed, glancing around anxiously, still shaken from the brutal confrontation they'd just left behind. His eyes darted from room to room as they passed, taking in the wreckage.
"How could she just disappear like that?" Kal muttered, kicking open doors as they searched. Each room they checked yielded nothing, and with every empty room, his frustration grew. "Did they get her, Dex? Did they take her while we were distracted?"
Dex tried to calm him down, but Kal's rage was far too overwhelming. He slammed another door open, only to find more emptiness. His thoughts whirled with anger, his hands clenched tightly. He felt helpless, yet he pushed on. They continued, and eventually, a sharp, metallic smell grew stronger as they neared a particular hallway.
Kal and Dex froze at the sight before them—a long corridor littered with bodies. Blood stained the floor, smeared across the walls, painting a grotesque scene. Kal's jaw tightened as he waded through the devastation, moving past the fallen men without a glance, his focus solely on finding Lian. Amid the bodies lay a man slumped against the wall, hands pressed against his bleeding torso, still clinging to life.
Kal knelt beside him, gripping his shoulders and shaking him slightly. "What happened here? Where did they take her?"
The man opened his mouth to respond, but his strength gave out, and he slumped over, lifeless. Kal cursed under his breath. Then, just beyond an open doorway, they heard a faint struggle—a scraping sound, then a choked scream. Kal signaled Dex to stay behind him as he moved toward the sound, his heart pounding.
Inside the room, a hulking figure stood in a puddle of fresh blood, his massive frame dark against the dim light. He had a man lifted by the neck, choking the life out of him. At the sound of Kal's arrival, he released his victim, tossing him aside with a look of indifference.
The man turned, his cold eyes meeting Kal's as a slow, menacing grin spread across his face. Kal recognized him instantly—it was the same man who had hunted Lian and her parents, the one who had torn her family apart. Now, he was here to finish the job.
Without a word, the man charged, moving with startling speed. Kal tried to dodge, but he was too quick. The impact sent Kal flying backward, crashing through the flimsy interior walls. Debris fell around him as he hit the ground, struggling to regain his balance, but the man was relentless. In seconds, he was upon Kal again, lifting him effortlessly and slamming him against the nearest window. The glass cracked and splintered, sending shards flying.
Kal barely managed to gasp, "Why… why are you doing this?" The man responded only with a smirk, his hand tightening around Kal's throat. As Kal struggled, he noticed a branding on the man's neck, three letters followed by a single digit. But before he could make sense of it, the man laughed, lifting Kal out of the window, dangling him high above the city streets below.
Below, the city stretched like a distant tapestry, its lights winking up at him. Kal's grip loosened as his strength waned, and he felt himself slipping. Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out—Tessa, backed by security, aiming a gun at Kal's attacker.
"Let him go!" she commanded, her voice sharp.
The man sneered at her, saying, "Sure," as he released his grip and let Kal fall.
Kal's body plummeted, the wind whipping past him as he tumbled through the open air. His vision blurred, the lights of the buildings around him flashing by. Desperate, he reached for his pocket, fingers fumbling to grab the gadget he kept for emergencies. He activated it just as he approached a lane of speeding hover cars. The device cushioned his fall, creating a field around him that absorbed most of the impact, allowing him to glide onto the top of a hover car instead of crashing straight through.
He gasped for air, his muscles sore, but alive.
Back inside the building, Tessa's eyes darted between Kal's attacker and her backup. "Don't move!" she warned, her weapon trained on the man.
The man smirked, backing up. But as they tightened in, he lunged back and dove out the window, disappearing into the city below. Tessa swore under her breath but quickly turned back to where Dex and Lian were. She had found Lian moments earlier, hiding in a nearby closet after the attack, and now held her hand firmly as they looked out at the chaotic scene.
Kal finally managed to climb his way back up to the building, breathless and battered. Seeing him, Lian's face lit up with relief. She ran to him, and he knelt, pulling her into a fierce hug, barely believing she was safe. Behind her, Dex stood awkwardly, trying to process everything that had happened.
"Are we…going home now?" Dex asked, his voice tentative.
Kal glanced at him, giving a slight nod. "Get to the ship. We're leaving."
As they exited, Dex's face broke into a grin, relief and happiness overwhelming him as he realized he was finally part of Kal's crew. He followed, nearly tripping over himself in excitement, and Lian held tightly onto Kal's hand as they headed to the ship together. They entered, the hum of the engine kicking to life as Kal took his place at the controls, Dex practically bouncing with excitement beside him.
"Strap in," Kal ordered, a hint of a smile breaking through his weariness. With everyone secure, they launched into space, leaving Corvessa Prime and its shadows far behind.