The escape pod drifted silently amidst a vast sea of stars, its polished exterior faintly reflecting the endless void. Inside, the atmosphere was heavy with tension and the smell of blood. Ninja crouched over Captain Max, his movements steady despite the throbbing ache in his head. The wound he'd sustained over his eye during the fight with the blue mercenary pulsed angrily, but he forced himself to focus on Max. His hands adjusted the bandages wrapped around Max's abdomen, carefully tightening them to staunch the bleeding.
Jean sat across the cramped pod, his legs pulled to his chest as he stared at the flickering emergency lights. "What now?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He gestured at their limited supplies—a small oxygen gauge blinking yellow, a few packets of water, and a medkit half-used. "The Skeld is gone, and we've barely got enough air to last a few hours."
Ninja didn't look up. His voice, though steady, carried a faint rasp from exhaustion. "We're heading back to MIRA Headquarters. Max needs medical attention, and fast."
Jean's lips tightened. He hugged his knees, as if trying to ward off the cold that seemed to creep into the pod. "MIRA HQ…" he murmured. "Do you really think they'll help us? After what's happened?"
"They'll help," Ninja said firmly, his eyes glinting in the dim light as he glanced at Jean. "Because they have no choice. Max is a key asset, and they'll want answers. Answers we're bringing them."
A weak, rasping sound drew both their attention. Captain Max stirred, his eyelids fluttering as he tried to lift his head. His voice was barely audible over the hum of the pod's systems. "Headquarters…?" he croaked. "As in… MIRA HQ?"
"Yes," Ninja replied, his tone softening slightly. "We'll get you stabilized there. After that, it's up to Commander Dietrich and General Cheese to decide our next move."
Max grimaced, a faint smirk tugging at his lips despite his obvious agony. "Dietrich…" He coughed, a wet, rattling sound that left flecks of blood on his chin. "Always so… methodical. Just like… your father…"
Ninja's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. "Don't speak," he said instead, his voice calm. "Save your strength."
Jean, his voice trembling, interjected. "Is there… really no other way?" He sounded desperate, the weight of their losses pressing down on him. "What if MIRA—"
"There's always a way forward," Ninja interrupted, his tone sharp enough to cut through Jean's panic. "But we need Max alive. If you want to honor the ones we've lost, we fight. Do you understand?"
Jean nodded hesitantly, his lips pressed into a thin line. He turned his gaze out the small window, where the endless expanse of space stretched on forever, cold and indifferent.
---
The pod floated on, a solitary speck against the backdrop of infinity. The hum of the propulsion system was faint, almost swallowed by the silence of the void. Jean stared into the stars, his mind swimming with memories of Jayden, Aiden, and the rest of the crew they had lost. His throat tightened as grief threatened to overwhelm him.
"How much longer?" he asked, his voice cracking.
Ninja glanced at the pod's navigation screen. His vision blurred for a moment, and he blinked hard to clear it. "Two hours until we reach HQ's sector," he said, his voice strained. "Oxygen levels are holding steady, but we can't afford delays. Keep yourself together, Jean."
Jean nodded, though his hands trembled as he fiddled with the loose strap of his harness. "I'm trying," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
As the pod jolted slightly, Ninja flinched. His hand instinctively went to his temple, where the scar from the mercenary's blade throbbed painfully. He reached for the medkit, pulling out a small tube of disinfectant and a roll of gauze.
Jean watched as Ninja peeled back the makeshift bandage he'd tied around his head earlier. The gash across his eye was deep, a stark reminder of the chaos they'd barely escaped.
"Your eye..." Jean said, his voice filled with quiet alarm.
"I'm fine," Ninja replied curtly, though his hand trembled slightly as he applied the disinfectant. He winced but kept working, wrapping the gauze tightly around his head to stem the bleeding.
Jean hesitated, then asked, "Why didn't you say anything? You could've let me—"
"Because it doesn't matter," Ninja snapped, his exhaustion showing for the first time. He closed his eyes for a moment, steadying his breathing. When he opened them again, his voice was calmer. "I can't afford to stop. Not now."
Jean nodded, retreating into silence. He glanced at Max, whose labored breathing filled the small cabin, and felt a pang of guilt.
---
The sleek expanse of MIRA Headquarters loomed ahead, its polished surfaces gleaming against the darkness of space. Inside the command center, Commander Dietrich stood before a wall of monitors, his sharp features illuminated by their glow. His uniform was immaculate, his posture rigid. Next to him stood General Cheese, his broad shoulders and weathered face betraying years of hard-earned authority.
"Skeld's gone," Commander Dietrich said bluntly, his eyes fixed on the incoming report. "No survivors aside from the escape pod. If what they're carrying is accurate, we've just lost one of our most critical assets."
General Cheese's jaw tightened. "Max is on that pod, isn't he?"
"Yes," Commander Dietrich replied. "Barely alive, from the looks of it."
General Cheese turned to the viewport, his expression unreadable. "Get them in. I'll meet them in the medical bay."
---
### INT. MIRA HQ – MEDICAL BAY
Chaos reigned in the sterile, brightly lit medical bay. Doctors and medics darted between stations, their movements hurried but precise. Captain Max was rushed in on a gurney, his face pale and glistening with sweat. Blood seeped through the makeshift bandages, staining the white sheets beneath him.
General Cheese appeared, his face a mix of concern and frustration. He approached the gurney, keeping pace with the medics. "Maximillian fucking Hauptmann…" His voice softened, betraying his usual gruff demeanor.
Max turned his head slightly, his eyes barely open. "Charles Ross…" he murmured.
"You've really done it this time," General Ross said, forcing a weak smile. "Always trying to be the smartest one in the room. How's that working out for you now?"
Max's lips twitched in what might have been a laugh if not for the pain. "Personal defense systems… wouldn't have mattered…" he rasped.
General Ross leaned in closer, his voice dropping. "Which is exactly why we set them up on the Skeld, Max! But you—you always cling to those old methods, your father's legacy. And now…"
Max cut him off with a faint shake of his head. "Leave it, Charles…"
Before General Ross could respond, Commander Dietrich entered, his presence commanding. "We don't have time for this," he said coldly. "General, step aside."
General Ross reluctantly moved back as Commander Dietrich pressed the intercom. "Doctor, prepare for triage. We have a critically injured captain and two crewmates. Priority one."
The door to the bay hissed open, and a young man rushed in. His haunted eyes widened as they landed on Max's battered form.
"What the hell is taking so—oh my God!" he froze, the color draining from his face. He stumbled forward, his voice rising. "Why isn't he in surgery yet? Captain! Jean—what happened?! Where is everyone else?"
Jean, standing in the corner, couldn't meet his gaze. His shoulders sagged under the weight of the man's question.
"No…" The man whispered, his voice breaking. "Don't tell me you're the only ones left."
Jean's head dropped, and his trembling hands covered his face. "No," he choked out, barely audible. "Not all of them…"
The man's voice grew quieter, almost pleading. "Even Jayden…?"
At the mention of the name, Jean faltered completely. His knees buckled, and he sank to the floor, his grief pouring out in uncontrollable sobs. The man stood frozen, his expression shifting from disbelief to devastation.
Captain Max's voice, weak but insistent, cut through the tension. "Ryan…"
Ryan snapped out of his daze and rushed to Max's side, gripping his hand tightly. "I'm here, Captain," he said, his voice steady despite the tears welling in his eyes. "I'm here."