The Aetherveil rumbled below as Jasrik Thorn sprinted toward the dock. His legs burned, and his bionic arm felt heavier with each step, its chaotic energy still settling after the fight. The shouts of pursuing guards echoed behind him, and the crackle of fragment-powered weapons filled the air.
Ahead, the Rusted Drake, his patched-up skyship, waited like a lifeline tethered to the jagged edge of Krael's Hollow. The ship's hull was a battered mix of scavenged plates and Aetherite wiring, held together more by luck than design. A faint glow from its rear engines signaled it was prepped to launch, and the figure pacing on the deck told him that Merrik Ironspire was losing his patience.
Jas skidded around a corner, dodging a volley of fragment-infused bolts that scorched the stone behind him. The sniper perched above the bazaar shifted position, aiming down at him. Jas's pulse quickened. One mistake, one missed step, and he'd be vaporized.
"Merrik!" he shouted, his voice strained as he dashed up the narrow gangplank leading to the ship. "Start the damn engines!"
The mechanic's gruff voice rang out, accompanied by the clang of tools. "You're late! And what in the hell did you do this time?"
"Later!" Jas yelled as another bolt whizzed past his shoulder, forcing him to duck. He staggered onto the deck just as a sharp crack split the air. The sniper's shot hit a crate near the ship, sending splinters flying. Jas barely managed to roll into cover.
On the Deck of the Rusted Drake
Merrik Ironspire, grease-streaked and scowling, appeared from the engine bay. His broad shoulders and scarred hands spoke of years spent wrangling stubborn machinery and shoddy Aetherite rigs. His usual grimace deepened as he saw Jas panting on the deck, clutching the satchel.
"Let me guess," Merrik said, motioning toward the sniper's perch. "You brought friends."
Jas grinned weakly, tossing the vial of Aetherite dust toward him. "You're welcome. That should keep us flying for a while."
Merrik caught it, inspected the glow, and snorted. "Barely. You owe me an explanation after this."
"Add it to the list!" Jas snapped, gripping the railing as another bolt streaked overhead. "We need to move. Now!"
Merrik grumbled something under his breath but didn't argue. He disappeared below deck, and moments later, the Drake's engines roared to life. The deck shuddered beneath Jas's feet as the ship began to lift, its Aetherite core glowing brighter.
A Desperate Standoff
The guards reached the edge of the dock just as the ship began to rise. Their fragment-powered rifles crackled as they took aim. One bolt struck the hull, sending a spray of sparks into the air. Another grazed the railing near Jas, forcing him to duck.
The sniper had repositioned to a higher perch, their rifle gleaming with unstable energy. Jas could feel their aim lining up on him, his instincts screaming at him to move.
But his body was slow, his bionic arm heavier than ever. The Havok Fragment stirred faintly, as if sensing his desperation. "Don't," Jas muttered through gritted teeth, flexing his metal fingers. "I've got this."
The sniper fired.
Jas twisted at the last second, and the bolt struck the deck where he'd been standing. The force of the impact threw him off balance, sending him sprawling. He clenched his teeth, forcing himself back up as the Drake rose higher, just out of range of the guards below.
But the sniper wasn't done. They jumped from their perch, landing on a lower platform. With a running start, they leapt onto the side of the Drake, clinging to the railing with one hand and drawing a fragment-powered knife with the other.
The Havok Awakens
Jas turned just as the sniper pulled themselves onto the deck. Their knife shimmered with a faint purple glow, and the intensity in their eyes told Jas this wasn't their first chase.
"You're Jasrik Thorn," the sniper said, their voice calm and deliberate. "You've made a lot of enemies."
"Join the club," Jas replied, shifting into a defensive stance. His bionic arm sparked faintly, but he hesitated to fully activate the Havok Fragment. The fight in Krael's Hollow had pushed it dangerously close to overload. One wrong move could take the entire ship down.
The sniper lunged, their knife slashing through the air. Jas sidestepped, the blade narrowly missing his ribs. He countered with a punch from his bionic arm, aiming for their stomach. The sniper twisted, evading the blow and striking out with a kick that sent Jas staggering back.
"You're sloppy," the sniper taunted. "Relying on that cursed fragment to do your work."
Jas growled, shaking his head to clear the ringing in his ears. "You're not wrong," he said, raising his arm. "But sometimes, you don't have a choice."
He clenched his fist, and the Havok Fragment surged to life.
The bionic arm flared with chaotic energy, its usual red and black sparks intensifying into a swirling storm. Jas swung with all his strength, the energy amplifying the blow. The sniper managed to block with their knife, but the sheer force of the attack sent them skidding across the deck.
The knife clattered to the floor, and the sniper glared at Jas, their hand clutching their side. "You'll regret that."
Before Jas could reply, Merrik's voice boomed from below deck. "Hold on to something!"
Jas grabbed the nearest railing as the Drake pitched upward, the engines roaring louder than ever. The sudden movement threw the sniper off balance, and they tumbled toward the edge of the deck.
For a split second, Jas hesitated. He could reach out with his bionic arm, save the sniper from plummeting into the Aetherveil below. But the weight of the fragment's power, the chaos it brought, pulsed through him. He let his hand fall.
The sniper's scream was lost in the roar of the engines as they fell into the swirling void.
Aftermath
As the Drake leveled out, Jas collapsed against the railing, his chest heaving. The glow of the Havok Fragment faded, leaving his bionic arm heavy and dull. He flexed his fingers, wincing at the strain.
Merrik emerged from below deck, his scowl deepening as he surveyed the damage. "That was messy," he said, jerking his thumb toward the now-empty dock. "Who the hell was that?"
"Another bounty hunter," Jas muttered, pushing himself upright. "I'm getting popular."
Merrik snorted. "Popular's not the word I'd use."
Jas managed a weak grin, but his mind was already racing. The Ignis Fragment was gone, and the Syndicate would be furious. Worse, his arm felt different—heavier, the Havok Fragment's energy lingering longer than usual.
"We're not out of this yet," Jas said, his voice grim. "The Syndicate's going to come looking, and that wasn't the only bounty hunter in Krael's Hollow."
Merrik raised an eyebrow. "You've got a plan, right?"
Jas sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll think of something."
The Aetherveil stretched endlessly below them, the fractured world shimmering in the distance. Somewhere out there, another job waited. Another chance to stay alive. But for now, all Jas could do was keep running.