The tension in the mercenary camp had been building for days. The looming threat of the Shades growing closer to Mars weighed heavily on everyone, but even more pressing were the simmering conflicts between the members of the team. Trust was an essential commodity, and not everyone in the group was as committed to the cause as Austin hoped. That night, everything came to a head.
---
It started with a simple argument—Tess had made a minor mistake while repairing one of the communication devices, and it sent Marek into a rage. Marek had always been the quiet one, the one who kept to himself. But when it came to his work, he was ruthless, expecting nothing less than perfection. Tess, who wasn't used to being yelled at, snapped back. The argument escalated quickly. Words were exchanged, insults thrown, and before anyone could stop them, they were at each other's throats.
"You think you can fix this mess, huh?" Marek's voice was cold, his words cutting through the tension in the air.
"You think you're the only one here who knows how to do their job?" Tess shot back, her hands shaking as she gripped a wrench, her eyes flashing with anger.
Amara, Nina, and even Felix stepped back, sensing the impending violence. The others tried to keep their distance, but everyone knew this wasn't something that could be ignored. The fight was coming, and it wasn't going to be pretty.
Austin, who had been strategizing with Kian in the corner, immediately stood up. His mind raced. He couldn't afford to let his team fall apart now—not when the stakes were so high. "Enough!" he shouted, his voice loud enough to pierce through the chaos. But neither Tess nor Marek seemed to hear him.
The fight broke out in full force within seconds.
Marek was fast. He moved like a predator, his years of training making his strikes precise and deadly. Tess, however, wasn't as experienced in close combat, but she was no slouch. She blocked one of his blows, swinging her wrench to keep him at bay, but Marek's strength was overwhelming. With a swift kick, he knocked the wrench out of her hand and sent her crashing into a nearby wall.
"Tess!" Amara shouted, rushing to her side. But before she could reach her, Marek advanced, ready to finish what he started.
Austin rushed forward, his heart racing. He wasn't sure how he was going to stop this—Marek was furious, and Tess was on the ground, unable to defend herself. But before he could reach them, Manav appeared out of nowhere, running at full speed.
"Get back!" Manav yelled, his small frame charging toward Marek with a surprising amount of speed for someone his age. "Stop it! Stop right now!"
Marek froze for a moment, confused. "Get out of my way, kid. This doesn't concern you."
But Manav was persistent. His voice rang out with an authority far beyond his years. "You'll destroy the team! We need to fight the Shades, not each other!"
Austin stood still for a moment, unsure of what to do next. But then he saw the determination in Manav's eyes. The young boy was serious. And in that moment, Austin realized that this wasn't just about stopping the fight—it was about making sure they stayed united for the battle ahead. If they were going to survive, they had to fight as one.
"Manav's right," Austin said, his voice firm, his words carrying weight. "We need to focus on the real threat, not turn on each other. If we're going to win, we need everyone. Marek, Tess—this ends now."
Marek hesitated, his chest heaving, but slowly, his anger began to subside. Tess, still shaken, nodded slowly, picking herself up from the ground. The fire in her eyes was still there, but it had dimmed, replaced with the realization that this fight was pointless.
"Fine," Marek muttered, turning away. "But don't get in my way again."
Tess rubbed her shoulder, wincing slightly but holding her ground. "This isn't over. But we have bigger things to worry about."
Austin nodded, his eyes moving from Tess to Marek. "We all have bigger things to worry about. The Shades are still out there."
Just as the dust seemed to settle, the news hit like a bombshell.
---
The base on Mars was suddenly thrown into chaos as an emergency broadcast interrupted all transmissions. The message was short, but its impact was immediate and devastating.
"Tanish… Tanish is dead."
The words rang out across the base, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stop. Everyone froze, staring at the screen in disbelief.
The shock was palpable. Silence settled over the camp like a thick blanket. No one knew what to say. The team had been through a lot, but this… this felt like the end of something they couldn't afford to lose.
Austin's heart sank.
"Who did this?" Marek muttered, his anger bubbling back to the surface. But Austin could see that the anger wasn't just directed at the loss—it was at the helplessness of the situation. They couldn't do anything to bring Tanish back.
"I don't know," Austin said quietly. "But we'll find out. And we'll make them pay."
As if the tragedy wasn't enough, another announcement followed immediately. It was a warning: the Shades were getting closer.
Mars wasn't ready. The defense systems were barely operational, the mercenaries still recovering from their internal conflicts, and now, they had to deal with the grief of losing one of their own. The message from the commander was clear: "Prepare yourselves. The Shades will be upon us soon."
That night, everyone gathered in the common area. The mood was somber, filled with the weight of loss and uncertainty. Tanish's death had cast a shadow over the camp, and no one could shake the feeling that something bigger was coming—something that none of them were ready for.
Manav sat on the edge of the room, staring into the distance. His young face was solemn, but there was something else in his eyes—a quiet determination. He knew what had to be done, and he wasn't going to let Tanish's death be in vain.
Rhea stood by the window, looking out at the distant stars, lost in thought. She wasn't sure if the sadness was for Tanish or the looming threat of the Shades. Perhaps both.
Meanwhile, Marek and Tess avoided each other, both lost in their own thoughts. The tension between them had not completely dissipated, but it was a distant memory for the moment. Grief had a way of changing things, of making petty conflicts seem unimportant.
Austin sat at the head of the table, his thoughts a whirlwind. His mind raced with plans—strategies for fighting the Shades, for avenging Tanish, for keeping his team together. But none of it mattered unless they could hold off the coming storm. The Shades were near, and they wouldn't stop until they had what they wanted. They had no choice but to prepare for the battle of their lives.
In the distance, the Shadows of the Shades continued to loom, just beyond the horizon. And as the team prepared to face their enemy, they knew this fight would define not just the future of Mars—but the future of humanity itself.
Tanish's death would not be forgotten. It would fuel their rage, and they would use it to survive. The Shades were coming. And the team would have to be ready.