The Shadowfang shot into the sky, its engines roaring against the tumultuous winds of the crystalline planet. The faint glow of the newly acquired shard pulsed faintly in the cargo bay, casting eerie patterns across the walls. But celebration was premature; danger was already bearing down on them.
"Incoming!" Luna's voice was sharp, her hands flying across the controls as the ship's sensors blared. A Syndicate strike force was on their trail, three sleek interceptors flanking a larger command frigate.
"They must've tracked us somehow," Kairo growled, strapping himself into a seat.
"It's the shard," Iris said, her voice tinged with urgency. "Its energy signature is like a beacon. We're lighting up like a bonfire out here."
"Suggestions?" Luna asked, her knuckles white on the controls.
"Run faster," Kyra quipped, already buckling in.
A Deadly Chase
The interceptors wasted no time, launching a barrage of plasma bolts at the Shadowfang. Luna juked hard to the left, narrowly avoiding a direct hit. The ship rattled violently, warning lights flashing across the cockpit.
"Shields down to 70%," Kairo reported, his voice strained. "We can't take much more of this."
Arkan stood behind him, gripping the back of Kairo's chair. "We're not outgunned, we're just outnumbered. Can you get us into the storm cloud over the mountain range?"
"You've got a death wish," Luna muttered but adjusted the controls. "Hold on!"
The Shadowfang dove toward the crystalline storm cloud, lightning crackling across its hull as it entered the turbulent atmosphere. The interceptors followed, their sleek designs slicing through the chaos with ease.
Fighting Back
"How do you plan to lose them in here?" Kyra asked, her tone skeptical.
"I don't," Arkan said, turning to Kairo. "Divert power to the weapons. I'm going out there."
"Out there?" Luna barked. "Are you insane?"
"Insane works," Kyra said, already helping Arkan strap into an EVA suit. "I like this plan."
Before anyone could argue further, Arkan launched himself into the storm. Neo-Ki flared around him, creating a protective barrier as he navigated the deadly winds. He landed atop one of the interceptors, his energy blade igniting in a brilliant arc.
An Explosive Encounter
The pilot inside the interceptor panicked, jerking the controls to shake Arkan off. But he held firm, driving his blade through the cockpit's canopy. The ship spiraled out of control, crashing into the storm below.
The remaining two interceptors turned their fire on him, forcing him to leap off the wreckage and propel himself toward the next ship. His Neo-Ki flickered as he struggled to maintain balance in the maelstrom, but his resolve never wavered.
Inside the Shadowfang, Kairo was furiously working the weapon systems. "Got one on my sights!" he shouted, firing a precise volley. The plasma bolts connected, reducing the second interceptor to debris.
"Nice shot," Kyra said, gripping the edge of her seat.
"Arkan's still out there!" Iris reminded them.
The Frigate Strikes
The command frigate finally entered the fray, unleashing a massive energy cannon. The blast tore through the storm, narrowly missing the Shadowfang.
"That thing'll rip us apart!" Luna yelled.
"Not if I stop it first," Arkan said over the comms. He had landed on the final interceptor, his energy blade carving through its thrusters. As it exploded beneath him, he launched himself toward the frigate, Neo-Ki flaring around him like a comet.
The frigate's cannons swiveled, targeting him, but he was too fast. Arkan slammed into the hull, his energy blade slicing through its defenses. Explosions rippled across the ship as he carved his way toward the bridge.
A Desperate Retreat
Inside the frigate, Syndicate soldiers scrambled to stop him. Arkan moved like a whirlwind, his Neo-Ki tearing through their ranks. He reached the bridge, locking eyes with the commanding officer.
"You should've stayed out of this," Arkan said coldly, his blade igniting.
The officer sneered. "You think you've won? You're nothing but a pawn in this game."
Arkan didn't respond. He drove his blade into the console, disabling the frigate's systems. Alarms blared as the ship began to lose altitude, falling toward the crystalline surface below.
"Arkan, get back here!" Luna's voice shouted through his comm.
Narrow Escape
Arkan leapt from the frigate just as it crashed into the storm, a massive explosion lighting up the sky. The shockwave hurled him toward the Shadowfang, where Kairo activated the retrieval beam to pull him in.
He landed in the cargo bay, his suit scorched but intact.
"Next time, let's not fight entire fleets," Luna said, her tone half-joking.
Arkan pulled off his helmet, his face grim. "They're going to keep coming. This shard isn't safe with us."
"Neither is the galaxy without it," Kyra said, leaning against the wall.
The Vow's Warning
As they set course for a safer location, Iris examined the shard, her expression troubled. "There's something embedded in the shard's energy signature. It's... a message."
"A message?" Kairo asked, leaning over her shoulder.
Iris activated the console, and a holographic image appeared. It was a figure cloaked in shadows, their voice distorted.
"To those who seek the Nexus shards: you tread a path of destruction. The shards will not save you—they will destroy you. Return them to their rightful place, or face annihilation."
The image flickered out, leaving the crew in stunned silence.
"That's ominous," Luna said, breaking the tension.
Arkan's jaw tightened. "We're not turning back. If the Vow wants these shards, we can't let them have them. No matter the cost."