Dominic's muscles ached as he crawled through the narrow air ducts, the body of Captain Graves in tow. His mind raced with the data he'd just unlocked, fragments of the Project Dread file swirling in his head. The deeper he dug into Graves' memories, the more disturbing the picture became. Whatever this project was, it was dangerous. And it was much bigger than Dominic had anticipated.
He reached a junction in the ventilation shaft where the tunnel split, the sound of footsteps growing louder as he paused to listen. They were getting closer, and soon they'd be directly beneath him.
Graves was stirring in his grasp, the sedative starting to wear off. Dominic's fingers brushed over his neck, feeling for the implant he had connected to earlier. The officer's pulse was weak, but stable. He still had time.
The footsteps halted directly below the shaft. Dominic's breath caught in his throat as he pressed himself flat against the metal. His heart hammered in his chest. The last thing he needed was to be discovered now.
A voice drifted up from below, sharp and commanding.
"Captain Graves isn't responding to his comms. He's gone off the grid. I want every inch of this station searched. Move quickly."
Dominic froze, his hands tightening around Graves' unconscious form. The mission was already delicate, but now it was a race against time. If they found the captain's body, if they traced his escape, everything would unravel.
He forced himself to remain still, knowing the slightest noise would betray them. The footsteps faded, but they were still too close for comfort. He waited, every second stretching out like an eternity, until the ship's corridors fell silent again.
With a sigh of relief, Dominic carefully pulled Graves through the vent until they reached an access hatch. He cracked it open just enough to peer into the hallway. Empty.
With quick precision, he lowered the officer to the floor and slipped out, securing the hatch behind him. The hall was dimly lit, stretching ahead toward the loading bay where the transport ship had docked. There were only a few guards patrolling, and Dominic knew the layout of the ship well enough to avoid them.
He had to get to the cockpit. If he could reach the command center and lock down the systems, the ship would be his. Then, he could figure out what to do with Graves—what to do with the damning information he had uncovered.
But just as he took a step toward the cockpit, a familiar voice echoed from the comms panel overhead.
"Dominic."
His body stiffened. It wasn't possible. He turned, eyes narrowing as he saw a figure emerge from the shadows. The last person he wanted to see: Sera.
She stood there, her features as sharp as ever, but there was something different in her expression. Something colder. Something distant. She was flanked by two armed guards, their weapons trained on him.
"I knew you wouldn't be able to resist," she said, her voice cool but with a hint of something darker lurking beneath. "Always chasing after the big score, huh?"
Dominic's pulse quickened. His hand instinctively reached for his vibro-blade, but he knew he was outnumbered. "What are you doing here, Sera?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady. "This isn't your fight."
Sera smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "Oh, but it is, Dominic. You see, I've been watching you. I've been waiting for you to make a move." She stepped closer, her eyes flickering toward the unconscious form of Graves on the floor. "You didn't think I wouldn't notice the officer's disappearance, did you?"
Dominic felt a sickening twist in his stomach. "You were never on my side, were you?"
She chuckled softly, the sound filled with amusement. "Oh, I was always on your side, Dominic. At least, as long as your side aligned with mine. But this little mission of yours? It's a little too… risky for my tastes." Her eyes glinted with something darker. "And let's just say I've got my own plans now. Your little conspiracy? It's mine now. All of it."
Dominic's mind raced. The betrayal cut deeper than he'd expected. Sera had been part of the plan all along, playing him like a pawn. The moment she saw an opportunity to profit, she had turned. She wasn't just a mercenary—she was a part of the CMC, working with them in the shadows.
"Do you have any idea what you're messing with?" Dominic's voice was low, dangerous. "If you think I'm just going to let you walk away with Graves and whatever's left of this project, you're wrong."
Sera tilted her head slightly, as though considering his words. "You think I'm going to let you take the glory?" She laughed again, cruel and biting. "No, Dominic. I'm not your enemy. But I am standing in your way."
Without warning, she signaled to the guards. One of them stepped forward, aiming a pulse weapon directly at Dominic's chest.
The moment seemed to freeze. Dominic's eyes locked with Sera's, and for a brief second, he wondered just how far she'd go to betray him.
Then, with a swift move, he dropped to the floor and rolled toward a nearby crate. The pulse shot exploded where he had been standing, the air around him crackling with energy. He didn't hesitate, pulling himself up to his feet and darting toward the hatch leading to the lower levels. He needed to get away, to think.
"Stop him!" Sera shouted, but it was already too late.
Dominic bolted down the hallway, the sound of footsteps close behind. The guards would be on him in seconds. He could already hear them shouting orders to each other. But he wasn't going to let this go. Not now. Not after everything he'd uncovered.
He dove into a small maintenance closet, quickly sealing the door behind him. The ship's systems were still within his reach, and now, he had a new motivation. Sera's betrayal stung, but it wasn't going to stop him. It was only going to push him harder.