The Eagle's Talon drifted through the empty expanse of space, the aftermath of their hard-fought victory still fresh in the air. Dominic's heart was still pounding, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away. For a moment, the cockpit was silent, save for the hum of the ship's systems and the distant radio chatter from other ships. He should've felt relief—victory was theirs, and they were heading back to the main fleet. Yet, something gnawed at him. The war wasn't over. It would never be over.
And then, everything shattered.
The warning alarms blared to life in an instant, so sudden that Dominic's breath caught in his throat. His hand snapped to the controls, but it was too late. A missile, launched from an unknown location, tore through the darkness and struck the ship's rear flank. The impact was deafening, and the Eagle's Talon lurched violently, sending both Dominic and Zara crashing into their harnesses. The ship spun out of control, the cabin shuddering from the shockwave of the explosion.
"Zara!" Dominic shouted, his voice full of panic as the ship veered off course.
He barely had time to register what had happened before the ship's systems began to fail, warning lights flashing across every screen. The outer hull had been breached. The starboard engine sputtered, struggling to keep the ship on its course. Dominic frantically gripped the controls, trying to regain some semblance of control.
Zara's voice came through the comms, distorted and weak. "I'm... I'm still here, Dominic," she gasped. "Just... just keep it together."
Dominic's heart pounded in his chest as he fought to stabilize the ship, his hands working the controls with practiced precision. But the damage was extensive. There was no time to waste. They needed to get back to the warship, and fast.
He glanced to his side at Zara. Her chest was rising and falling, but slowly, unnaturally, as if each breath was a struggle. Her face was pale, and her eyes were unfocused, a distant expression haunting her features.
"Zara, hold on!" Dominic barked, his voice thick with urgency.
Zara weakly shook her head. "I… I'm not going to make it."
"No!" Dominic's voice cracked. "No, you're not dying here, not today."
But deep down, he knew. Her voice had been weak from the moment the missile hit, and now, with her injuries, there was no saving her. A jagged piece of shrapnel from the explosion had torn through the cockpit, embedding itself in her chest. Blood was seeping from the wound, staining her uniform.
She attempted to smile, though the pain was evident in her eyes. "Dominic... we're close, aren't we?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Just... just hold on. We'll make it back," he insisted, his hands trembling as he maneuvered the ship back on course.
Every second felt like an eternity. The warship was just ahead—he could see it now, its massive bulk floating in the distance, like a beacon of safety. The enemy had given up the pursuit, likely retreating after the explosion that had taken down the CMC forces. They were safe, for now.
Zara's breathing became more labored, her body trembling with the effort. Her blood had begun to pool at the base of her seat, a dark red stain spreading across the floor.
"We're... we're going to make it, Zara," Dominic repeated, his voice desperate, as he steered the Eagle's Talon into the docking bay of the warship.
The ship groaned under the strain, the damaged hull making a sickening sound as it slid into position. The landing gear barely caught the docking platform, and Dominic barely managed to prevent the ship from slamming into the side of the bay. It was a rough landing, but they were on board.
Zara coughed weakly, blood spilling from her lips. "Dominic... you're... you're a good guy, you know?" She gasped for air, struggling to stay conscious.
"Shut up, Zara. Don't say that... You're gonna be fine. We're gonna get you out of here, I'll get you to the med bay... just hang on."
But as Dominic unbuckled himself and rushed to her side, the cold reality hit him hard. Her pulse was weak, erratic. There was no time for medical intervention. She had lost too much blood.
Zara's hand weakly grasped his wrist. "Dominic... listen... you're going to keep going, okay? Don't stop. Don't let this… don't let this war... kill you too."
Tears welled up in Dominic's eyes, but he blinked them away. He wouldn't cry. Not now. Not like this.
"Zara, you're... you're going to be fine. You can't... You can't just give up like this."
But as he spoke, he could see the life slowly draining from her eyes. Her chest barely rose, the shallow breaths growing fainter with each passing second.
Zara's lips parted, her voice a whisper, almost imperceptible.
"Dominic... promise me... you'll finish it. Finish what we started... for all of us."
With her final words, her hand fell limp from his wrist. Dominic looked down at her, his chest tight, his throat raw. The pain hit him like a physical blow. He wanted to scream, to shout at the universe for taking her away, but all he could do was stare at her lifeless body.
"Zara..." His voice was barely a whisper, trembling with the weight of his grief. "I promise."
He gently closed her eyes, one last act of tenderness in a universe that offered none.
Without another word, Dominic stood up, his body shaking. He couldn't stay there, not in the silence that followed. The battle wasn't over. It couldn't be. Zara had given everything for this fight, and he would make sure her sacrifice was not in vain.
Dominic stepped out of the cockpit, his heart heavy with sorrow. He would finish this war. But first, he had to bury the memory of his friend.
And then, the real fight would begin.