The escape from the vault was nothing short of chaos. The Quantum Anchor pulsed in Morgan's hands like a living heart, its energy radiating through his biotech arm as if it were trying to connect with him. The crew sprinted through the narrow corridors, the tremors from the vault's destabilization threatening to bring the entire structure down on their heads.
Behind them, the screams of the alternate Morgan and the sound of crumbling walls echoed like a warning: danger never stays behind for long.
---
Outside the Vault
They burst into the open air of the desolate outpost on the edge of Ketlahnah's abandoned mining colony. The planet's twin suns hung low in the sky, their orange and blue hues painting the barren landscape.
Renji bent over, hands on his knees, panting hard. "I swear... I'm too old for this."
"You're thirty-six, Renji," Leo quipped, though her voice lacked its usual sarcasm. "You'll live. Maybe."
Iris ignored them, immediately scanning the horizon. "Kane, status report. How far are we from the ship?"
Kane tapped at his wristband, his normally cocky demeanor subdued by the near-disaster. "We parked the Quantum Skipper two klicks south. No sign of pursuit yet."
"Yet," Morgan muttered, his eyes fixed on the Anchor in his hands. The device seemed to hum louder now, its glow more intense. He could feel its power, its potential, and the danger it carried.
Iris caught his gaze. "Don't let it get to you," she warned. "We need to keep our heads clear if we're going to get out of this alive."
Morgan nodded but said nothing. The Siri Totem embedded in his chest stirred uncomfortably, as if responding to the Anchor. He pushed the feeling aside and followed Iris's lead as the crew started moving toward the ship.
---
The Employer's Message
They hadn't made it far when a holographic projection flickered to life in front of them, blocking their path. The image of Alexander Valtor appeared, his face a mask of smug satisfaction.
"Congratulations," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "You've done the impossible. You've secured the Quantum Anchor. Bravo."
Iris raised her weapon instinctively, though it was clear she couldn't shoot a hologram. "Valtor," she hissed. "What do you want?"
"What I've always wanted," he replied smoothly. "The Anchor is the key to saving everything. To fixing the multiverse."
"By merging realities?" Morgan growled, stepping forward. "Don't play coy. We know your plan, Valtor. You're not saving anyone—you're playing god."
Valtor's hologram chuckled. "Ah, Morgan Reeves. Always so noble, always so short-sighted. Tell me, how many more versions of you must die before you realize that this... 'Echo Eraser' of yours is a fool's dream?"
Morgan's grip on the Anchor tightened, but it was Iris who responded.
"You've underestimated us before, Valtor," she said coldly. "And look where it's gotten you. We're one step ahead, and we'll stay that way."
Valtor's smile faded, replaced by a sharp glare. "You're playing a dangerous game, Iris. And you're running out of moves."
With that, the hologram blinked out, leaving the crew to the eerie silence of the wasteland.
---
The Journey to the Skipper
The crew pressed on, the tension palpable. Kane broke the silence first.
"Well, that was inspiring," he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Nothing like a good old-fashioned threat from a megalomaniac to brighten your day."
Leo shot him a glare. "Focus, Kane. If Valtor knows we have the Anchor, it's only a matter of time before he sends someone—or something—after us."
As if on cue, the ground beneath them rumbled, and a low mechanical whir filled the air. Renji stopped in his tracks, eyes wide. "Tell me that's just a coincidence."
It wasn't.
A massive aerial drone, its sleek black frame glinting in the light of the twin suns, descended from the sky. Its weapons systems glowed ominously, and a synthesized voice boomed from its speakers.
"Crew of the Quantum Skipper, surrender the Anchor immediately. Noncompliance will result in termination."
Iris cursed under her breath. "Everyone, move! Now!"
---
The Fight for Survival
The crew scattered as the drone opened fire, its energy blasts scorching the ground where they had been standing seconds earlier. Morgan dove behind a rocky outcrop, cradling the Anchor protectively.
"Renji!" Iris shouted. "Can you shut that thing down?"
"I'm an inventor, not a miracle worker!" Renji yelled back, scrambling to connect his stabilizer to his wrist console. "But I'll try!"
Leo sprinted toward the drone, her agility allowing her to dodge its relentless attacks. She pulled out an EMP grenade from her belt, her aim precise as she hurled it toward the drone's undercarriage.
The grenade detonated, momentarily disrupting the drone's systems.
"Nice throw!" Kane called out, firing his plasma pistol at the drone's exposed wiring.
The drone recovered quickly, its weapons now targeting Leo. She barely managed to duck behind cover as a blast narrowly missed her.
Morgan emerged from his hiding spot, his pistol in one hand and a knife in the other. "Keep it distracted!" he barked, sprinting toward the drone.
Iris and Kane provided cover fire, their shots drawing the drone's attention long enough for Morgan to close the distance.
With a powerful leap, enhanced by his biotech arm, Morgan landed on the drone's back. He drove his knife into its control panel, sparks flying as the machine sputtered and jerked violently.
"Now, Renji!" Morgan shouted.
Renji hit a button on his console, and the drone's systems overloaded, its energy core emitting a blinding flash before the entire machine collapsed in a heap of smoldering metal.
---
Reaching the Skipper
The crew didn't waste any time celebrating. They continued their trek, finally reaching the Quantum Skipper—a sleek, state-of-the-art ship designed for multiverse navigation.
Iris barked orders as they boarded. "Renji, get us out of here. Kane, plot a course to a safe zone. We need to regroup and figure out our next move."
As the Skipper's engines roared to life, Morgan sat in the cargo hold, staring at the Quantum Anchor. Its hum seemed louder now, more insistent.
Samaya and Olivia's faces flashed in his mind, along with his daughters'. He clenched his fists, the weight of his mission heavier than ever.
"I'll fix this," he murmured to himself. "No matter what it takes."
The ship launched into the skies, leaving the desolate planet behind. But the crew knew their journey was far from over.
Valtor would come for them. The alternate Morgan would come for them.
And the Quantum Anchor might destroy them all before they even had a chance to fight back.