Two EXOs stood one against the other, one piloted by Fera, the other in the service of a false god. Fera was armed with a gatling laser and a cannon, the other EXO stood no chance, or so Fera thought, but a saw blade is no laughing matter.

The cultist EXO lunges at Fera, bringing down the saw blade onto the hull of Fera’s EXO, leaving a deep gash in the metal.

Fera backed away, trying to minimize the damage the saw would cause. She was outmatched in close combat, the cultist’s reflexes seemed enhanced and she managed to block, dodge or parry every single of Fera’s melee attacks.

Fera ducked under the sawblade and tried to move back, but the sawblade almost hit her again. She and the cultist were stuck in a dance where Fera moved back one step while the cultist moved two forward, and Fera was running out of room.

Nilni and the other Marines were busy, Lijung and Trynell were moving towards the ship while others provided covering fire. Fera was on her own. She required a distraction.

“Nilni, I need to get out of hand to claw combat and into firing range, can you provide a distraction?”

“What? No!” Nilni shouted over the comms, hiding behind a box. “You have the EXO, use it!”

Fera dodged another attack. ”My academy days were cut short, I never finished more than basic training in EXO use.”

Nilni looked over at Fera, but returned fire at the cultists. “If you survive this I will slap you.”

“Just fire at the cultist EXO.” Fera shouted.

Nilni did as told and fired a few shots at the two EXOs fighting, hitting both Fera’s and the cultist’s. “Not at me!” Fera shouted, hitting the enemy EXO with her fist, forcing it to stumble back.

“You are welcome.” Nilni moved back with her Marines towards the ship, quickly losing ground to the cultists. “Fera, get a move on.”

Fera hit the enemy EXO again, her intention to push it as far back as possible, possibly even to trip it over. “I need either the time to wind up the gatling laser or get far enough to fire the cannon without killing myself too.” A fury of blows met the enemy EXO, but it remained stalwart in being an obstacle to Fera.

The enemy EXO regained its footing and extended its saw towards Fera. Taunting her into approaching and engaging in a duel.

“Oh I wish I could, but sadly-” Fera raised the cannon and started to wind up the laser as the cultist moved to the right and an explosion rocked the hangar bay again as the wall behind the cultist shattered into bits.

“Stay still damn you!” Fera shouted, unheard by the enemy who now was lunging at her from the side, she moved her cannon arm up to block the incoming saw blade. It cut straight through, taking the arm with it.

Fera stepped to the side and pointed her laser at the cultist, opening fire. Dozens of lasers flew out and hit the EXO straight in the ches, each second that passed a dozen more hits, after five seconds the chest plate was smoldering and pitch black.

Fera and the enemy EXO stood still, Fera breathed heavily, looking down at the cut EXO arm, then at the blue liquid leaving the EXO out of the many new holes in the chest plate. The EXO slumps to the ground.

“Nilni, it is done, lost the cannon sadly.” Fera says over the comms, then she raises her gatling laser towards the cultists and fires. After twenty seconds she relents and the laser goes silent, she observes the mess she created. The cultists are dead and the path forward is clear.

“We stabilized Lijung, she will be fine. You want me to give you an escort?” Nilni asked.

“No, I can handle myself. You set up a perimeter, wait for Melora to respond, hopefully she found our crew by now. I have a bomb to plant.”

***

Melora moved down the hallways at a great speed, her eyes darting from one side of the hallway to the other, searching for cultists or threats. She would rescue Kar, Gelln, Henera and Rixva, get them to the hangar bay and then leave this station a burning wreck. Yes, that is what she will do, she will burn every single one of the bastards, and if they killed Kar, she would make it slow. So slow.

She paced down the hallways, when suddenly a door opened on her right, a cultist stepped out and looked at her, reaching for her weapon. Melora blasted her with her laser rifle, she was faster, this time. A few more shots for good measure and she continued her march of vengeance, deeper into the station.

Footsteps, coming down the hallways, Melora prepared her rifle. More cultists for the count, good. She hurried to meet the many pairs of footsteps she heard, some heavier than others.

A small part of her was going to enjoy this, something she must have picked up from Fera or was it the Dust? She didn’t care.

Closer and closer, she felt so alive, there was something in the air, it must have been, she felt light on her feet. As if she was floating in space, as if she was free of some great burden.

She stopped at the corner, hiding away from sight, ready to pounce on her prey as soon as they turned the corner, four, four of them. She could see them, but they seemed not to see her.

“We must move to the hangar, that is where our escape lies.” One of them said, female.

So that is what they are planning, steal our ship and escape the service of their god, well, they will serve him in life and death. Melora was ready, she just waited for them to turn the corner.

She counted the footsteps, one, two, three, four, five, six…

The four figures turned the corner and Melora leaped at the closest one, only to be met with a rifle butt to the face, causing her to lose her balance for a second, by then the other three piled onto her and pressed her against the wall, pulling away the rifle. She pulled the trigger, but she only hit the ceiling of the hallway. “Damn you all!” She shouted.

The tallest looked at her, tilting her head. ”Melora? Melora!” The voice sounded familiar.

“Mely? Is that you?” Her favourite voice in the universe called out, she looked at the figure next to her.

“Kar?” Melora asked, shaking slightly.

“Yes!” Kar let go of her and moved in to hug her, holding her in his arms. “Oh I missed you, it was so horrible, they experimented on us, stuck tubes into us, took our blood. I am so glad to see you.”

Melora hugged him back, wondering if this was real or not. “Who, how are you free?”

“I am not sure, Kar was kneeling over me when I woke up.” Rixva answered.

“Same here, this is all very confusing.” Gelln added.

Melora looked to Kar. “Some big scary creature broke me out, teeth, wings, fur-”

“Leferia?” Melora asked.

“I guess?” Kar responded. “It could talk and then it fought another big thing. You know it?”

Melora looked to the side. “You could say that, we have the same enemy, now come on, we have to get you guys to safety as soon as possible. Nilni and others are waiting in the hangar bay.” Melora let go of Kar and grabbed him by the claw, pulling him along with her.

Others followed in her step, trying to keep up. Henera walked next to her. “Do you have a death wish?”

Melora looked at her. “What do you mean?”

“You attacked four enemies with a rifle from close range, you could have waited in ambush until we entered the hallway and walked in a straight line. Pick one off for sure, probably two if you kept up with your regular weapon training. Leaving two more, who try to hide behind cover, wait for them to peek out at you, worst case scenario you are stuck in a fire fight. But you decided to attack in the worst case possible, also I saw you. You are lucky we stumbled across you and not someone else.”

Melora looked at Henera, perhaps she was right. She turned to Kar, or perhaps it was a moment of stupidity.

***

Bea’ti looked around. “This is not real and who are you to offer me Kar?”

“I am a god, I can do anything.” The voice replies.

“I don’t want Kar to be with me forcefully! I know there is a reputation of that kind around the Interior, but I love him.”

“He doesn't love you back, but with my help… anything is possible.”

Bea’ti stopped, she wanted Kar, but that would require her killing Melora and Kar loved that woman. She wished Kar loved her as much as he did Melora, but it was a fantasy. A sick fantasy she would have to abandon. “No, what you offer me is wrong. I see that now. I ruined my relationship with my best friend over a boy, I ruined her career over an impossible love. I am a terrible person.”

“All you have to do is stop your attack, leave. Or even better fire on your allies, then I will make you a duchess!” The voice pleaded.

Bea’ti smirked. “First it was to stop firing, then it was to just leave, now it is to muder fellow Shil’vati? Is there no end to your duplicity?”

“Do not be brash, think about it. All I ask is that you-”

“Enough!” Bea’ti rubbed her eyes.

“Ma’am? Are you alright?” One of her officers asked.

Bea’ti looked around. “Yes, yes I am. I need you to focus fire.”

“Where on ma’am?” The officer asked.

Bea’ti looked at the station plans. Then she pointed at a few locations. “Do you see these? Pylons? Destroy them and parts of the station will begin to collapse.”

“Targets marked and spotted. Shall we begin the bombardment?”

“Melora, you better save Kar.” Bea’ti told herself. “Do it.”

***

Leferia took in a deep breath and lunged forward, her claws embedding themselves into the flesh of her brother, her teeth sinking deep into his neck.

He squirmed under her and slashed at her chest, forcing her off him. “Is that the best you can do? Bite into my armor plates?” He pointed at his neck, which was hardened. “You thought I would leave my jugular exposed? Please, this isn’t my first fight.” He smiled at her.

“How many did you win?” She snapped back at him, preparing to tear him to pieces. At her provocation he lunged forward trying to slash into her flesh. She dodged away. “As slow as always, aren’t-”

She hit her head against a pipe, causing her to lose her train of thought and her concentration. “And you always were blind, weren’t you?” He slashed up, hitting her face. “Give me a cleaner shot, and you will have an explanation for your lack of perception.”

Leferia groans, but steadies herself. “I can grow more eyes, you can’t get a new brain.” She unfurls her wings. “Ready to get serious yet?” She smiles. “Or having trouble with your plans, as always?”

The brother lunges at Leferia, slicing at her, with his claws and wings. Leferia dodges a few attacks, but some do hit her, slowly making her movement slower and slower.

Elinsys moves along the walls, trying to not be spotted by anyone or be hit by accident or intentionally. A claw swipes past her face, almost tearing it off, after a moment of shock she moves onwards, slowly, but surely inching ever closer to her target. The console on the wall, she could use it to open all the-

Leferia tears a console off the walls and chucks it at her brother, he hits it to the side and roars at her. This taunt forces Leferia to attack him and she charges. When they collide a swirl of claws is created, sparks flying when they clash, asif made out of steel.

Elinsys looks around, her eyes searching for something she could use. Then she feels the floor under her shake, the room is going to collapse from these two fighting, they can fly, but she can’t. The door leading outside is her only hope. She moves towards it.

Leferia picks up her brother and hits him again and again, he struggles to free himself.

Elinsys gets to the door and tries to open it, but the station is still not under her control. “Leferia I need some help!” She shouts.

Leferia turns to her, smiles and throws her brother at the door. He crashes into it, smashing it open. “Ha! Weakling!” She laughs.

The brother stands up and leaps at her, flying past Elinsys at Leferia, clawing at her once more.

Elinsys uses this chance to run away, before a family feud kills her.

“Are you ready to surrender?” The brother asks, smiling slightly at Leferia.

“I would rather die.” Leferia responds.

“Oh, just typical of you.” The brother snorts.

“Don’t use words if you don’t know what they mean. It makes you look even more stupid, I suppose it isn’t by much.”

“I used that right!” The brother lets out a growl, Leferia throws a piece of metal into his mouth.

“Shut up already!” She leaps her wings ready to pierce his skin and tear him into two.

He raises his hands in defense, covering himself with his wings, trying to lighten the blow he is about to receive from Leferia.

Leferia’s wings pierce her brother’s chest, the wings exiting on the other side of him. “”I am sorry brother, I wish it didn’t have to be like this.”

He looks up at her, his eyes dull. “It won’t be like this.” He grabs onto her shoulders and pushes her away, the wings being pulled out of him slowly, now covered in his blood. “I had so much free time, and the Shil’vati are experts in genetics, I let Keresa break a few laws of ethics and actual laws and she was able to improve me.”

He brings his claw down upon her face and slashes out an eye. It rolls off the ledge and down into the abyss below. “If I were you I would run, make it interesting before I rip you in two.” Another slash, this one sending Leferia to the ground.

“I am stronger than you, and that is a fact. You had that body for an hour at most, I was stuck in this one for months. I spent my time learning how this galaxy works, I spent a week just trying to make contact with someone in the Shil’vati military and now I have a royal in my pocket.”

“You don’t have pockets.”

“It is a metaphor, unimportant. I think I will put you in stasis, pull you out of it when I wish to gloat.”

“Oh just kill me now. That would-” An explosion rocks the station and a blast wave sends Leferia and her brother flying.

The station is torn apart by line of blue light, then it is forced into two parts as reality collapses in on itself and time never existed.