17 July 2037 — 06:38
Prisoner Wing, Warsaw Industrial Compound
The chains came loose one by one under Arina's skilled hands. Isabelle Watson winced as the cuff bit her wrist, then exhaled relief as it snapped free. Beside her, Saiko Takehiro clutched her own freed arm, eyes red from exhaustion. Their bodyguards slumped, too weak to stand yet.
"You're safe now," Arina said, voice steady but rushed. "Stay behind us. We'll move fast."
Elina swung her carbine up, eyes scanning the shadows. "Captain, we don't have long. The whole place is folding under the Swarm and Athena's fire. We need to—"
A voice cut through the static of chaos, cold and familiar.
"Well, well. So the rats made it inside."
The lights flickered. A door at the far end of the hall slid open, and Noam Cohen walked in. He wore no helmet, only a black combat jacket, sleeves rolled up to reveal tattooed forearms. His smile was wolfish, his eyes alive with cruelty. A heavy pistol dangled casually from his hand.
Mei's entire body tensed. She stepped forward, knives glinting in her fists.
"Take the hostages and leave," she said to Elina without looking back. Her voice was low, even. "This one's mine."
"Captain—" Arina began.
"Move," Mei snapped.
Elina bit her lip but obeyed, motioning Arina to guide the captives out through the breach. The sound of their footsteps faded, leaving only Cohen's chuckle echoing in the corridor.
---
06:42
Prisoner Wing Hallway
Cohen tossed the pistol aside with a clang. He flexed his fists, knuckles cracking. "Knives, eh? Brave. But I've torn apart soldiers with my bare hands."
Mei's visor dimmed its overlay, leaving only the world and her instincts. She circled slowly, weight light on her toes. "You talk too much."
Cohen lunged, faster than his size suggested. His right hook cut the air where Mei's head had been a heartbeat earlier. She had already predicted the shoulder twitch, the shift in his hips. She slid under his arm and slashed, blade grazing his ribs.
Cohen snarled, pivoting with surprising speed, backhanding. Mei ducked again, her second knife darting out. Sparks flew as steel met his combat bracer.
"You can dodge," Cohen grunted, driving a knee forward. Mei twisted, the strike grazing her armor. She rolled aside and slashed upward, leaving a red streak across his forearm.
The fight turned into a dance of fury. Cohen swung like a hammer, each strike brutal, designed to break bone. Mei flowed around him, blades darting like fangs. Every dodge was measured, every counter a whisper of steel against flesh.
But Cohen adapted. His grin widened with each near-miss. He feigned a left jab, then snapped a right elbow. It caught Mei's cheek, knocking her sideways into the wall.
Her visor cracked.
Cohen laughed. "Predict that, bitch."
Blood trickled from Mei's lip. She spat crimson, eyes narrowing. "I already did."
She surged forward, knives crossing in an X. Cohen tried to block, but she shifted mid-strike, blades angling low. One plunged into his thigh, the other sliced his side.
He roared, swinging wildly. Mei let go of the embedded blade and ducked under the arc. Her free knife carved across his stomach. Cohen staggered, clutching his spilling wound.
"You…" he gasped, fury choking his voice. "You can't—"
Mei ripped the second blade free and drove it upward, straight under his ribcage. She twisted, eyes locked with his.
"I can," she whispered.
Cohen's grin broke, teeth red. His body shuddered once, then collapsed against her shoulder. She shoved him off, letting him crumple to the floor. His eyes glazed, the smirk frozen in death.
Mei exhaled, chest heaving. She wiped her blades clean on his jacket and muttered, "War's over for you."
---
06:55
Outer Courtyard
The Swarm's last drones hovered, smoking from damage but still circling. The compound burned, its defenses shredded. Athena loomed overhead like a vengeful god, autocannons still barking bursts into retreating stragglers.
De Luca jogged across the courtyard, LMG slung, helmet smeared with soot. He spotted Mei stepping out of the prisoner wing, blood streaking her cheek, knives still in hand.
"Jesus," he muttered. "You look like you tangoed with the devil."
Mei glanced at him, expression unreadable. "I killed him."
De Luca's grin faded. He nodded once, grim respect in his eyes. "Good."
Behind them, Elina and Arina emerged with the hostages. Isabelle and Saiko shielded their eyes from the smoke-filled sky.
AURA's voice echoed in their helmets: "Extraction route clear. Athena on approach."
The Defender SUVs roared up, riddled with bullet dents but functional. The team loaded the hostages quickly. Engines revved, wheels screeched, and they blasted out through the ruined gates.
---
07:12
Sky Above Warsaw
Athena's ramp yawned open as the Defenders barreled inside. The moment they were secured, the ramp rose and locked. Engines roared, tilting the massive jet into ascent.
Inside, the chaos settled into silence. Soldiers slumped in exhaustion. Arina moved immediately to check the hostages, voice firm but soothing. Elina stood guard near the ramp, scanning for any last pursuers.
Mei leaned against the bulkhead, knives finally sheathed. Her cracked visor hung from her belt. She closed her eyes, replaying every slash, every dodge. Cohen's death was still hot in her blood.
Then a sound broke her focus—soft, trembling, almost disbelieving.
"Belle?"
Isabelle stood at the center of the cabin, hair tangled, royal blouse torn. Her eyes glistened as they locked onto Annabelle, who had just stepped down from the cockpit.
Annabelle froze. For a heartbeat, her breath caught. Then she moved, steps quickening until she stood face-to-face with her sister.
"Isabelle…" her voice cracked.
The elder princess pressed a hand to Annabelle's cheek, confirming she was real. Then she pulled her into a crushing embrace. Both sisters trembled, tears streaking their soot-covered faces.
"You're alive," Isabelle whispered. "They told me—Cohen told me—you were dead."
Annabelle's voice broke. "I thought I'd never see you again."
They clung to each other, two pieces of a fractured crown reunited in the belly of a war machine. The soldiers respectfully averted their eyes, giving the sisters their moment. Even Mei's hardened gaze softened as she watched.
Isabelle pulled back just enough to study Annabelle's face. "You've changed. You're… not just my sister anymore."
Annabelle nodded, wiping her eyes. "I'm a soldier now. But I'll always be your sister first."
The words hung between them, a promise stronger than steel.
---
07:40
En Route, Over the Baltic Sea
Athena leveled into cruising altitude, engines humming steady. Warsaw shrank into smoke and ruin behind them.
In the briefing room, Mei stood with De Luca, Elina, and Arina. She spoke simply: "Cohen's dead. The hostages are safe. Our mission here is done."
No one cheered. They only nodded, weary but resolute.
Annabelle sat with Isabelle, their hands clasped tight, Saiko resting nearby under Arina's care. The princesses whispered to each other, voices soft but fierce, like two survivors swearing never to be parted again.
Mei finally sat down, removing her gloves. For the first time in days, she allowed herself a breath of calm. The war wasn't over—not by a long shot. But for this moment, victory belonged to them.
AURA's voice came calm and clear: "Course locked. ETA to the United Kingdom: three hours."
Athena's engines thundered across the sky, carrying bloodied soldiers and reunited royals toward home.