Above the ruins of the mine on Kharon-9, dust swirled. The setting sun's red light bounced off metal fragments, casting long shadows.
Kael crouched behind a pile of containers, keeping watch on the entrance. Guards patrolled the area while drones circled above the gate.
"There are two drones above the entrance. One guard is at the panel. The rest are inside," Lira stated, reviewing the visuals on her visor.
"Let's move quietly." Kael slid his hand across the console. "No alarms."
Zara slipped into the shadows, ignoring the sharp pieces of metal under her feet. Her movements were chaotic but effective.
Rex set up his plasma rifle. "Don't shoot without my signal."
Zara nodded slightly and smiled. "Understood."
Taro connected the terminal to the security network. Cables dangled from his sleeve.
"The systems are outdated and convoluted. Give me a moment."
"You have twenty seconds." Kael looked at the entrance.
The lights at the gate went out.
"Ready," Taro said. "False alarm in the eastern sector."
Kael waved his hand. "Move."
They jumped over the wall one after another. Rex landed silently and covered the sector with fire. Lira moved between the containers and vanished into the shadows.
Zara stumbled in, her metal creaking. The guard at the gate turned around.
He was shot in the head and fell to the ground.
Kael surveyed the complex. "Plan A is dead."
"No matter," Rex said, moving forward. "Plan B is faster."
The alarm wailed. Red lights spread across the area.
"Contact!" Lira shouted. Armed men ran out of the building.
Rex fired. Plasma lit up the night.
Zara jumped over a crate and shot as she ran. Every shot hit its mark.
Kael pressed the booster button on his suit. "Taro, open the main door. Now."
Taro looked at the terminal. "Opening… and someone's about to hit me."
Zara crossed the open space. One of the enemies fell before he knew what was happening.
Kael looked at the burning complex. The mission was supposed to be quick. This was just the beginning.
The interior of the complex was dark and damp. Metallic corridors creaked under their footsteps.
Kael led the group, eyes fixed on the map displayed on his visor. "Take the quick passage to the core on your right. Avoid the main halls."
Zara jumped over pipes and overturned crates, pulling out two pistols. "Passage for wimps."
Rex followed close behind, covering their flank. Plasma cut through the air as mercenaries tried to stop them.
Lira slid along the walls, disabling trap sensors. "A few doors still have alarms. I'm securing them."
Taro connected the terminal to the control panels. "Give me two minutes. The rest has to be quick."
Zara knocked over a guard before he could raise his weapon. "And they say women can't fight."
Kael signaled her to stop. "No unnecessary noise."
Zara tilted her head, smiling slightly. "Quiet isn't my specialty."
The mercenaries blocked the entrance to the main core.
Rex opened fire. Plasma bounced off the metal walls, sparks filling the air.
Zara ran between them, tumbling and firing accurately from the hip. Three fell before Rex could blink.
Kael ran to the core terminal. "Taro, the door."
"Give me a moment…" Taro slid his fingers across the panel. "Wait. Something's not working."
The alarm blared at full volume. Red lights flooded the hall.
Guards poured out of side corridors.
"Oh shit," Rex muttered.
Zara rolled onto a metal pipe and sprang up in one fluid motion, firing without hesitation. A bullet ricocheted off her armor.
Kael pressed the door button. Nothing happened. "Locked."
"Zara, we need to get to the roof!" Lira shouted.
Zara's smile turned cold. "The roof? Sounds like fun."
Rex grabbed her hand and pulled her down the corridor. Plasma cut through the air beside them.
The terminal sparked. The door still wouldn't open.
Kael faced the enemies at the doorway. "If we don't get out of here in a minute—it's over."
Zara fired from the hip. A side passage burst open.
"Passage found," she said calmly.
Behind them, a horde of mercenaries closed in.
Fight or flee.
The metal door at the end of the corridor exploded.
Something was coming.
Kael stared into the darkness.
"What the fuck…"
A massive silhouette burst through the smoke, moving silently and unnaturally fast.
Kael raised his rifle. "Follow me!"
Zara charged first, firing into the shadows. Plasma bounced uselessly off the walls.
The thing moved too fast.
Rex advanced, suppressing enemy fire. "It can't be stopped!"
Above them, Lira climbed onto the pipes, disabling more alarms. "We need the roof or we're dead."
Taro ripped the terminal free. "Side door open! Move!"
Zara jumped over a fallen mercenary and fired again. "Fuck them."
Kael shoved everyone into the side tunnel. The corridors shook with explosions.
At the end stood a steel door to the roof.
Kael hit the button. The door stuck.
Zara kicked the lock. "I hate technology. But it's useful."
The door burst open. Wind slammed into them.
The roof looked empty.
Then a shadow moved.
The silhouette emerged again.
Kael glanced down. The drop was kilometers deep. An old crane and exposed pipes were the only escape.
"We jump," Kael said.
Zara smiled. "Of course."
Rex went first. Lira followed.
Kael caught Zara as she somersaulted past him and vanished into the darkness.
Metal screamed beneath their feet. Sparks flew from a collapsing elevator.
Behind them came mercenaries.
Behind them came the silhouette.
Kael didn't know what it was.
He knew only one thing.
This night was not over.
The jump.
Wind tearing at their bodies.
Plasma and fire in the red glow of the setting sun.
At the last moment, the roof gave way.
Then everything fell apart.