Chapter 119: No Safe Harbor
The dimly lit tunnels stretched before them, narrow and twisting, the stale air thick with the scent of rust and oil. The echoes of distant shouts from the security forces above reminded them that their pursuers weren't far behind.
Raizen turned to Selara. "Where exactly are you taking us?"
Selara glanced back at him, her silver eyes glinting. "To someone who can get you off this station—alive."
Joran scoffed. "And why should we trust you?"
Selara smirked. "Because right now, I'm your only way out."
Raizen held her gaze for a moment, then nodded. "Lead the way."
The Hidden Refuge
They navigated the tunnels for what felt like an eternity before emerging into a large underground hangar, half-lit by failing neon lights. Old supply crates were stacked haphazardly around rusting ships, some still operational, others gutted for parts. A group of people—mercenaries, engineers, and outcasts—looked up as Selara entered.
An older man stepped forward, his cybernetic arm clicking as he adjusted a worn datapad. "Selara, you're late."
Selara shrugged. "Had to make sure they weren't complete idiots before bringing them here."
Raizen raised an eyebrow. "Glad to know we passed your test."
The man's cybernetic eye scanned Raizen, then flickered to Seraphina. "You stirred up a hornet's nest, Draconic one."
Seraphina's expression remained unreadable. "You know who we are."
The man smirked. "I know what you are." He motioned to a nearby ship, a sleek, modified corvette built for speed and stealth. "And I know that if you don't leave this station soon, you won't be leaving at all."
An Ultimatum
Liana's voice came through the comms, tense. "Raizen, we just intercepted a station-wide alert. The faction hunting you is offering a bounty large enough to turn half this station against you."
Kain clenched his jaw. "Fantastic."
The older man nodded. "That means you have minutes, not hours. If you want my help, you need to do something for me first."
Raizen sighed. "Of course there's a catch."
Selara chuckled. "Don't look so surprised."
The man crossed his arms. "There's a shipment of high-energy cells in a secured vault on the upper levels. We need them to power the corvette. You get them, we get you off this rock."
Joran rolled his shoulders. "Breaking into a vault? Now that sounds like my kind of fun."
Raizen grinned. The station wanted them dead, but he wasn't going down that easily.
He turned to his crew. "Let's move."