Grey led Gale into the hangar, its vast expanse illuminated by flickering overhead lights. The metallic scent of wood and steel hung heavy in the air, and rows of identical ships stretched out before them. Each vessel bore the black-and-silver colors of Xeno Corp and their crest emblazoned boldly on the hulls.
"All these ships look exactly the same," Gale muttered, crossing his arms. "So what's this 'amazing ship' you were talking about?"
Grey chuckled, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Ah, they may look the same, but trust me, we're not taking just any ship. Since we're a small task force, we need something compact, reliable, and fast—something special."
Gale raised an eyebrow. "A 'small task force' for tracking down two people from—"
Before Gale could finish, Grey spun around and clamped a hand over his mouth, his expression alarmed. "Shh!" he hissed, glancing around nervously. "Look, I didn't tell Master Cain about there being two of them. If he finds out, he'll be furious—and not just at me, but at you, too. He'd kill us both without a second thought. So let's keep that little detail between us and away from the others."
Gale shoved Grey back, his glare sharp. "Fine, I get it. But if things go south, we're doing it my way. Got it? And what do you mean by 'the others'?"
Grey grinned, the tension in his face easing. "Ah, yes. The others. Members of Task Force Xeno assigned to this mission. Master Cain said they'd be waiting for us at the ship."
Gale groaned, rubbing his temples. "Great. I hope they're not a bunch of moralistic idiots who'll waste time preaching about doing the 'right thing.'"
Grey laughed, patting Gale on the shoulder. "Oh, believe me, you'll love them."
Gale shot him a skeptical look. "That doesn't fill me with confidence."
"Just wait and see," Grey said, his tone dripping with amusement.
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The massive birds touched down gracefully on the empty streets, their talons clicking softly against the stone pavement. Only a handful of people moved about, their steps hesitant as they turned to stare at the newcomers. The sight of Nox and Lilith dismounting their strange, majestic creatures seemed to hold the air in suspense.
As Nox's feet hit the ground, the pink glow in her eyes faded, returning to their usual sharp hue. At the same moment, the eerie luminescence in the birds' eyes vanished. Their calm composure broke almost instantly; they shrieked in confusion, their heads whipping around frantically as though waking from a trance. Without warning, the creatures spread their wings and shot into the sky, their cries echoing as they disappeared over the rooftops.
Lilith watched them go, one hand on her hip and the other resting near the dagger strapped to her thigh. "Those birds of yours are creepy," she muttered.
Nox ignored her and scanned their surroundings, her gaze locking on a security camera mounted high on one of the nearby buildings. The lens rotated steadily, scanning the quiet street below. She raised a hand and pointed. "There. That's what I was talking about—a camera. All its footage is stored at Terrance Hospital."
Lilith frowned, following Nox's line of sight. "Terrance Hospital? That's not exactly neutral territory, is it?"
"No," Nox replied, her voice grim. "It's not. The hospital is run by El."
Lilith's posture stiffened. "That El? The same El which—"
"Yes, that El," Nox interrupted, her tone flat but tinged with urgency. "And before you ask, no, Crimson didn't plan for this mission at all. That's why he bailed on us the first chance he got." She sighed, her voice softening for a moment. "But this isn't about him. It's about Sebastian. I made a promise to fulfill his last wish, and I'm not backing out now."
"Fine. But if we're walking into El's territory, I hope you've got a good plan than."
Nox smirked faintly. "Well I do have one better than Crimson, we'll get through this with my plan." She turned back toward the path ahead, her boots striking the ground with a resolute rhythm.
Lilith fell into step beside her, her voice low but edged with curiosity. "Only if Sebastian knew how much trouble you're getting into by sticking to his wish"
Nox's smirk faded, replaced by a quiet determination. "Doesn't matter. Trouble or not, I loved him and owe him this much."
The looming silhouette of Terrance Hospital rose in the distance, its shadow stretching across the empty streets like a warning. Whatever lay within its walls—cameras, answers, or danger—They were ready to face it head-on.
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Grey led Gale beneath the massive hangar, their footsteps echoing against the polished steel floor. They stopped in front of a sleek, compact ship, its silver hull glinting under the dim hangar lights. Its rear thrusters gleamed with a faint blue hue, and atop it, a streamlined sail jutted out like a blade poised for flight. The Xeno Corpse crest was boldly embedded on the side, a mark of both authority and menace.
Gale's eyes widened as he rushed toward the ship, running his hand over its surface like a child discovering a new toy. "Wait—this is one of Alpha Dawn's prototypes! How the hell did you get this?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with both amazement and suspicion.
Grey smirked, leaning against the side of the ship. "Perks of working for Xeno Corpse. Fast, reliable, and perfect for a mission like ours."
Gale barely heard him, his thoughts racing. "Ray loved these things," he muttered, but then froze, his expression twisting into a grim realization. "Shit—Ray! I gave the scroll he sent to me to that idiot Miles without even opening it!" He spun around to face Grey, panic rising in his voice. "We need to get to Alpha Dawn. Now!"
Grey held up a hand, his tone calm and deliberate. "Hold your horses, man. We've got to wait for the others first."
Before Gale could respond, a sharp, mocking voice broke through the hangar.
"Never thought I'd see the day when Grey waited for anyone."
Grey's head snapped toward the source of the voice. His instincts kicked in, and he lunged forward, throwing a punch at the unknown figure. But instead of landing a blow, his fist collided with a soft invisible force—a shimmering elastic barrier that sent him flying backward. His body slammed against the side of the ship with a loud thud before crumpling to the ground.
Gale's gaze darted between Grey and the new arrival. The figure stepped out of the shadows, revealing a broad-shouldered, dark-skinned man with sharp eyes and a disarming grin. His braided hair glinted under the lights, and several knives dangled menacingly from his belt. He casually ran a hand through his braids as he approached.
"I'm Duke," the man said, his voice smooth and confident. He extended a hand toward Gale in what seemed to be a friendly gesture.
But Gale wasn't buying it. In a flash, his instincts took over. His teeth bared like a feral animal, aiming to clamp down on his wrist.
"Stop! The bastard's with us!" Grey shouted from the ground, his voice strained but urgent.
Gale froze mid-motion, his jaws inches away from his wrist. Slowly, he stepped back, his muscles still coiled with tension. Without a word, he turned and moved to help Grey to his feet.
Duke smirked, unfazed by the near-attack. "Damn, you guys are a lively bunch. This is gonna be fun."
Grey leaned against Gale for support, glaring at Duke. "You remember what I said about you loving the rest of the team well not this one."
"You've got a funny way of saying welcoming your allies," Duke shot back, brushing off his shoulder.
Gale's eyes narrowed as he glanced between the two. "If this is what we're dealing with, let's hope the rest of this 'task force' isn't as annoying as you."
Duke chuckled, his grin widening. "Oh, trust me. I'm the least of your worries."
The tension in the hangar hung thick, the air practically vibrating with unspoken words and distrust. Gale shot Duke a wary glance, while Grey muttered curses under his breath, still nursing his bruised pride. Duke, unfazed, leaned casually against the ship, his smirk unwavering.
But then—
Scratchhhhhh.
The sharp, grating sound of metal dragging against the steel floor echoed through the hangar, cutting through the tension like a blade. All three froze, their heads snapping toward the source of the noise. The sound came from the shadows at the far end of the hangar, a place where the dim lights barely reached.
Grey straightened. "Now who the hell is that?" he muttered.