Owen sprinted through the lower district's maze of alleys.
His boots slapped against wet metal coverings as steam hissed from broken pipes overhead.
Behind him, the sound of combat grew distant but no less violent as buildings shook and dust rained from crumbling facades.
The clash of Tier 4 power made the air itself vibrate.
Then he reached the landing pad where they had left the ship. Owen slapped the access panel and the ramp lowered with a hydraulic hiss.
He ran up into the cockpit and his fingers flew across the interface. Pre-flight checks. Engine warm-up. Navigation systems online. Things he has watched Gorvax do to pilot, enough times to know the basics.
[Beep! ENGINES: READY]
[Beep! SHIELDS: CHARGING]
[Beep! WEAPONS: OFFLINE]
Good enough.
His comm buzzed.
"Dragon..." Gorvax's voice was strained, but controlled. "...Status?"
"Ship's ready, fuck! Where are you?"
"Three blocks east. I've lost two of them. But The remaining two are... persistent."
Boom!
