Smoke still curled across the bridge, painting streaks of gray against the holographic glow. Ember wiped a streak of soot from her cheek and scanned the viewport.
The docked gunship—Bell's transport—was already powering up. Its engines hummed like a predator, ready to bite.
"You didn't tell me you had company," Ember said, stepping onto the catwalk above the main console. Her tone was calm, almost casual.
Bell smirked, her crimson ponytail whipping as she aimed her rifle at the viewport. "Company? Oh, I like the way you think. But trust me, you're the interesting one here."
Before Ember could respond, warning sirens blared. The main screen displayed a fleet of small drones swarming from the station. Automated security, most likely—but aggressive.
"Guess they don't like trespassers," Ember muttered.
Bell laughed. "Good thing I like trouble."
Ember clenched her fists. Her fingers tingled—not from fear, but from the activation of something she didn't fully understand. A whisper in her mind, a pulse of energy that bent probability around her.
> Psion Thread Activated
A wave of force rippled across the bridge. Sparks jumped from the consoles, and the approaching drones suddenly collided midair, spinning out of formation.
Bell blinked, then grinned. "Not bad… newbie."
Ember rolled her eyes. "I told you, I'm not a newbie."
The docked gunship powered its engines fully, preparing to take off. Ember didn't hesitate. She sprinted to the side, jumping onto the nearest catwalk and reaching the side door. She activated a grappling tether from the console, latching onto Bell's ship.
Bell's eyes widened. "Wait—what—hey!"
Ember swung herself aboard the gunship as it lifted, landing in a crouch on the deck. Bell's rifle trained on her, but there was no hesitation in her smile.
"You really don't play by the rules, huh?" Bell said.
Ember grinned. "Rules are… flexible."
The gunship shot forward into open space. Drones swarmed, but Ember's psionic pulse continued to interfere with them, knocking several out of the air. Bell, ever impulsive, laughed and opened fire on the remaining drones, her shots precise and ruthless.
Minutes later, the ship escaped the station's perimeter. Ember leaned against the console, catching her breath. Her heart raced—not from fear, but from exhilaration.
Bell, now sitting opposite her, studied Ember with an unreadable expression. "You're… different," she said finally.
"I get that a lot," Ember replied lightly.
Bell's smile turned sharper, almost predatory. "I like different."
The words sent a strange shiver down Ember's spine. Something in Bell wasn't just admiration. It was obsession, a possessive energy that made her both uneasy and… strangely reassured.
Ember stared out the viewport at the stars stretching endlessly before them. Somewhere out there, Earth waited—or at least the truth of it. And somewhere along the way, she realized one thing: Bell wasn't just a companion. She was the first thread in the web that would eventually tie Ember to this galaxy forever.
And Ember Vale didn't plan on cutting herself loose.
Not yet.