An aircraft drifted through the black, its body nearly invisible against the void. Only a faint glow marked its edges before vanishing again, like it had second thoughts. A white spiral curled on its side—the Vortex insignia—quiet but proud. Thrusters adjusted with a soft hum, steering the ship closer toward the line of warships ahead.
Inside the cockpit, Ash, Kael, and Max stood by the window. They didn't need words. The view spoke enough. Towering ships loomed ahead, metal giants floating still, their surfaces catching starlight like they owned it.
Kael pressed his palm against the glass. His fingers twitched once.
"That's a lot of ships… Think they'd notice a little fire?"
Max stood with arms folded, jaw tight.
"Right. Because setting things on fire is real subtle."
Ash leaned on the console beside them, one brow lifting.
"Wouldn't your flames just flicker out in space?"
Kael turned, his stare sharp.
"Step outside and find out."
Ash glanced away, breathing out slow.
'This is what I get for trying to teach him something useful. His eyes dropped to his suit. Anyway… these new suits? I'm loving it.'
He pulled the straps tight across his chest. The suit hugged close—thin, but lined with layers that moved with him. The hood rested unused, folded behind his neck. His boots held just enough weight to remind him of the boosters built into them.
Kael shifted beside him. Energy moved under his sleeves—red lines crawling beneath the surface like veins. The material near his gloves had slits—vents, waiting to release whatever burned inside him. Every part of his suit screamed heat. Control? Maybe. But mostly containment.
Max didn't look up as he adjusted his wrist display. Light danced on his arm. His boots clicked once against the floor, thrusters inside adjusting. His suit carried tools hidden in panels along his sides—small, exact, and always ready.
They all wore black and silver. The insignia rested over their chests. The spiral meant something. A reminder. A mark.
Kael rolled his shoulders. The armor moved with him. No drag. No pause.
"Gotta admit, this actually feels nice. You sure it won't slow me down?"
Max stayed bent over the panel. His tone came flat.
"It was built to handle your powers, Kael. The only thing slowing you down is that reckless brain of yours."
Kael snorted.
"Please. I know no one will be able to touch me when it comes to battle."
Max finally looked at him, arms crossed.
"Good. Then don't break the suit."
Kael frowned.
"Tch. What kind of warning is that?"
Ash leaned on the wall, arms at his sides. His eyes rested on the ceiling.
"He's got a point, though. That thing can withstand heat, but you don't exactly do 'control' very well."
Kael glared at him.
Ash didn't meet his gaze. A small smirk formed, subtle, like it was just for himself.
'Yeah, you probably think I'm annoying right now. Joke's on you. The lesson's not over. Dumb brother.'
Kael's hand twitched.
"You enjoy pissing me off, don't you?"
'Who wouldn't?' Ash looked his way, calm.
"It's just so easy."
Max didn't react. His hand moved across the screen. Lights blinked. Shapes shifted. He tapped a spot on the map—two warships side by side, close enough to touch.
"There's a gap between them. Their sensors overlap everywhere else, but not here. We slide in fast, stay low, and avoid the scans near the docking bays."
The screen pulsed as the path lit up.
"If we time it right, we slip through clean."
Ash stared at the fleet layout glowing on the display, arms tight across his chest. The blinking lights showed enemy patrols and weak spots. His eyes narrowed on the narrow corridor Max pointed out earlier.
"And if we don't time it right?"
Max's fingers moved over the controls, his gaze locked on the screen.
"Then we'll have to improvise."
Kael's hand flexed again. The red glow beneath his suit shimmered, dancing along the seams.
"Improvise, huh? Sounds like a job for me."
Max didn't answer. He tapped the edge of a warship diagram, zooming in until interior routes and labels filled the screen.
"Once we're inside, we split up. Ash, control room. Take out the security grid. Kael, you draw attention if things fall apart. I'll head for the fuel reserves and plant the charges."
Kael's grin stretched wide.
"Ah, so I am setting things on fire."
Max's voice stayed flat.
"Controlled fire. As in, not the kind that gets us killed."
Ash tilted his head, eyes still on the screen.
"Not sure Kael knows the meaning of 'controlled.'"
Kael rolled his eyes.
"You act like I'd just—"
He waved a lazy hand toward the viewport.
"—explode or something."
Ash thought well.
'It's possible.'
Max finally looked away from the console.
"That's exactly what I'm worried about."
Ash let the smirk come.
"At least if he does, we'll have front-row seats to the most expensive fireworks show in history."
Kael snorted.
"Oh, don't worry. If I explode, I'm taking both of you with me."
They paused. No one said anything. Then laughter broke the silence.
Max's smile didn't last. He turned back to the controls, tapping through a few final settings. The screen shifted to fleet movements and detection zones.
"Alright. Focus up. We're close now. Once we're in, we move fast. Stay quiet. No stunts."
His gaze slid to Kael.
"That includes you."
Kael raised both hands like a peace offering.
"Relax. I totally got this."
Ash gave Max a side glance, eyebrows raised. Neither looked convinced.
Max brought up another diagram. A signal chart blinked with comm lines and transmission loops.
"We'll need to hack their comms. One alarm, and it's over. I will reroute their signals. Keep them blind."
He tapped the side of his head. A thin blue glow lit the implant near his temple.
"good. Their system's prepped to loop on command. Should buy us time."
Kael rolled his shoulders, letting out a slow breath.
"And if we run into resistance?"
Max's gaze stayed on the screen.
"Then we stick to the plan. Quick, clean, and quiet."
Kael smirked.
"Or—"
"No or," Max snapped, not even turning.
Kael held up a hand, mocking defeat.
"Fine, fine."
Ash stepped closer, eyes flicking to the countdown now ticking on the corner of the screen.
"So what that countdown for. The time we have? "
Max tapped in a few commands.
"Yes. Twelve minutes. After that, they start deep scans. We won't stay invisible for long."
Kael let out a low whistle.
"Twelve minutes, huh? That's tight."
Max didn't blink.
"Then don't waste it."
Kael grinned.
"No promises."
Max sighed and pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose.
"You're going to be the death of me."
Kael clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Relax. We'll be fine."
Ash didn't miss a beat.
"That's what you said last time when we had a creature wave at the city."
Kael shrugged.
"And look at us now. Alive, thriving, and about to pull off another impossible mission."
'I hate it when he's too confident.' Ash thought.
Max gave a tired nod.
"Yeah. Let's just try to keep it that way."
Beyond the window, the enemy ships grew larger, their shapes blocking the stars. They waited in silence, the kind that came before something loud.
The countdown ticked on.
Execution was next.