Without A Thousand Stars: Part II

Chapter 8

Nora sat on the floor of the cramped cabin, her knees pulled to her chest, absentmindedly watching as Reyn and Raye tinkered with a new drone. The whirring sound of tools and muttered curses filled the air, but it wasn't enough to calm her racing thoughts. The cabin had always been their safe place, away from the chaos, hidden in the outer territories where AlphaCorp's influence felt distant. At least, until now.

Suddenly, the ground shook beneath them. Tools rattled across the table, and Nora jumped to her feet. The sound of explosions and gunfire echoed through the distance, carried by the wind. She stumbled toward the window, her heart pounding in her chest.

"What the fuck is going on?" Nora demanded, her voice sharp with panic.

Raye's hands flew to the scanner, flicking it on and adjusting the dials, trying to intercept any communications in the area. A moment later, a voice crackled through the static, hurried and breathless.

"They went after the Pods," Raye said, eyes wide with horror.

Nora's heart dropped into her stomach. The Pods—their old residence in the Deltazone, where so many of her friends lived. Ankaa, Carina, Delphini. A rush of adrenaline shot through her veins. Without a second thought, she grabbed her jacket, her fingers trembling.

"We have to go help them!" Nora's voice was frantic as she pulled the jacket over her shoulders.

Reyn grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks. "Nora, it's suicide."

She wanted to scream, to tear her arm from Reyn's grip, but the weight of reality crushed her. Her chest heaved as panic consumed her, the faces of her friends flashing before her eyes. She collapsed into Reyn's arms, her anger and fear spilling out in a torrent of sobs. For a moment, she wished her grandfather were here—he'd know what to do. Even Onyx, with his calm strength, would've taken charge. But they weren't here. The burden fell on her now, to be the leader.

The sounds of war echoed through the night, until there was silence.

The holo screen flickered to life on the wall, drawing their attention. The emergency broadcast logo flashed for a brief moment before shifting to the face of a bot news anchor. "It has come to light that the bombing at AlphaTower last week was the result of a terror attack. AlphaCorp has responded by launching a successful attack on the rebel base camp, known as the Pods, in the Deltazone. A word from our Mayor and CEO of AlphaCorp."

Nora stared at the screen, frozen, as the image shifted to Centus Alphard standing in front of the Peaks. Orion stood just behind him, eyes dark with unspoken pride as Centus addressed the city.

"Citizens of Alpha City, we have eliminated the threat that has been a stain on our city for far too long. We will be rebuilding the Core, better than its former glory."

Reyn cursed under their breath, fists clenched at their sides. "They needed an excuse to go after the Pods. Those fuckers."

Nora's vision blurred with rage. She knew this was just a pretext—AlphaCorp was waiting for any reason to strike, to crush the rebellion once and for all.

—

Hours later, Nora and Raye arrived at the remains of the Pods. What had once been a community was now reduced to ruins, thick with the stench of smoke and death. They navigated the debris, their hearts heavy with the weight of loss. The tunnel leading to the farm had collapsed in places, but they dug through, desperate to salvage what little they could.

Inside, the farm was still standing, but there was no water, no electricity. It was only a matter of time before it withered completely. Nora and Raye worked in silence, harvesting everything they could—seeds, crops, and soil—knowing full well that nothing would grow in the contaminated land above. Their only saving grace was the lake, fresh water, uncontaminated, too deep in the Toxic Forest for anyone to reach. Their safe refuge.