Across The Stars

This Isn't Over

My squad  was talking amongst themselves and then we see officers running in a panic. The warning signal sliced through the stillness of the Asterian base, and my body tensed instantly, the alarm like ice water thrown on my senses. Finn and Sarah looked at me, wide-eyed, as red lights began flashing along the corridors.

"We're under attack," Finn breathed, his face ashen. I nodded, already steeling myself against the wave of dread tightening my chest. Whatever was coming, I couldn't let them see me falter.

A guard sprinted toward us, barely pausing as he yelled, "Get back to your quarters! The Veld have breached the base, and they won't hesitate to kill anyone who stands in their way."

I clenched my jaw, forcing the fear aside as I held my squad together with a look. "Stay low, and stay together," I ordered, pulling them close. Each one of them looked back at me, eyes wide with fear. There was no time for second-guessing. We slipped through the corridors as silently as we could, each step amplifying the tension coiling in my stomach.

A blast shook the structure, making me stumble forward. I reached out instinctively, pulling Sarah upright just as another distant explosion rumbled through the walls. "That sounded close," she whispered, her voice shaking.

"No time to waste," I muttered, barely recognizing my own voice as the adrenaline overtook me, sharpening my focus. The halls twisted and stretched on as we hurried, but rounding the next corner, I skidded to a halt.

Two Asterian guards lay sprawled across the floor, unmoving. Pools of their blue blood stained the ground, still spreading. I bit back a gasp. Standing above them was a Veld fighter, his cold eyes locked on us as he wiped his blade clean, the dark satisfaction clear on his face.

"Well, well... looks like we've got ourselves some Earthlings," he sneered, taking a single, taunting step forward. I barely had time to react as he lunged, blade flashing.

Without thinking, I shoved Sarah out of his path and dodged to the side, adrenaline making my movements fast, almost wild. His blade missed me by inches, and I could feel its lethal bite slice the air where I'd just been. Finn lunged at the Veld in defense, but I grabbed him, pulling him back to keep him out of harm's way.

"Go!" I yelled to Sarah, seeing the moment of fear flash across her face. It was all I needed before she turned and sprinted for cover.

We had no weapons—just our wits and desperation. I fell back, forcing myself to take on a defensive stance near the entrance as more Veld fighters appeared down the corridor. I had no idea how many there were, only that they moved like shadows in black armor, each intent on causing as much destruction as possible.

A Veld fighter moved toward me, his stance promising violence, and I met his gaze, refusing to back down despite the gnawing terror building in my chest. I sidestepped his first swing, but his blade caught me on the shoulder as I twisted away, a searing pain ripping through me.

"We need to fall back!" I shouted, barely able to catch my breath. My voice came out sharp, desperate as I waved for the others to pull back. Every instinct screamed to protect them, to survive.

More metallic clanging echoed from the other side of the hall, and I blinked as Asterian reinforcements poured in, their armor catching the flashing red lights as they flooded the corridor. They were relentless, coordinated in a way I'd never seen as they pushed the Veld back, their strikes precise and merciless. The Veld wavered, and in moments, they were retreating, their dark figures melting back into the shadows from which they'd appeared.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding, my entire body aching as I looked around at my squad. They were shaken but alive, clutching their makeshift weapons with wide eyes. Relief washed over me, but I stayed alert, keeping an eye out for any sign the Veld would return.

"Everyone okay?" I asked, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice as we gathered ourselves. One by one, each nodded, clearly rattled but unhurt. We weren't out of danger yet, but for now, we'd survived.