Akari led the Falcons over the Jaxartes forest, east of the Hawks' position. They scanned the skyline and the dense forest below, on the lookout for any signs of the 2nd Fleet.

  “Ugh, this is boring!” Mai complained.

  Akari replied. “Be grateful we’re not getting shot at, sis!”

  “We’re on an adventure!” Rachel's fox chimed in, but she kept a neutral expression.

  Julius yawned and said something the others couldn’t understand.

  “You better be awake and helping us search!” Mai scolded him.

  “Guys, look! There’s a clearing in the forest! Bella, do you copy? Bella?” Akari said through the Comms.

  Mai was astounded. “No way… The whole fleet…”

  “What could have…”Before Julius could finish, a laser shot across the sky, heading straight for The Hawks.

  “I think that did it! Let’s get under the treeline and investigate the downed fleet for survivors!” Akari ordered. “I can’t get through to Bella, so let's do what we can until we can contact her.”

  The others agreed and followed her until they reached a clearing, where a downed Ember lay. Standing atop the wreckage is Gaius in his Centurion, two long blades on his back. He looked down on the Falcons with his arms crossed.

  “Who are you?” Akari asked, stepping forward.

  “I am Gaius Elerian, the right hand of Emperor Tiberius. I am the embodiment of the Emperor’s sword. Understand that this is not personal.” Gaius reached back and drew his blades. Before any of the Falcons could react, Gaius was slashing off the barrel of Rachel’s rifle. He would have gotten Rachel’s Knight if Akari hadn’t pulled her out of the way.

  “Not cool, man!” Julius fired his chaingun. “No freaking way!” Julius couldn’t believe Gaius was using his swords to deflect his bullets. He kept firing until his gun overheated.

  Julius prepared to move out of the way as Gaius appeared poised to charge him. But Akari and Mia jumped in with their swords and shields.. “Julius, open fire on him once your gun cools off! Sis, you and I will batter him until we get an opening. Rachel, keep an eye out for any other opponents for us!” Akari ordered.

  “We’re going to take him down, sis!” Mai struck at Gaius with determination, but he wasted no momentum or movements in his defense. He would swing a blade at Akari, and Mai seized the opening, only to have her attack parried. With each strike from Akari and Mai, they grew closer and closer to landing a blow on his Centurion.

  “It’s working!” We’re gonna win!” Akari encouraged.

  “Enough,” Gaius said as he kicked Mai’s legs out from under her. She managed to recover using her boosters, but not before he forced Akari onto the defensive.

  “I’m ready!” Julius shouted as he let his chaingun lose again. Akari and Mai moved to attack Gaius from behind. Gaius quickly threw one of his blades at Julius, destroying his chaingun.

  “Damnit!”

  Mai lunged forward, and just like in her duel with Santos, Gaius used her momentum against her. He threw her into Akari, causing Akari to lose her grip on her sword. Akari covered herself with her shield and activated her boosters, ramming into Gaius to drive him back. In response, Gaius swung Akari around, gripping her shield and tearing it away from her. Akari’s Knight crashed down beside Mai, who had recovered and charged at Gaius.

  Mai furiously swung at Gaius, who stood his ground and blocked her assault. Gaius knocked Mai’s sword away. He dipped under her Knight and flipped her over, slamming her into the ground and knocking her unconscious. Gaius prepared for a killing blow when a rock struck the back of his Centurion.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “L-leave her alone…” Rachel squeaked in her real voice.

  “Very well, you first,” Gaius threw a grenade towards Mai and went straight for the paralyzed Rachel.

  “I got you, Mai!” Akari finally recovered and used her Knight to shield Mai from the grenade. The blast blew her Knight into Mai’s.

  “Hey! Don’t forget me!’ Julius attempted to tackle Gaius, but he kept his footing as an explosion went off in the distance.

  Wide-eyed Rachel contacted Bella on the Comm Channel. “H-help…” were the only words her small voice could manage. Gaius relentlessly cut Julius down, leaving only shattered pieces of his Knight behind. Rachel dropped her Knight to its knees as she witnessed the brutal carnage Gaius had wrought.

  “Help is coming, Rachel!” Bella exclaimed.

  Gaius retrieved both of his blades and sharpened them against each other. Rachel sobbed.

  “It’s not personal, little one.” Before Gaius could attack, he swiftly jumped back and protected himself from the multiple crystal spears being launched at him.

  “Get away from her!” Andres tore through the sky at lightning speed, his sword grazing the head of Gaius' Centurion. Gaius swiftly crossed his blades in an 'X' to block the strike. The two pilots exchanged furious blows, each unable to gain the upper hand, reaching a stalemate until Bella and the Cairo arrived on the scene.

  Before Bella could use the Cairo’s weapons, smoke bombs and electronic interference devices exploded, allowing Gaius to escape. Andres attempted to give chase, but stopped cold when he saw Julius, and then Akari’s cockpit breached from the grenade blast.

  “Boys, I know this is heavy, but I need you to bring the girls back onboard the Cairo.” Bella requested through the Comm Channel.

  “Understood. We’re going,” Marcus replied as he picked up Mai’s Knight, while Kobe retrieved Rachel, and Andres took Akari.

  While flying back to the Cairo, Akari contacted Andres using the Comm Channel. She left her visuals off so Andres couldn’t see her. “Sorry… Andres.”

  “Akari! Save your strength, we’re gonna get you help.”

  “Looks like we won’t have our rematch…”

  “You’re going to be fine.”

  Akari didn’t respond as she slipped in and out of consciousness.

  “Hey! Akari… Hey…”

  “She’s still alive, her vitals are weak.”

  “Thank you, Kara,” Andres placed Akari’s Knight in its hangar spot, while Marcus and Kobe did the same for the other girls.

  Once Andres parked his Knight, anger surged through him. He slammed his fist repeatedly into the armrest, his frustration boiling over.

  “Damnit!” He tilted his head upward as he rested it on the headrest and closed his eyes. He placed his left hand near his collarbone as if he were placing it on someone’s arm wrapped around him.

  “I’m here…” Kara whispered to him.

  He sighed. “I know you are…I just want to sit here a while…”

  While Andres grieved in his Knight, Mai slowly regained consciousness in hers. Confused and disoriented, she quickly exited and began searching frantically for her sister.“No… no, no no…” She ran to Akari’s Knight when she saw the damage.

  Rachel emerged from her Knight as Mai passed her. She trudged over, holding her chest. She saw what had happened and dreaded seeing Akari. Rachel watched Mai fall to her knees and wail in agony.

  Rachel got close to Mai and buried her face in her shoulder. She tried to comfort herself as much as she tried to comfort Mai. She slowly turned her head and saw her best friend standing there. Unable to hold back any longer, tears began to spill down her cheeks.

  “You two have really bad poker faces…” Akari laughed a little, coughing up blood. Shrapnel was lodged in her body, but her delicate features remained untouched, and her smile, though weak, was still there. “Come here…”

  “We-we need to get you help!” Mai cried. “You’re going to be fine!”

  “It’s important…c’mon…”

  Mai and Rachel helped each other up and gently embraced Akari, careful not to worsen her injuries. Tears streamed down their faces as Akari weakly smiled, running her fingers through their hair in a soothing gesture.“Mai… Don’t try to be just like me…”

  Akari's words upset Mai. “You don’t think I can be as good as you? I’ve always looked up to you, to catch up to you…”

  “You don’t realize you’re the better pilot. You always have been, Mai. Be yourself, understand?”

  Mai nodded. “I will.”

  Akari turned to Rachel. “I’m so happy I got to hear your voice today. It’s so pretty, please use it more. You should be a singer in my place.”

  Rachel fought through the tears. “Please don’t go, Akari, I need you…”

  “Akari, don’t say things like that, the medical staff are almost here!” Mai choked up.

  “Both of you, promise me you’ll keep going and make an impact on the world.”

  Mai and Rachel nodded. “I promise…”

  “I love you both, very much, my dear sisters,”

  “We love you too!” Hearing those final words, both girls wept as Akari slipped away.

  “I need to go, Kara, I’ll see you soon.” Andres couldn’t bear the sound of their cries. Every sob cut through him, filling him with a restless urgency. He wanted to go to Mai and Rachel, to do something—anything—to help.

  Kara opened the cockpit door. “I’ll be here, Andres.”

  As Andres stepped onto the walkway, he met Marcus and Kobe. They barely had time to exchange a word before Bella intercepted them. She held their gazes, her expression unreadable, then placed a firm hand on Andres’ shoulder. “Thank you, boys, but they will need some time. I’ll wait here for them. Get some rest. We’re going to finish this and honor our fallen. I promise you.”

  The Hawks sighed, but nodded in agreement. They appreciated Bella’s confidence and reassurance. The Hawks retreated to a lounge onboard the Cairo to decompress, the weight of their losses settling heavily over them. Bella gave Mai and Rachel time to grieve before gently escorting them to rooms where they could rest. Meanwhile, she took charge of the recovery efforts for Santos and Julius, overseeing every detail. She also ensured that Akari’s body was handled with the utmost care.

  After everything was done, Bella went to her office and locked the door. She could no longer hold it in. With a sharp crack, she snapped her tablet in half and hurled the broken pieces across the room. A furious shout tore from her throat as she kicked over her chair and drove her fist into the wall. Then, as the adrenaline faded, she slid down against the cold surface, covering her mouth as silent sobs wracked her body, tears streaming down her cheeks.

  “Don’t break…They need you,” she said to herself.