As five long hours passed, Emi and Rex found themselves exploring the immense space station.

“Woaaaaaaaah, this place is huge!” Emi exclaimed, spinning around as her voice echoed off the polished metal walls.

Rex crossed his arms, surveying the structure. “How on Earth did we not know something this big was being built?” he muttered under his breath.

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of boots tapping against the floor. Rona approached them with a brisk pace, her dark cloak swaying. “Did you two get the job done?” she asked, her tone sharp and expectant.

“Yes,” Rex replied coolly. “Neo is no longer alive.”

Rona nodded, her expression unreadable. “Good. I won’t hold you back with any debriefs for now. Rex, head to Leon’s lab—he needs to speak with you. Emi, stay with me. There’s something I need to discuss.”

Rex gave a short nod and started walking away without a word. Emi, curious and slightly uneasy, glanced at Rona. “So, what do you want to talk about?” she asked. “Or are you just trying to find out if I’m hitting on anyone?” she teased with a playful smirk.

Rona raised an eyebrow. “Not quite. I want to talk about the person you fought in Moscow.”

Emi’s smirk faded, replaced by curiosity. “Oh, her. Yeah, I’ve been wondering about her, too. Who was she?”

Rona’s gaze sharpened. “What did she look like?”

Emi crossed her arms, thinking back to the fight. “Tall, kinda. Athletic build. She had brown hair with purple highlights—definitely stood out.”

Rona stiffened slightly, her eyes narrowing. “I see. So, it was her.”

“You know who she is? Spill it,” Emi pressed. “When she was kicking my ass, she said something… like she knew who I was.”

Rona sighed. “Her name is Night Sora. She’s a mercenary—human, like us, but hired by both humans and Yeagers. She’s infamous for taking jobs purely for the money. What sets her apart is that she has no access to Flux energy, yet her physical attributes are enhanced tenfold. She’s stronger, faster, more precise… better than most Flux users.”

“Night Sora…” Emi murmured, her thoughts racing. A memory surfaced, one she’d tried to bury. “That’s the family Mom was supposed to be sold to by her mother. Does that mean… Night Sora could be my grandmother?”

Rona frowned. “What are you mumbling about?”

“Nothing,” Emi said quickly, brushing it off. “Just lost in thought.”

“Well, stay sharp. I have other matters to attend to,” Rona said before turning to leave.

As Emi stood there alone, her mind churned with questions. After a moment, she shook her head and said to herself, “Well, time to explore this place.”

Meanwhile, Rex strode down the corridor toward Leon’s lab. When he entered, he was greeted by the sight of sparks flying as Baluka worked on an intricate piece of armor. Leon, standing beside a hoverbike, glanced up. “There you are, Rex. Come over here.”

Rex approached, his curiosity piqued. “What’s all this for?”

Leon gestured at the bike and the armor. “These are for your next mission in Africa. The Yeagers have taken over the region since Cairo fell.”

Baluka chimed in, wiping sweat from his brow. “The air there is filled with Yeager blood. It’s hotter than it’s ever been, and it’s dangerous. The armor will adapt to extreme conditions—cooling during the day and warming at night.”

“And the bike?” Rex asked.

Leon smiled. “It’ll help you traverse the deserts faster and evade blood sandstorms.”

Rex frowned. “Blood sandstorms?”

“They’re infused with Yeager blood. If you’re caught in one, you’ll either turn into a Yeager… or end up as a skeleton,” Baluka explained grimly.

Leon clapped Rex on the shoulder. “Give us ten minutes, and we’ll have everything ready.”

Rex nodded and left the lab. As he stepped into the hallway, a small figure bumped into him and fell to the floor. “Ow!” a young girl said, looking up at him.

Rex extended a hand. “Here, let me help you.”

The girl hesitated, then took his hand. “Thank… you,” she said shyly.

“What are you doing here, kid?” Rex asked, kneeling to her level.

“I… I’m looking for my mom. She said she’d be in the command room, but I got lost,” the girl explained.

Rex smiled faintly. “Alright, I’ll take you there. What’s your name?”

“B-Bridget,” she stammered, trying to pronounce her name correctly.

As Rex led Bridget through the gleaming corridors of the space station, the quiet hum of machinery filled the air. The polished metal walls reflected the soft glow of overhead lights, giving the station a futuristic but sterile atmosphere. Bridget, her small hand brushing against the wall, stared in awe at the surroundings.

“Is this your first time seeing a place like this?” Rex asked, glancing at her.

Bridget nodded enthusiastically. “I’ve never been anywhere like this before! It’s like… like something out of a dream!”

Rex couldn’t help but smile at her amazement. “Yeah, it’s my first time here too. Didn’t even know it was being built until now.”

As they walked, they passed by a massive window stretching from floor to ceiling. Bridget stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening as she saw the vast expanse of space before her. The stars twinkled like scattered diamonds, and the curve of a distant planet glowed faintly in the sunlight.

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“Woooooaaaaah,” she whispered, pressing her hands and face against the glass. “It’s so beautiful… so big. It’s like the whole universe is out there.”

Rex stood beside her, folding his arms. “Yeah. Makes you feel pretty small, doesn’t it?”

Bridget looked up at him, her expression serious for a moment. “Do you ever get scared? Like… being so far away from everything?”

. “Sometimes. But out here, it’s like you can leave all the problems of the world behind. At least for a little while.”

Bridget nodded, then turned her attention back to the stars. “I think I’d like to come here all the time.”

They continued walking, passing a series of observation decks filled with telescopes and monitors. Scientists and technicians bustled around, their voices blending into a symphony of chatter and clicking keyboards. Bridget peeked into one of the rooms, her curiosity piqued by a holographic display of the station’s layout.

“What’s that?” she asked, pointing at the rotating image of the station.

“It’s a map,” Rex explained. “Shows the whole station. See those lines? They’re the different sections. We’re here.” He pointed to a glowing dot on the map.

Bridget’s face lit up. “It’s like a maze! Do you think I could explore all of it?”

Rex looked at her. “Maybe when you’re older. This place is bigger than it looks, and some parts aren’t exactly kid-friendly.”

She pouted but quickly got distracted as they passed another room. Inside, engineers worked on a massive spacecraft suspended by mechanical arms. Sparks flew as welding tools connected panels, and a robotic arm meticulously added layers of armor to the hull.

“Are they building a spaceship?” Bridget asked, her voice filled with wonder.

“Looks like it,” Rex replied. “Probably something for defense or exploration. They don’t build these things for fun.”

Bridget pressed her face to the glass, her breath fogging it up. “It’s so cool…”

“Alright, come on,” Rex said, gently tugging her away. “Your mom’s probably wondering where you are.”

As they walked further, they passed through a garden-like area filled with lush greenery. Plants of all shapes and sizes grew in neat rows, their leaves shimmering faintly under artificial sunlight.

“A garden? In space?” Bridget gasped, running ahead to inspect the plants.

“Yeah, they grow food and produce oxygen here,” Rex explained. “Everything’s recycled. You can’t exactly step out and pick apples from a tree in space.”

Bridget giggled. “I want to plant something here someday.”

“Maybe you will,” Rex said, watching her with a faint smile. “But we’ve got to keep moving.”

Reluctantly, Bridget followed him out of the garden. They passed through an area where gears and massive machinery clanked rhythmically, powering the station. The air was warmer here, and the hum of engines vibrated through the floors.

“What’s this place?” Bridget asked, covering her ears against the noise.

“Engine room,” Rex said. “It’s what keeps the station running. Don’t get too close—there’s a lot of dangerous stuff here.”

She nodded quickly, sticking close to his side.

Finally, they arrived at the command room. The doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a wide space filled with monitors, consoles, and large screens displaying live feeds from outside the station. Sally and Rona stood near one of the consoles, deep in conversation.

“Mom!” Bridget cried, running toward Sally.

Sally turned, her expression softening as Bridget threw her arms around her waist. “Bridget, where have you been? I was starting to worry.”

“I got lost,” Bridget admitted, looking up at her mother. “But he helped me!” She pointed at Rex, who stood in the doorway, his arms crossed.

Sally’s eyes met Rex’s, and her face lit up with recognition. “Rex…”

Rex raised an eyebrow, confused. “What?”

Sally placed a hand on Bridget’s shoulder and turned her around. “Bridget, I want you to meet someone very special. This is your older brother, Rex Jones.”

Bridget’s eyes widened as she stared up at Rex. “You’re my… brother?”

Rex knelt down to her level, a small smile on his face. “Yeah. Sorry I didn’t visit sooner.”

Bridget hesitated, then asked, “Why not?”

Rex’s smile faltered, and he looked away. “I was… scared. After we lost Dad, I didn’t know how to face you. I blamed myself for everything and thought you’d hate me.”

Bridget’s expression softened, and she stepped forward to hug him tightly. Rex froze for a moment before hugging her back, his usually stoic demeanor crumbling as tears slid down his cheeks. Sally watched, her own eyes glistening as she saw a side of Rex she hadn’t seen in years.

After a long moment, they pulled away, and Rex quickly wiped his eyes. “Don’t tell anyone about this, or you’re dead,” he said codly.

“We won’t,” Sally and Rona said in unison, smiling knowingly.

As Rex walked back to Leon’s lab, the faint hum of machinery greeted him. This time, Nur, Emi, and Leon were all gathered inside, and Hanako, in her small fox form, sat perched on the bike with her fluffy tail swishing impatiently.

“What are you guys doing here?” Rex asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You’re going to be gone for a while,” Emi said, crossing her arms with a smirk. “We figured we’d say goodbye before you disappear into the unknown.”

Nur, leaning casually against a workbench, gave a nod. “Yeah. Try not to get killed out there. We’ve got enough problems without having to avenge you.”

Rex rolled his eyes but couldn’t help a small grin. “Touching. I’ll do my best to stay alive just for you.”

Hanako’s fox ears perked up as she tilted her head, her golden eyes glinting mischievously. “Ready to go?” she asked, her voice high-pitched and playful in her diminutive form.

Rex sighed. “Hanako, you’re not coming with me on this one. It’s going to be dangerous.”

Hanako’s expression didn’t waver. “I’m sorry to say this, but I am. Remember the blood contract we made? I’m bound to stay by your side, whether you like it or not.”

Rex’s jaw tightened, and he let out a long breath. “...Fine. Let’s go.”

Before they left, Leon handed Rex a sleek new uniform tailored for the harsh environment ahead. The black and red suit shimmered faintly, its adaptive fabric designed to regulate temperature and provide additional protection.

As Rex changed into his uniform, Emi and Nur exchanged a few last words. “Don’t get cocky out there,” Nur said, his tone serious. “Just because you’ve got fancy gear doesn’t make you invincible.”

“And make sure to actually use the comms this time,” Emi added with a smirk. “I don’t want to hear about you getting into trouble because you were too stubborn to call for backup.”

Rex climbed onto the hoverbike, a sleek vehicle with a streamlined frame and glowing blue energy cores. Hanako hopped onto the middle of the bike, her small form fitting snugly between the handlebars.

“Oh, wait!” Baluka called out, rushing over. She gently placed a tiny pair of goggles on Hanako’s face, adjusting them until they fit securely. “There. You’ll need those for the sandstorms.”

Hanako grinned, her tail wagging. “Thanks! Now I look even cooler.”

Leon approached the portal control panel, a series of glowing buttons and levers lighting up as he worked. A swirling blue and white vortex materialized in the lab, its edges crackling with energy. The portal shimmered, revealing glimpses of a vast, arid landscape on the other side.

“Drive straight through,” Leon said. “It’ll take you right to Africa. Once you’re there, keep your comms active. The sandstorms can interfere with them, but this bike should help mitigate some of that.”

Rex revved the engine, its low hum rising to a powerful growl. He looked down at Hanako. “You ready?”

Hanako adjusted her goggles and smirked. “You bet I am.”

With a nod, Rex pushed forward. The bike surged into the portal, and the sensation of weightlessness took over for a brief moment. As they emerged on the other side, a blast of hot, dry air hit them. The endless dunes of the African desert stretched out before them, the horizon tinged red from the sunlight filtering through the thick dust in the atmosphere.

Rex slowed the bike to a stop and surveyed the landscape. The ground was littered with reddish sand that seemed to glisten unnaturally. Off in the distance, a massive blood sandstorm churned, its crimson clouds swirling ominously as if alive.

“That’s a blood sandstorm,” Rex muttered, narrowing his eyes. “We don’t want to get caught in one of those.”

Hanako adjusted her goggles, her ears flattening slightly. “Then let’s not stick around to find out what happens.”

Revving the engine again, Rex turned the bike away from the storm and sped off across the dunes. The bike glided effortlessly over the shifting sands, leaving a faint trail behind. As they raced forward, Rex scanned the horizon, his mind focused on the mission ahead.

“We’re looking for Amber,” Rex said aloud, his voice carrying over the wind.

“And we’ll find her,” Hanako replied, her tone surprisingly confident for someone so small. “But first, let’s make sure we survive the desert.”

As they pressed on, the storm loomed behind them, a relentless reminder of the dangers lurking in this unforgiving landscape.