The spaceport around Drakara loomed ahead, stretching out like a titan’s arm grasping at the planet below. The sheer size was impressive, but I reminded myself it was primarily a mining hub, not a civilian port. Drakara’s rare elements fueled the Empire’s war machines, each shipment powering the industries that kept the military alive.

As we neared the station, Zara leaned over her comms panel and hailed for clearance. “This is the Razorwing requesting clearance to Drakara’s surface,” she said smoothly, fingers tapping out an additional authorization code for good measure. The speakers crackled in reply, each second of silence amplifying a feeling of unease none of us could ignore.

After a moment, a clipped voice broke through. “Razorwing, your clearance to the planet is currently on hold. You are redirected to docking bay A-4 on Station Praxus for immediate debrief.”

Zara frowned, shooting me a quick glance as she pressed the comms again. “This is Captain Zara, requesting an explanation for the hold on our descent.”

There was a pause, and then the same dispassionate voice replied, “Landing clearance to Drakara’s surface is suspended under current lockdown protocol. You will be met upon arrival.”

Zara muttered under her breath, casting a wary look out the viewport as we closed in on the docking bay. She cut the comms, her jaw tight. “Redirected to the station? Lockdown protocols don’t usually stop officials from entering the planet.”

Jax glanced at Zara before looking at me. “No. The Razorwing is registered now as Alex’s personal ship. They’d know that. Something doesn’t feel right.”

The docking bay doors yawned open, welcoming us into a cold, cavernous space. Zara guided the Razorwing down with practised precision, but the unsettling silence made my skin prickle. I glanced at Jax as he moved toward a hatch, where he pulled it open and retrieved a sword, a plasma rifle, and—a Gauss rifle. The electromagnetic coils along the barrel gave it away, and Zara’s eyes widened.

“By the Emperor’s balls… when did you smuggle these on board? Jax, do you really think parading that thing around here is smart? A Gauss rifle? That’s military-grade! You know the Empire traces these. Her voice came across as low as if talking too loud would get us caught. “How the hell did you get your hands on that? That’s restricted tech!”

Jax rolled his eyes and smiled as he checked the weapon. Zara took a step back, shaking her head as she kept staring at the rifle. “So, what’s your secret? Some backroom deal I should know about?”

Jax smiled at Zara with a slightly unhinged, lopsided grin, twirling the rifle for emphasis. “I have friends, Zara. Besides, mentioning Alex’s name tends to make people generous.”

Zara’s simply stared at Jax in disbelief. “And these ‘friends’... Are you sure they don’t report to the Empire? Because that weapon makes us a walking target if someone recognizes it.”

Jax shrugged, his smirk fading slightly. “Nothing gets traced back. We’re safe. I’ve… taken precautions.”

Zara’s eyes narrowed, giving him a scrutinizing look. “For all our sakes, I hope you’re right.”

Jax scratched the back of his head, smirking again. “Jax…” I started, but he raised a hand, cutting me off as he offered me the sword.

“I’ll keep the Gauss rifle,” he said, his grin not fading. “Zara, you take the plasma rifle. We consider everyone on this station as a potential enemy. I’ve got a Nexus installed, so I’m ready. Alex, don’t push your Nexus, okay? We’re still suppressing it for a reason.”

Zara huffed, clearly not done with the argument, as she looked at me. “You really think no one’s going to notice that on an Empire-controlled station?”

I shrugged as I strapped the vibrosword around my waist, feeling its weight settle against me like a silent reminder. Taking a steadying breath, I gave a nod, ignoring Zara's glare. “All right. Let’s see what’s going on.”

We stepped out into the bay, met by the chilly, grey light and a solitary officer waiting for us. The wide-open space felt calculated as if they wanted us exposed. Zara’s fingers twitched, her gaze sweeping the empty bay with barely concealed suspicion, while Jax’s smile faded into something darker. No guard detail, no welcoming party—just this officer, standing stiffly with an air of weary restraint.

He approached, his expression severe but clearly exhausted. “Welcome to Drakara, Baron Alex Draven,” he said with a curt nod. “Apologies for the change in protocol. We’re currently under lockdown following a recent security breach.”

“Security breach?” I asked, a frown settling between my brows. Jax’s jaw clenched, and I could feel Zara tensing beside me, her gaze flicking to the room’s exits.

“There was an attempt to sabotage the station,” the officer replied, his voice neutral and measured; I caught the quick glance he gave the weapon Jax was holding. “We intercepted the threat, but protocol requires full lockdown until we can ensure security.”

The officer’s tone stayed neutral, too polished. Jax’s face showed his barely contained rage as he stepped forward. “You let us land without a word of warning? An active sabotage threat and you’re only telling us now?”

The officer’s mouth twitched, almost apologetically, before his face settled back down. “Our security protocols ensured there was no immediate threat during your approach. Your safety remains a priority, but please understand that tensions are high. We advise remaining alert.”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

I caught Zara’s gaze flicking back to the Razorwing, a wary glint in her eye as though expecting something to happen the moment our backs were turned. She nodded once, her look cautious yet ready.

With a final glance, I squared my shoulders and walked forward, my footsteps echoing in the hollow silence of the hangar. Jax and Zara fell into step on either side of me as we followed the officer.

For some reason, my idea of what a station should look like was far from reality. A maze of grey corridors greeted us. Each turn was identical to the last. The overhead lighting strips flickered as we passed, casting a sterile glow over the dull, metallic walls. The officer’s footsteps echoed sharply, setting a brisk pace as though he wanted this to be over as soon as possible. After a few minutes, he gestured us to a plain door at the end of a narrow hallway.

“In here,” he said, nodding at the door. “The station commander will meet with you shortly. Please wait.”

He turned and left, leaving the three of us in silence. The door clicked shut behind us, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.

Jax tilted his head, scanning the room with a narrowed gaze. “They’re stalling us,” he muttered, his voice a low rumble. He took a few steps, crouching to inspect a section of the wall. “You see these marks?” He traced faint scratches and dents. “Signs of struggle. And look here.” He gestured to a faint smear of what looked like charred metal near the floor. “Blaster residue. This place was hit recently, maybe even today.”

I pointed up towards the ceiling as I silently mouthed, microphone? Jax shook his head. “No. They do not even bother to mask the blaster residue. They want us nervous…”

Zara’s brow furrowed as she looked back at the door. “Why didn’t they just tell us the truth?”

Jax shrugged, glancing around the empty room. “Because they don’t want us leaving,” he said, a slow smile spreading across his face. “It’s a trap. Just for us.”

“Then let’s not sit around waiting to be caught,” I said with a chuckle. I knew how much Jax loved being able to let loose. I rubbed my hand on my leg, feeling the weight of the vibrosword move where it rested at my side. Zara approached the door and tried the handle, but it didn’t budge. She grunted in frustration, leaning her shoulder against it as if willing to open.

“It’s locked,” she said, casting a look back at Jax. “You got any ideas?”

Jax lifted the Gauss rifle without a word, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He squared himself to the wall, adjusted his grip, and pulled the trigger. The rifle let out a low hum, followed by an explosion that shook the room. The wall crumbled under the force, leaving a jagged, smoking hole large enough to step through.

Jax took a moment to admire his handiwork, chuckling as he stared at the breach. “Oh… oh oh oh. I like this.”

Jax and Zara stepped through the hole and into the corridor beyond. After a quick check of the surroundings, Jax motioned for me to follow, eyes sharp as he assessed every shadow, every corridor. I sighed. I understood their approach. They were taking point, and it was better to let them lead in a situation this tense. Goddess knows how I would be scolded if I tried to argue with them on this.

The air was thick with the acrid stench of scorched metal, faint scorch marks dotting the walls. Each sign of damage told its own story, confirming just how close a battle had come to tearing this station apart. Following the clues of recent conflict, we pushed forward: debris scattered across the floor, streaks of something dark smeared along the walls, and the occasional clatter of distant movement.

Zara’s gaze snapped to the intersection of the corridor, her eyes narrowing at a faint clatter echoing just ahead. Signalling Jax with a warning even before two figures appeared around the corner. She didn’t wait for Jax’s signal. Raising her plasma rifle with practised ease, she took aim, her breath measured as her shot hit dead centre.

“Stay sharp,” she muttered, her focus unwavering. Beside her, Jax's hand tightened around his Gauss rifle as his Nexus-enhanced reflexes surged to life, making him a blur of movement. Jax moved before the guards could act. His Nexus gave him the edge he needed as he darted forward, his movements impossibly fluid like he was cutting through the very air itself

He ducked under a volley of blaster fire in one swift motion, his Gauss rifle already raised. He fired a single shot that blasted through the chest of the first guard in front of him, sending what was left of the man crashing into the wall with a lifeless thud.

“Zara!” Jax called, sidestepping another shot with unnatural ease.

Zara shook herself as she fired again, the shots hitting her targets dead centre. The next guard around the corner tried to dodge, but she tracked him effortlessly, her shots burning clean through his armour. He staggered back, dropping with a look of surprise frozen on his face.

More guards rounded the corner, drawn by the sound of gunfire. Jax's eyes gleamed with anticipation. His Nexus-enhanced reflexes kicked in, and he moved in a blur, instantly reaching the closest guard.

With brutal efficiency, he slammed the rifle butt into the guard’s face, the force knocking him out cold before he could react. Jax turned and fired at the next guard.

Zara backed him up, her plasma rifle never wavering as she took out two more guards in rapid succession, clearing the path ahead. Her expression was one of steely focus, her eyes scanning every angle, her instincts sharp as she covered Jax’s six.

With the immediate threat neutralized, Jax checked the bodies before we moved deeper into the corridor, the sounds of our footsteps heavy in the silence.

It didn’t take long before Jax held up his hand. He held up one finger and then made a motion just around the corner. Great, only one guard this time. They grabbed a quick glance. The guard in question was just around the corner. It looked like he was guarding a door. His posture was tense as he clutched his weapon.

I let out a breath before and moved. before Jax or Zara could react. I surged forward, my vibrosword glinting as I closed the distance in a heartbeat. The guard’s gaze lifted just in time to meet mine. There was a flicker of recognition. A heartbeat of awareness before my blade cut down, slicing through him without resistance. He slumped in two silent halves, crumpling against the wall as Jax looked at me, approval mixed with a hint of irritation.

I grunted as my body ached. Jax gave me a look of concern before he nodded, reaching for the door. With a quick jerk, he wrenched it open.

Inside, the station staff were huddled in a tight group, their eyes wide and full of panic. One of them clutched a half-burned datapad to her chest like it was a lifeline, her gaze darting between us and the bloody blade at my side. She was shaking, lips moving soundlessly as if she were praying.

As we entered, the staff’s eyes widened further, flicking to the dead guard behind us. I held up a hand to reassure them, but the woman’s gaze remained on my sword, her fear growing by the second. Zara lowered her weapon, giving the crew a quick once-over and assessing them. Jax’s posture was tense, his hand lingering near the rifle trigger. He looked at me, brows furrowed, as if to say, What now?

I took a slow step forward, keeping my tone calm. “We’re not here to hurt you. But we need your help. Can any of you tell us what's going on?”

One of the staff hesitated, glancing nervously between us. “The lockdown isn’t about you, is it?”

A chill ran through me as I shook my head. Whatever had them so terrified was a lot closer than we thought.