Ok Val, buddy, are you ready for this,” asked Stephan as Val put on an oxygen breathing mask. Val did a thumbs up and Stephan opened the hatch of the SMVK. He couldn’t help Val in this as there was no water in the clear space to use. Val stepped on the ledge and quickly climbed up to the wing then he let the silver glow expand over the ship and lead it on a crash course with the space station not a few meters away.

They were going to crash nozzle first before rolling over and landing with the hatch facing the station. After that, it was all of them while Val rested aboard the SMVK and fixed any damage she might have taken. Stephan sat on the couch where Marek and Senka had squished in. Isaias was on the sofa with Marco, holding onto his gun, and Kiera shared her sofa with Edline who was just as jumpy and was shocking poor Kiera. Kiera didn’t seem to mind though. Outside Val stretched out his hand and led the SMVK toward the station.

###

Station personnel gasped as a big ship came into view and it was headed straight for them.

“Mayday! This is Con Station! You are flying too close to protected airspace. I repeat you are flying too close to protected airspace,” cried the captain of Con station. Static “It’s no use it’s no use! It’s like that thing has no pilot,” he screamed.

Laughter. “Oh, it does. He just doesn’t care about your protected air space. You have something of ours and we want it back. See ya in a few,” said Stephan through the communicator

“A guy is surfing on top of that ship, Captain,” his co-pilot said, staring as the ship came closer and closer.

“Sto-op or-or we’ll shoot!”

“With what,” mouthed the co-pilot as he got ready to abandon ship. The ship changed course and began heading for the biggest window they had instead.

“Get ready for a showdown Captain,” replied Stephan.

A click of the comm then the whole station shook as the big ship rammed into it. It rolled in a perfect circle shattering the space glass and creating a vacuum before the ship covered the hole and landed. A few minutes later the hatch went down. Guards flooded the room but they were slowly taken out one by one by a seeming ghost. Then Senka appeared smiling and twirling his long knife.

“Hello,” he said.

Isaias appeared a few minutes after him. “Where’s my sister!”

Stephan raised a water shield around the room, trapping the rest of the guards. “Weren’t as much as we thought,” he said as he raced down the gangplank with Marek and Marco. Kiera would stay on board with Edline.

The doorway became crowded again and Isaias grinned. “Looks like there’s more!”

Stephan turned to Marco. “Find her and tell her we are here.”

Marco nodded and closed his eyes while Stephan put a water shield over him. He used his wind abilities to create an air bubble around himself. He knew his brother was allowing him to do it this time. He searched through minds quickly coming upon some nasty ones. Hazards of being a mind reader. There was one in particular that held extremely dark thoughts. He skipped that mind completely and kept searching, deciding to send a message. He doubted it could do much damage since they had enough attention as it was.

Zen, it's Marco. We’re here by the large cafeteria window.

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###

Zen and Layna made it to the storage room. Layna passed her card key and the door beeped open. Zen slid in. There were only five dimensional pockets and only one had a large Z painted on it. She grabbed it just as the station rocked on its axis. She held onto the table for balance. There was a big commotion in the halls and she slid the dimensional pocket on the empty chain she had around her neck. It clipped on and she slid it under her shirt much as she would have done with Ishevara. Ishevara? Nothing. Must still be asleep then. Oh, when I get my hands on that crystal soother! She slid past the door to gaze at Layna who was talking to a tech. It’s the same tech who opened the door for D’Angelo! Zen was careful not to show her face as she stood beside Layna.

“That poor girl is trapped with a monster Layna, but I couldn’t do anything! He threatened Roger! My baby! And…”

“It’s fine Dana. I’ll get her out. You came to the right tech.”

“You’re not afraid of anything Layna!”

“I am of spiders. Big ones. Anyway, we have to leave. I’ll get the girl out of the room no worries.”

Dana nodded and walked away, her short dark hair bouncing around her ears. Layna turned and began to walk down the hall with Zen following when a message was heard.

Zen it's Marco. We’re here by the large cafeteria window.

How do I know this is not a trick, she arrowed back.

Your brother learned to shadow warp and has not given me a moment's peace!

It’s you, Marco! Tell the others I’m coming plus one more and not to shoot her. She’s red-haired... dark-skinned.

Alright, Zen. Hurry!

Zen grinned and caught up with Layna. “We have to head for the cafeteria window. They’re here for me.”

“You do know everyone and their mother is going to be there right?”

“Yes, I know.”

Layna smiled and turned down the hallway to where all the guards were mustering. “Let’s go then.”

Zen ran beside her not caring if anyone saw her. She was almost home free.

Marco opened his eyes and contacted Stephan. She’s coming plus one. She said the woman was red-haired and dark-skinned and not to shoot her.

Another stray huh? At this point, we’ll have to be named the Stray picker-upper if we get any more stray people.

Marco smiled and popped his air bubble as Stephan let his water shield drop. He took out his sword and ran into battle to stand right beside Isaias as he shot a guard point blank before dematerializing and materializing at another guard’s face and elbowing his nose. Marco sighed and began slashing jugulars with surgical precision. Senka was sniping guards from the shadows, taking one at a time while Stephan threw water balls that would convert into water bubbles upon hitting the guards and sucking out their insides. Stephan had no compunctions about how he went about getting rid of his enemy. Neither did the others as Marek shot two guards through the eye and Isaias broke one guard’s neck. Senka and Marco were cleaner but not by much.

###

On the other side of the room, Bernado watched as his men were liquified and shot to death. He called his back, but D’Angelo kept sending his. Moron’s going to exhaust his army.

A dark-skinned bespeckled tech was running in guns blazing literally and behind her was Zen dressed as a Low cleaner. Well, she seems fine. We’ll see how she reacts to that fool who’ll most likely go after her.

He pretended not to see them and focused his attention on his nephew who was shadow-warping around and shooting men. I guess his father’s blood has come to fruition inside after all.

D’ Angelo caught sight of Zen and gave chase. There was nothing Bernado could do but watch. As he thought, the silly male was making a fool of himself again. He slapped his face lightly to not seem ridiculous to his men. Why do I surround myself with fools?