Twenty minutes earlier, Vixen's hover bike soared across the city. Her dark green trench coat flapped in the wind as she swerved past several abandoned cars. The katana on her back bobbed with the rhythm of the movement.

Monstrous creatures stalked the city. Their skull-heads screeched as they ravaged all that was around them.

Vixen had been too late to find Cain's sister and now all that mattered was following the tracer she'd placed on him. It had taken all of her limited knowledge of hacking to reconnect with his blip. At first, she had continued the pursuit on foot. Then the skies had rained down these mutated monsters and she knew she was going to need some speed.

There was no way to know how to kill the things. She'd been in many battles but never had she seen something so ferocious.

She'd stolen the vehicle and zoomed past them. They were too preoccupied with the easy targets to mess around with her. Her heart pounded in her ears. They could change their mind at any time.

When she reached the location of Cain's blip, she couldn't believe her luck. He was in some kind of hanger. A glance at the building revealed how advanced its security system was.

None of the monsters were around this place. In fact, other than the smoke from the rest of the planet there were no signs of an invasion.

She hopped off her bike and walked over to the entrance. A beefy Vaxorian with dark black fins stood on guard. He held an AR-30 bullet-based assault rifle tucked under his bulky arms. She put her hands up as she walked over to him. There was no need to get into an altercation if she didn't have to. "Are you the one who controls access to this place?" she asked.

He looked her up and down. "This street is out of bounds to anyone who is not a member of the Kaarzee clan. State your purpose or leave."

So that was why this place was so safe. Everyone knew how influential the Kaarzee's were. These new attackers had done their research. She smiled. "Hate to break it to you pal, but I'm pretty sure someone who isn't from the Kaarzee clan has broken into that base. I'm going to need access if you want to get rid of your intruder."

The Vaxorian thought about it. "Mr. Rutan Kaarzee is already aware of the issue. We are dealing with it."

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Vixen scoffed. "You might be a bit in over your head with this one, mate. He's a slippery customer."

The Vaxorian lifted his AR-30. "If you don't leave the premises Miss, I'm afraid I'll have no choice but to take you out."

She rolled her eyes. Why did everyone always want to do things the hard way?

He had barely managed to put his finger on the trigger when the AR-30 clattered to the floor, cleanly sliced in half. She laughed as she sheathed her energy-based katana. Her training had taught her the importance of speed. At the sanctuary, she'd been taught how to draw within seconds. All it took was one clean slice to destroy the bullet-based weapon The sword buzzed as she held it to his throat.

"Shall we try again?" she asked but the guard didn't get a chance to answer. The blast of engines echoed from the inside of the hanger. The unmistakable whoosh of a phaser-mode activating. Something rose through the ceiling of the hanger. Her wrist device beeped and she growled as a purple plasma blast lit up the sky. "Let me through you idiot, my target is on that ship."

She swept the guard to the ground and kicked open the door to find the little Ivarozzan mob boss jumping up and down. He squealed at the two Vaxorians she’d seen Cain with the previous day. Vixen ran over to the plasma cannon and tried to aim up on the Homesteader. It was no good; they had already penetrated the atmosphere.

Rutan turned his angry features towards her. "Who let this person in? Guards, seize her at once!"

The Hyper-Titan clad Vaxorians reached out to grab her. She stepped back and held up her sword in a defensive stance.

"Rutan Kaarzee," she said. "I believe we can help each other out. Am I right in thinking that a teenage boy with cybernetic enhancements just stole one of your ships?"

Rutan scowled. "What of it?"

"That boy ran with me once," she said. "I am under strict orders to bring him to justice for the crimes he has committed against my people. If you help me capture him, I will ensure the safe return of your vessel."

Rutan shook his head. "How do I know that you aren't with the boy? He stole more than just that ship, lady. For all I know, this is down to you!"

"I don't want to cost your family anymore than the boy has done," she said. "If your men engage me in battle, I will have no choice but to fight back. Don't make me do that."

Vixen let her guard drop as a sign of good will. Rutan's eyes widened as he seemed to catch sight of something. He pointed at the shoulder pads on her trench coat.

"That symbol," he said, referring to the picture of a black circle with crossed white energy swords in the foreground. "You're with the Shadow?"

"Never mind that," she said. "Are you going to help me complete my mission or not?"

Fear shone in his eyes. The symbol was something he'd grown up hearing tales about. Even the Kaarzee clan knew about the legend of her people. Even they weren't stupid enough to mess with them.

Rutan gulped back the fear and nodded. "Alright. What do you need me to do?"

Vixen smiled. With one of Rutan’s prize ships catching the boy would be child's play. “I’ll take your best vessel please.”