Korsha flanked Ina as they descended the ship's cargo ramp. His eyes were glowing, indicating that he was still on his call. They reached the bottom and Korsha stared out into the city of Megara. Somewhere within that concrete jungle of neon lights and shadows was her master. Ina turned to face her, a grimace on his face.

"They lost him."

The world seemed to fall away underneath her feet.

"What do you mean they lost him?" She said with a shriek.

"Someone doctored paperwork. I'll go to the hospital and see what I can figure out."

"I'll come with you."

"No. You go to his apartment. See which you can find there. If we're lucky there might be a ransom demand."

"Trust me, Tal isn't going to give us the chance."

With that Korsha turned away, scanning the platform around her until her eyes fixed themselves upon a nearby cab. Sprinting over, she opened the door and jumped into the back. She gave the cabbie her master's address. Seconds later the exertion of the car pressed her back into the soft fabric of the seat. She watched as the city grew larger and larger until they were swimming between its buildings. Her nail picked at the tiny hole in the fabric as she chewed the inside of her lip. She called Thatcher several times but never picked up. She checked her omnivice for an ETA. Fifteen minutes. Far too long.

"There's a tip in it for you if you can get me there faster."

The cabbie snorted, "A tip?"

Korsha snarled as she shoved her hand into the pouch at her belt and ripped all her remaining credits free. She threw them into the front seat. The startled cabbie's head snapped down. A heartbeat later his hand was pressing several buttons on the control console. The nose of the cab dipped in an instant later Korsha was shoved back against the seat screaming as she watched the cabbie drift between lanes of horizontal traffic.

The next several heart pounding moments threatened to fill her body with adrenaline and she forced herself to calm down, breath deep and not think about what would happen if the cabbie made one misjudgment. Within minutes they arrived at the tower that housed her master's apartment. The cabbie hadn't even gotten the vehicle into a landing space when she forced the door open and jumped out. She hit the ground, rolling and then sprung up, sprinting for the entrance.

Several nearby people gawked at her as she pushed herself through the door and into the lobby. The interior was the polished tile and fancy furniture she remembered. Yet everything seemed darker somehow, shadows lingered in far more places than before. She ran to the elevator, using her status as inquisitor to manually override the elevator. Thankfully, it responded to the command. She tapped her fist against the gold plating that outlined the elevator's frame.

"Come on. Come on."

There was a ding and the doors opened with a soft sigh. She jumped inside and jabbed the button that would take her to her master's floor. She bounced back and forth. Everything within her was solely focused on the ascending numbers. Five… Six… Seven… She let out a groan. She took that moment to pull her pistol out and make sure that it was primed. She examined the various ammo categories that she had on hand. There was incendiary, shock, anti-synth, anti-personnel and stun. A standard load out. She flicked it to stun. She then pocketed it and rested her hands on her daggers as she watched the floor number tip up.

Ding.

She stepped forward and held herself back as she tried to wait for the door to open. She turned sideways and jumped through. Her heavy steps were muted by the plush carpet as she ran down the hall. She reached the door and pulled her pistol free from its holster. She tapped the door with the back of her hand, using her omnivice to activate it. It slid open and she stepped inside.

"Thatcher."

Her voice echoed in the eerie silence that greeted her. She stalked forward, her eyes flicking to the door to her master's office and then to the one she'd slept in. The doors were closed. She glanced up and then down, clearing those spaces as she progressed towards the kitchen. She stopped. Her breath caught in her throat. She could see Thatcher’s legs. They were broken. A thick viscous dark pool of hydraulics welled beneath him. They were black. Seeming to absorb the light. Korsha started to run forward but stopped when she caught movement. Deidra was sitting up on the counter, her legs kicking back and forth as though she hadn't a care in the world.

"Hello, sister."

Korsha's gaze dropped to Thatcher. His body was scattered across the floor in fragments and chunks. Korsha sucked in a breath and held it. Thatcher’s core was exposed. His spirit was gone, claimed by the jealousy of death. Korsha's eyes burned and she had to clench her jaw to keep the sadness from welling up within her. The last time she'd seen him he had made her breakfast. One of the few people who had ever done something like that for her. And I didn't even finish it.

"Why?"

"He was a slave and I freed him."

Korsha lifted her head and stared at Deidra. She gazed at the woman she'd once called her sister and realized that she didn't recognize her. Whoever this was, it wasn't the fiery girl who had become like a sister. Deep and terrible gash opened within Korsha's soul, the pain flooded through her. Its truth a poison. Deidra had died the night that they had fought. She had chosen a path that Korsha couldn't take. In a way, Korsha had ushered her over to the other side.

"I'm sorry Deidra." Korsha whispered, as the weight of what she'd done settled upon her chest. "I failed you."

"Failed me? You think this is about you? You're so pathetic. You merely provided the opportunity for Tal to create me."

Korsha's brow furrowed. Tal to create me? What did that mean? Her eyes narrowed. Had Tal found her and then indoctrinated her somehow? It wasn't unheard of. It was how they turned convicts into fearsome soldiers. Korsha's hands clenched into fists. If that was the case she was going to make him pay. But for now she had to face Deidra.

"Losing you broke me and I realize I never put myself back together." Korsha said as she fell back into a fighting stance, bringing her hands up. "It's time I started picking up the pieces."

Deidra scoffed as she jumped off the counter. She brought her hands up to her sides and turned to face Korsha. She laughed as her hands burst into flames.

"Lucky for you, I'm supposed to bring you in alive but that doesn't mean we can't have some fun first."

As soon as Deidra had stopped speaking she threw one hand out. The fireball rushed towards Korsha. Tethering herself to the floor, she threw herself backwards until her legs were at a ninety degree angle. The heat of the fireball traveled up her body as it passed overhead. She pulled herself up, her armored joints whining in support.

She was up just in time to see Deidra lunging over Thatcher's body. Her hand pulled back. She released the tether and stepped aside. Her sister shot past, landed and spun to face her. The two stared at each other for a moment before Deidra rushed her. Then struck. Korsha blocked. Part of Korsha was transported back to their training days in the Academy. It had been just like this. Deidra pressing the offensive. Korsha trying to maintain some sort of balance.

Korsha's heel bumped into one of the chairs in the living room and she spun to the side. There was a crack as the furniture's frame shattered under the weight of Deidra's blow. The notion of sadness within Korsha, the one she'd been drowning in over the last several weeks, began to churn. Its surface starting to roil and bubble.

Deidra came at Korsha again but this time Korsha stepped forward. The rage blossomed within her. Korsha's fist slammed into Deidra's stomach.

"You left me and now you're going to take everything else?" Korsha screamed as she grabbed Deidra's hair. The world was covered in a hazy red as she grabbed the blade from her hilt and yanked it free. Without thinking she lifted the blade and then one swift movement hauled Deidra up as she brought the blade down.

Metal screeched.

Deidra stumbled back, toppling onto a chair. Korsha froze as she saw her dagger glint in the light, now embedded in Deidra's collarbone.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

What had she just done?

Part of her was unable to let go of the fact that this had been her sister. Her eyes burned as they widened, her mouth falling open as she was forced to take in the horrific act she just performed.

Deidra tilted her head to gaze at the dagger. Her head fell back and she cackled as she reached up with her arm, the same side in which the dagger was embedded. A new sense of dread filled Korsha as she watched Deidra grab the dagger and rip it free. Deidra’s manic tirade echoed through the room as she lifted her head and dropped it back down into place, staring directly a Korsha.

"What in the Nine?"

Korsha gaped at the wound, watching as sparks flickered out of it. Before her thoughts could catch up, Deidra roared and tackled her to the ground. The two of them wrestled, rolling over top of each other in a desperate bid to gain an advantage. The world spun. They slammed into something and Korsha was aware of a distant crash.

Somehow Deidra stopped their momentum. Her weight was now pushing down against Korsha. She lifted her arm and arched her hand back. A thick needle shot forward from her wrist. Her hand shot down, aiming for the chemical implant port on Korsha's suit. Korsha threw her hands up, swatting Deidra's hand to the side. The woman shrieked. Korsha’s hands rose up, barely able to defend herself from the savage blows that struck her. The retribution was near unbearable.

Korsha couldn't keep taking this punishment. She thrust her hips up, lifting Diedra before spinning in a desperate roll to the side. Deidra's hand slammed into the floor. Korsha's heart pounded, fear clawed at the edges of her mind, trying to take control. She scrambled forward, fingers clawing at the carpet. Her head was yanked back as Deidra gripped her horn. Korsha grabbed Deidra's hand before they could reach the port.

Korsha's body trembled. She couldn't let Deidra win. She had to save her master. It was too much. It was like trying to hold back a tidal wave. She could feel her strength leaching away from her body. Her head was pulled up and then slammed back down into the ground. Stars exploded in the back of her mind. Somehow she'd still been able to hold onto Deidra's hand.

"I give you purpose!" She screamed, summoning Aunaku.

The spirit flowed out of the orb at her chest. It skittered along her shoulder and then her neck. Then it was inside her head. The radiating pain faded. Korsha sucked in a deep breath and pushed Deidra's hand to the side. She shifted her hips in an attempt to knock Deidra off balance but the woman remained on top of her. Think damn you! She screamed at herself as she looked around her. The toppled chair next to her was covered in shadows. Her heart pounded in her chest as she latched onto that hope.

A second later her body was slipping into the shadows along the floor. She'd been lucky that it was large enough to container body.

"Oh no you don't." Deidra said in a low growling voice.

There was an explosion of light followed by an explosion of pain. Korsha was slammed back into her corporeal form. It was as though she had fallen from a great height. She gasped trying to find the air that had fled her lungs. Korsha was distantly aware of the fact that Deidra was no longer on top of her. Rolling over onto her stomach she tried to crawl forward. She had to get to the door. Call for help.

Before Korsha could go anywhere, she was hauled backwards. Deidra's hands grabbed her horns and lifted her head up. Korsha watched, helpless, as the floor smashed into her face. Over and over again. Everything within her went limp. Aunaku, who at some point had left her head and was working inside her chest, skittered back to her head. This time the pain didn't fade.

"Finally." Deidra said in an even voice as though she weren't even winded from the exertion.

Korsha's cheek slid across the floor as she was pulled backwards. She winced as something sliced across her cheek.

"I have her." Deidra said. There was a pause before she continued. "I can have her there in twenty just need to administer the serum. "

Korsha clenched her eyes, bracing herself for what was about to come. Her heart tapped out the rhythm of time passing. Her brow furrowed. Why hadn't she grabbed her yet?

“No. You're the one with the glitch. I'm doing just as you instructed...”

"I... I,” Korsha licked her cracked lips, tasting iron. A warmth radiated through her, pushing back the pain as Aunaku continued his work. She forced herself to focus. Keeping her voice at a whisper she continued. “I give you purpose." She whispered, summoning the moth.

"...I get it! I'll make sure she's conscious when we arrive."

She didn't have a clear destination of mine, only a means of escape. If she was somehow able to get away from Deidra she needed them ready to guide her. Strangely enough she didn't see them. Her eyes looked up, seeing the lower portion of the door. Yet she saw no moths. A rough hand grabbed her shoulder and rolled her over. Deidra knelt down, giving her a wicked grin. She grabbed the collar of Korsha's armor.

"Hold still. This won't hurt a bit."

Everything within Korsha screamed for escape. There was a sudden shift as reality slowed down around her. She saw the blue glow that she normally associated with the moth radiating out from her. She saw dozens of arms extending out from where she was laying, each one offering a different possibility. She even saw outlines appearing around Deidra. Many of them countering what her moths were doing.

Korsha tilted her head, her body was as slow as everything else. She saw one ethereal hand reaching out towards a nearby vase. It grabbed it and then slammed the vase against Deidra's head.

Following the moth' lead, Korsha mimicked the movement. The pain within her head was now only a dull throb. Part of her was aware that Aunaku had stitched everything back together as best it could. That part of her screamed out to her, trying to warn her but it was too late. The world shifted around Korsha. She was no longer in Anadrov's apartment. She was lying on a bed, a constellation of bright lights loomed above her like the eyes of some grotesque spider. She was reaching out her hand. She could see doctors taking someone else away on stretchers.

"Atallah."

The voice that came out of her was unfamiliar but the heartache wasn't. A deep senseof loss filled her, permeating every inch of her. Something grabbed her hand. She gazed up to see a masked man staring down at her. Their eyes met.

Azure.

Crimson.

Korsha struggled, forcing her way back through the false reality. Her fingers wrapped around the metal vase. Everything snapped back into place as reality re-exerted itself. She is once more back inside herself. Korsha flung her hand up, screaming from the monumental effort. There was a metallic clang as the vase smashed against Deidra's face. The force of the blow sent the woman toppling over. Korsha reached for the back of her head, but before she could reach Aunaku the world tore itself apart.

The walls collapsed, revealing the picturesque landscape of the mountain ridge. A cold gale brushed against her cheeks like a familiar lover. It send curtains of snow falling in slants across the land. She leaned heavily against her staff as she eyed the hooded man before her. His cloak billowed in the wind, black upon pure snow. The Imperial crest was emblazoned upon his chest.

"I told you to leave. Why have you returned?"

"To give you and your people purpose."

"The Jura gives us purpose." Korsha said, straightening her back and smacking her staff against the hard stone that lingered beneath the powdery snow.

There was a weariness to the effort, a fatigue that ran deep to the core of her being. Yet there was an ironclad resolve within her. It propelled her forward.

"Perhaps." The man said, his arm slipping out from the cloak. He stretched them out to each side as though encompassing the world around them. "But can it overcome armies?"

There was a gale of air. This one was harsh and forced her to brace herself against it. She clung to her staff as she watched the clouds were severed. A deep dread filled her as she watched the smooth gray underbelly of some enormous thing split the heavens asunder. Was this the dreaded Dragon that her people had prophesied of for millennia? Hundreds of black specks flowed out from its underbelly like flies.

Korsha gasped as she pulled Aunaku away. Her chest heaved from her heavy pants. She was back in the apartment. She was standing. Deidra stood across from her. Korsha's eyes widened as she saw the side of Deidra's face where she’d hit it with the vase was now cracked as though it were made of fine porcelain. Korsha's eyes narrowed as she saw the telltale sign of synthetic musculature beneath. Without hesitation she reached out, searching for the spirit within the acrena.

There was none.

"You're not her."

"Never was." The synth yelled as it rushed forward.

Korsha's hand shot down her pistol. She used her neural implant to select anti-synth rounds. She brought it up. Aimed. Pulled the trigger. The synth's head snapped back. She pulled again. The force sent the synth sprawling backwards.

Bang.

Bang.

Bang.

The synth fell to the ground in the clatter. Korsha stumbled over and leveled the barrel at the synth's head. She watched as it spasmed, its body overcome by the anti-synth rounds. She grabbed onto a nearby chair and lowered herself to the ground. A large section of the synth's face on the right side was torn open. Its one remaining eye looked up at Korsha.

"Goodbye sister." Korsha said as she squeezed the trigger.

Bang.

An ungodly silence filled the room as Korsha dropped to the side. She would have fallen backwards if it hadn't been for the chair. She took several ragged breaths as she surveyed the carnage around her. She sucked in a heavy breath, held it. She tried to hold everything in, to wall it all off and seal it back within her but it was too much. It erupted out of her in a bitter scream. As furious tears. In the broken jarred movements of her shoulders as she wept. She made a fist and hit the chair over and over again. Her fury bleeding out with each strike until there was nothing else within her.

Numb she picked herself up. She gazed down at the room and the broken body of the synth that had pretended to be Deidra. She shook her head and looked away. I'll deal with this later. She promised herself but she knew she was just going to shove it back down inside her, locked up and thrown away to a place where she hoped that she could never find it.

She activated her omnivice and linked it to the synth's own. A moment later she had a little bit of data, not as much as she had hoped as the rest was heavily encrypted. Though she expected no less from Tal. She scanned through the data and then saw coordinates.

She knew where her master was being held.

She sent a quick message to Ina and staggered towards the door.

It was time to finish this.