Never had Xan wanted so much to punch a kid in the face.

The concession of pirates was quick to clap the rescue team in chains and shackles, he and Erin being given muzzles despite neither being much for biting. Not when there were so many better ways to inflict a lasting wound. Which Xan was determined to do to at least one person on the ship before Dyre sent him to the firing squad.

And he had little doubt she would. No matter how much the kid might have tried to convince her otherwise, he knew Dyre wouldn’t let the panda live. Not again.

“It is a necessity, my child,” Dyre said. “If we simply let them go, who’s to stop them from coming after you again? In more force this time?”

“You really think they’d do that?” Sasha asked.

“Regrettably, yes. But our serum will ensure your face is wiped from their memories. They’ll never pursue you again. Wherever they go from there will be their business.”

As she spoke, Dyre did her usual song and dance, letting her voice turn into sweet silk. Almost like a guardian. It made Xan sick that he still felt anything hearing that voice again. Anything but anger. He turned away as the spider started stroking Sasha’s face. As much as he wanted the kid to push her off, he knew as well as Xan she was too far gone for that.

Another of Dyre’s henchmen came by to drag Sasha away. Another kid. Was she collecting grads already? Given what he knew of the spider, he could only assume the kid was more brainwash-fuel for Sasha. Stupid panther. Why did you have to be so… He growled through his muzzle. His hands were bound, but he still wanted nothing more than to punch the brat square in the jaw.

With the kid dismissed, Dyre finally turned her attention to Xan and his fellow captives. They’d been brought into her fancy interrogation chamber. Xan could remember well how many times she’d shoved prisoners into the trap room above, the place perfect for all Dyre’s theatrical needs.

Sometimes she’d use it for intimidation. Sometimes she’d open it up, letting gravity do all the damage. And sometimes she’d use it for its actual purpose. Recruitment via threats. It was how he’d gotten his invitation to the Black Web. How he knew the kid must have been invited as well.

“Saturn, I presume?” Dyre asked, sitting back in her chair.

“That’s Commander Saturn to you,” the hexigian said.

“Apologies. Commander Saturn. May I ask why you’d attack my people so brazenly? I don’t believe any laws have been broken.”

“Oh, don’t play coy, spider witch! You and I both know you’re a wanted fugitive! I don’t care what the courts say!” She raised a shackled hand, skin turning dark red. “You and your men are hereby under arrest by the authority of the Association for Intergalactic Containment!”

The soldiers around them cried out in unison, a response which Dyre regarded with little more than a disinterested hum. Xan had to give Saturn credit. The woman never knew when to quit. Ten years later and clapped in irons, she still refused to give up on the hunt. He could only assume the men around her admired that kind of dedication. Or they were all insane. Either option fit.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“This is your army, panda?” Dyre asked.

Xan felt a twinge. It was the first time she’d addressed him directly since they’d been brought to the ship. Since they’d parted ways on Liosha so many years ago.

“It’s all the army he needs.”

Both he and Dyre looked down at the voice. Erin stood at Xan’s side, glaring the spider's way. Dyre regarded him with a slightly less hostile gaze.

“General?” she asked. “I thought that was you. Glad to see you’re in full health.”

“Cut the mush, Dyre,” he said. “We both know you didn’t bring us here just to gloat.”

“I beg to differ. I’ve been gifted the three most annoying pests in the cosmos on a silver platter. I believe I have every right to gloat. In fact.”

She got up from her chair, the spider towering over most of the soldiers, though she stood eye level with Xan. Her red eyes drifted between all of them, Dyre resting all six hands on her hip as she made her way towards them. The pirates who’d brought them in all stepped away, leaving the spider to pace freely around her prisoners.

“Hmm. One.”

She pointed to Erin.

“Two.”

She pointed to one of Saturn’s men.

“Three.”

She pointed to Saturn.

“Four.”

She pointed to another soldier.

Dyre finally turned to Xan, a smile spread across her face as four hands rose into the air.

“So which one deserves to die, panda? Hmm?”

Her webs shot out, Xan whirling as he saw Erin getting dragged through the air. Along with Saturn. The two men. They all flew towards the walls, webs gluing them down. Erin! Xan took a step towards the weasel when a web fell from the ceiling, landing inches from Xan’s face. Close enough it pieced straight through his muzzle. The panda fell backward.

“No cheating,” Dyre said.

Xan looked up at the spider, who had all but one hand extended, her webs ready for what he knew would be a killing blow at her discretion. None of the other soldiers dared make a move, eyes darting between their commander and their two comrades. Dyre’s continued to wait for a response.

She was serious. Xan could see it clear as day in the woman’s eyes. To her, killing any of them came as natural as breathing. It was how she got her name. The Black Death. Her red eyes glowed with anticipation, fanged smile dripping with venom.

“Well?” she asked. “Should I give you a countdown? Or would you rather I end them all at once?”

Xan bared fangs through his freshly exposed muzzle. The spider. She was just as much the witch as he remembered. The same woman who’d gladly cut down any number of people to get her way. The kid included. Xan felt a primal roar rise in his throat.

“You,” he said.

Dyre’s smile grew, but Xan didn’t care.

“Spider,” he said. “You better hope and pray there’s a spirit on this ship. ‘Cus that's the only thing that's gonna stop me from ripping you to pieces.”

Dyre hummed. “Oh?” She looked at the trapped prisoners. “A bold statement, little panda. But you always knew how to threaten me with a good time.”

Her hands lowered, the spider signaling the pirates of the Black Web. They all saluted, moving with blasters in hand to shoot the wall clingers free. But Xan kept his eyes locked on Dyre, hands ready to tear her apart the minute they were free. Even if he had to do so as some phantom from the netherworld. Dyre sat back in her chair.

“All the same,” she said. ”It would be foolish to do anything fatal with the child in earshot. We’ll have to table this discussion for another time, I’m afraid.”

She snapped her fingers, and the pirates began to lead them away. Xan never took his eyes off the spider. Not when Erin was being led back to his side. Not when they were all being pushed out of the room, Dyre giving a final wave as the doors shut in their faces.

They were all shoved into containment cells, Xan getting placed across from Saturn while Erin was locked somewhere a few soldiers away.

He looked down at his shackles, the image of the spider holding in his mind. Her hand on his cheek. Words whispered as she left him bleeding out in a rat-infested alleyway.

That spider.

He tugged at the chains.

Always were a pain in the tail. I’ll make you regret bringing the kid into this.

A crack ran through the shackles.