Only the best assassins on the ship were drafted for their rescue mission.
On the long list of potential candidates, Gabriella had narrowed it down to only those who she trusted with her life. The people who'd been with the Black Web for years. Who'd fought with her. Trained with her. Unfortunately, one of those pirates happened to be her least favorite weasel.
"Long time no see, little kitty," Beetle said, as they appeared in his room. She resisted the urge to claw him on the spot.
Even if she'd gotten over the whole drugging incident, the man was an unapologetic tailbrain that rivaled the likes of Mercury in terms of annoyance. What even did he do all day besides stir up fights on the ship? She balked at his existence. If only he didn't look so much like Mr. Erin the two could be siblings. Cripes, I'm glad his panda friend's not here. She groaned.
"Try to get along, you two," Gabriella said as they went to retrieve the other members.
Beetle flashed a grin and she flashed her fangs. Thankfully, the rest of the assassin team was more palatable.
Everyone came running for the shuttles just as Sasha spotted Cici and Iris preparing to leave. The former stopped the door close sequence so she could give Sasha a parting wave, even grabbing Sulky's hand so she had to do it too. Sasha smiled, waving back. They never were great at working together, but she had little doubt those two would make a good team. Cici had the brawn. Iris had the brains. Put them together and they'd make mince meat out of the Comet Man.
Gabriella waved her hand, ushering everyone onboard a different shuttle.
"Alright team," she said. "Strap in and be ready for anything. There's no telling what we're descending into."
"Probably a bunch of monsters and screaming," Beetle said.
Gabriella shot him a look and he went quiet. Something that made Sasha admire the human girl even more.
The doors of the exit hatch rose open, a shimmering barrier preventing them from getting sucked into the vacuum of warp space. The Iris/Cici shuttle flew off first, passing through and disappearing on their journey. Sasha took a spot by the window, hanging onto her seat as the engines of their tiny ship sprung to life.
"Let's not forget why we're doing this," Gabriella said. "Do not treat this mission lightly."
The shuttle flew forward, metal sliding through the barrier before they were greeted to the waiting void of warp space below. The exit hatch slammed shut behind them, their pilot taking control to steer them away from Dyre's ship and on the path to the AIC capital. However long that would take.
"The fate of the empire rests in our hands," Gabriella went on, "Even if we stop the Light Binder, everything will collapse if the AIC falls completely. We will not let it fall completely. Understood?"
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Everyone, including both Sasha and Beetle, answered with a unanimous, "Yes, sir!"
The small girl nodded, smoothing out her blouse and finally taking a seat next to Sasha. Only then did it seem her drill sergeant demeanor relaxed, Gabriella drawing in a breath. Sasha gave her a small nudge. She nudged her back.
"Permission to speak freely, sir?" one of the pirates asked.
Gabriella smiled. "Yes, you may all speak freely now."
And that was all it really took for the tension to leave the air, jokes getting thrown out almost immediately.
"Only a little destruction, guys, remember?" someone was saying. "No blowing up the capital."
"Yeah, that means you, Beetle," another chimed.
"Oy, it's the kitty you gotta worry about. Not like I'm the one who can summon a nuke at will."
The talks went on like this for a while, Sasha rolling her eyes while Gabriella seemed to laugh along with everyone else. For someone who'd just given a big speech about the importance of their mission, she could see the girl relaxing the more time passed. Something Sasha was happy to see.
Between being the leader of a rescue mission and the Black Web's lifeline, she could tell her friend had a lot on her mind. Even as much as she could try to hide it.
But then, that really made two of them. Sasha stared out the window, the voices around her drowned out as she found herself for the umpteenth time wondering about her liaisons. If they were being hurt. If the AIC took care of them. If they were being put through the wringer just to squeeze out information. That was the worst thought she'd always tried to push aside. But it always kept coming back. As if the AIC hadn't done much worse to others.
These were the people that bred her to fight, after all. Who wanted her as a tool. She squeezed her hands.
I swear if they hurt them...If she let them get hurt...
Gabriella's touch brought her out of her thoughts.
"Nervous, Sasha?" she asked.
She hadn't realized until then that she'd been scowling. The panther quickly recovered, wiping off the angry look.
"Sorry," she said.
Gabriella shook her head, giving her a nudge.
"Don't be like that, Sasha. Friends support friends, right?"
She flashed a smile. One that made the Panther feel a little guilty.
That was right. This wasn't just her mission anymore. She had friends counting on her. Friends to save and friends to protect. Friends who relied on her to do her part so they could all see each other when the smoke cleared. Sasha ran a hand through her hair, the highlights a constant reminder. Not just of the fox who'd always been there for her. But of all the others who'd come in her wake.
She snickered.
"Guess it's just like Delilah said. The waves of the sky really do bring smooth sails, huh?"
There was a scoff from one of the pirates.
"Oh great, she got you doing that Delilah crap too?"
Both Gabriella and Sasha flashed their brightest smiles.
Given the cosmos were on fire around them, they both took full advantage of what little reprieve they had. By the time they reached the AIC, Sasha was fully prepared to take on the army.