Droids lined up one by one, their recorders ready and waiting.

"Elisia! Come out and face me! Elisia! Elisia!"

Sasha cleared her throat, taking a step back. After a series of chimes, she heard the call echoing through her many robotic companions.

"Elisia!

"Elisia!"

"Come out!"

"Elisia!"

"Face me!"

"Elisia!"

She smiled, nodding proudly at her handiwork. It was the perfect diversion, courtesy of her brilliant staff partner. Given the AIC saw her as a problem, it made sense they'd try to take her down the minute they heard her voice. Especially with the droids wreaking havoc in the capital. It was a foolproof plan.

"Let's see them try and ignore this," she said. "You ground troopers ready?"

They all chimed in unison.

"Then get to the exit hatch, stat! Move! Move! Move!"

They all rolled, ran, and flew past, Sasha beaming as she watched her little army go. To think just months before she'd been afraid the robots would turn on her in her sleep. Now look at her. The acting commander of a droid army. Facing down the most powerful organization in the cosmos. Granted, they were only really doing a hit-and-run, but that didn't change how proud she felt. How strong she felt.

You got this, Commander Sasha. You're gonna get in there, get out, and fly far away from Athena with your liaisons in tow.

She nodded to herself, ignoring the massive pit in her stomach.

And hopefully, she'll have forgiven you by then.

She looked over to her silent friend, Iris watching the navi-bots as they were pulling the ship out of warp space.

The black expanse of a solar system appeared in the view window, a planet dwarfing them in size floating ahead. Along with the few ships Sasha had no idea would be hovering outside its atmosphere. Cripes! Warnings flashed across the command deck consoles.

"They're targeting us as hostile," PD1 said.

"Orders?" asked PD2.

"Cripes! Get us ground level now!" Sasha shouted as the ships started opening fire.

Their ship dived away, Sasha and Iris both dropping as it spun to avoid getting plastered by all the lasers. They both grabbed the nearest things bolted to the ground, navi-bots speeding ahead to dive straight onto Athena. Lasers and turbulence sent warning flashes across the ship, Sasha squeezing the edge of nearby table for dear life.

"We're coming in hot! Get ready!" Sasha screamed.

They were moving past the stratosphere, parting clouds as more blaster shots came. Land was approaching fast, but given they'd already started making noise, Sasha doubted they'd have the time to drop and split up like she'd hoped. They'd have to resort to Plan C.

"Iris!" she called.

The wolf looked over.

"I'm going out there!" she said. "Are you coming or not?"

It came out a little harsher than she liked, but it was hard to stay cool and collected when you were being actively shot at. And she could feel her window to make a clean break slipping the more attention they got. They were already high above the nations, the tops of buildings barely visible.

"Iris?"

"I am!"

The wolf pulled out her rapier. Sasha nodded, her field activating so she could move to the intercom without getting tossed around.

"All droids, the hatch is opening! Let's go kick some tail!"'

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

She quickly hit the switch, letting the army she'd cultivated all dive for the city below. She patted PD1 and PD2.

"Keep them off the ground troops. And fingers crossed we'll all see each other with this over."

They chimed in response, Sasha immediately zipping over to Iris, stopping to extend her hand. The wolf didn't fight her this time, letting Sasha pull her up so they could both launch for the exit. Sasha was flying out just as their ship started opening fire.

Good luck, you guys. And thanks.

She zipped in the opposite directions of everything.

***

Zeus was supposed to be one of the older gods who had control of thunder. According to her commpad, he once led a whole group of them back before humans became space-worthy. And they decided to name the prison where all the intergalactic threats were housed after him. A part of Sasha wondered why. If gods were held there, did that include Zeus himself? She swallowed at the thought as she and Iris flew over the large compound.

Fort Zeus was as well fortified as Sasha expected. Turrets and droids stood mounted along the rooftops watching the grounds and skies for disturbances. A few targeted them even, though Iris putting up her field helped to keep them off the radar. They flew past armed soldiers riding tanks. Electrically reinforced fencing. A barrier which seemed to envelop a large section of the compound. One which had the most defenses out of them all.

That's gotta be it. Guess we'll have to find a way past that barrier.

She jerked down to the ground, adjusting her position so they could both land quietly on a nearby rooftop.

As well protected as Zeus was, there were no blind spots Sasha could find which were particularly exploitable. The only reason she didn't get gunned down on sight was thanks to Iris keeping them invisible. Whether they were intangible, though was another question altogether. One which Sasha decided to pose later as she focused on creating safe areas for them to operate.

"Let's try and take out some of these turrets," Sasha whispered. "Preferably without getting shot. Ready?"

The wolf nodded, both crouching and springing forward the moment Iris's barrier came down.

Smashing a droid to bits without making any noise was easier said than done, but it was nothing a bit of gravity couldn't fix. She needed only touch them with her staff to make the bots fold in on themself, sparking from the damage. She made quick work of three while Iris took out two with her stab and vanish attacks. Watching her in action, she was able to at least confirm one of her theories on how Iris's powers worked. She couldn't attack while dematerialized.

"Iris," she asked. "By any chance can you pass through barriers and stuff?"

The wolf shook her head. "Only walls."

So she was intangible. But then...

"What about people?"

"Nope."

"Water?"

"Still gets in my fur."

"Lava?"

"Maybe. Never tried."

Sasha nodded. So as long as they avoided swimming or volcano jumping, they'd be fine. She smiled at the thought. And to her surprise, she saw the wolf crack a smile as well. They both turned their attention to the faraway barrier-enforced sector. Soldiers were riding towards it.

"I can phase through objects, too," Iris said. "Those tanks look solid enough."

Sasha extended a hand. "Let's go hitch a ride, then."

They both zipped in the tank's direction, landing atop the vehicle and phasing right into it. Though a little dark and cramped, they were fortunate enough to not find a thousand soldiers riding within. It was mostly crates and supplies. Dried foods. Sasha gave them a sniff and instantly recoiled. These guys eat this stuff? Gross. Iris took a seat on one of the crates, Sasha sitting beside her.

"We should be careful from here on," the wolf said.

"Right. Gotta be more guards in there considering it's full of gods and stuff."

"Spirits."

"Okay, Cici."

Iris rolled her eyes at that. It wasn't much, but it was something Sasha forgot how much she missed.

The vehicle around them finally came to a halt, Sasha listening around as she heard muffled voices and footsteps. A quick check from Iris confirmed they'd gotten past the barrier. She extended her hand out, field reactivating.

"Stay close, Sash."

They both leapt through the door, landing on a slab of metal. They were finally in the heart of Fort Zeus. Sasha looked back to see the barrier shimmering in all its useless glory. She stuck her tongue out at it.

"Phase two compl-"

Her heart dropped the instant she turned back around.

Along the long hallway that led to the inmate housing units, several soldiers stood facing their direction. None of which held blasters of any kind. No, Sasha's eyes were instead drawn to the many different weapons they held in their hands. The knives. The axes. The hammers. The several dozen sword varieties. All of which appeared out of thin air.

Oh. Cripes.

She did not sense a single graduate signal, but she knew her own kind when she saw them. Especially considering the man who stood at the head of the pack, his knife twirling in his hand with his usual casual flair. He was smiling directly at the two of them.

Graduates. Crap. Well, at least they can't-

"They're right in front of us. Wolf's got her barrier up."

Sasha winced, the voice slightly familiar though she couldn't place the name. Even so, it was hard to deny the tiger looking right in their direction.

"You really are predictable, Panther," Alexander said.

She groaned.

Holy cripes.