In the blink of an eye, Arachna's body shimmered until it was completely translucent.

What in the void was that voice?

"Hello, new pilot," the computerized voice continued. "Would you like me to engage in repair mode? I see you are attempting to—

Click

She switched off the miniature speaker inside the helmet, silencing the artificial voice. Odd, how she knew exactly how to do that. It was incredibly loud for such a small component. There must be some sort of advanced amplification field in use.

"What game is this," Vapor said, clenching her teeth. "What have you done to my X-48?" She ran toward Arachna, still eying the two marines.

"Nothing, just—"

Uh oh, Arachna thought. She had to bet that the rifter didn't see her yet. Arachna looked down at the helmet. It had turned translucent too. The fact that she'd panicked and activated her stealth cloak had somehow transferred to the device.

Think, fast.

There had to be a way out of this mess. The rifter known as Vapor was peering down over her but didn't seem to see anything. Maybe she wouldn't find Arachna after all?

Vapor raised her weapon and aimed at the two marines. Her tone was violent yet stern as she spoke through clenched teeth. "That helmet is worth more than you'll make in a lifetime. What did you do with it?"

"N-nothing, I swear," Sam said.

"Me neither," Kenzo said, nodding, his legs shaking.

Arachna sized up the helmet. There was no way it would fit through the air ducts up above. It was only a matter of time before someone figured out that it was invisible, right?

So she decided to abandon the device and head for the ducts above without it. Maybe she could escape while her stealth cloak was still active?

Wait.

Her subconscious mind pulled on her to turn around. There was something there. Something valuable that she'd need. But what?

She peered inside the device. It was strange how the inside of the helmet remained visible even while the outside was completely transparent.

There was a tiny motherboard embedded into the side of the opened panel with thousands, no tens of thousands of microscopic components. What in the Xither?

There.

She didn't think. Instinctively, she knew what she needed. Engineer Carlsen knew what she needed. With her right hand, she grasped a small chip no bigger than her index finger and pulled it out — a quantum chip.

The helmet shimmered, turning visible once again even while Arachna's body remained cloaked.

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"Quantum processor disabled," the voice said in a flat tone. "Missing quantum components needed."

"What in the void?" Vapor said, jerking her head back in the direction of the helmet, which rested on the ground, now visible to the naked eye.

"See, there it is," Sam said. "Told you we didn't take it."

Vapor picked it up as Arachna silently stepped away, still holding the quantum chip. Whatever it was, it seemed important. If she made it out alive, she'd have a chance to collect her thoughts and maybe even discover knowledge buried deep inside her.

Arachna climbed a loose thread of silk that she'd left dangling from the air duct and silently made her way up to her escape.

"This thing is damaged," Vapor said, examining the helmet. "Says it won't work."

Her face turned a slight tinge of red as she spoke, her hands clenched into fists. "What. Did. You. Do." she said slowly.

Sam put his palms up and stepped backward. A bead of sweat dripped down from his forehead. "Like I said, we didn't do anything."

"Who are you working with?" Vapor said, her hand on her sidearm. "I'm no fool. X-48 components are worth a fortune on the black market."

"Why don't you put that thing down and we'll discuss this?" Kenzo said.

As they spoke, Arachna dangled in mid-air.

"Listen," Kenzo said. "I'm sure this is just a misunderstanding. Maybe it was damaged when you woke from cryo?"

Vapor raised her weapon and pointed it at Kenzo then she turned her head to face Sam. "Tell me who you're working with or he dies."

"If you kill him, you'll be court-martialed," Sam said. "Calm down, please."

Bam

Vapor pulled the trigger, dropping Kenzo, who fell to the ground dead.

"Guess, I'm at two headshots," Vapor said. She turned her gun back to Sam who by now had raised his own and was aiming it back at Vapor.

The two stood facing each other, guns raised, in a standoff. "Guess it's your turn."

"You'll be executed for this," Sam said. "Killing a fellow soldier."

"Military rule," Vapor said, her lips curling upward. "Commander Rip's orders. Insubordinates may be shot. I'd say stealing an X-48 constitutes substantial insubordination."

"If you kill me," Sam said, shakily. "You'll die too. Don't think I can't pull just as fast as you can."

Vapor lowered her weapon, holstering it in place. "Fine," she said. "I just want to know who stripped my X-48 of its quantum core while we have Krath loose on the ship."

"I told you," Sam said. "I have no idea. Maybe it was damaged when you came out of cryo."

Vapor shook her head and spoke gently to Sam. "If you tell me, I'll let you live."

"You're in no position to talk," he said. "I'm going to walk out of the room, slowly. You are not going to move."

Sam slowly sidestepped, making for the door.

"I'm afraid I can't let you leave," Vapor said, her black hair wavering as she shook her head. She slowly reached for her sidearm.

Sam immediately responded and fired on her, holding clutching his weapon in both hands.

As he fired, a blue field shimmered around Vapor like a translucent bubble that glowed at the points the bullets came in contact with it.

Arachna's eyes widened from her perch within the air duct above. What had she just seen? That's right — there were three powers that powerful rifters had — the second of which was creating defensive force fields around themselves.

"That's impossible," Sam said. "You can't rift without your X-48?"

"Not impossible," Vapor said, narrowing her eyes and raising her sidearm. "Now tell me who damaged my X-48."

Sam dropped his weapon and raised his hands in the air. "I told you, I swear, I have no idea."

"Maybe you're telling the truth," Vapor said. "Unfortunately for you, mind-reading isn't a power for rifters. This is your last chance."

"Please," Sam said.

Bam

"Three," Vapor said, shaking her head. "Guess I win."

Sam crumpled to the floor, the bullet burrowed deep into his skull.

"Commander Rip is going to have a field day," Vapor mumbled to herself. "This will cost a fortune to repair." She picked up the damaged X-48 and holstered her sidearm.

As she made for the door, she knelt down before Sam's body and fished into his pockets. Pulling out his wallet, she fumbled through it and retrieved his ration card. She pocketed the card, patted the dead man on the head, and left the room.

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Quantum chip