Nigel had never been so happy to see anyone in his life. His friend Treeka removed the tube thing from his neck. A pinch, then an increasing soreness were reminders of the debauchery that Doc Chop was capable of.

“Nigel, are you with us?” Treeka said.

“Yeah, and I’m happy to see you—and Dahlia.”

“Madam,” Vedrana said.

“You did good, kid, and you’re worthy of my girls,” Dahlia said.

Nigel had never heard such praise, and from the Black Heart, no less.

“I love all of them.”

“That means more than you can ever know. I’m sorry about your father.”

Nigel wiped away bittersweet tears of joy and sorrow.

Dahlia began removing the IVs from her girls. She freed Vedrana and Eva. Treeka was removing the IV from Aiko when a beam of light shone onto Dahlia.

“Get down!” Nigel said.

Dahlia turned, reaching for her gun. Time slowed to a crawl for Nigel. The sensation was both familiar and heartbreaking. It was like he knew what was coming next. More drones crammed into the confined space. Red lasers shone across Dahlia's face. She raised her pistol and shot. Two of the closest drones exploded, taking out a dozen more that were trying to gain entry. A wave of fear gripped Nigel. His assault on Doc Chop's fortress had been going so well. No! It couldn't end like this.

"Behind you," Treeka said as she fired her gun toward the drone horde.

Dahlia was hit multiple times as the machines opened fire. Her wounds looked grievous. No one could have survived such an onslaught. Blood and milky pink liquid oozed from her wounds. She collapsed.

Eva screamed. "No, she can't..."

Vedrana snatched her blade and charged the drones. Eva got to her feet and punched one drone head on. It bounced off the wall and made a whizzing noise just before falling to the ground. Vedrana sliced another in half. Nigel watched as his companions turned the metal menaces into a heap of scrap. Blood flowed from Dahlia's mouth, and she reached for something at her belt. Nigel went to her. She coughed up more blood. Nigel's heart sank as he realized that she had little time left.

"She needs her boost," Treeka said.

"Her what?" Nigel asked in a confused tone.

Treeka dove toward Dahlia and reached for something on her belt. She opened a pouch and removed something that looked like a cross between a syringe and a test tube. Treeka lifted Dahlia's leather top to reveal a metal plate. She tapped it until a tiny hatch popped out. Treeka put the cartridge looking thing into the opening in Dahlia's side, who gasped and reached out. It was like she was trying to grab something just out of reach. She collapsed and lay motionless.

"Is she dead?" Nigel asked as teared welled up in his eyes.

Treeka shook her head. "She's reprocessing."

"What does that mean?"

"It's like resetting a computer. The injection contains many small robots that will heal her."

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Nigel squirmed. It reminded him of the nanites that burrowed deep inside him.

"She will live?" Vedrana said.

Otherworldly screams of something inhuman echoed throughout the room.

"She's in a delicate state—we must protect her," Treeka said.

The room shook violently. It was like the ship was being torn apart.

"Something's coming. We must be ready," Aiko said.

Nigel's companions formed a protective circle around Dahlia. Whatever was coming seemed big and angry. Nigel grabbed the weapon the drones were using. It was an enormous-looking machine gun. But it was lighter than it looked. A gigantic metal hand ripped a section of wall. A monstrosity that was a cross between a body builder and giant robot barely fit inside the hallway. The head and arms were human, but the rest of its body was a shiny metal that seemed to attract all the light in the room. Corners of the control center darkened. It was like this creature was pulling all the light into itself. A single whistling sound emanated from the robot.

"In den Wolken kampfen?" the metal man said.

Nigel recognized the language—it was German.

"Yes, we fight for the madam in the clouds," Eva said, charging.

What the hell is he saying? What do the clouds have anything to do with it?

The robot flung Eva into the air like she was a pesky fly. Treeka shot at the thing’s head. One of the bullets penetrated flesh, but a protective shield covered its head. The metal menace laughed, its voice boomed throughout the room. Aiko sliced at one of its hands and her blade stuck. The creature flung it off with a flick of its wrist. The robot pointed a hand at Blanka and an arc of electricity shot toward her. She screamed, then writhed on the floor like a fish out of water. Nigel opened fire, The gun kicked back, and he shot more of the ceiling than the metal man. He dodged a blow that would have injured him if it had landed. He ducked behind one of the gigantic computers.

“We haven’t been introduced. I’m Melvin, the good doctor’s contingency,” the metal monstrosity said.

“The doctor is defeated,” Nigel said.

The protective shield lifted and a grotesque head that appeared to be half-melted met his gaze.

“It is pointless to fight. I will lay us all to rest soon enough.”

Treeka replaced her clip on her gun, then resumed firing. A slot opened out of Melvin’s midsection and several darts flung toward Treeka. She raised an arm to protect her head, and several of the projectiles struck her. Aiko and Vedrana attacked from behind and were sent flying; they landed hard and lay motionless. Nigel hoped they weren’t dead. The metal brute seemed to get stronger with every counterattack.

“Leave them alone and fight me,” a commanding female voice said.

To Nigel’s amazement, it was Dahlia. She looked as if she had been dragged behind a car for miles. He couldn’t believe it, she was still alive.

“I stand with my—sister in arms,” Treeka said.

The two cyborgs stood tall before the enormous robot. Dahlia and Treeka shared a look, then charged Melvin. Treeka fell to her knees, produced two knives from her belt, and plunged them into the robotic torso. Dahlia leaped into the air, then punched the robot’s protective helmet. It shattered. She pulled back a bloodied, robotic hand. Treeka punched the robot in its back, then pulled out some wires. Melvin screamed. Dahlia wrapped her powerful legs around the mutant assailant's head and leaned back. She appeared to be strangling it. A gurgling sound came from her prey. It stumbled. Dahlia and Treeka repositioned themselves for another attack. Dahlia garroted the robot. An oily liquid, unlike anything Nigel had seen, sprayed from the robot. Dahlia coughed up more blood, then collapsed. Treeka screamed as she ripped more wires and tubes from the robot. More oil poured out, then Melvin finally stopped moving.

“Are you alright?” Treeka asked.

Nigel’s head spun. A constant ringing sensation filled his mind.

“Yes, but are they alive?”

Treeka waved her hands over the bodies of his companions. “They are down, but will live.”

Nigel’s vision blurred. He was hearing Treeka’s words, but wasn’t processing. The room spun then—nothingness washed over him.

Nigel awoke to a pandemonium of anguish. Dahlia was stroking Vedrana’s hair. Eva and Blanka huddled around a dying Dahlia. Tears streaked across their beautiful faces.

“You can’t die. We still have so much to learn from you,” Eva said.

Vedrana hugged her sister and burst into tears. Nigel got up and laid a comforting hand on each of their shoulders. Blanka joined in the embrace.

“She saved us,” he said, tears forming in his eyes.

The emotion was raw and visceral. He had hated Dahlia for killing his father, but he loved her as well. In that moment he forgave her for what she had done to his family. His heart went out to his companions and lovers. Treeka and Aiko looked on as Nigel, Blanka, Vedrana, and Eva hugged, kissed, and grieved.

“I’m so sorry,” Aiko said.

“We lost too many, but we’ve come too far to stop now. Doc Chop has to die—now!” Treeka said.