The bridge of the Wildflower was a storm of activity. Hanjoon stood at the central console, his amber eyes sharp and calculating as he scanned the incoming Syndicate ship’s trajectory. Lee and Sela flanked him, their hands flying over their respective consoles, working to maximize the Wildflower’s already impressive defensive systems.

“They’re hailing us,” In-Su said from the comm station, his usual flirtatious ease replaced by a grim determination. His dark eyes flicked over the controls. “Want me to answer, or let them stew?”

“Let them stew,” Hanjoon said flatly. “We need every second to figure out their angle.”

Sela, ever pragmatic, chimed in. “Their weapons are primed, but they’re holding position. They’re waiting for something. Or someone.”

“Magnolia,” Lee said, his voice tense. He turned to Hanjoon. “This can’t be a coincidence. They must know she’s on board.”

Hanjoon’s jaw tightened. “They don’t get her. Not today.”

The Syndicate ship loomed larger on the main screen, its dark hull bristling with weaponry. A predator lying in wait. Hanjoon’s mind raced, considering their options. The Wildflower was fast, but in a direct fight, the Syndicate’s firepower could overwhelm them.

“We’re running low on jump fuel,” Sela said, her tone clipped. “We can’t keep hopping indefinitely.”

“Then we don’t run,” Hanjoon said.

That caught everyone’s attention.

Lee raised an eyebrow. “You’re suggesting we fight? Outgunned and outmanned?”

“No.” Hanjoon’s lips curled into a faint smirk. “I’m suggesting we make them regret underestimating us.”

In-Su tapped into the ship’s external sensors. “Their shields are strong, but I’m picking up a faint fluctuation on their port side. Looks like a recent repair.”

“Good,” Hanjoon said. “Focus all firepower there if it comes to it. But we’re not firing unless we have no other choice.”

The tension on the bridge was palpable.

“Joonie,” In-Su said, his voice quieter now, “if this goes south...”

“It won’t,” Hanjoon said firmly. “Magnolia will have a plan.”

“Speaking of Magnolia,” Lee said, glancing over his shoulder toward the door leading to the lower levels. “She’s been quiet.”

“Too quiet,” Sela added, frowning. “Whatever she’s up to, it better be good.”

The comm console lit up again, the Syndicate’s hail growing more insistent.

“Still ignoring them?” In-Su asked.

Hanjoon nodded. “Let them make the first move.”

Before anyone could respond, the bridge lights dimmed, and the Wildflower’s hum deepened. A sense of presence filled the room, subtle but undeniable.

“What the hell—” Sela began, but she was cut off as the bridge door slid open.

Magnolia stepped in, flanked by her hive.

Hanjoon’s eyes widened as he took in her appearance. The battle suit she wore was unlike anything he’d seen before, its sleek, glowing design radiating power and authority. The translucent wings flexed slightly behind her, catching the faint light in a way that was both mesmerizing and otherworldly. Her hive moved with her, their own suits a perfect blend of beauty and ferocity.

Magnolia’s silver eyes, glowing faintly through her helmet, locked onto Hanjoon.

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“We’re not running,” she said, the weight of her declaration falling over her crew. Magnolia's words rang out, cutting through the tension that had gripped the bridge. Her voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable command to it, a quiet authority that stilled the room. “Let them board us.”

For a moment, the bridge was silent, save for the hum of the ship’s systems. Hanjoon was the first to speak, his eyes narrowing as he processed her command.

“You’re sure about this?” he asked, his voice low and cautious.

Magnolia didn’t flinch, her silver eyes unwavering as she looked at him. “They think they can intimidate us. Let them come. We’ll show them what happens when they underestimate the Wildflower.”

Lee stepped forward, exchanging a glance with Hanjoon. “And if it’s a trap?”

“Then we make sure they regret it,” Magnolia replied with a calm that was almost unnerving. She turned to the console. “Viera, get the systems ready. We need every advantage.”

Viera, now clad in her own combat suit, nodded without hesitation, her fingers moving swiftly over the console as the ship's defenses powered up. “Already on it.”

Sela stood by the comm station, her brow furrowed. “If they’re coming in hot, we need to clear the landing area. No time to lose.”

Magnolia nodded, her expression sharp. “You’re right. Everyone, get to your stations. We’re going to give them a welcome they won’t forget.”

As the crew went into motion, Magnolia turned to her hive. The pets, still in their sleek, battle-ready suits, stood alert and ready.

“Ready?” she asked them.

They nodded, their expressions determined and fierce. Rahim, the eldest of them, stepped forward, a deep growl rumbling in his chest. “We’ll fight to the end, Magnolia.”

Magnolia’s gaze hardened. “Then let’s make sure they never forget the Wildflower.”

The bridge fell into a focused, synchronized rhythm as the crew prepared for the inevitable clash. The Syndicate ship was moving in quickly, its sensors no doubt pinging the ship's location, but Magnolia knew what they didn’t: the *Wildflower* was no ordinary ship. It was alive, and with her bond to it, she could feel every inch of it, every system pulsing with energy.

They had everything they needed. All they had to do now was hold the line.

As the Syndicate ship drew closer, the crew braced for impact, the air thick with anticipation. A battle was coming—but this time, the Wildflower wouldn’t just survive. It was going to fight back.

In-Su watched with a quiet, almost admiring gaze as Magnolia’s fingers danced through the air, pressing invisible buttons in the space around her. With every motion, her battle suit seemed to shift, merging seamlessly with ceremonial robes that draped her form like a whisper of ancient power. It was an uncanny sight—Magnolia was a figure of strength, yet her grace, the ritualistic nature of her actions, grounded her in something deeper, something far older than the fight ahead.

Her silver eyes dimmed back to their usual blue as she nodded once, the subtle signal that she was ready. The crew could feel it too—the shift in energy, the certainty in the air that rippled through the ship. It was as if the *Wildflower* itself recognized the change in her.

As if on cue, her pets disappeared into the shadows, their movements swift and silent. Rahim’s hulking form was nowhere to be seen, nor Sira’s mischievous grin, but the ripple of their presence could still be felt, like distant, calculated eyes watching from the edges. The Wildflower had become something more than just a ship—it was a living force, a hive in its own right, and the crew was its heart.

Magnolia, dressed now in robes of sacred design, glanced toward the comms station. Her posture was that of a warrior ready to face whatever came next, but there was an otherworldly calm to her. She was no longer simply a part of this battle—she was its commander, its guiding force, and her connection to the ship, the Forge, and whatever the future held could be felt in every fiber of her being.

With a slow, deliberate breath, she raised her hand and signaled her acknowledgment to the incoming hail. The screen flickered to life with the image of a Syndicate officer—a faceless figure in a dark uniform, whose words held a cold bite.

“Magnolia Tova,” the voice came through, mechanical and clipped. “You’ve made a mistake by showing yourself.”

Magnolia’s lips curved into a knowing smile. She let the words sit for a moment, the weight of their threat thick in the air. The crew behind her was ready. The ship, alive and resonant, seemed to hum in agreement.

“I don’t think I’ve made a mistake,” she replied, her voice a quiet, measured strength. “But you’ve underestimated me. And you’ll soon regret it.”

Her silver eyes flicked over to the controls as the Syndicate officer began to speak again, their words no longer carrying any weight. The tension in the air thickened, but it wasn’t just the impending fight that drew her focus—it was the way the *Wildflower* responded. With her command, the ship shuddered slightly as it prepared, its defenses humming in sync with her intent.

The Syndicate officer froze for a second, as if sensing something was off, but it was too late. Magnolia’s battle suit and the robes now fully intertwined, glowing with an ancient energy.

Her pets, silent as shadows, were ready. And the Wildflower was no longer just a ship—it was a force, and so was she.

The officer's eyes narrowed. “I see... this won’t be as easy as we thought.”

With a final, almost imperceptible nod from Magnolia, the comms link cut. Silence settled once more over the ship. It was time.