In-Su stood rooted to the spot, the taste of Magnolia’s kiss lingering on his lips. The unexpected gesture was electric, and for a moment, it was all he could focus on. Then, he felt the faint warmth of the tiny earpiece she’d slipped into his ear.

It crackled softly, a subtle, rhythmic pulse filling his head—almost like a heartbeat. And then he heard it: a low, melodic voice not his own.

“Prepare the chamber,” Magnolia’s voice instructed, her tone calm but commanding. “We’re out of time.”

A second voice replied, sharper, with an edge of urgency. “It’s ready, but we have to move fast. The timing is critical.”

The faint sound of movement followed—footsteps, perhaps? No, it was too soft, almost like whispers of air shifting through unseen corridors.

In-Su blinked, keeping his expression neutral as he turned slightly away from Hanjoon and Sela, feigning interest in the status monitors. The others were still reeling from Magnolia’s departure, but he couldn’t risk drawing attention to himself.

“Unbelievable,” Sela muttered, breaking the silence. She leaned heavily against the console, her arms crossed tightly. “She kisses you, drops a cryptic one-liner, and disappears. What are we supposed to do now?”

Hanjoon shrugged, his amber eyes narrowing as he stared at the sealed door Magnolia had walked through. “We do what we’re supposed to—hold the ship. Let her handle whatever she’s handling. She always comes back.”

In-Su only half-heard them. The voices in his ear continued, growing more distinct.

“The hive is in place,” another voice said, this one low and steady, almost soothing. “The process will initiate as soon as you activate the core.”

Magnolia’s reply was quiet, almost tender. “Good. Stay out of sight until I give the signal.”

The exchange sent a shiver through In-Su. Her words weren’t meant for him, but he could feel the gravity behind them. This wasn’t just Magnolia improvising her way through a crisis—she had planned this. And whoever she was talking to wasn’t part of the crew.

Hanjoon turned to In-Su, his expression skeptical. “She didn’t say anything useful before she left, did she?”

“No,” In-Su lied smoothly, giving a quick shrug. “Just the usual—‘trust me.’”

Sela scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Figures.”

In-Su said nothing more, letting their conversation wash over him while he focused on the voices in his ear.

“Magnolia,” one voice said, lighter, almost teasing. “Are you sure about this? There’s no undoing it once it’s done.”

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Her response came instantly, firm and unwavering. “I’m sure. It’s the only way to protect them.”

In-Su’s jaw tightened. He wanted to speak, to demand answers—but she wasn’t speaking to him, and revealing he could hear her might only complicate things. Whatever she was doing, it was dangerous. And knowing Magnolia, it would involve sacrificing more of herself than she ever let on.

“Keep the ship steady,” Hanjoon said, his voice cutting through In-Su’s thoughts. “We’re not out of the woods yet.”

In-Su nodded, masking the storm of emotions brewing inside him. As he pretended to monitor the console, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this time, Magnolia wasn’t just keeping secrets. She was walking into something none of them might be able to pull her out of.

And he was the only one who had even a glimpse of what was happening.

“Here.”

In-Su heard the voice in the ear piece and before him as one of the Pets appeared. It pressed a sword into In-Su’s hand. With less care, it threw blasters at Hanjoon and Sela.

In-Su blinked as the sword's weight settled into his grip. It was unlike any blade he’d ever held. The metal gleamed with a faint, otherworldly sheen, intricate patterns running along its surface, pulsing softly with an inner light. His fingers tightened instinctively around the hilt as he processed what had just happened.

Hanjoon caught the pair of blasters the Pet had tossed with ease, spinning one in his hand before inspecting it. “Not complaining, but who the hell decided to arm us?”

Sela, meanwhile, had picked up her blaster from the floor, eyeing it warily. “Better question: where did that thing come from?”

In-Su shrugged, hiding his unease as he turned the blade over in his hands. “No clue. It just… showed up.”

The voice in his earpiece returned, low and urgent. “Stay close to them. Defend the bridge. You’ll know what to do when the time comes.”

He glanced around subtly, ensuring neither Hanjoon nor Sela noticed his distraction. The Pet’s sudden appearance was strange enough without adding the fact that Magnolia—or whatever was speaking through her Pets—was orchestrating all of this.

“Why do I only get a sword, though?” In-Su muttered, more to himself than anyone else. He lifted it experimentally, feeling the balance shift perfectly in his hand. The weapon seemed to hum in response, as if alive.

Sela snorted, raising her blaster. “Maybe it’s because you’re better at looking cool than shooting straight.”

Hanjoon smirked, sliding one of the blasters into his holster. “Or because someone thinks you’re the dramatic type. Swords are flashy.”

In-Su rolled his eyes but kept his focus on the weapon. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the sword wasn’t just a weapon—it was meant for something specific.

“Don’t lose it,” the voice warned again, quieter this time, almost like a whisper. “It’s meant for you.”

The Pet’s presence had been fleeting, but the weight of its appearance lingered. Whatever Magnolia was doing, she had thought far enough ahead to arm them in preparation. In-Su had no idea what they were about to face, but the quiet insistence in her voice left no doubt: they were walking into something big.

Sela glanced toward the sealed door Magnolia had left through, her brow furrowed. “She’s up to something. And we’re just supposed to sit here and wait?”

Hanjoon’s tone was firm, though his amber eyes betrayed a flicker of unease. “We hold the bridge. That’s our job.”

In-Su didn’t answer, his thoughts elsewhere. As the faint hum of the sword resonated in his hand, he couldn’t help but wonder: what exactly was Magnolia expecting him to do with it?