Complicated does not even begin to cover it.
Finding a coin in your laundry is complicated.
Finding a massive, biological warship floating above a colony like a dead whale is a catastrophe waiting to happen.
Ragia stared at the main screen.
The static from the transmission had cleared just enough to reveal a bio-signature code. It was faint. It was flickering like a candle in a hurricane.
But…
It was there.
"Verify that ID," Ragia ordered. His voice was low.
Tonix tapped her console. Her fingers moved fast.
"Signature confirmed, Capt," Tonix said. She looked back over her shoulder. Her face was pale. "It is the Reinstall. The flagship of the Vixia VII squad."
Ragia cursed under his breath.
The room went silent.
You might be wondering why everyone looks like they just saw a ghost. Well, they did.
The Vixia VII squad was legendary.
Not because they were strong like Explorer 7, but because they vanished. Six months ago, they went on a patrol near the Saturn ring and never came back. Reagalus declared them KIA.
Killed in Action.
Gone.
And their Inquor?
"Lacrosse… Lacrosse Diesels," Ragia whispered. He leaned forward, resting his hands on the console. "Connect me to the source of that transmission. Now!"
"Patching it through," Tonix said.
The audio crackled. It sounded wet. Like someone was speaking through a mouthful of blood.
"Xeca..." The voice was female. Trembling. "This is Velele. Melito of the Vixia VII. Please... is anyone there?"
"This is Captain Ragia Quarso of the Xeca," Ragia replied. "We hear you, Velele. Status report."
"Capt Quarso?" The voice sobbed. It was a sound of pure relief. "Oh thank God. We are... we are trapped. Deck four. The main cargo hold."
"Is Lacrosse with you?" Ragia asked.
"He is here," Velele whispered. "But... Capt... he is in bad shape. He lost… he lost… his legs."
The air in the command center got heavy.
Legs.
Gone.
Just like that.
I know what you are thinking. You are thinking, "Just doing a Felt!"
But…
It does not work like that.
"We tried," Velele continued, her voice dropping to a terrified hush. "But he is too weak to initiate. And I... I am drained. We cannot perform the act. We cannot recharge. And we cannot move because..."
She stopped.
In the background of the transmission, there was a sound. A low, rhythmic fluttering. Like thousands of paper fans beating against the air.
"Butterflies," Raya said. She was standing next to Ragia. Her face was illuminated by the blue light of the hologram. "They are dormant. If they wake up..."
"They swarm," Ragia finished. "And they are venomous."
Ragia stood up straight. He adjusted his jacket. He looked at the screen, then at his crew.
"Alright," Ragia announced. "We are going in. Rescue mission. Standard search and extraction."
"I will prepare the team," Iya said. "Full assault squad. We can blast a path through the hull."
"Negative," Ragia shook his head. "No blasting. No loud noises. Those Butterflies are sleeping on a hair-trigger. If we wake them up, Lacrosse and Velele are dead before we even breach the door. We need to be quiet. Surgical."
He turned to the scientist.
"Prof," Ragia said. "You are with me. Just you."
Raya froze. She adjusted her glasses. She looked at Ragia, then at the screen, then back at Ragia.
"Capt," Raya said slowly. "I am experiencing a significant sensation of déjà vu."
She was right.
It was familiar. It was terrifyingly familiar.
Let me explain it to you. Two years ago, back in the original records, there was an incident. Chapter Eight to be precise. Ragia and Raya went into a Gyra alone. Just the two of them. They tried to be sneaky. They tried to be heroes.
And…
What happened?
Ragia got stabbed through the heart. He almost died. It was the moment that started the whole mess with the red light and the transformation and the...
"Hey!"
Ragia looked up… right at me.
"Narrator," Ragia growled. His golden eyes narrowed. "Stop bringing up old plot points. We are on a schedule here. Lacrosse is bleeding out."
My apologies.
I was just trying to give them context. You know, for the new readers who did not read the first book.
"Focus on the mission," Ragia snapped. "I have a plan."
"A plan?" Raya asked skeptically. "Does this plan involve you getting impaled by a Krall scout again?"
"No," Ragia smirked. "This plan involves not being stupid. Stealth... is good at hiding, but her Wonderwall is too loud. Arala... is a walking earthquake.
"You are the only one who can scout ahead without a sound."
"My clones," Raya realized.
"Exactly," Ragia nodded. "Shadow Constructs. They don't make noise. You send them in. They find the path. We follow. Easy."
"Statistically," Raya muttered, tapping her chin. "It is the most viable option. However, my emotional centers are registering a high level of anxiety."
"Join the club," Ragia said. "Navi, bring us close. Match their rotation. We are jumping across."
"Aye, Capt," Tonix said.
Ragia looked at Iya. She looked worried. Her hand was gripping his arm tight.
"I will be back," Ragia whispered to her. "Ten minutes. In and out."
"You better," Iya replied. "Or… I am coming in there with the Gatling Rose and waking up every bug in that ship."
Ragia kissed her forehead. Then he turned to Raya.
"Ready, Prof?"
"Ready is a strong word," Raya sighed. "But I am present."
They headed to the airlock.
The transition was smooth.
Xeca extended a docking tube, latching onto the side of the rotting, organic hull of the Gyra.
The air inside the alien ship was cold. It smelled of ammonia and old blood. The walls were ribbed, pulsing faintly with a dying bioluminescence.
"Quiet," Ragia whispered.
They moved into the corridor. It was dark. Shadows stretched long and twisted against the floor.
"Scouts out," Ragia signaled.
Raya nodded. She closed her eyes.
Three clones materialized from the darkness. They were silent. Ethereal. They moved forward, blending perfectly with the shadows of the ship.
Ragia watched them go. He checked the blaster on his hip. He checked the vial of GX-778-C in his pocket.
This was it.
The sequel to the nightmare.