Declan darted out of the elevator, his pulse racing with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. As the doors slid shut behind him, he emerged onto the roof of the towering Van Holdings Ltd. headquarters, a bastion of power and influence in the heart of Mars' bustling corporate district. The sweltering heat engulfed him immediately, the sun's merciless rays beating down upon the scorched landscape. He glanced at his timepiece, realizing that his pickup—a planet-side hovercraft—was due to arrive in a mere two minutes. Every second counted.

  His recent maneuver to sell off the subsidiaries and auxiliary companies of Van Holdings Ltd had been a risky move, but it was a necessary one. The Galactic organization that his parents had built had become burdened by corruption and mismanagement. Declan, determined to salvage what remained, had made the difficult decision to shed the excess weight, consolidating resources and regaining control. However, this act earned him some powerful enemies, individuals who resented his efforts to clean up the family business.

  Declan's sharp gaze swept across the rooftop, scanning for any signs of potential danger. The wind whispered through the towering structures, carrying with it the distant hum of hovercraft and the cacophony of the city below. The heat distorted the air, creating a hazy mirage on the horizon. He had learned to trust his instincts, to be vigilant in a world where trust was a rare commodity.

  Moments later, his keen ears detected the faint sound of approaching footsteps. He ducked behind a ventilation unit, his heart pounding as his hand instinctively reached for the concealed blaster holstered at his side. The footsteps grew louder, more distinct, echoing across the rooftop. Declan's grip tightened on the weapon as he prepared himself for a confrontation.

  Suddenly, a sleek black hovercraft materialized on the rooftop, its anti-gravity propulsion system gently lowering it to the ground. The vehicle's engine hummed softly as the doors slid open, revealing a familiar face—Maxie, an aloof and skilled pilot who had earned Declan's trust over time. Maxie's piercing eyes met his, silently conveying the urgency of the situation.

  "Declan, we need to hurry," Maxie urged, her voice laced with concern. "There have been reports of suspicious activity in the area. We can't afford to stay exposed for long."

  Declan nodded, his mind racing. He knew he couldn't waste a moment. With his military-grade augmentations offline due to a recent malfunction, he relied on his instincts and skills more than ever. He swiftly made his way toward the hovercraft, feeling a sense of vulnerability without the extra layer of protection his augments provided.

  Maxie wasted no time, expertly maneuvering the hovercraft into action. The powerful engine roared to life, propelling them forward with swift acceleration. They soared above the cityscape, rising higher into the Martian sky, leaving their pursuers behind.

  The wind whipped through Declan's hair, offering a temporary respite from the blistering heat. He stole a glance back at the receding buildings, a mix of relief and melancholy coursing through his veins. Van Holdings Ltd. had been his family's legacy and dismantling it had been both a necessity and a painful reminder of the burden he carried.

  As they flew across the desolate Martian landscape, Declan's mind swirled with questions. Who were his enemies? What was their agenda? And most importantly, how deep did the corruption within Van Holdings Ltd. run? He knew he couldn't afford to trust anyone blindly, not even those who claimed loyalty.

  The hovercraft's navigation system displayed their destination— the hover field it was time to get the hell off Mars and back to his own part of space. With the city skyline fading into the distance, Declan's determination hardened. He would protect his siblings, expose the truth, and dismantle the corrupt forces that sought to undermine him.

  The journey would test his limits, both physically and emotionally, but he was prepared to embrace his role of the villain in the dark in every uncertain part of the galaxy. The scorching skies of Mars mirrored the fire burning within Declan's soul, propelling him forward on a path that would reshape not only his destiny but the fate of those he cared for.

  The planet-side hovercraft touched down at the hover field, its engines winding down as the dust settled around them. Declan and Maxie exchanged a tense glance, both aware of the danger that awaited them. They had arrived at their destination, but the sight before them sent chills down their spines.

  Waiting at the hover field was a shuttle to get them off Mars, its sleek design contrasting with the harsh Martian terrain. Surrounding the ship were eight mercenaries, their menacing presence evident in their armored suits and weapons held firmly in their hands. But what gripped Declan's heart were the figures held hostage in their grasp—his younger siblings, Nora and Conner.

  Declan's jaw clenched as he felt a surge of anger and fear. His protective instincts kicked into overdrive, overshadowing any thoughts of self-preservation. The mercenaries had underestimated the lengths he would go to protect his family.

  "Gunther," Declan spoke into the comm link, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. Gunther, his eyes in the sky and a trusted ally had been monitoring the situation from afar. "What's the status? Can you provide any assistance?"

  Static crackled over the comm before Gunther's voice came through. "Declan, I've got eyes on the situation. There's a cache of weapons and armor in a nearby hangar. If you can make it there, it'll level the playing field."

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  Declan's gaze hardened as his mind processed Gunther's words. He knew what he had to do. Without hesitating, he motioned to Maxie, signaling her to stay hidden with the hovercraft. Silently, they shared a moment of unspoken understanding before Declan slipped into the shadows, moving stealthily toward the hangar.

  His heart pounded with each step as he avoided the mercenaries' line of sight. The heat of the Martian night clung to his skin, heightening his senses. His mind raced, calculating strategies and contingencies. He had to rescue his siblings and neutralize the threat.

  Reaching the hangar entrance, Declan paused, his breath held in anticipation. He surveyed the area, assessing the best approach. The hum of machinery filled the air as he cautiously slipped inside. His eyes adjusted to the dim light, revealing row upon row of weapons and suits of armor—tools that would provide him with the advantage he needed.

  With quick precision, Declan armed himself, strapping on the protective gear and selecting the most formidable weapons from the cache. The weight of the armor settled on his shoulders, a physical manifestation of the wrath he carried. He steeled himself for the impending confrontation.

  As he made his way back to the hover field, a new sense of determination coursed through Declan's veins. He was no longer just a man burdened with the weight of his ancestor’s legacy; he was now a force to be reckoned with—a protector willing to defy the odds.

  Returning to Maxie's side, his gaze met hers, a shared resolve passing between them. It was time to act, to free Nora and Conner from their captors and dismantle the threat that loomed over them. With the acquired weapons and armor, they would face the mercenaries head-on, fighting with every ounce of strength they possessed.

  Pain seared through Declan's chest as the 2.23 bolt pierced his right pectoral as he stepped slightly out and towards the shuttle. He stumbled backward, his grip on the blaster momentarily loosening. Instinctively, he called upon the training the marines had instilled in him, pushing through the agony. With a silent nod to Maxie, they shared a glance that conveyed their unspoken plan—the battle had begun.

  Declan's training kicked in; his mind focused on the immediate objective. Ignoring the searing pain, he swiftly sought cover behind a nearby stack of crates. The mercenaries' weapons blazed with lethal intent, bullets ricocheting off the metallic surfaces around him. He assessed their positions, analyzing their movements and vulnerabilities.

  Maxie wasted no time and sprang into action. Her lithe form darted across the hover field, evading enemy fire with agile grace her military augments firing on full tilt. She returned suppressive shots and 3 of the mercs fell, providing Declan with a reprieve and a chance to strategize.

  Taking advantage of the chaos, Declan rallied his determination. He assessed the battlefield, and using his enhanced senses to anticipate his adversaries' movements he fired off two precision shots and dropped another merc.

  With calculated precision, he unleashed a barrage of counter-fire, effectively suppressing the mercenaries and buying Maxie the opportunity to flank them from the side. Their combined efforts created a deadly crossfire and they successfully dropped one each, forcing the mercenaries to take cover and reassess their strategy.

  Declan's injured chest throbbed, but he pushed through the pain, his focus unyielding. He knew time was of the essence. He needed to free Nora and Conner before reinforcements arrived or the mercenaries regrouped.

  Maxie's nimble form weaved through the firefight, her blaster cutting through the air with deadly accuracy. Her movements were swift and calculated, complementing Declan's tactical approach. Together, they created a harmonious dance of firepower and precision this hadn’t been the first time.

  As the battle raged on, the last two mercenaries' resolve wavered. Their initial advantage had been eroded by the sheer determination and skill of Declan and Maxie. Declan seized the opportunity, capitalizing on a momentary lull in enemy fire. With lightning speed, he advanced toward the spaceship where his siblings were being held captive.

  With a full push forward as Maxie applied suppressive fire; he reached the ship, Declan took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. The door stood as an imposing barrier between him and his siblings. With a determined grit, he forced it open, revealing Nora and Conner huddled inside with the two mercs guarding them, their faces etched with a mix of fear and relief.

  Declan's presence infused them with renewed hope. “Impressive shooting” The guard that looked to be the leader of this bunch of men waved his blaster around saying. Declan chose not to reply and only aimed forward ‘Wow, wow, young master we don’t need more death here right” he pointed behind his back at the pilots and Declan did a shake of his head and pulled the trigger of his blaster dropping the other merc as he was distracted by Maxie's firing.

  “Who sent you” Declan's barrel locked on the man as a gasp jumped from his throat. “Wait, wait, Shit, they didn’t tell me you were this fucking skilled damn, look it was just a job thrown up on the Merc sites ok nothing too personal just… you know off a couple of people” Declan gave him nothing but a blank stare. “Shit look all I know is the job was from a Corp oof in the distance, I looked just to make sure I didn’t want a hand in nothing the big ones had going” The same blank stare met him, “Name” Declan’s finger settled on the trigger once again. “Fairy’s Gate, the one on Orion 98” The merc slowly stepped away from the siblings as he spoke keeping his hands up.

  “I'll let you go, Let the guild know you completed the contract, GO!!” Declan snapped and the merc took off without a moment’s hesitation. He took a deep breath as his nerves relaxed. With Nora and Conner safe, the weight of responsibility lightened momentarily for Declan. Yet, his duty was far from over.

  As the final echoes of gunfire subsided, silence settled upon the hover field. The mercenaries lay defeated, their threat neutralized. Declan's chest heaved with exertion, blood trickling from his wound, but his spirit remained unbroken. Nora and Conner, their faces streaked with tears, approached their protector with a mix of awe fear, and gratitude.

  Together, they stood amidst the aftermath of the battle, the scorching Martian winds carrying away the remnants of conflict. “Gunther” Declan gather the kids and ushered them out of the shuttle to meet Maxie “I’m here lieutenant” Declan scanned the area and the flashing lights out in the distance worried him “Make sure you have the merc’s Name and metrics and send it over to me, were going to need a new pick up fast” He spoke as his gazed landed back onto the kids and a smile split his lips. “Already in route, and I got it already, Let Maxie know her pickup is at a new location I sent to her” There was a pause then “Declan this will be the last time ill be providing watch, I was proud to serve with you” Declan looked up to the sky and with a salute and a grin he aimed at the sky as the line cut.

  “Corporal Perdie, It was a pleasure as always and great shooting” Declan saluted and reach out clasping arms with Maxie, She didn’t respond the signs of surprise played over her face “As always sir” She choked out. “Ohh yeah your new pickup was sent to you good luck and stay safe” She nodded and ran off just as the new shuttle settled down.

  Declan wasted no time in shooing the kids into it and the pilots pulled off quickly bursting through Mars barrier and heading for the waiting spaceship.