The weight of the past pressed heavily on Kressos' chest as he tried to process the torrent of memories flooding his mind. His thoughts, once clear and compartmentalized, had become a chaotic storm of images, sounds, and emotions,his life before the Nexus, his love for Adelaide, the sound of his daughter’s laugh. But it was all jumbled, tangled with guilt, rage, and confusion. He had never asked to be this weapon. He never chose to become a drone. But it happened, and now he had to live with it.

  Adelaide was there, watching him closely. Her presence was a calming force, though he still couldn’t fully process the whirlwind of feelings that surged when he looked at her. Her eyes, once a place of quiet refuge, now seemed to carry a deep sadness he didn’t understand.

  She sat beside him, gently taking his hand, offering a silent connection. The woman who had once been the center of his world was now a stranger, yet at the same time, the only person who could help him find his way back to who he truly was.

  “It’s going to take time,” Adelaide murmured softly, her voice steady but filled with the weight of everything she had carried in his absence. “I know you’re confused, Kressos. We both are. But we’ll figure this out.”

  He looked at her, pain and longing in his eyes. “I didn’t… I didn’t want this for you. I didn’t want to leave you, or become… this.” He waved a hand over his body, at the armor and the modified form of a man he had become. “I was taken from you.”

  “I know,” she replied, her voice trembling slightly. She cupped his face in her hands, forcing him to meet her gaze. “But you’re here now. That’s what matters. We can’t change the past, but we can shape the future.”

  Kressos nodded, squeezing her hands gently. “I’m sorry.”

  The words didn’t feel enough, but they were all he had to offer.

  It wasn’t long before their daughter entered the room.

  Kressos had not expected the encounter. How could he? The child that had once been a baby, innocent in her crib, was now ten years old. His memories, fragmented as they were, couldn’t quite prepare him for the sight of her. She walked into the room, holding a small cloth doll in her hands, her wide eyes shining with a quiet curiosity. She froze the moment she saw him.

  The room felt still, as if the world itself had taken a collective breath.

  And then, she ran.

  Kressos didn’t know what to do. His legs felt frozen, his heart thumping wildly in his chest. This was his daughter, the little girl he had never seen grow up, never held, never kissed goodnight. She had become a memory, a shadow, a figment of his past life. And now, here she was, alive and real in front of him.

  The little girl, with her golden hair, flushed cheeks, and bright eyes that mirrored his, launched herself into his arms. He was caught completely off guard, but the sensation of her warm body against his chest shattered the walls he’d built around himself. Her small arms wrapped tightly around him.

  “I knew you’d come back,” she whispered.

  Kressos’ throat tightened. He couldn’t speak for a moment. His mind swam with memories of her as a baby, of her first steps, her first words. All the things he’d missed.

  But she was here now, in his arms.

  The emotions hit him like a flood, the raw, painful realization of everything he had lost, but also everything he was reclaiming.

  He held her close, trembling, as if she might disappear if he let go. The warmth of her embrace grounded him. She felt like home. She was home.

  Adelaide stood by the door, watching them, tears streaking down her cheeks. She had waited so long for this moment. And here it was, unfolding before her eyes. The man she had loved, the father of her child, was back. But now, they had to face the truth of what had happened, and what was to come.

  They stayed there for a long time. Kressos held his daughter, letting the reality of the moment settle into him. His memories, though incomplete, were becoming clearer with each passing second. His daughter, his beautiful daughter, was ten years old now, and it was as if the weight of ten years of absence was crashing down on him.

  Finally, he spoke, his voice hoarse. “I missed so much of your life. I wasn’t there to see you grow up.”

  “You’re here now,” she said softly, pulling away from him to look up at his face. “You’re here. That’s all that matters.”

  Kressos nodded slowly, but his heart was heavy. It was too much, too sudden. His daughter, his family,they were here, but there was still so much darkness surrounding them. They were on the brink of destruction, and his return didn’t change that.

  Adelaide sat beside them, looking at Kressos with a quiet intensity. “We have a lot to talk about, Kressos,” she said. “Our world is on the edge of collapse. The Nexus will not stop coming for us, for you. They’ve seen you on the battlefield. They know you’re here. And they’ll want you back.”

  “I’m not going back,” Kressos growled, his anger rising. “I’m not going to be their weapon anymore.”

  “We don’t have a choice. They’ll come for us,” Adelaide said gently, but with unwavering certainty. “The war... it’s not over yet. It’s only just begun.”

  Kressos took a deep breath, his gaze flicking between Adelaide and their daughter. His heart ached with a new intensity as he looked at the family he had lost, but now had again. His sense of duty and his desire for revenge on the Nexus, for everything they had taken from him, burned in his chest like a fire that had been stoked far too long.

  “I’ll stop them,” he promised. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you. I won’t let them take my family again.”

  Adelaide’s eyes softened, her hand reaching for his. “We’ll do this together. We always have.”

  Kressos nodded, his resolve solidifying. This was no longer about just surviving. This was about reclaiming everything they had lost and stopping the Nexus from tearing apart everything that mattered to them. The fire that had once been extinguished inside him was reigniting, fueled by the love of the woman before him, the child in his arms, and the war they would now fight together.

  As the day drew to a close, the reality of their situation began to settle in. They couldn’t afford to stay hidden. The Nexus would find them eventually, and they needed a plan. Kressos, Adelaide, and their daughter had all spent so many years apart, each one surviving in their own way. But now they were together, and for the first time in so long, there was hope. Hope that, no matter what came next, they would face it together.

  As night fell, Kressos looked out into the darkness beyond their stronghold, the distant hum of machines and the flickering lights of the Nexus’ war machines pulsing in the distance.

  He was ready for what was coming. They all were.

  The Nexus had no idea what was about to hit them.

  The morning air was thick with an unsettling hum, a low vibration that seemed to run through the very bones of the planet. Kressos stood at the edge of the stronghold, his eyes narrowing as he felt the presence of the Nexus mothership descending from the stars above. It was closer now, looming like a massive shadow in the sky, its engines humming with the promise of devastation. He could feel it. He could feel them.

  For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he stood not as a soldier, but as something more. The memories of who he once was,the leader, the father, the man who loved fiercely,had flooded back, but they came with a heavy burden. The guilt, the shame, the regret… They were all there, haunting him.

  But with this burden came a power, an undeniable advantage. Kressos had been in the belly of the beast. He had been a cog in the Nexus war machine, a mindless drone whose every thought and movement had been controlled by their programming. But now, now he was free. And with that freedom, he realized something that made the weight of his past bearable: He knew them. He knew how they fought, how they moved, how they strategized.

  The Nexus Empire had always been an offensive force. They were always on the attack, never having to defend. And that, that was their weakness.

  He felt it now, the knowledge buried deep in his mind, like a well of power that he had only just begun to tap into. The Nexus had never prepared for a war on their doorstep. They had never had to.

  And now, he would use that to his advantage.

  The stronghold was a sight to behold. Built into the jagged cliffs of a mountain range, it was a fortress of stone and steel, its walls adorned with banners that fluttered in the wind,symbols of a people who had fought for generations to preserve their way of life. The architecture was a blend of ancient Khesteri craftsmanship and salvaged technology, creating a unique, almost alien aesthetic. Towering spires of steel stretched upward, while below, the market bustled with activity. Merchants shouted over the noise, selling everything from handwoven fabrics to scraps of salvaged tech, while families walked among the stalls, going about their daily lives despite the looming threat overhead.

  The air was thick with the smell of cooking meat, herbs, and spices, a reminder of the resilience of the people here. Despite the war, despite everything, they had built a community,one that was thriving, surviving, and unwilling to bend to the will of the Nexus.

  Kressos walked through the marketplace, stopping briefly to acknowledge those who recognized him. One by one, people greeted him warmly, shaking his hand, offering hugs, and even children running up to give him flowers. He was overwhelmed by their gestures, their faith in him. It was as if they had never given up hope that he would return, even after all these years.

  One woman stepped forward, her eyes filled with gratitude and respect. “Kressos,” she said, her voice soft but steady. “We’ve been waiting for you to come back for so long. Don’t tear yourself up for what happened. We know what happened. What’s important is now, and our future. Lead us to victory, Kressos.”

  Her words struck him to his core. He hadn’t expected to feel this. To feel the warmth of their love, their trust. He nodded, barely maintaining his composure. “I promise,” he managed to say, his voice rough with emotion.

  And just like that, the guilt, the pain, the uncertainty began to shift. He wasn’t alone anymore. He had a family, a people who believed in him. They were with him now. And he would not fail them.

  When Kressos entered the war room, the atmosphere shifted immediately. The room fell into a quiet hush as everyone turned to face him. Adelaide stood by the map table, her hands resting lightly on the surface, her eyes meeting his. There was no anger, no fear in her gaze,only the calm certainty of a woman who had fought her own battles and won.

  One of the captains, a seasoned warrior named Graven, spoke first. “General Aramis,” he said, his voice carrying across the room. “We’ve been spotting Nexus guard movements here and here,” he pointed to several spots on the map. “It would be a tactical advantage to strike them now,they won’t expect it.”

  Kressos’ gaze flicked across the map, taking in the positions of the Nexus forces. He could already see the movements, the patterns, the weaknesses. He nodded, his mind already working, calculating. Then, with a slow, deliberate step forward, he spoke.

  “Alright,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “I know this is awkward for everyone, but hear me out. We need to outsmart them. If they manage to launch their attack, we are done for. Trust me. Take it from someone who’s been among them, who knows them inside and out. We need to take the war to them. They’ve never defended. That’s a protocol they never even considered. And it’s our advantage.”

  The room was silent. The weight of Kressos’ words sank in. He wasn’t just talking about strategy,he was talking about their survival.

  Graven spoke again, his voice tinged with doubt. “That’s a bold move, General. But we’re the last stronghold. We’re weakened. We can’t take much more. Our air base nearby is already occupied by Nexus forces, and we have no fighters here.”

  Kressos’ eyes darkened. He knew what they were up against. He had seen the brutality of the Nexus firsthand. But he also knew what he had to do.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “Then we take it back tonight,” he said, his voice steady.

  Adelaide stepped forward, her expression thoughtful but resolute. “You’re right,” she said softly. “We can’t wait. But we need to move quickly. If we strike now, we may have a chance to cripple their forces before they launch their full assault. But we need to act fast.”

  Kressos nodded, his mind already working through the logistics. “We have the element of surprise. And we have the advantage of knowing how they operate. Let’s use it.”

  The plan was set in motion.

  The night sky was dark, and the air was heavy with anticipation. Kressos stood at the head of the small team of elite fighters, all wearing the same darkened armor that made them nearly invisible under the cover of night. They moved silently, the only sound the soft crunch of boots on the dirt paths as they made their way toward the air base.

  The base was a sprawling complex, its defensive perimeter lined with guard towers and reinforced gates. The Nexus forces inside were well-prepared, their weapons locked and loaded. But they were not ready for what was about to happen.

  Kressos moved quickly, his mind calculating every step. He led the team to the outer walls, where they planted explosive charges on key structural points. The plan was simple,create a diversion, breach the perimeter, and take the fight directly to the heart of the Nexus forces.

  He didn’t hesitate.

  The charges went off, sending a shockwave through the air. The guards scrambled, disoriented, as the gates shattered and the fighters surged forward. Kressos and his team fought their way through the chaos, each movement a perfect blend of precision and power. The Nexus forces fell back, unable to cope with the sudden onslaught.

  The night was thick with tension, the smell of smoke and burning metal already in the air from the explosion that rocked the outer walls of the base. Kressos led his team, moving like shadows across the barren ground, each step calculated, each move deliberate. The Nexus soldiers had no idea what was coming.

  The moment the explosion hit, chaos erupted. Screams filled the air as the outer gate crumbled to the ground, the reinforced steel buckling under the force of the charges. Dust and smoke billowed up into the night, swallowing the view. Kressos moved forward, his boots heavy against the earth, the sound of gunfire and shouts growing louder by the second.

  "Move, move!" Kressos shouted to his team, his voice low but urgent. His body was a well-oiled machine now, driven by instinct and muscle memory. The battle had already begun, and there was no room for hesitation.

  Adelaide was beside him, a blur of motion, her dark armor cutting through the smoke like a knife through butter. She didn’t need words. Her movements spoke for her. She leapt over the debris, her sword flashing in the dim light. She was a dancer, a whirlwind of lethal grace, slicing through the Nexus soldiers like they were nothing more than training dummies.

  Each move was precise,one moment she was in front of a soldier, her blade carving through his throat, and the next she was behind him, her foot planting in the back of another’s knee as her blade cut through his midsection in one fluid motion. Her agility was unmatched; the way she spun, flipped, and dodged bullets left even Kressos in awe. She didn’t just fight; she flowed.

  Kressos didn’t wait. His fingers tightened around the grip of his rifle, his eyes locking onto the nearest group of soldiers. They didn’t see him coming.

  He fired.

  The first soldier’s head snapped back, the round hitting him square between the eyes. He dropped like a ragdoll, lifeless before he even hit the ground. Kressos didn’t flinch. He moved with purpose, reloading as he advanced.

  A soldier to his right raised his weapon,Kressos dropped low, sliding on the ground, narrowly avoiding the spray of bullets. The second soldier tried to reposition, but Kressos was already there. He twisted his body, his rifle aimed in the air, pulling the trigger in one smooth, calculated motion.

  Headshot. The soldier collapsed before his brain had time to process his impending death.

  Kressos didn’t stop. He was already moving forward, his body shifting, ducking under a blast from an automatic cannon. He was close enough now that the sound of gunfire seemed muffled in his ears, the adrenaline pumping too hard in his veins to hear anything else.

  The soldiers scattered, confused, scrambling to react. They had underestimated him.

  And that was their mistake.

  Kressos leapt onto a crate, gaining higher ground. He fired two quick rounds, two soldiers dropping before they could even react. Then he jumped down, landing with a thud in the middle of a group of soldiers who were trying to flank his team. His rifle was useless now. He threw it aside and pulled out his knife,a dark, sleek blade forged for close-quarters combat.

  The first soldier swung his rifle toward Kressos, but he was too slow. Kressos blocked the swing, twisting the soldier’s arm and flipping him onto the ground. He drove the knife into the man’s chest before he could scream. The others didn’t hesitate. They opened fire.

  But Kressos was already moving.

  He rolled to the side, the bullets flying past him, kicking up dust as they missed by inches. With a grunt, he sprang back up, his knife slashing across one soldier’s throat, blood spraying across his arm. Another soldier tried to rush him with a rifle butt aimed for his head. Kressos twisted his body, catching the strike and disarming the man in one fluid motion. He punched the soldier in the face, knocking him out cold, before spinning on his heels, facing the next threat.

  His body was alive with rage, with the heat of vengeance fueling his every movement. Every soldier that fell was one less memory of what he had become,a mindless killer, a drone of war.

  Adelaide was still by his side, her blade cutting through the smoke like a demon in the night. She was everywhere, her movements almost too quick to follow. She didn’t need weapons for most of the enemies,she took them out with precision kicks, disabling their limbs, disarming them effortlessly. She was a perfect counterbalance to Kressos’ brute force,together, they were unstoppable.

  He didn’t have time to check on her. He was in his zone, focusing on the task at hand. He needed to push through. He needed to make them pay for everything they had taken from him.

  A soldier took aim at Adelaide, a high-powered rifle trained directly at her head. Kressos saw it, his instincts kicking in. Without thinking, he threw himself toward her, using his body as a shield. The bullet hit his side, sending a shock of pain through his body. But he didn’t stop.

  He spun around, his knife flashing, and he tore into the soldier’s side, burying the blade deep in the man’s ribs. The soldier fell, gasping for breath as blood poured from his wound.

  Adelaide spun around to face him, her eyes wide with concern. “Kressos!”

  “I’m fine,” he growled, his breath ragged but his resolve unbroken. “Focus on the fight.”

  She hesitated but nodded, her focus returning to the battlefield. Kressos looked around, noting the strategic positions of the remaining Nexus forces. He saw where their weak spots were, where their lines were breaking. He pushed forward, each step a testament to his resolve.

  He could hear them now,two soldiers behind him, charging. He didn’t need to turn around to know where they were. With a growl, he jumped to the side, ducking under the incoming shots before taking cover behind a stack of crates. He pulled out his rifle, the weight familiar in his hands. His breathing slowed as he took aim, steadying his aim before releasing two clean shots, one after another.

  The soldiers fell.

  He scanned the battlefield, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He was on the hunt now. He was no longer fighting for survival; he was fighting for something else. Something bigger. He fought for the people who had never stopped believing in him. For his family. For his home.

  And then he saw it.

  The Nexus mothership, descending through the clouds like an iron behemoth.

  They were not going to stop. But neither was he.

  The battle outside had escalated. The remaining Nexus soldiers began to retreat, but the true threat still hung in the air. The Nexus mothership hovered overhead, its massive cannons aimed directly at the base.

  The situation was dire.

  Kressos turned back to the team. “We need to fall back,” he barked, his eyes scanning the remaining Nexus forces. “We’ve done enough damage. We need to regroup and prepare for the final assault.”

  Adelaide nodded, her eyes locked onto Kressos. The fight had been brutal, but they weren’t done yet. “What’s the next step?”

  “We take the fight to them,” Kressos said. “They think they have us on the run, but they’re wrong. We’ve got one more strike left.”

  His eyes were burning with determination. He knew what was at stake. This was it. This was the moment that would decide everything.

  And he wasn’t about to lose.

  Not now.

  Not ever.

  With one last glance toward the Nexus mothership, Kressos turned and began to lead the charge. The fight was far from over, but now, for the first time in years, he felt like he had a chance.

  The air was thick with anticipation.

  The massive Nexus mothership hung low in the sky, like a shadow descending upon their world. Every minute it stayed up there meant certain doom. The cannons aboard would soon begin their devastating bombardment, and on the ground, Nexus forces would flood the surface. There was no time left to waste.

  The makeshift war room was buzzing with frantic energy. The map on the table was cluttered with red marks, enemy positions, and contingency plans. Kressos stood in the center of it all, his eyes scanning the situation. His mind, once a blank slate from the Nexus reprogramming, was now razor-sharp with clarity and understanding of his enemies.

  The realization had set in. They couldn’t win by simply playing defense,they had to take the fight to the mothership. They needed to take out the ship's propulsion system, destroy it from within, and crash it to the ground. The ship was the key to their survival.

  Kressos slammed his fist on the table. “We have to act now. If we wait until they’re in full swing, we’ll be wiped out before we have a chance to retaliate. We take out their propulsion. We take out the heart of their force.”

  The room fell silent as the gravity of his words sank in.

  “We only have ten fighters. Ten. That’s all we have left. But we still have the element of surprise.”

  One of the young captains, his face drawn with exhaustion, spoke up, “And what do we do after the attack? What if they retaliate? What if they launch a full assault on the base?”

  Kressos’ eyes darkened. He was already calculating every move. “Adelaide, you’ll hold the ground here. You stay and defend the base. If they manage to land any soldiers, we need you here to push them back.”

  Adelaide’s face hardened, her jaw tight. She shook her head. “No, Kressos. I’m not leaving your side. Not again. You can’t do this alone.”

  He stepped closer to her, his eyes softening, though his resolve remained firm. “Adelaide, you’re the heart of this place. Without you, this stronghold won’t last. We have to do this together, but in different ways. You’ll keep them at bay here. You’re the only one who can hold the line if they break through.”

  She stared at him, her breath catching in her throat. She didn’t want to accept it. She didn’t want to risk losing him again,after everything they’d gone through, everything they’d fought for.

  Her hands trembled, and she whispered, “I can’t lose you again, Kressos. Please. I need you.”

  He cupped her face gently, his thumb tracing her cheek. “I know, love. I know.” His voice cracked for a moment. But he gathered himself. “But I will come back to you. Nothing will ever stop me from coming back. You and our daughter will be waiting for me. I promise.”

  His words hung in the air, a mixture of steel and tenderness. The truth of them seeped into Adelaide’s heart like a slow ache. She nodded, but there was hesitation in her eyes. She didn’t want to let go, not even for a second.

  Kressos leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers. “I love you. I always have, and I always will.”

  Adelaide swallowed the lump in her throat, nodding. She placed her hand on his chest, feeling his heart beat beneath her palm. The same rhythm that had carried them both through endless battles. She kissed him softly, a brief but deep connection of two souls who had survived the unthinkable.

  And then, as he pulled away, she stood back, her eyes resolute. "Go. I’ll hold the line here. You fight with everything you have. Come back to me.”

  With one final, lingering look, Kressos turned and walked out of the war room, his boots echoing against the cold, metal floor. As he stepped out into the hangar, the fighters were lined up, ready for launch.

  He climbed into his fighter, his hands steady as he strapped himself into the cockpit. A blast of heat and exhaust filled the air as the engines roared to life. The heavy doors slid open, and Kressos' ship shot into the sky, slicing through the atmosphere like a blade.

  The skies above were a chaotic mixture of smoke, fire, and the distant rumble of war machines. Kressos piloted his fighter with unparalleled precision, weaving through a barrage of laser fire. Below him, the Nexus mothership loomed, its massive bulk threatening to blot out the stars themselves.

  The propulsion system was located in the underbelly of the mothership, heavily shielded but not invulnerable. Kressos had studied it all,every weak point, every security breach, every hidden defense. He knew exactly where to strike.

  He wasn’t alone. The ten remaining fighters, loyal to Kressos and Adelaide, flew in formation beside him. The atmosphere crackled with energy as they prepared for their final assault.

  Kressos’ fingers danced over the controls as he gave the command. “On my mark. Stay focused. We go in fast, and we hit hard. No mistakes.”

  His voice was like steel. The roar of the engines echoed in his ears as he prepared for the most critical maneuver of his life.

  “Three... two... one... mark!”

  The fighters descended like hawks, streaking toward the underbelly of the mothership. Kressos' heart pounded in his chest, but his mind was clear. He had no room for doubt, no room for fear. Only action. Only the mission.

  He was closing in on the propulsion system now. The Nexus ships moved in a defensive pattern, launching barrages of fire at him. He banked hard, narrowly avoiding a blast that left a trail of smoke behind him.

  The rest of the team followed his lead, breaking through the enemy lines, focusing on their assigned targets. Explosions lit up the air as missiles and bombs detonated across the hull of the mothership.

  But Kressos,he was going straight for the heart.

  He dove, aiming straight for the propulsion systems. A burst of enemy fire grazed the side of his ship, the shields flickering before coming back to life. His cockpit rattled, but Kressos held steady, calculating each moment like a chess master.

  He locked onto the target.

  “Fire!”

  His missile streaked toward the heart of the propulsion system, its heat-seeking lock inescapable. The explosion that followed was deafening. The ship shuddered as the propulsion system erupted in a massive fireball, sending shockwaves through the mothership.

  Kressos' heart raced. It was working. The ship was losing control.

  But then,his screen blinked red.

  The mothership was on a collision course with the planet. The system’s defenses were beginning to fail.

  “We’re out of time!” Kressos shouted into his comm, as his fellow pilots pulled back, evading the increasingly erratic fire coming from the mothership.

  He had done it. He had crippled it. But now, the fight was far from over.

  The mothership was going down.

  And so was Kressos.

  With no way to regain control of his ship, he sent a final message to Adelaide before the descent was too fast to stop. He knew, deep down, that he might never make it back to her.

  “I love you,” he said, his voice a whisper into the cold, infinite black.