Chapter 3: Skyborne Threats

  Scene 1: Cryptic Confrontation

  The Starlance soared through the crisp morning sky, its engines humming steadily as wisps of cloud drifted lazily past. The vast expanse of Aerona’s open skies stretched in every direction, golden sunlight illuminating the patchwork of trading routes below. Kael stood on the bridge, hands gripping the wheel, his mind still wrestling with Sierra’s warning from the night before.

  Jack perched on the console beside him, his golden eyes scanning the horizon. His wings twitched occasionally, a subtle signal Kael had come to associate with unease.

  “What’s out there, buddy?” Kael murmured, more to himself than the creature.

  The answer came sooner than expected. A glint of metal in the distance caught Kael’s attention—a small airship closing in fast, its sleek design marked by a faint glow of aetherium-powered engines.

  “Unscheduled visitor,” Kael said under his breath, adjusting their course slightly.

  The approaching ship signaled with a flash of lights, a universal request for parley. Kael’s grip tightened on the wheel. Neutral encounters were rare in these skies, and friendly ones even rarer.

  “Jack, keep an eye on them,” Kael said, his voice low. Jack chuffed in response, leaping to a perch that offered a better vantage point.

  Moments later, a voice crackled through the comm system. “Captain Kael Lawson, this is Syndicate business. Stand down and prepare for boarding.”

  Kael cursed under his breath. “Syndicate doesn’t send messages like that unless they’re up to something.”

  The smaller airship drew alongside the Starlance, maintaining a cautious distance. A figure appeared on the other ship’s deck, wearing a Syndicate pilot’s jacket but no visible weapons. The man gestured for Kael to come forward.

  Kael sighed, activating the ship’s comms. “What do you want?”

  The man’s voice came through, smooth and deliberate. “A conversation. Nothing more. I have... information you’ll find valuable.”

  Kael hesitated. Information meant leverage, and leverage came with strings. But refusing outright might paint a bigger target on their backs.

  “Fine,” Kael replied. “But keep your distance.”

  The Syndicate pilot smirked as he stepped closer to the edge of his ship. His movements were calculated, his demeanor reeking of confidence. “You’ve been making waves, Captain. The kind of waves that get noticed by the wrong people.”

  “Get to the point,” Kael said, crossing his arms.

  The man chuckled. “Impatient. Fine. The artifact you’re carrying? It’s more than just a relic. It’s a key. A very dangerous one. The Syndicate knows it. And now you’ve got their full attention.”

  Kael’s stomach tightened, though he kept his expression neutral. “If that’s all you’ve got, I’m not impressed.”

  “Oh, there’s more,” the man said, his tone darkening. “That key you’re holding? It doesn’t just open doors. It chooses sides. And right now, it’s choosing you. But if you’re not careful, it’ll choose to destroy you instead.”

  Kael’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because the Syndicate doesn’t lose,” the man replied coldly. “They don’t stop. You can run, you can hide, but they’ll find you. And when they do, they won’t offer warnings like this one.”

  Jack let out a low growl, his wings flaring slightly. The Syndicate pilot glanced at the creature, his expression flickering with unease.

  “You might want to start listening to your little friend,” he said, stepping back toward his ship. “He sees what you don’t.”

  Without another word, the Syndicate pilot signaled to his crew. The smaller airship pulled away, disappearing into the horizon as quickly as it had appeared.

  Kael exhaled sharply, gripping the wheel tighter as the Starlance resumed its course. Jack leapt back to the console, nudging Kael’s arm with his head.

  “Yeah, I know, buddy,” Kael muttered. “We’re in deep now.”

  The Syndicate’s warning wasn’t just a message—it was a promise. And Kael knew they wouldn’t stop until they had what they wanted.

  Scene 2: Syndicate Ambush

  The Starlance glided through Aerona’s skies, the golden light of midday bouncing off its polished hull. The tension from the morning’s encounter with the Syndicate pilot still hung heavy in the air. Kael sat at the helm, his eyes scanning the horizon, while Tov tinkered with a control panel nearby, muttering under his breath about unstable aetherium lines.

  Calla entered the bridge, carrying a stack of maps. “I’ve recalculated the route to avoid known Syndicate patrol zones. It’s longer, but—”

  Before she could finish, a sharp, rhythmic beeping filled the cabin. Jack, perched near the main console, growled low, his wings flaring as his glowing eyes locked on a flashing red icon on the radar.

  Kael’s head snapped toward the screen. “We’ve got company. Two ships closing fast.”

  Tov straightened, his expression grim. “Syndicate?”

  “Who else?” Kael replied, flipping a series of switches on the console. “They’re coming in hot.”

  The radar display confirmed his fears. Two smaller Syndicate ships were angling to intercept, their triangular profiles bristling with weapons.

  “Evasive maneuvers,” Kael ordered, gripping the wheel tightly. The Starlance banked hard to the right, its engines roaring as it veered off course.

  The first Syndicate ship opened fire, bright bolts of energy streaking past the Starlance and illuminating the sky. The second ship closed in from the opposite side, attempting to box them in.

  “They’re trying to pin us down!” Calla shouted, bracing herself against the wall as the ship lurched.

  Kael clenched his jaw. “Not on my watch.”

  The Starlance dove into a steep descent, the force pressing everyone back as Kael aimed for the jagged canyon below. The terrain was dangerous—tight passages, sharp turns—but it was their best chance to shake the Syndicate ships.

  “Are you insane?” Tov yelled, gripping the console for support.

  “Probably,” Kael shot back, steering the Starlance into the narrow canyon.

  The canyon walls rose sharply on either side, their surfaces glittering faintly with veins of aetherium. The Syndicate ships followed, their weapons firing relentlessly. The Starlance’s hull shuddered as a few shots struck its rear shields.

  “We can’t take much more of this!” Calla warned, frantically checking the status displays.

  “Jack!” Kael shouted. “Get to the secondary console and manage the shield dampeners!”

  Jack chuffed and leapt onto the console, his nimble claws tapping at the controls. The shields flickered, redistributing energy to reinforce the rear.

  Kael’s eyes darted between the jagged rocks ahead and the flashing lights on his console. He pushed the engines harder, skimming dangerously close to the canyon walls. “Come on, hold together,” he muttered.

  The Syndicate ships split up, one pursuing directly while the other climbed above the canyon, searching for a clear shot.

  “They’re flanking us!” Tov shouted.

  Kael gritted his teeth and yanked the wheel hard to the left, the Starlance tilting sharply as it slipped through a narrow gap. The pursuing Syndicate ship wasn’t as nimble—its wing clipped the canyon wall, sending it spiraling into the depths in a fiery explosion.

  “One down!” Kael yelled.

  The remaining Syndicate ship reappeared above them, its weapons charging for a devastating shot.

  “We need to get out of here!” Calla shouted, her voice tinged with panic.

  Kael scanned the canyon ahead and spotted an opening—a dark, winding passage that veered sharply upward. “Hold on!”

  The Starlance plunged into the passage, the darkness swallowing them as the canyon walls pressed closer. The Syndicate ship hesitated, its bulk too wide to follow directly.

  “They’re pulling back!” Tov said, relief flickering in his voice.

  Kael didn’t ease up, guiding the Starlance through the treacherous passage until they emerged into open skies once more. He exhaled sharply, his knuckles white on the wheel.

  “That was too close,” Calla muttered, slumping into a chair.

  Jack hopped down from the console, chuffing softly as he nudged Kael’s arm.

  Kael glanced at the radar, confirming that the remaining Syndicate ship wasn’t pursuing. “For now, we’re clear. But they’ll be back.”

  Tov leaned against the wall, wiping sweat from his brow. “Next time, remind me to question your definition of safe routes.”

  Kael smirked faintly, though the tension in his chest hadn’t eased. The Syndicate’s aggression wasn’t just persistence—it was precision. They weren’t hunting blindly anymore.

  As the crew regrouped, Kael’s mind raced with questions. The Syndicate wasn’t going to stop. And neither could they.

  Scene 3: Ancient Passage

  The Starlance drifted in silence, its engines powered down as it rested on a jagged ledge within the canyon. The crew moved cautiously, each step echoing softly against the natural rock walls. The air was heavy with the faint hum of dormant energy—something ancient and alive, hidden deep within the stone.

  Kael led the way, his flashlight cutting through the shadows as he scanned for signs of danger. Behind him, Jack padded silently, his wings tucked tightly against his body, his glowing eyes darting between the walls.

  “We need to find cover before the Syndicate doubles back,” Tov muttered, glancing nervously at the open sky visible through the cracks above.

  Calla trailed behind, her gaze fixed on the strange markings etched into the canyon walls. “This isn’t just a natural formation,” she said, her voice tinged with awe. “These patterns—they’re Erythos inscriptions. We’re standing in one of their lost passages.”

  Kael paused, turning to look at her. “A lost passage? As in something connected to the artifact?”

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Calla nodded, running her fingers over the carvings. The intricate lines pulsed faintly under her touch, as though responding to her presence. “This isn’t just a hiding spot. This place was designed to protect something.”

  Jack chuffed softly, drawing their attention. He moved ahead of the group, his nose to the ground as though following an invisible trail. His movements were deliberate, his focus sharper than Kael had ever seen.

  “What’s he doing?” Tov asked, gripping a small tool in one hand like a makeshift weapon.

  “Leading us,” Kael said, watching Jack carefully.

  The creature stopped abruptly at the base of the canyon wall, where a faint glow emanated from a barely visible crack. Jack scratched at the ground, his claws scraping against the stone as the glow intensified.

  Kael crouched beside him, placing a hand on the wall. “There’s something behind this.”

  Calla knelt beside him, studying the glow. “It’s a door. An Erythos access point. But it looks like it hasn’t been opened in centuries.”

  Jack pressed his paw against the wall, and the glow shifted, spreading outward like ripples on water. The ground beneath them rumbled softly as the wall began to part, revealing a narrow passage lined with ancient mechanisms.

  Tov stepped back, his expression skeptical. “How does he do that?”

  “I wish I knew,” Kael muttered, stepping cautiously into the passage. The air inside was cooler, filled with the faint hum of dormant machinery. Strange symbols glowed faintly along the walls, casting eerie shadows as the crew moved deeper into the tunnel.

  Calla stopped abruptly, her eyes widening as she pointed to a large, circular device embedded in the floor. “This... this is an Erythos energy conduit. It’s ancient, but it’s still active.”

  Kael crouched beside the device, his fingers tracing the glowing lines. “What does it do?”

  Calla hesitated. “If I’m right, it channels energy to power... something. But without more context, it’s impossible to say what.”

  Jack let out a soft trill, hopping onto the conduit and curling his tail around himself. The device responded instantly, the glow intensifying as a faint hum filled the passage.

  “Okay, that’s not normal,” Tov said, stepping back.

  “It’s like he’s part of the system,” Calla whispered. “The artifact must have imprinted something on him.”

  Kael straightened, his jaw tightening. “Whatever it is, it’s making him a target. If the Syndicate knows about this—”

  “They do,” Calla interrupted, her voice grim. “And they’ll stop at nothing to take it from us.”

  The glow from the conduit pulsed one last time before dimming, leaving the passage in eerie silence. Jack leapt back to Kael’s shoulder, chuffing softly as though to reassure him.

  “We should move,” Kael said, his tone firm. “Whatever this place is, it’s not safe to linger. Let’s gather what we can and get out of here before the Syndicate finds us.”

  As the crew retreated from the passage, the weight of their discovery pressed heavily on them. The canyon wasn’t just a hiding spot—it was part of something much larger, something tied to the artifact and its secrets.

  And the Syndicate was closer than ever to uncovering it.

  Scene 4: Artifact Tracking

  The crew huddled inside the dimly lit cavern, the faint hum of the ancient passage’s mechanisms still resonating in the background. Calla spread out her maps and notes on a flat, weathered surface, her expression tense as she worked to decode the cryptic symbols they had discovered. Jack lay curled up nearby, his tail twitching in restless intervals, while Kael leaned against the cavern wall, his arms crossed.

  Tov, seated on an overturned crate, broke the silence. “This canyon’s like a beacon. The Syndicate will find us if we don’t get moving soon.”

  Kael nodded but didn’t reply. His gaze was fixed on the artifact resting on the table. Its faint glow seemed to pulse erratically, almost in rhythm with the lingering energy in the air.

  Calla suddenly straightened, her eyes darting between the artifact and her notes. “It’s not the canyon they’re tracking,” she said, her voice sharp. “It’s us.”

  Kael pushed off the wall, his brow furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

  Calla pointed to the artifact, her fingers trembling slightly. “The Syndicate isn’t hunting blindly. They have a fragment of the artifact—another piece of the puzzle. It’s connected to this one, and it’s allowing them to trace our movements.”

  Tov let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “So, what? They’ve got a built-in homing beacon on us?”

  “Essentially,” Calla said, frustration lacing her tone. “The Erythos designed these artifacts to communicate with each other. That’s why the Syndicate keeps finding us, no matter where we go.”

  Kael’s jaw tightened. “How do we stop it?”

  Calla hesitated, her eyes narrowing as she studied the artifact. “There might be a way to scramble the connection temporarily, but it’ll require redirecting its energy. It’s risky.”

  “Define risky,” Tov said, raising an eyebrow.

  Calla glanced at him. “If we overload the artifact, it could destabilize—not enough to destroy it, but enough to cause a significant energy surge. That might sever the link between the fragments, at least for a while.”

  Kael’s gaze flicked to the artifact. Its glow seemed to pulse faster, as if it were aware of the discussion. “And what happens if it destabilizes too much?”

  Calla hesitated again. “We’ll be dealing with an uncontrolled energy burst. In other words, we’d blow ourselves out of the sky.”

  Tov groaned. “Great. Love those odds.”

  Jack suddenly stirred, hopping onto the table and nudging the artifact with his nose. The glow shifted slightly, its pulse steadying. Kael frowned, watching Jack closely. “He’s reacting again. Like he understands what’s happening.”

  Calla nodded, her expression thoughtful. “If Jack can stabilize the artifact like he did with the conduit earlier, we might be able to pull this off. But we’ll need to act fast. The Syndicate won’t wait forever.”

  Kael exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. The stakes were rising with every passing moment, and the Syndicate’s shadow loomed closer. “Do it. Scramble the connection. If we can buy ourselves even a little time, it’s worth the risk.”

  Calla immediately got to work, pulling tools and small energy regulators from her pack. Tov moved to assist, his grumbling masked by the precision of his hands. Jack stayed perched on the table, his eyes glowing faintly as he watched the artifact intently.

  Minutes passed like hours as Calla adjusted the regulators, connecting them to the artifact with trembling fingers. The glow intensified, its light casting eerie shadows across the cavern walls.

  “Here goes nothing,” Calla muttered, flipping a final switch.

  The artifact’s glow surged, a brilliant blue light flooding the cavern as the air vibrated with raw energy. Jack let out a sharp trill, his wings flaring as he pressed a paw against the artifact. The light steadied, its pulse slowing to a rhythmic hum.

  “It’s working,” Calla said, relief evident in her voice. “The connection’s severed. For now.”

  Kael stepped closer, his eyes fixed on the artifact. “How long do we have?”

  “Hard to say,” Calla admitted. “A few hours, maybe a day. But it’ll throw them off our trail for now.”

  Tov let out a low breath. “We’d better make those hours count.”

  Kael nodded, placing a hand on Jack’s back. “Good work, buddy. Let’s not waste the time you just bought us.”

  As the crew prepared to leave the cavern, the tension in the air lingered. They had gained a small reprieve, but the Syndicate wasn’t far behind—and the artifact’s secrets were proving more dangerous than they had imagined.

  Scene 5: Damaged Escape

  The Starlance roared to life, its engines thrumming as the crew prepared to leave the canyon. Kael gripped the helm, his knuckles white as he scanned the jagged terrain ahead. The artifact’s glow had dimmed, but the air was still charged with tension, a reminder that their reprieve was temporary.

  “Engines are holding, but they’re not happy about it,” Tov reported over the comms from the engine bay. His voice carried a mix of frustration and urgency. “You push her too hard, and we’ll be flying scrap metal.”

  “Noted,” Kael muttered. “We don’t have a choice.”

  Calla stood by the navigation console, her fingers flying across the interface. “There’s an opening to the north. It’s tight, but it’ll get us clear of the canyon.”

  Jack, perched near the helm, let out a low chuff, his wings twitching as if sensing the storm brewing outside. Kael followed his gaze to the radar, where a new blip appeared, heading straight for them.

  “Syndicate ships,” Kael said, his voice sharp. “They found us.”

  The comm crackled to life with a familiar, taunting voice. “Running again, Captain? You’re making this too easy.”

  Kael growled under his breath and yanked the wheel hard to the left, sending the Starlance veering into a narrow passage. The Syndicate ships followed, their weapons lighting up the canyon walls as they opened fire.

  Energy bolts streaked past, some grazing the ship’s hull and sending sparks flying. Calla stumbled as the ship jolted violently. “Shields are holding, but they won’t last long!”

  Kael’s jaw tightened. “Tov, I need more speed!”

  “You need a miracle!” Tov shot back, his voice barely audible over the roar of the engines. “I’ll give you what I can, but don’t blame me if we blow a gasket!”

  The Starlance surged forward, its engines straining as Kael navigated the maze of jagged rocks. The canyon narrowed, forcing him to tilt the ship almost sideways to avoid a collision. The maneuver sent loose cargo tumbling in the hold and nearly threw Calla off her feet.

  “They’re gaining on us!” Calla shouted, gripping the console for support.

  Kael’s mind raced. The Syndicate ships were faster and more maneuverable, and the canyon’s confines left them with few options. He glanced at Jack, who was watching the radar intently, his eyes glowing faintly.

  “Jack,” Kael said, his voice steady despite the chaos. “What do you see?”

  Jack leapt to the console, his claws tapping at the controls as he highlighted a narrow fissure branching off from their current path. Kael’s eyes widened. “That’s barely wide enough for us to fit.”

  “It’s suicide!” Tov yelled over the comm.

  “It’s also our only shot,” Kael replied, steering the Starlance toward the fissure.

  The Syndicate ships hesitated, their pilots clearly wary of the tight space. Kael took advantage of the pause, pushing the Starlance into the fissure with inches to spare on either side. The ship’s shields flickered as they scraped against the rocky walls.

  “Engines are overheating!” Tov warned, his voice strained. “If we don’t slow down—”

  “We’ll slow down when we’re safe!” Kael snapped.

  The fissure opened into a wider chamber, but before Kael could celebrate, an explosion rocked the ship. The Syndicate ships had fired blindly into the fissure, and one of their shots had connected with the Starlance’s rear thrusters.

  “We’ve lost stabilizers!” Calla shouted. “We’re losing control!”

  Kael fought the controls as the ship lurched, sparks flying from the console. Jack let out a sharp trill, jumping to Kael’s shoulder as the ship veered dangerously close to the canyon walls.

  “Hold on!” Kael shouted, yanking the wheel hard to the right. The Starlance skidded through the air, its engines sputtering as it narrowly avoided a jagged outcrop.

  The canyon finally opened into the night sky, and Kael pushed the ship forward with every ounce of power it had left. Behind them, the Syndicate ships broke off their pursuit, their silhouettes fading into the distance.

  “We’re clear,” Kael said, his voice shaky with relief. But the Starlance’s groans and shudders were a sobering reminder of the damage they had sustained.

  Tov’s voice crackled over the comm. “Clear isn’t the word I’d use. We’ve got a blown stabilizer, a busted thruster, and the engines are one spark away from shutting down completely.”

  Kael sighed, leaning back against the helm. “Can we keep her in the air?”

  “Barely,” Tov replied. “But we’re not going anywhere fast.”

  Calla approached Kael, her face pale. “What now?”

  Kael glanced at the artifact, its faint glow a haunting reminder of what they were risking everything for. “We find a place to land. Somewhere safe to make repairs.”

  Jack chuffed softly, his wings folding as he rested on Kael’s shoulder. The battle might have been over, but the war was far from won.

  Scene 6: Confronting Sierra

  The Starlance drifted quietly through the night sky, a flickering beacon of determination despite its battered frame. The engines hummed faintly, barely holding steady after their near-catastrophic escape. The crew worked in tense silence, patching together makeshift repairs where they could.

  Kael moved purposefully through the dimly lit corridors, his expression a storm of anger and doubt. The glow of the artifact in the cargo bay still haunted him, its faint pulse seeming to mock the chaos it had caused.

  He found Sierra in the hold, leaning against a crate with her arms crossed. Her sharp gaze was fixed on the artifact, her expression unreadable.

  “We need to talk,” Kael said, his voice low but heavy with authority.

  Sierra didn’t look up. “Does it have to be now? I’m not really in the mood for one of your lectures.”

  Kael stepped closer, his fists clenched at his sides. “Don’t play coy with me, Sierra. You’ve been holding back since the moment you stepped aboard, and now it’s putting us all in danger.”

  She finally turned to face him, her eyes narrowing. “You think I’m the problem here? In case you missed it, Kael, the Syndicate’s after you too. Don’t pin this all on me.”

  Kael’s voice rose, the frustration boiling over. “Then give me a reason not to! You’ve known more about the Syndicate, the artifact, and their plans than you’ve let on. And now we’re barely holding this ship together because of them. So tell me the truth, Sierra. Who are you really working for?”

  The accusation hung in the air like a live wire. For a moment, Sierra said nothing, her expression hardening as her jaw tightened.

  “You really want to know?” she asked finally, her voice laced with bitterness. “Fine. I used to work for them. The Syndicate. I was one of their operatives—until I realized what they were really after. You think they want the artifact for power? No. They want control. Over Aerona, over the skies, over every last one of us. And I wasn’t willing to be part of that.”

  Kael’s eyes narrowed, his skepticism unyielding. “So you just decided to jump ship and join the rebellion?”

  Sierra laughed bitterly. “Rebellion? Don’t flatter yourself, Kael. I’m here because I don’t have a choice. The Syndicate doesn’t let people leave. Not alive, anyway.”

  Kael stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. “Then why didn’t you tell me this sooner? Why wait until we’re cornered to start sharing?”

  “Because I knew you’d react exactly like this!” Sierra snapped, her anger finally surfacing. “You’re so busy playing the righteous hero that you can’t see the bigger picture. I’ve been trying to protect this crew, even if it meant keeping you in the dark.”

  Kael’s jaw tightened, his mind racing. There was truth in her words, but the shadow of doubt lingered. “You’ve been protecting yourself. Don’t confuse the two.”

  Sierra stepped forward, her voice cold and sharp. “You think I want to be here? Risking my life for a crew that doesn’t trust me? I could’ve disappeared. Walked away. But I didn’t, because the Syndicate is a threat to all of us, and I know how to fight them.”

  Jack, who had been silently observing from a nearby perch, let out a low chuff, drawing both of their gazes. He tilted his head at Kael, his glowing eyes almost accusatory.

  Kael sighed, running a hand through his hair. The tension in his chest refused to ease, but Jack’s steady presence was a reminder of what was at stake. “If you’re really here to fight the Syndicate, then prove it. No more secrets. No more lies. We do this as a crew, or not at all.”

  Sierra’s gaze softened slightly, though her posture remained rigid. “Fine. But you’d better start trusting me, Kael. Because if you don’t, the Syndicate will tear us apart long before we get a chance to stop them.”

  Kael studied her for a moment longer, his instincts warring with his logic. Finally, he nodded. “This doesn’t mean we’re good. But it’s a start.”

  Sierra smirked faintly, though the fire in her eyes remained. “I’ll take what I can get.”

  As Kael turned to leave, Jack hopped onto his shoulder, letting out a soft trill. The tension in the hold lingered, but the confrontation had shifted something—an uneasy truce, forged in necessity.

  The battle with the Syndicate was far from over, and the cracks in their trust were far from healed. But for now, the crew of the Starlance would have to hold together.