A tall, lanky figure stepped out—lean, relaxed, and confident. He was dressed in a large white jacket and white pants. There was a silver insignia on his collar.

  He was smiling.

  “Wow,” he said, giving a slow whistle. “Now that was an entrance. Ten out of ten, right?”

  No one answered.

  “Tough crowd,” he chuckled, hands raised in mock surrender. “Name’s Varko. I’d say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but, eh... let’s see how this goes.”

  Jett took a step forward, blade still in hand. “State your business.”

  Varko tilted his head, unconcerned. “Easy, blades-boy. I’m not here to fight... unless I have to. Now, which one of you has the energy spike?”

  “Energy spike?”

  “Y’know, that burst of energy that shot way up into the sky?” Varko pointed upwards in an amusing manner.

  Burst of energy? Jett eyed me. But Varko tracked his head movement.

  “Oh, it was you, huh?” He pointed at me.

  I frowned.

  Varko walked towards me, but Jett stood in front of him.

  “What do you want with him?” he glared at Varko.

  “Oh, it's not me…” Varko grinned. “I'm just following orders.”

  “Aren't we all?” Liv spat.

  “You're not taking him anywhere.” Jett’s eyes were determined.

  I tried to stand, but my body refused. Every muscle trembled, and the burning strain of the release surged through me like fire in my veins. I was fading—fast.

  Varko however, looked like he had all the time in the world. He took a step back and smirked.

  "You have no idea what I’m capable of," he said, voice light and almost amused.

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  "Neither do you," Liv shot back, stepping slightly in front of me with her katana raised, eyes locked on him.

  Keisha took a fighting stance and blocked Varko from my line of sight.

  Varko let out a long, theatrical sigh. "Listen, just give him to me." He gestured lazily in my direction. "He's just one being. You’re four. Just give him to me and I'll let you guys go. If I get him, I promise not to hurt any of you."

  “You’re all talk,” Vey said coolly. “You know that, right?”

  “What are you going to do about it?”

  Jett turned his head to Vey. “Vey, stay calm…”

  She was getting pissed off, and it wasn't going to end well.

  “Yeah, listen to knife boy over here.” Varko taunted, but Jett didn't reply. “Now run along now, little sniper girl.”

  “Son of a—” Vey raised her sniper and aimed it at Varko.

  “Whoa!” He threw his hands up comically. “Oh please don't shoot me, don't shoot me!!”

  Is this guy serious…

  “Vey, put the gun down.” Jett tried to pacify her, but she was dead serious.

  Varko tried to move, but Vey spoke up, “Hey, don't try anything funny, bub! Keep your hands up!!”

  “What if I do this?” He shot his hands down and immediately clutched his chest. Then he fell down.

  Three seconds later, we heard a deafening sound rock the atmosphere. I closed my ears and turned to Vey. Her sniper was emitting steam from the muzzle. I turned to Varko lying on the floor. The bullet was so fast, it took us five seconds to realize he'd just gotten shot.

  “When did you…” Jett whipped his head to her.

  “He was pissing me off…” She put down her sniper. “It's over now…”

  “Sure about that?” we heard Varko’s taunting voice.

  We all turned around.

  “Where is he?” Keisha asked. My head stopped and turned to Vey instinctively. I saw a mist moving towards her.

  Oh no, “Vey, look out!!!” I yelled.

  Vey froze mid-turn. The mist coiled around her like a serpent, and a jagged cut tore across her back, the sound sharper than any scream. Her body jerked forward, blood scattering in the air like sparks.

  “VEY!!” My voice cracked.

  She staggered, clutching at nothing, her sniper slipping from her grip.

  Varko’s laugh oozed through the mist. “Didn’t see that coming, did you?” He appeared behind her, and before any of us could react, his boot slammed into Vey’s arm with a crack. The force threw her off balance, hurling her sideways. She disappeared in a cloud of dust.

  Then Varko turned to Keisha and Liv, who were standing in front of me. He grinned and vanished.

  “Not again…” Keisha muttered.

  He appeared next to Keisha and whipped his leg in a brutal roundhouse kick. I heard something crack; Keisha was on the floor, her arm contorted in a horrible way.

  She yelled, and I winced.

  Liv turned sharply, but Varko slammed her hard with his backhand, which sent her flying.

  I stood up but got facepalmed by Varko.

  “Sit down, boy!!” He said and slammed me into the ground. Rubble flew everywhere, and I coughed violently.

  “I don't understand why they didn't just give you up.” Varko wondered. “I mean, seriously, they caused this… Especially that sniper girl. Hey, where's that leader of yours?” Varko looked around.

  Jett…

  “No matter.” Varko grinned at me. “Well, I'm sure my master won't be so mad if I say I had to take you by force…” He chuckled and raised his fist.

  I closed my eyes as he swung his arm, but I didn't feel anything. When I opened my eyes, I saw Jett sitting next to me.

  “Wha—”

  “Shhhh!!!” He shushed me and tapped his comms. “Yeah, I got him. Get the jet; let's get the heck out of here.”

  “What just happened?” I looked at Jett. “Varko was just holding me and…”

  Jett grinned. “Don't worry about it.”

  “Where are Vey, Keisha, and Liv?” I remembered Vey’s condition.

  “They're safe; I got them to the ship.”

  “How, when?” I was confused. He looked at me. “I told you guys I was fast…”

  “I didn't even see what happened.”

  “And you won't,” I said. he smirked, “unless you head to Franky’s Patreon…”

  “What was that?” I turned to him.

  “Nothing, let’s go.”

  “What just happened?” I blinked. “Did we just teleport?”

  Jett picked his blade. “It's a warping technique. It seems like I teleport, but I just tear through time itself and get to the blade.”

  So that's what he was trying to tell us yesterday…

  I heard the hum of the jet and looked up to see it fly towards us. The bay opened, and we saw Keisha holding the door.

  “Jett!! Mason!!” Keisha yelled, and we ran towards it.

  “Grab on!”

  I grabbed Jett’s hand, and he flung his blade to the open bay. We zipped over to the jet. Jett held his blade while I held his hand; we were suspended in the air, but we were safe.

  “We made it.” I sighed.

  “Not quite.”

  I felt my boots being pulled, so I looked down. “It's Varko!” I yelled.

  “Don't wear the name out, kid.” He grinned and pulled me downwards. I lost my grip on Jett’s hand and hurled down.

  “Mason!!” I heard Keisha yell. The atmosphere compressed my lungs, and I felt myself losing consciousness.