Chapter 125: The Aftermath of Escape
The hum of the corvette's engines stabilized as it drifted through the vast, empty void of space. The adrenaline of battle slowly ebbed away, replaced by an uneasy silence. Raizen leaned back in the pilot's chair, exhaling sharply. They had escaped, but not without consequence.
Liana's voice came over the comms. "We've cleared the station's scan radius. No pursuit detected."
Selara let out a slow breath. "That was close."
Joran chuckled, cracking his knuckles. "I live for this kind of rush."
Kain, still seated at the weapons console, wiped sweat from his brow. "Next time, let's try a less dramatic exit."
Seraphina, ever composed, surveyed the navmap. "We need a safe place to land. Raizen, what's the next move?"
Raizen's golden eyes flickered as he studied the coordinates ahead. "We lay low, regroup, and figure out who's after us."
Assessing the Damage
Liana pulled up the corvette's diagnostic report. "We took some hull damage, but nothing critical. Shields need a full recharge, and our fuel reserves are running low."
Selara crossed her arms. "We'll need a supply stop soon."
Raizen nodded. "Agreed. But first, we find neutral ground."
Seraphina zoomed in on the star chart. "There's a trade hub on the outer edge of this system—neutral space, no governing faction. It's not the safest, but it's the best option for now."
Raizen keyed in the course. "Then that's where we're heading."
Unfinished Business
As the ship moved into hyperspace, Raizen sat in the crew quarters, deep in thought. The attack on the station had proven one thing—whoever was after him wasn't going to stop.
Liana entered the room, arms crossed. "You're thinking too hard."
Raizen smirked. "Hard not to, given everything that's happened."
She leaned against the wall. "We survived. That counts for something."
Raizen exhaled. "Yeah, but for how long?"
The galaxy was vast, and their enemies were relentless. But if they thought he was just going to run forever—they were wrong.