The Vortex ship slid through space like a shadow. Its black surface drank in the starlight, the engines pulsing with steady bursts as it drifted past the shattered remains of an old asteroid belt.
Up ahead, warships floated like predators. Their hulls glowed with a soft purple light, sharp edges cutting into the dark. A massive carrier blocked the view beyond, its size so large it swallowed stars whole.
Inside the cockpit, the three stood close, watching the fleet without speaking. The air felt tight. Machines hummed around them, steady and cold.
Kael let out a whistle. "They're serious about this." His hand closed into a fist. His body leaned forward slightly, more ready than tense.
Max stared at the console, scrolling through lines of code and maps. "They're protecting something. If we hit hard and fast, we can break through before they react."
Ash rested a hand on the grip of his blade. It was cool against his skin. He didn't loosen his hold. "So, we cripple their operation and disappear before they regroup?"
Max gave a sharp nod. "We don't need to wipe them out—just crack their formation and force a retreat."
Kael's mouth twisted into a grin. His eyes lit up like he could already see the explosions. "Fine by me."
He faced Max."You got our route locked?"
Max tapped the controls. The ship adjusted its path without a sound. "Always. Just don't overdo it."
Kael rolled his eyes, arms folding across his chest. "Come on. I know when to hold back."
Ash let the corner of his mouth lift. "First time for everything."
Kael raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. He turned back toward the front.
Ash thought 'well no turning back now'
Max pulled in a slow breath. His hands stayed on the controls, steady and sure. "Brace yourselves. No hesitation."
Ash shifted his stance. The fight wasn't coming. It was already here.
The engines flared. The ship burst forward. Lights flared across the void—bright, fast, deadly.
————
Jov's laughter shattered the silence of the command room. He leaned against the cold metal wall, arms crossed, eyes flashing with amusement. "Wait—hold on." His chuckle cut through the air again. "They're actually coming to stop us?"
The blond man beside him smirked, his fingers weaving through the long braid that hung over his shoulder. "Maybe they think the Apex are the same as before." His voice was firm, like he already knew the outcome. "A fatal mistake."
Jov stretched, rolling his shoulders. The strange markings on his arms flickered with a faint glow. "Luckily for them, the boss wants that asteroid." He grinned darkly. "Why don't we just blast them into dust with the aircraft? That would work."
A violent crash echoed through the room. The old man at the console slammed his fist onto the control panel, his face hard as stone. His voice roared, cutting through the tension. "Enough. All units—fire on the Vortex ship. I want them gone before they even get close."
The command rang out like a strike of lightning, and the room tensed.
The enemy fleet came alive in an instant. Beams of energy and missile fire split the void, purple and red streaking through the darkness. The Vortex ship veered, dipping and weaving between the barrage. Explosions erupted around it, flashes of light and heat bouncing off its black hull.
Kael's voice rang out, calm but edged with humor. "I guess we'll scratch that plan. They already know we're here."
Max's grip tightened around the controls. His knuckles blanched white. "They're throwing everything at us."
Ash leaned against the viewing window, his eyes locked on the chaos ahead. The ship rattled again as another blast shook it, sending vibrations through his body. "Yeah, no kidding."
Kael's grin widened, fire igniting in his gaze. "Enough waiting. Let's move."
Max didn't look away from the controls. His hand reached to the dashboard, grabbing a small metal case. He flipped it open, revealing sleek, compact devices arranged neatly inside. He tossed one to each of them. "Put these on."
Ash caught his, feeling the cold smoothness in his hand. It was no bigger than his palm. Max pressed his own against the back of his head, and the faint hum of the device filled the air. In a flash, a form-fitting mask appeared, covering his eyes, nose, and mouth, glowing softly.
"This'll keep us breathing." His voice was slightly distorted, muffled behind the mask.
Ash and Kael followed his lead. The masks clicked into place, adjusting seamlessly over their faces.
Kael flexed his jaw, testing the fit, then smirked. "Alright, now can we—"
A violent explosion cut him off. The ship lurched, alarms blaring as sparks sprayed from the console.
"Brace for impact!" Max shouted, jerking at the controls. The ship groaned under the strain, thrusters sputtering. The asteroid loomed ahead, jagged and unforgiving.
The Vortex crashed down, metal screeching against rock. A cloud of dust and debris swallowed the ship, choking the air. The cockpit shuddered as the ship skidded, grinding to a brutal halt.
Silence.
Then_
"Well… that could've gone smoother." Kael's voice cut through the haze settling over the cockpit, dry and unamused.
Ash adjusted his mask, his breath slow and steady as he scanned the damage. "Yeah, no kidding."
Max ran a hand through his hair, his shoulders rising and falling as he steadied himself. His gaze flicked to the enemy fleet, still looming above them, waiting. "We're not done yet."
The ship groaned, the hull protesting as sparks jumped from the shattered control panel. Smoke curled from the thrusters, the acrid scent of burning metal thick in the air.
Ash gripped the console, his feet shifting to stay balanced. His mind raced 'Well, this is not looking good.' his gaze snapped to Max."How bad?"
Max's fingers danced across the flickering controls, his eyes narrowing as data flashed across the screen. "Shields are gone. Stabilizers are barely hanging on. If we try to take off, we'll be dead before we leave the ground."
Ash's jaw tightened. 'So, we're sitting ducks.'
Kael's boots clanged against the metal floor as he strode toward the exit, his movements quick. "Then we fight."
Max's hand shot out, catching Kael's arm mid-stride. "Wait."
Kael turned, brows furrowed. "For what? They're not waiting for us."
Max didn't answer. His eyes locked onto the screen, where a faint pulse flickered against the asteroid's interference. His fingers traced over the readings—infrared, electromagnetic, gravitational. The signal wasn't just there. It was concentrated. Focused.
"There's something on this asteroid. I noticed before, but I needed to get a closer look." His voice was quiet, but firm. "A signal, cutting through multiple spectrums. Apex isn't here for nothing. They're here for this."
Ash leaned over the console, eyes scanning the readings. "And that means?"
Max shook his head, lips pressed tight. "No idea. But whatever it is, they sent fleets after it."
Another explosion rattled the ship. The enemy's fire was growing closer, but something felt different—it had slowed.
Kael scoffed, his arms crossed. "They're stalling."
Max's grip on the controls tightened. "Maybe they want us to touch the asteroid first."
Kael's grin curved into something dangerous. "Sounds like a them problem."
Without waiting for a reply, Kael turned, his boots echoing as he stepped out into the harsh air of the asteroid's surface.
Outside, the asteroid stretched endlessly, jagged black rock splitting the surface like shattered glass. Faint violet streaks pulsed within the cracks, casting an eerie glow that flickered in the dim light. A thin mist drifted across the terrain, curling and twisting with no wind to push it. It moved with a purpose—unnatural.
Above, the Apex fleet loomed, its massive aircraft carrier hanging in the void like a shadow. Dark lines ran across its surface, pulsing with ominous purple light. Smaller warships circled in tight formation, engines humming softly as they hovered in place. Watching. Waiting.
Max inhaled sharply. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the sky, then he frowned. Without a word, he lifted his hands and tapped the back of his neck. The mask shifted, retracting back into the circular device with a soft click.
Kael's head snapped toward him. "MAX, YOU IDIOT—"
But he stopped short.
Max was breathing.
Ash hesitated, glancing at Kael before turning off his own mask. The air was cool, and a strangely fresh scent filled his lungs.
"There's an atmosphere," Max muttered, glancing around as the mist curled around his boots.
Ash's brow furrowed. "An asteroid with breathable air?"
Kael scoffed, pulling off his mask. "This place keeps getting weirder."
Max tapped his watch-like device and a holographic screen flickered to life. He scanned the air. "Oxygen levels are almost identical to Earth's."
Kael stretched, shaking his shoulders out. "Good. I was getting sick of my own breath."
Ash exhaled, his gaze drifting back to the mist. Let's just hope we're not breathing in something worse.
A voice cut through the air, slow and mocking. "Well, well. Look who made it past the first test. Congrats."
Ash tensed. 'Test? Who is this guy?'
Jov stood at the edge of an Apex fleet ship, his hands loose at his sides. Rows of heavily armored troopers flanked him, their presence like a wall of silent menace. The engines of the fleet rumbled as they descended, sending a tremor through the ground beneath their feet. Jov's grin stretched wide, sharp eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and something darker.
"You know," he said, rolling his shoulders, "the big brains back at Apex have been real curious about this rock. Word is, it might straight-up kill someone on contact—too much energy packed inside."
His grin grew wider. "But thanks to you guys, we know that's not entirely true." He chuckled darkly. "Guess you saved us some trouble."
Max's fingers moved quickly over his scanner, the readouts flashing in quick succession. His eyes narrowed. "No wonder the readings are off the charts… This thing isn't like anything we've seen before."
Kael exhaled slowly, rolling his neck as he stepped forward. "So, are we done talking, or do I have to sit through more of your crap before I knock that grin off your face?"
Jov cracked his knuckles, his muscles tensing as he prepared for something more. "Heh. You're funny." His smile stretched wider, darker. "Too bad you won't be laughing for long."
The Apex troopers shifted, boots crunching over the uneven ground. Rifles clicked into position, the sound heavy in the air. A silent command—like the calm before a storm.
Jov moved closer, arms folding across his chest. His smirk didn't waver, but his eyes were focused, sharp—like a predator eyeing its prey. "Well, well… you're not the original vortex team."
His gaze flicked over them, something behind his grin tightening. "Where's Flame?"
Kael tilted his head, his lips curling into a cocky grin. "You're looking at him."
Jov blinked once, then burst out laughing. "Hah! You kinda look like him…"
His grin stretched wider, something clicking behind his eyes. "Oh, I get it now. You're his kids, aren't you?"
Max didn't flinch. His fingers slid across his holographic screen, reading the fluctuating data. "So… what's Apex really after?" His voice was steady, almost detached, but his gaze never left the screen.
Jov scoffed, his voice low and dismissive. "Like hell a dead man needs answers."
A sharp crack echoed through the tense air as Kael stepped forward, his gaze locking onto Jov. His voice was low, cold. "Then you better make sure we're dead before you start running your mouth."
Jov's fingers twitched, his eyes glinting with anticipation. "Hah… I was hoping you'd say that."
With a swift flick of his wrist, fire erupted over his palm, twisting and writhing like a living thing.
Kael froze, his breath catching in his chest. "What…?"
Max instinctively took a step back, his grip tightening on his device. "That's not possible."
Ash's expression darkened, his mind racing. 'What the hell? Why is he using the fire Veinflow?'
"I thought all fire users apart from Dad were dead."
Jov's laugh was light, but the flame in his hand flickered, dancing with every movement. "Yeah… I always wanted to meet your father. Bet he'd be real interested in what I can do."
Kael's shock melted away, replaced by something sharper. His own flames surged to life, roaring to meet Jov's as if answering the challenge. His hands clenched into fists, a surge of energy tightening his jaw. "You want him?" His voice was steady, cutting through the tension. "Then you're going through me first."
Jov's grin deepened, eyes gleaming with dark amusement. "I planned to."
Jov's arm shot up, a fireball crackling to life in his palm. Without hesitation, he hurled it straight at Kael.
Kael reacted on pure instinct. Flames surged to life in his hands, forming a scorching orb that shot forward. The two attacks collided mid-air, bursting in an explosion of heat and light. A shockwave rippled across the battlefield, sparks raining down as the ground trembled. Dust and ash swirled, blocking out the light for a moment.
The others shielded their faces as the air hummed with sizzling heat. When the dust cleared, Jov stood unfazed, his shoulders rolling in a casual stretch as flames danced across his fingertips. "Not bad, kid." His grin spread wider. "But let's see how you handle this."
He spread his arms wide, summoning a surge of fire that twisted into a roaring wave. The air shimmered from the sheer heat as the flames surged forward.
Kael stood still. His own fire erupted, swirling around his arms before he thrust them outward. A vortex of flames shot forward, clashing with Jov's attack. The ground quaked, heat waves distorting the earth between them. Neither side backed down.
Jov smirked, stepping closer, the flames around him intensifying. "Come on. That all you got?"
Kael's eyes narrowed. His fire flared brighter, turning a fierce gold, cutting through the wave like a blade. Jov staggered back, shaking out his arm. Then came the laugh. Low, amused. "Heh… You're stronger than I expected."
Kael exhaled, his flames flickering. "Yeah? Then maybe you should stop holding back."
Jov's smirk twisted into something darker. "Oh? So you noticed."
Kael rolled his shoulders. "Yeah… because I was holding back too."
Then he moved.
Fire ignited beneath his feet, blasting him forward in a blur. He closed the distance with a powerful leap, his fist wreathed in flames. Jov's forearm shot up just in time, blocking the blow. Fire roared between them, the impact cracking the ground beneath their feet.
Kael twisted, bringing his other fist up. Jov ducked, flames grazing past his face as he retaliated with a spinning kick. Kael leaned back, heat skimming his cheek. He countered instantly, driving a fiery elbow into Jov's ribs.
Jov caught his arm, twisting it sharply. "Not bad."
Flames coiled around his free hand, pulling Kael in. A knee rose toward Kael's ribs.
Kael's feet ignited, blasting fire downward. The force sent him flipping over Jov's head. The moment he landed, he stomped hard, sending a fiery shockwave rippling across the ground.
Jov leapt back, boots sliding against the scorched earth. But Kael was already there. His fists blurred—strike after strike, each one laced with searing heat.
Jov blocked, dodged, countered, but Kael's speed never slowed. Then—an opening.
A flaming punch slipped through Jov's guard, smashing into his chest. The force sent him flying backward, crashing into a jagged rock formation. The stone shattered under the impact, embers swirling through the air.
Silence.
Then, laughter.
Jov pushed himself up from the rubble, brushing soot from his armor. His grin remained sharp. "Heh… Now this is getting fun." His smile deepened. "Let me show you a taste of what Apex has been working on."
With a swift slam of his stone-embedded arm, the ground groaned.
Jagged rocks shot up beneath Kael, twisting around his limbs like living chains.
Kael struggled, his fire flaring at his fingertips, but the stone held tight.
His eyes widened. "What—?"