Kade stood amidst the carnage, his plasma blade dripping with blood. The bodies of Syndicate soldiers lay scattered around him, some still smoldering from the heat of his strikes. The alarms screamed, the ship trembled, but he felt nothing. Nothing but the void left by Nova's death.
His breath was ragged, his hands clenched so tightly around his blade that his knuckles turned white. His mind replayed her last words over and over again.
"I knew… you'd make it."
A cold emptiness coiled around his chest, threatening to pull him under. She was gone. And the universe dared to keep spinning.
The sound of approaching footsteps snapped him from his daze. More Syndicate reinforcements stormed the hangar, their weapons aimed directly at him.
"Drop the weapon, Ronin!" one of them barked.
Kade lifted his gaze, his expression blank. Then, without a word, he moved.
A blur of motion—a hurricane of neon and death.
He carved through them like a force of nature, his strikes fueled by pure, unrelenting fury. He didn't just kill—he erased them. No hesitation. No mercy. They were nothing but obstacles in his path.
One of the last remaining soldiers tried to crawl away, his face twisted in terror.
"Kade, please—"
The blade plunged through his chest before he could finish.
The hangar fell silent once more.
Kade exhaled, his body shaking. It wasn't enough. No matter how many he killed, the ache in his chest wouldn't fade. He was drowning in it.
Then—
A voice.
"You're making quite the mess, Ronin."
Kade whirled, his blade ready.
A woman leaned casually against a damaged console, arms crossed. Her dark, form-fitting tactical suit was adorned with light blue circuits that pulsed faintly, her cybernetic eyes scanning him with amusement.
She wasn't Syndicate.
Kade narrowed his gaze. "Who the hell are you?"
She smirked. "The one who's about to save your ass. You're welcome, by the way."
Before he could respond, the ship lurched violently. The structural supports groaned as explosions tore through the hull.
Kade staggered. The woman, however, moved with ease, pulling a small device from her belt.
"We've got about three minutes before this whole thing comes down. So unless you want to die a dramatic death—again—I suggest you follow me."
He hesitated. He didn't trust her. He trusted no one anymore.
But Nova's voice echoed in his head.
"Run."
Gritting his teeth, he made a choice.
"Fine," he growled. "But if you try anything—"
"Yeah, yeah, you'll kill me. Got it. Now move!"
They sprinted through the crumbling ship as fire and debris rained down around them. Kade didn't know who this woman was, but one thing was clear—his war wasn't over. And if she had answers, then she was his next lead.
Even if it meant trusting a stranger.