The sound of distant gunfire echoed through the ruined district as Kade and Lyra pressed their backs against the cold steel wall of an abandoned supply depot. The Syndicate forces had surrounded them, their red-laser scopes sweeping through the shadows like hunters closing in on wounded prey.
Kade wiped the blood from his lip, his breathing heavy. "We're running out of time."
Lyra reloaded her pulse rifle with a grim nod. "We don't have enough firepower to break through."
Before Kade could respond, a deafening explosion rocked the ground. A fireball engulfed the Syndicate's front line, sending soldiers flying in all directions. Smoke and dust swirled in the air as the sound of boots stomping against metal filled the silence that followed.
From the wreckage, a hooded figure emerged, their cloak billowing behind them. The newcomer held a modified scattergun, still glowing from the blast, and their cybernetic arm hummed with charged energy.
"Kade Ronin, I never thought I'd find you in such a pathetic state." The voice was sharp, laced with familiarity and amusement.
Kade's eyes narrowed as recognition dawned. "Rey? You crazy bastard, what the hell are you doing here?"
Rey smirked, stepping closer. "Saving your ass. Again."
Lyra, still holding her rifle at the ready, glanced at Kade. "You know him?"
Kade exhaled. "Yeah. He was with me back when I first rebelled against the Syndicate. Thought you were dead."
"Funny, I thought the same about you," Rey shot back before tossing Kade a spare energy cell. "No time for reunions. I've got a group gathering in the outskirts, ready to take the fight to the Syndicate. You two need to hold out a little longer—I'll bring reinforcements."
Kade clenched his jaw. "We're not exactly in a position to wait."
"You don't have a choice," Rey said, already moving back toward the rubble. "Survive. I'll be back."
With that, he disappeared into the smoke, leaving Kade and Lyra alone once more.
Lyra let out a slow breath. "You trust him?"
Kade hesitated. "I don't know. But right now, he's our best shot at walking out of this alive."
Silence stretched between them for a moment, the tension of the fight fading just enough for the weight of everything to settle in.
"Kade," Lyra finally said, her voice softer than before. "Why do you keep fighting?"
He glanced at her, surprised by the question. "Because if I stop, the Syndicate wins. And I can't let that happen."
She studied him for a moment, then turned her gaze to the sky, her expression unreadable. "That's not the only reason, is it?"
Kade exhaled sharply. "No. It's not." He hesitated before continuing. "They took everything from me. My freedom, my life... the people I cared about. I fight because I don't want anyone else to go through what I did."
Lyra looked at him then, her piercing eyes searching his. "I saved you because I saw something in you, Kade. Something worth fighting for."
Kade's grip tightened on his blade. "And what if you're wrong?"
She stepped closer, her voice steady. "I'm not."
The moment between them was fleeting, stolen by the approaching sound of Syndicate reinforcements. Kade shook off the weight of emotion and raised his weapon.
"Let's make sure Rey has something to come back to," he said.
Lyra smirked, cocking her rifle. "Agreed."
With that, they charged back into the fray.