Later at STF HQ, Vex enters the operations room. Ian is going over intel when Vex walks up.
Vex- "So why exactly do I have to stay here? And how long is 'here' for?"
Ian, without looking up, "Because we brought you on the mission. And that demon Varnyx was either trying to kill you or use you as leverage. Until we put him down, you're safer here."
Blade, passing by with a water bottle, "It's not that bad, man. You can still stream here, lift with us, go on missions. The only downside is no pizza deliveries."
Vex sighs, "Guess it's not the worst thing in the galaxy."
Later, in the common room, Blade, Optimus, and a few others are lounging. The lights dimmed, the soft hum of power coursing through the HQ. Suddenly—ALARMS BLARE.
Red lights flash across the walls. The team shoots up to their feet.
Blade, checking his holo-watch, "A city's under attack—massive demon air fleet incoming."
Ian busts through the doors, already geared up, "We're moving. Whoever's here—you're coming."
Cut to the locker room, where the team rushes to gear up. Optimus tightens the straps on his gauntlets. Steel and Stark are already in full armor.
Blade, flipping bags, "Where is my katana?!"
Ian, "Looks like we're taking the warship for a spin."
Optimus, smirking, "Been a minute since I've stood on the deck of the floating fortress."
Vex, perking up, "Wait—the warship? Can I come? I've always wanted to see it—and stream it too."
Blade, grinning, "Yeah, you're coming. You're part of this now."
Moments later, they arrive at the warship launch bay. The colossal city-sized ship hovers in a secure dock—its frame towering like a mountain, engines humming with raw power.
Vex, eyes wide, "This ship is as tall as the mountains of Tenrihines…"
Ian, already moving, "Then let's climb it. Time to move."
Onboard the warship, Ian takes command from the bridge, overseeing troop deployment and flight strategy. Down on the hangar deck, Blade walks Vex toward the fighter squadrons.
Blade- "Vex, I want you to meet someone."
They approach a sleek starfighter. A pilot in high-spec armor pulls off his helmet.
Vex- "Yo, what's up—name?"
Pilot- "Norris. I'm a fighter pilot. Big fan of your streams."
Blade, grinning, "Best pilot in the fleet. Just don't let it get to his head."
Norris, smirking, "Only gets to my head when I'm upside-down dodging missiles."
The warship rumbles as it begins lifting off—city below shrinking away as the Galactic Empire's sky fortress ascends into the stars. The city just outside the capital was bracing for war. A demon army marched across the plains like a flood of shadows, and a massive fleet of airships darkened the skies above.
Leading the charge—Varnyx, cloaked in black flame, his command ship crackling with infernal energy.
Ian watched from the warship bridge, "Looks like this is gonna be a fight."
Optimus, arms crossed, scanning the sky, "Yeah. Been a while since we've had a large-scale battle."
Ian, "Captain One Arm and Red Riot are already on the ground. They've taken command of the infantry and mech units."
Optimus- "Good choice. That leaves us with the sky."
Ian- "The city's heroes are standing by, ready to act if anything breaks through the lines."
Down below, the warship's hangars roared with life. Pilots revved up starfighters, engines humming like beasts ready to pounce. Gunners locked in targets across the horizon.
Gunner, over comms, "Awaiting your command, Commander Ian."
Ian, with sharp authority, "Fire at will."
The warship unleashed hell—a barrage of cannon fire, plasma bursts, and missile storms ripped through the sky. Fighters tore out of the launch bays and dove into combat like falcons, clashing with demon vessels in mid-air dogfights.
Suddenly, a black warship—sleek and cursed—veered directly toward the bridge.
Ian- "That's Varnyx."
But before the ship could hit, it was blasted mid-air and spiraled out of control, crashing into the warship's runway.
Ian- "Optimus, stay up here. I'm going to him."
Optimus with a smirk, "Try not to overthink everything."
Ian, grinning back, "And you need to learn how to think a little more."
Ian vaulted over the railing and plummeted onto the runway below, landing with a roll just yards from the wrecked ship. From the flames, Varnyx emerged, cloaked in shadow.
Ian sprinted forward, reaching for him— But Varnyx slammed his hands into the ground and summoned a massive three-headed beast, fangs like blades, eyes glowing red. With a single growl, the demon dog launched Ian into the air, crashing him into a hangar wall.
Meanwhile, across the warship fleet, Blade zipped from ship to ship, slicing through demon squads in a flurry of speed and steel. Steel and Stark boarded enemy warships, fighting their way through control decks and detonating cores.
On the bridge, Vex was watching from behind a shielded observation window.
Vex- "Uh… Optimus? That three-headed dog just wrecked Ian."
Optimus, calmly, "Yeah. Time we have to deal with it."
Vex, nervous, "Wait—what do you mean we?"
Optimus, grinning, "I mean we, as in you and me—let's go take out that dog."
Before Vex could protest, Optimus grabbed him, opened the doors, and leapt off the bridge. They plunged down to the runway like a missile—landing hard and cracking the ground beneath them.
Vex pulls his plasma pistol, "This is NOT what I meant when I said I wanted to stream more action."
Optimus- "Good. Then this'll be your best stream yet."
The three-headed demon snarled and turned toward them, smoke and flame circling its feet. The beast charged. Optimus lunged forward, ducking low and slicing through one of its legs with a massive swing. The three-headed demon tripped, slamming into the deck with a thunderous crash.
But as it fell, its spiked tail whipped around, smashing Vex and sending him flying across the hangar—slamming into the side of a parked jet.
Ian locked eyes with Varnyx, both warriors surging with energy. They clashed in a fury of blades—three demon swords against one glowing katana, each strike sending sparks and shockwaves through the warship. Ian blocked every slash with precision before countering with a brutal kick, launching Varnyx across the deck.
But Varnyx wasn't done. He slithered low and fast, blood dripping from his arm onto his blades.
Varnyx, grinning, "Now… my blades are poison."
Ian smirked and threw a cluster of smoke pellets, vanishing into the dark cloud. Varnyx scanned the haze—but too late. Ian reappeared behind him, katana mid-swing. Varnyx spun with unnatural speed, cutting across Ian's shoulder.
Varnyx- "There's nothing you can do. You're infected with demon toxin now."
Ian, wiping blood, unfazed, "My body's immune to poison… that won't help you."
With a roar, Ian unleashed a brutal kick that launched Varnyx straight into the hull of the warship, cratering the metal. Meanwhile, Vex stumbled to his feet, dusting off his cracked helmet.
He aimed his plasma pistol and fired at the massive beast—the bolts searing across its hide. The dog turned with all three heads snarling and charged at Vex.
Vex running for his life, "Oh no, NOPE—NOT today!" He darted through the hangar, weaving between fighters and crates. The beast barreled behind him, crashing through metal like paper.
Just as it lunged— Optimus flew in, body-checking the creature and slamming it into a wall of jets. Parts exploded everywhere as Vex dove and barely dodged a chunk of wing. He stumbled behind cover, panting.
His eyes glanced at his wrist screen.
Vex, muttering, "Still live. 20 million watching. Great."
Suddenly—Varnyx was there, slithering through smoke and debris.
Varnyx, sniffing the air, "I smell you… You can't hide."
Vex crouched behind a broken concrete support, holding his breath. Then—he blinked—and Varnyx was behind him.
Vex- "Oh COME ON—!"
Varnyx grabbed him and hurled him through a blast door, sending Vex tumbling down a stairwell. He landed hard in a dim hallway below, groaning. He looked at his cracked lens camera
Vex- "Well… at least I've still got 20 million viewers…"
Suddenly, the stairwell door burst open, Ian and Optimus appeared, weapons drawn.
Ian- "You alright?"
Vex still on the floor, "Yeah… just my pride.
Vex groaning "...And maybe my spine."
Suddenly, Varnyx slithered down the stairwell, fangs bared and blades drawn. Optimus didn't hesitate—he hurled his sword like a javelin. Varnyx swatted it away—but behind it came Ian, riding the blade's distraction with a devastating slash, slicing across Varnyx's chest.
Varnyx screamed, nearly falling to pieces, before warping away in a flash of dark energy, vanishing back toward his ship.
Ian, breathing hard, "Does this guy ever die?"
Optimus- "He's starting to seem unkillable."
Vex, still picking himself up, "Okay, but like… where do these demons even come from?"
Ian, grim, "That's the question the Galactic Empire's been asking since it was founded."
The trio made their way back onto the runway, the battle still raging in the skies above and the ground below. Elsewhere, Steel clung to the side of a demon warship, wrestling with its controls. A half-conscious demon fired at him—he dodged, but the blast hit the console, sending the ship into a deadly spin.
Steel on comms, "Losing control—trying to bail!"
He scrambled to a nearby fighter docked on the hangar floor and launched it just in time—but the wing clipped the hangar wall, sending him spiraling toward the surface.
Steel- "I'm dropping in. I'll assist Captain One Arm on the ground!"
Ian on comms, "Did me or Optimus approve this?"
Steel- "Nope! Not really asking."
His fighter crashed into a battle-scarred street. Steel kicked open the canopy and jumped into the chaos, immediately grabbing a demon by the neck and slamming it into the ground. He looted a plasma rifle from the body and gunned down two more charging demons.
Ian on comms, "Sending you Captain One Arm's coordinates. Link up with him—now."
Steel- "Copy that."
A few blocks over, Captain One Arm, a grizzled warrior with a cybernetic limb, fought with unmatched grit. Steel sprinted up.
Steel- "Captain—it's Steel. I'm here."
Captain One Arm half-shouting over the gunfire, "What the hell are you doing here?"
Steel, grinning, "Crashed. Long story."
Captain One Arm- "Good. We need fighters. Get out there and break something."
Steel nodded and charged back into battle. Back at the warship, the main team regrouped. Optimus addressed them on the runway.
Optimus- "We've cleared out enough demons for the ground forces to mop up. We're heading back to HQ. Get some food. Rest. We've got a team lift coming up".