Chapter 6 - StarLains Rebellion

🌌 CHAPTER 6 — THE KNIGHT AND THE HAMMER

The dunes burned under the light of plasma fire.

Vexa and Kario stumbled backward as Crovan Thresk advanced through the smoke, his massive hammer dragging a molten trench behind him.

"Run," Vexa hissed, grabbing Kario's arm.

But before they could move, a brilliant pulse of light cut through the chaos—blue and white like lightning reflected off a mirror.

The light hit the sand, and a silhouette stepped through it.

Astrin.

His armor glowed faintly from the ship's reflection, his cloak tattered, his eyes calm but burning. His voice carried through the whirling dust.

"I knew something wasn't right," he said, stopping between them and Crovan.

"I came back to check… and I was right."

Crovan raised his hammer, pointing the head straight at Astrin.

"ROPS Knight Astrin Rael," he rumbled.

"By decree of the Primordial Water Space Police—surrender yourself now, and I'll let the boy and the girl live."

Astrin tilted his head slightly.

"You've got the tone right," he said. "But the deal's terrible."

The Battle Begins

Crovan didn't wait.

He charged, hammer first, slamming it down so hard the ground split open. The impact threw Vexa and Kario off their feet. Kario hit the sand, gasping, as a shockwave rolled through the air.

Astrin didn't move until the hammer hit.

Then he sidestepped with impossible precision, brushing past Crovan like a shadow.

The warhammer tore through the sand—empty.

Astrin countered with a single blow to Crovan's side—just a fist, but it cracked armor. Crovan stumbled, then swung again, roaring as his massive weapon sliced through a half-buried wreck.

Astrin ducked the next swing, leapt off the wreckage, and landed a kick that sent Crovan sliding back several meters.

The fight lit up the night—metal against metal, plasma sparks raining down, the wind screaming across the dunes.

Vexa's eyes were wide.

"He's not even using his weapon," she whispered.

Kario nodded, awestruck.

"He's… toying with him."

The Turning Point

Crovan swung in fury now, warhammer arcs blazing through the air. Astrin moved like light itself—slipping past each strike, deflecting with an open palm, never breaking his calm.

Crovan roared, "You ROPS think you're untouchable!"

Astrin's voice came quiet, even, almost regretful.

"No. Just free."

He caught the hammer mid-swing.

The weapon shuddered, frozen in place.

Astrin looked Crovan in the eye through the helmet.

"Tell your commander," he said softly, "that Astrin Rael is still alive."

Then he twisted the hammer, spun behind Crovan, and struck him once across the chestplate with the blunt edge of his gauntlet.

The impact sent the bounty hunter flying backward into the dunes. He hit hard, the ground erupting with sand and dust.

When the smoke cleared, Crovan lay still.

Not dead—just broken.

Astrin exhaled.

He turned and looked toward the half-buried ship.

"I know you're both in there," he said.

The ship's side hatch opened slowly, and Vexa and Kario climbed out. They stared at the fallen bounty hunter, speechless.

Astrin brushed sand off his armor, calm as ever.

The Choice

Kario stepped forward, nervous.

"Is… is it over?"

"For now," Astrin said. "PWSP will regroup by morning. We need to get back to the others."

Vexa's voice was quiet but tense.

"You mean—back home?"

Astrin nodded once.

Kario hesitated. "And then… you'll leave?"

Astrin looked at him, unreadable.

"That was the plan."

Kario clenched his fists.

"Take us with you."

Vexa looked up sharply. "Kario—"

"No," Kario said firmly. "You saw what he can do. What they can do. We can't stay here forever waiting for the next raid or storm. We've survived long enough—it's time to actually live."

Vexa said nothing, but the determination in her eyes matched his.

Astrin studied them both for a moment.

"You," he said, nodding at Kario, "repaired a ship that even I thought was lost. You," he turned to Vexa, "defeated bounty hunters while protecting him."

He looked at them both, expression softening for the first time.

"I'd be an idiot not to take you."

Vexa blinked. "Wait… are you serious?"

Astrin smiled faintly.

"As serious as the war that's coming."

He turned toward the stars, the ship's faint hum still glowing behind him.

"Get your friends. Tomorrow night… we leave this planet behind."