Scotia emerged from the burnt-out entrance of the research facility. The yard of the complex wasn’t how she’d last seen it. A man lay dead on the ground, along with what looked to be the remains of a transport vessel. The transport was in dozens of pieces, strewn across the ground, some were still in pits of fire. She looked behind her.

Mira met Scotia’s gaze, before heading past her. Damir was still unconscious over the phoenix’s shoulder.

“Can you pilot the drone we took?” asked Mira.

“I’ll manage it,” said Scotia as she fell in line back beside Mira.

The two made their way through the gate and headed into the thick jungle.

A small flash in the sky caught Mira’s gaze. “What was that?”

“What was what?” Scotia questioned in a low voice, as she scanned their surroundings for trouble.

“There was a flash up in space, perhaps an explosion. It looked close,” said Mira. She’d seen enough destruction to know that the sudden brilliant light wasn’t from a meteorite. The origin appeared to be farther than the atmosphere.

“Let’s keep moving, the transport shouldn’t be far,” said Scotia as she brought her data-band up and tapped it to order up the display. It took only a moment for Scotia to realize something was amiss. “I don’t have long-range comms. We’re being blocked.”

“Even at this distance from the compound?” asked Mira.

Scotia nodded. “Yeah, they must be jamming for several miles.”

Mira reached around Damir’s body, in order to bring up her own data-band. It took her several seconds, but she confirmed the same. “I’m being jammed too,” she said.

They stepped up their pace and headed deeper into the thick forest of the wild. Scotia kept her revolver drawn. She took subtle whiffs of air, trying to determine if anything was waiting for them on their route back to the transport. A conscious Damir—with his verean sight, would have been far more helpful.

“Do you remember the route?” Mira asked. Her chest heaving. Her pace had slowed with the distance.

“Just a little further, do you want me to carry him?” asked Scotia.

“I’m fine,” Mira replied. “I imagine we couldn’t leave the transport’s beacon on, else someone else might’ve found it?”

“Exactly,” said Scotia. “We don’t have the equipment to mask the signal and only pick it up ourselves. Without the transport, we’re trudging back through a lot of dangerous territory.”

Mira stopped a moment, to re-situate her hold on Damir. “You think they’ll send people after us?” she asked.

“Well, there’s that, but I was mostly implying the creatures of the wild. I guess you haven’t been here long?” Scotia asked. “The wild is incredibly dangerous. We’re out just far enough for some of the larger predators to pick up our scent. But I don’t smell anything yet. I just hope the smell of Damir’s arm doesn’t lure anything in.” Scotia looked back to Mira and glanced Damir over. “Maybe Noree will be able to do something for him.”

Mira nodded. In the silence of the wild, all she could do was think. She had spent too long out in the yard with Cursa, when the others had gone on ahead. If she had dealt with Cursa beforehand, she could have made sure nothing happened to Scotia’s team.

Mira shook her head, trying to rid herself of the notions. She couldn’t change any of that now. She had to keep her attention on the task at hand. For all she knew, there could be enemies inbound. “If the owners of the facility knew what happened,” said Mira. “How soon do you—”

A series of loud thumps quaked the ground. Scotia and Mira stopped and looked around. Seconds later, a gust blew past them. The air brought a crackling sound with it and the night sky lit up in the distance. They turned and looked back the way they’d come. A bright orange light emanated in the distance. The wind blew stronger against them.

“Did...it self destruct?” Mira gasped.

Scotia looked up into the sky, but all she saw was the amber glow of the explosion and the stars above. “I think it was bombarded from high-orbit,” she said. “We wouldn’t have heard anything until the explosion, if it was a self-destruct. We really need to head back and check the comms. Maybe we can find out if something happened in orbit. I’m sure Noree or her associates are monitoring what’s happening.”

It wasn’t long until the two came across the dormant transport. Scotia queued up the drone’s systems and activated it. They made their way inside and closed the hatch, before Scotia brought the vessel above the treeline and headed back to Noree’s. She kept the ship as low as she dared, as to help avoid detection. But she knew full-well that the transport would easily be detected if someone was actively looking for them. She just hoped that they still had time before anyone could reach them.

***

The small craft entered the airspace above the tall buildings. Mira watched a display within the transport. It depicted the area below as they passed over. “Are those fires?” she asked.

Scotia sat across from Mira. She kept an eye on the flight path, having to take manual control frequently to avoid other vessels. The ship’s navigation system was mostly being overridden so they could use it for their own means. She glanced over to the display Mira was staring at. She narrowed her eyes as she noticed what Mira was referring to. “The hell?” she murmured. “Try accessing the news comms, we’re almost to Noree’s.”

Mira brought up the display from her data-band and attempted to access First City’s news stations. But when she selected one, all she saw was a red image with the message ‘Technical difficulties, please wait for service to be restored. Thank you.”

Mira selected one of the non-news comms. It was a comm channel which displayed animated visuals for children. But instead of the usual silly-characters, she saw the same red message. “All the Broadcast comms are down.”

“That’s not good,” said Scotia. She glanced over to Damir, who was lain beside Mira. She focused her attention back on the flight controls. They were nearing Noree’s facility.

“I counted at least seventeen fires on the way here. That seems like a lot, even for First City,” said Mira.

“Something’s going on, maybe Noree will know,” said Scotia. “Brace yourself, landing in five...four...three,” she counted down until the small transport made a harsh thud on the ground.

Mira had to keep a tight hold on Damir, to prevent him from falling off the seat. Now that they’d landed, she reached over to pick Damir back up.

“I got him,” said Scotia, as she stepped over and hoisted her companion over her shoulder with ease. She kept her gun-hand free, but her revolver was holstered. She triggered the door, and stepped carefully out of the small vessel’s hatch.

Scotia’s eyes widened as she froze an instant later. She withdrew her revolver and took aim towards Noree’s complex.

“What’s going on?” Mira asked as she couldn’t see what was outside. She clenched her right hand and brought flames to lick around her fingers.She neared the hatchway, trying to determine who their new enemies were.

Scotia’s weapon lowered. “It’s...safe, I think.”

Mira peered out the hatch as Scotia moved out of her line of sight. She hopped out of the transport and looked around, wondering what was going on. “What the hell happened here?” she whispered as she saw black-uniformed figures laying on the ground. They wore helmets which concealed their features.

“They smell like vereans,” said Scotia.

Mira dimmed the flames on her hands, but her body emanated a great amount of heat. She pushed one of the bodies over with her boot. “I don’t see any markings. Who do you—” Mira stopped mid-sentence as she looked to the doorway of Noree’s lab. The doorway was destroyed. A moment later she dashed towards the entrance.

“Mira, wait!” Scotia called as she headed after the phoenix, with Damir over her shoulder.

Mira entered the hall, her gaze flitting over everything that was out of place. Several more black-suited figures lay on the floor in the hall. Each of them were separated from their heads and arms. There were blast marks from weapons fire all over the walls and ceiling.

Mira raced down the hall towards the main lab. Sparks flew from the damaged doors. She ran into the lobby and then the lab, ready to melt any opposition. But when she passed into the lab, something rushed down from the ceiling to land in front of her. It was a purple mass that quickly took humanoid form. Mira’s arm rose, but stopped when she realized she’d seen this creature before.

“You’re not an enemy,” came the aquatic tone from Persephone’s lips.

Mira stared at the claymore, before looking around the lab. It seemed to be mostly in-tact. There were no bodies inside. “Where’s Noree?” Mira demanded.

“Over here,” said the dryte woman, who was seated a distance away out of line of sight of the front door.

Mira stepped around Persephone and caught a glimpse of Noree. “What happened here, are you all right?”

Noree was staring at the display for one of her terminals. “We’re fine,” she said. “But it seems I’ve overplayed my hand. It was only a matter of time before I was targeted directly. Luckily I had Persephone here to keep me safe, but my facility was a little banged up.”

Scotia’s footfalls came to an abrupt stop in the doorway of the lab. Her revolver raised and pointed at Persephone. She lowered the firearm a second later.

Hearing Scotia’s arrival, Noree turned her head and saw the sharva woman carrying Damir. “Enough of me, what happened to you?” Noree rose from her seat when she saw that Damir was missing an arm. She rushed over. “Quickly, bring him over here!”

Scotia looked to Noree and saw that she was fine, despite not hearing about the attack on the lab. If Noree and Persephone weren’t hurt, then seeing to Damir’s well being was her next concern. She moved quickly after Noree. The dryte woman pressed a button on a machine. At first appearance, it was just a large metal box, but a hatch slid away and a slab of metal came out. The slab was lightly padded for meager comfort. “Lay him down,” said Noree.

Scotia lowered Damir to the padded slab and brought his remaining arm in beside him. Once he was securely on the slab, Noree pressed another button on the machine, to withdraw the slab into the device with Damir upon it.

Noree brought her data-band online and began to interact with the machine. Scotia watched, stepping over to her and looking at the display the dryte woman had brought up but she understood very little about what was being displayed.

“Analysing his injuries now,” said Noree.

From across the room, Persephone spoke up. “What is taking Jamie so long? Is he still outside?”

Scotia tensed and looked over to Persephone. Noree peered up from the display, her attention on Scotia as well.

After several silent seconds, Scotia spoke “he didn’t make it.” She turned from them. “Please do what you can for Damir,” she whispered, before heading over to a vacant chair.

While Scotia resigned herself to her own thoughts, Mira quietly explained what happened from start to finish. But she didn’t have the knowledge as to what occurred with the prison-garb demons, only that Scotia and her companions had killed them all when she arrived to destroy The Thresher. This particular event, caused Noree to glance to Scotia, but she kept silent on the matter.

“Scotia seemed to think that the facility was bombarded after we left. There was also an explosion in high orbit. We were hoping to find out if the two were connected but we couldn’t access comms until we got to the city. That’s when we saw all the fires.”

Noree had intermittently tapped at the holo-display, in order to administer treatment to Damir. She remained attentive to the story and looked to Mira when she finished. “I had my associates monitor space-travel in the Mal system. They intercepted communications for a vessel which was ordered to eliminate that facility,” said Noree.

“They sent a ship after us?” asked Mira.

Noree tapped several times on the display before answering. “The communication they intercepted, was for a pirate battlecruiser. But when I spoke to my associates, they said they had communicated with a captain they knew in the Malstyx Guard. Apparently the captain they spoke with, was able to intercept the battlecruiser, but they’ve not heard back from him since. From what you’ve said about the complex, I fear things might not have gone well for them in space. But luckily, the three of you are still alive.”

Mira looked to the machine which held Damir. “What about the fires? What’s with the broadcast comms? Everything seems to be down,” she said.

Noree made several last adjustments to the machine as it went about its quiet work on Damir and emitted soft hums every couple seconds.

“The situation in First City has taken an unfortunate turn,” said Noree. “Are you familiar with the company known as Sphinx Co?”

Mira thought for a moment, remembering the slightly animalistic humanoids she’d seen around First City ever since she arrived. Cursa had mentioned them as well. “Yes,” she said. “They’re the company that’s messing with gene-weaving for humans. What about them?”

Noree took her time and seated herself nearby. “The gene-weaved humans—who call themselves Sphinxes, have escalated their riots and become more violent.”

Mira gave Noree a confused look. “Why?”

Noree dissipated the holo-display she was using to interact with the machine, as she regarded Mira entirely. “Because it seems that several human factions have voiced their stance on the gene-weaving therapy. They’re also backed by the verean government. But most notably, the human factions are ordering Malstyx to uphold their laws about genetic manipulation. They want Malstyx to take the Sphinxes into custody and forcibly reverse all genetic modifications and destroy all of Sphinx Co’s assets.”

Mira shook her head. “But this entire world is one big haven for the mostly lawless. Why would the sphinxes be rioting? Malstyx wouldn’t do that, would they?”

Noree nodded. “You’re right, but directly after multiple news broadcasts showed the videos of several human factions decreeing that they wanted Malstyx to do this, all the broadcast comms went dark. Some of my associates have fed me information from what they can gather, apparently fear has taken hold and the sphinxes think the news blackout is proof that Malstyx will take action against them.”

Mira’s hands rested on her hips as she thought to herself. “Well, they might have reason to now,” she mused. “But rioting, over something like that? It seems a bit excessive for paranoia based on a news blackout.”

“I agree, which leads to the part you’re not going to like,” said Noree.

“They’re being manipulated,” said Scotia from across the lab. She’d apparently been listening to every word, despite her desire for some distance.

Mira glanced to the sharva and then back to Noree.

“She’s right,” Noree confirmed. “I fear that I might’ve been the instrument to that end.”

“What do you mean?” Mira asked.

“I was contracted to work on the gene-therapy used by Sphinx Co,” said Noree. “This was months ago. It was only about a week’s worth of work—given my knowledge and skillset. But on Malstyx, I was probably the only choice for getting the job done in a timely manner. I didn’t think much of it at the time. They were paying exorbitantly well and it was along the lines of work I’d done in the past. It wasn’t until today that I put two and two together.”

“I don’t understand what you’re getting at,” said Mira.

Noree tapped her data-band and then displayed two images. She turned her holo-display for Mira to view it. “On the left is the gene-weaving protocol that I developed. It allows a tighter integration of genes, so that there wouldn’t be any rejection in the host.”

Mira looked at the image and then the one beside it. “Ok, but what’s the difference between those two images? They look the same.”

“That’s because they are,” said Noree. “The image on the left, is a sample from a patient who was gene-weaved by Sphinx Co. The image on the right, is a sample from your friend, Luca.”

Mira’s eyes widened. “The drug Luca took, is using your work?”

Noree nodded. “When the riots started, I thought it was peculiar. I remembered the piece of the puzzle I’d solved for Sphinx Co and remembered that Ero started hitting the streets soon after. So I went back and checked the sample I took from your friend. I wouldn’t have noticed the similarity without it. Because the other samples had degraded too much. But yes, the same properties I developed for Sphinx Co, are the ones being utilized to allow Ero to incorporate demon DNA. It also allows for the transformation you saw with your own eyes.”

Mira remembered what Cursa had said. He had told her that he thought Sphinx Co was suspicious. She rubbed her head as she tried to grasp everything going on.

“Is Sphinx Co able to incorporate demon DNA into their therapy? Without the recipient knowing?” asked Mira.

“Unfortunately, yes,” said Noree.

Scotia rose from her seat. “Isn’t that the whole reason we went out to that facility? To stop something like that happening?”

Noree looked to Scotia. “Yes. But this situation is potentially far worse. I suspect that Ero was due to a knowledge leak on Sphinx Co’s behalf. Someone is exploiting my work, in the form of a volatile drug. But what Sphinx Co is giving to its customers is far more stable. If a demon’s DNA is being used, then that demon could theoretically manipulate the Sphinxes.”

“Wouldn’t that be a good cause for the riots?” Scotia asked. “A demon influencing the Sphinx population to become paranoid and aggressive?”

“It’s a definite possibility,” said Noree.

“Who owns Sphinx Co?” Mira asked. “If they’re a company here on Malstyx, they still have to file paperwork, right? Some sort of record? Or even if it’s a subsidiary of a larger corporation?”

Noree tapped at her display. “I researched Sphinx Co when I decided to do work for them. It took a few days for my associates to get back to me with all the details, but Sphinx Co is secretly controlled by the Cearfoss clan. Which, isn’t public knowledge.”

“The Cearfoss clan?” Scotia spoke up again. She remembered what her old boss had said about Cearfoss.

Mira looked to the sharva woman. “Is that important?” she asked.

Scotia nodded and regarded the two. “It’s related to what Damir told everyone earlier. My old boss might be working with a demon, or might be a demon himself. But before I left his gang, we attacked the cearfoss clan a lot. He revealed himself to us and we hunted him down. But it was a trap and we lost The Fang. The way he spoke made it seem as though we had been sabotaging the cearfoss clan beyond normal pirating and looting. Maybe Zane has something to do with all this? Or maybe the demon he works for?”

Mira did her best to absorb Scotia’s information. “But wouldn’t that imply there’s two demons at odds with each other? One with Zane and one within the Cearfoss clan.”

“There’s too many unknown factors,” said Noree. “You can’t go and destroy all of Sphinx Co on a theory. We have no proof of anything yet, only possibilities. It’s best if you both rest while you can. Persephone will keep watch.”

Mira and Scotia looked across the room to the banged-up entryway of the lab. Persephone was nowhere in sight.

“Scotia, feel free to take one of the guest rooms down the hall,” said Noree.

Scotia ran her fingers through her hair. She considered Persephone’s abilities. The claymore didn’t need to eat or sleep, as far as she was aware. She didn’t think Persephone could be fatigued either. “Alert me if something comes up,” said Scotia. She took one last look at the machine Damir resided in before she turned from the others and headed to the hall.

Mira watched as the sharva captain left.

“You should sleep as well,” said Noree. “I’ll keep an eye on Damir. He’s stable and I gave him a sedative to keep him out for several more hours at least.”

Mira thought about Scotia and what—or who, she had lost. She looked to Noree. “I cost Scotia her partner and I almost cost her a friend,” she said.

Noree’s features remained unchanged as her purple eyes peered back at Mira. “We can’t change these things,” she said. “I wasn’t aware that phoenixes cared so much for the rest of us. But it seems these things affect you deeply.”

“Shouldn’t it?” Mira spat. “I’m supposed to protect everyone. But every time I manage to put down another demon, more people are lost.”

“Moving on is a part of caring about those we’ve lost,” said Noree. “Please rest. Don’t brood over these things.”

Mira turned from the dryte woman and took a step forward and then another. It wasn’t so easy to forget the faces of the dead. Even for a phoenix.

Mira left Noree’s lab and entered the hall. She found Scotia leaning against the wall, just outside one of the guest rooms. Her arms were crossed and her eyes stared at the floor. Scotia looked up only when Mira began to pass her.

“Damir and I are still alive,” said Scotia. “Mercenaries like us take dangerous jobs all the time. So do soldiers. Even being a civilian can be hazardous. Just don’t forget who kept us alive.”

Mira stared into Scotia’s eyes and watched as the sharva turned around and pressed the datapad on the door. It slid open with a soft whoosh.

“You didn’t tell Noree about that dead man in the courtyard,” said Scotia. “He was a phoenix, wasn’t he?”

Mira looked down the hall towards the door of her own room. “It wasn’t important enough to bother Noree with a personal matter like that,” said Mira.

“I see,” said Scotia, as she passed through the doorway. The door slid shut behind her, leaving Mira alone in the hall.

Mira headed down the hall and entered her own room. The weight of the day grew heavier with each step. She approached the meager mattress and sat on the edge.

“You didn’t have to do that for me,” came a female voice from behind Mira.

Mira’s eyes closed as her hands clasped over her eyes.

“It might not be tomorrow, or even a month from now but he’ll come back,” came the woman’s voice. “You know he will. It’s only a matter of time. He’ll bring others against you for what you did.”

Mira shook her head and lowered her hands to the bed. She stared at the far wall as she spoke. “Let him bring the other phoenixes. Let him bring any army he can muster against me. If they want you, they’ll have to kill me, again.”