Zon Headquarters, First Quadrant, Andromeda Galaxy.

Zogan looked around at his team as they sat in the ejection shuttle. The shuttle was cloaked with camouflage devices that would keep them off the map of the Zon if it all went well. There were seven of them in total, three of his elite warriors and himself, Azazel, Ravanna and Mara. They were all seated and strapped in, the ground shuddering with the shuttle's rapid flight toward the hive-quarters. Azazel and Mara were deep in conversation while Ravanna settled into his gift, eyes almost wholly black.

Zogan had begun doing so as well, explaining to Mya what their gift did and the process it took to get in and out of their destruction. He would still know her but everything he did would be tinged with violence. He looked to his right and there sat his mate, his betrothed, and one day queen. Her full lips and red hair concealed beneath the dark hood that all his warriors wore. Only her mismatched eyes stared up at him. He was sure his eyes were fully black, no hint of color in them but she did not look away, even though she had never seen this side of him. She only leaned her head forward to rest their foreheads together, eyes open and fixed onto his.

The ground shuddered again and she broke contact to look out the screen panel to her right, it showed the darkness outside. Space; massive and consuming, and in its midst a floating space station. It presented like a black, jagged, clawed hand that reached up from the barren world below it. A world that was destroyed by the Zon's carelessness and greed. No wonder they'd allied themselves with the Ajal.

The hive-quarters were made up of six broad curved spikes that were held together by a circular platform running through them all at the base. The one passageway into where they were headed. He saw Mya shut her eyes and squeeze them closed as she leaned back into her seat. He could scent her fear in the air. He reached for her hand and held it tightly unsure of what to say in the moment. He did want her to be afraid, fear preserved lives. They were heading into a dangerous situation, one that he would never have placed her in if she didn't have the damning gift. But his mate was strong, determined and despite her size very capable. It will be over soon.

He pushed toward her through his mental guards that he'd built the moment his tutor had shown he and his siblings the way to defend themselves against certain gifts. Mya's hand tightened and she nodded, eyes still closed tightly.

The ride was bumpy and took some time as the shuttle had to find its way around the space junk that the wretched Zon released from their home. Zogan soon found the bottom of his gift and became lost to it. The world around him tinged red, his scales hardened and sharpened. His fangs and claws ached to lengthen, ready to protect what was his. He dripped in weaponry too as did all the warriors. He'd given Mya a powerful laser and a blaster, and she'd chosen a wicked curved blade and strapped it to her back, placing a smaller one at her thigh, complementing it with the laser on the other.

Zogan had felt pride swell in his chest when he'd seen just how amazing she was in training. She was smart and found ways to use her smallness to her advantage, something her sparring partners had underestimated her for every time.

He sprang up when they stopped, barely allowing the seatbelts holding them in place to retract into their holds. They were all moving down the corridors headed to the suit rooms. The rest of the trip would be taken through the short strip of space between them and the Zon.

His team was a well-oiled machine and they moved efficiently. Mara helped Mya put on her suit while Zogan went over the plan with Ravanna making sure there were no missing pieces. He suited up into his space diving gear, a thick material that sealed him off from the outside atmosphere, complete with helmet and breathing masks. It was lined with material that would make their flight invisible to the Zon who had poor eyesight in high light situations.

Looking around to ensure everyone was suited up he motioned Mya to the center of the group with everyone taking up protective positions around her. His hearts flip flopped at the sight; he couldn't believe he was doing this. He caught Mara's eyes briefly and she nodded curtly, she would protect his mate with everything that she had. It was enough.

They jumped from the vessel. Weightless and small and insignificant in the vastness of space. He pulsed his tiny thrusters to guide him forward towards the hulking mass before him. They moved through space too slowly for him regardless of the accelerator engines guiding them forward. They were open, exposed.

He glanced behind him ensuring that Mya was dealing with their trip easily. She grinned back at him. There was only the sound of his measured breathing filling his helmet and then, "A little to the left."

Nezerra and two other elites were to be their guides. Nezerra's sole purpose was to help Mya. He shifted his flight trajectory.

"I've pulsed them with a small electro pulse so you're as good as invisible. You should see it up ahead." The voice urged quietly.

Something glinted in the distance and he saw a shiny black substance coating the metallic surface of the headquarters. The dying red sun gave light even at its far distance, he could not feel any of its heat through his suit. He reached out and grasped a protruding edge, everyone else coming up behind him spreading out to a protective star formation.

Ravanna came forward and produced a small tubular object. It blasted out a powerful laser beam that glowed blue through his helmet shield. They had coated this area of the hive-quarters with a special glue-like substance, it weakened any surface it was attached to by separating molecules and breaking the bonds between them. There was a faint humming and then a shift as the shiny surface before them gave way with the wall beneath the laser's attention. He pushed forward and fell to the ground with a low thud. Everyone followed him. Gravity was engaged. They were inside. Ravanna layered on some more of the glue substance to cover up their entrance hatch from any prying eyes.

Clicking the central command button on his space suit, Zogan scanned the area they'd landed in. His space suit retracted to a round medallion that he fastened to his leg, as did all the others. Blasters drawn they eased forward as a group; eyes pointed in every direction with Zogan at the head.

Moving steadily forward his eyes swept the passageways. They would continue down this corridor until they met with the entrance to the third compartment of the headquarters. They'd been able to narrow down the Tyrhung's location to that general area. After they reached the agreed upon checkpoint, Mya would have to take over guidance and use her gift.

He listened hard, there was the normal low buzz that the large hive emitted whenever one was nearby, but he sensed no movement toward them. They remained unseen by their enemies. The corridor was in low light and consisted of dry hot air, the habitat of this particular species. Zogan was grateful for the cooling effect of his combat suit. His tongue flicked out to sense the air, there was definitely no one nearby.

The journey along the deserted corridor seemed to take forever. They reached the large, rounded entrance to their checkpoint and he turned toward Mya whose fierce eyes lit up with determination behind her dark view goggles. They allowed her to see into the darkness like his species, he'd had them specially made for her. She stepped forward – closer to him and he let her take up a flanking position to him with Mara and Azazel on her sides and Ravanna his three warriors bringing up the rear.

"Nice and steady."

Mya nodded, he could hear her shaky breaths as she tried and failed to control. Mara rubbed against her in a comforting gesture causing Azazel's brow bridge to flick up in surprise. Zogan only blinked at the gesture. Mya's deep breath drew his attention back to her, she pushed up her goggles and closed her eyes, her small nose scrunching up as she settled into her gift and tried to channel it.

Zogan had been with her at training when Mara had guided her in reaching down towards her gift and shaping it into whatever she needed it to be.

'Gifts are to be treated like sentient beings that reside inside of you, they can either help you or lead to your end' Mara had said.

He supposed it was true, even now his gift called out for him to lose control and to reign death and annihilation upon the enemies around him, those who dared to threaten his world and quadrant, but he held it tightly in his grip of control. Now was not the time. Not yet.

When she opened her eyes again, they blazed and seemed to crackle with glittering black fires. When she spoke her voice seemed deeper, fuller, richer.

"It's up ahead, we need to go right."

She stepped up beside him and he stalked forward. Tasting the air with his senses ensuring no one was around the corner, he would know if they were being neared unless the Zon became aware of their presence.

Apparently, they had cloaking defenses of their own, he thought back to how they'd surprised his team on the Qai ship. It was still a mystery. They were in a wide space now, a large hall. It was wide open and empty, but he and his team had planned for this. Activating the camouflage, they hugged the darkest corners of the shadowy room.

Feet silent on the floor, eyes flitting about Zogan led them with Mya close to his side. She nodded towards a doorway and they filed through into another wide-open space. This one was lined with weaponry and torture devices of all kinds, it smelled of blood and rotting flesh as if their tools had not been cleaned in solars. Zogan held his breath and moved forward swiftly through the room arm fastened tightly around Mya's wrist. He sensed a faint thrum up ahead, his steps slowed, he listened hard.

Thwump. Thwump. Thwump.

The sound came again he held up his fist, the group on high alert. Mya pulled out her small sized blaster, made to fit her tiny hands. Azazel moved forward easing around the corner, his weapons master ready to kill any perceived threat, but no sounds of combat reached him.

"Nesting quarters." Azazel whispered his eyes scrunched with disgust when he returned.

"We should destroy them all." said Mara whose face mirrored her mate's.

Zogan and Ravanna shook their heads, but it was Ravanna who said, "Focus on the mission, if there is enough time afterwards, we will eliminate the offspring."

"Do we pass through here?" asked Ravanna who looked down at Mya.

Her eyes widened as she said, "Yes." Her voice was now soft, breathy as if she were having trouble breathing.

"What is wrong?" Ravanna sank down to look at her, she swayed on her feet.

Alarmed, he reached out to grab her, but Zogan was there, and he gathered her to him lifting off her goggles to see her eyes roll into her head. He shook her as gently as he could manage in his panic, the group stood still around them but each casted worried glance at her.

"Nezerra what does her frequency say?" asked Mara who edged closer to the couple, her eyes scanned the room that they were currently wedged into the corner of. There was silence.

No answer.

"Lieutenant to Dynah, can you hear me?" Mara's voice rose with urgency. There was only dead silence interspersed by sounds of white noise as if they'd been disconnected.

"Dynah!" Ravanna echoed, his voice harsh within the room.

Zogan still held Mya, his hearts palpitating. What was wrong with her? He pressed his large hand against her neck trying to find her pulse. There it was, strong and steady, his panic eased a little. She shivered and her irises were visible again. She looked around, seemingly dazed and Zogan shook her gently again trying to snap her to attention. His senses prickled; something had caused this. What was it?

Her eyes snapped onto his, pupils large in the darkness, he realized she could not see him and hastily put on her goggles. The tenseness went out of her when she focused her gaze onto his but with her next breath she was tensed again, eyes blazing.

"They know." She said twisting out of his grasp and falling to the floor. "They know that we are here."