THE DARKHEART SAGA

pte

t. His legs burned from the relentless pace, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins kept him moving. He did

nfaltering. She glanced back at him, her crimson eyes gleaming in the dim lig

all of us have supe

er lips, but it quickly faded. "They're

actories, warehouses, and shipping yards. Somewhere in this urban wasteland, there had to

we can get inside that factory,

them, its broken windows and rusted doors a testament to years of neglect. Kie

ay in ruin, their once-mighty forms reduced to rusting hulks. The silen

ira muttered, her gaze

eplied, though his

Kieran found a stairwell leading to an upper level and motioned for Elira

dows were cracked but intact, offering a view of the entire space. Kieran crouched b

ming," she

rkness below as Dominion operatives entered the factory. They moved with preci

muttered. "They're

ression unreadable. "That's

"And you're just he

o humor in her eyes. "I could leav

her, to demand why she'd brought that up now of all times, but the trut

he asked, his tone ha

ooked almost vulnerable. "Because whether you

words. Before he could respond, the soun

er voice snapping back

his hand tightening around hi

ating. "We can't fight them head-on

ted control panel. "If we can get that working, may

"Do it. I'll

grime. The switches and dials were worn, but some of the wiring looked

nse. She turned suddenly, her voice low but urgent

ng as he worked. Finally, the panel hummed to lif

said, flipp

e. Belts and gears creaked, and a conveyor belt began to move, its motion shaki

lira said, gr

moving as quietly as possible. The noise from the machinery

l, they were met by a figure blo

ylan asked, his voic

destepped her attack with ease, drawing a knife that gleamed in the

Rylan's voice stopped him cold. "Think carefully, Bl

t he held his fire. Instead, he watched as Elira a

aid, his knife slashing toward Elir

r eyes blazing. "I don't nee

for an opening. His gaze landed on a stack of metal pipes precario

and deliberate. Below, Elira and Rylan's fight co

ppled with a deafening crash, falling directly onto Rylan. The commande

ieran shouted

er eyes, his expression defiant even as he lay trapped

Elira replied

d Kieran, and they dis