Pirates and Raiders

Akira.

The one man she'd hoped never to set eyes on again, who'd haunted her nightmares for years.

The rogue stood over her, smiling like a cat who got the cream.

‘What are you doing here?' she whispered.

‘Ah, King K'Sumi himself called. He thought you might need a babysitter. It turns out you D'Hanna's are not as shit hot as you think you are. He wants me along for the ride to make sure everything is perfect.'

The smarmy man pushed into the booth and sat down like he owned the place.

Katya stared at him.

She couldn't believe she'd once thought him handsome with his swarthy complexion and Iccythrian tendencies, from the jewels embedded into his skin to his modded neck dripping with a series of heavy gold and diamond chains.

He wore a dark suit that outlined his robust frame, and his eyes gleamed with an unsettling mix of amusement and malice.

Katya's blood ran cold as memories of their past encounters flooded her mind.

She clenched her jaw, her nails digging into the palms of her hands.

Akira's sudden appearance was like a dagger to her well-thought-out plans. He wouldn't hesitate to sabotage their operation if it suited his agenda.

Korin and K'Zito exchanged uneasy glances, aware of Katya and Akira's tense history. He was a loose cannon, unpredictable and ruthless when crossed.

But she couldn't let him tag her fear. Not now, with so much at stake.

With a forced calmness, she met Akira's gaze head-on. ‘We don't need a babysitter.'

‘But King K'Sumi wants to ensure all goes according to plan. And who better than me to keep an eye on things?'

His tone, although casual, was laced with menace, sending a shiver down her spine.

Ignoring the tension crackling in the air, Katya pasted a simper while struggling to regain her composure in the face of her ex-lover.

Having Akira involved could be a blessing or a curse, depending on how the winds of his unpredictable loyalties blew.

‘Looking beautiful as always, Katya.'

‘Still a con artist and flatterer, Akira,' she returned with a fake smile. ‘What trick are you pulling now? Because you've always worked like a backstabbing stage magician. When everyone's watching you pull a rabbit out of a hat, you're hacking a showgirl in half, blood, guts and all. So if you're here on K'Sumi's behest, he probably thinks you're gunning for him while you're swindling him from behind.'

Akira smirked, his eyes gleaming. ‘You always were cunning, quick with words and cutting to the heart, Katya. Fokk, I'm still bleeding over you. But you'll do well to remember who holds the real power in this operation now.'

He turned his gaze to her brothers, who sat frozen in their seats, unsure what to do or say. ‘Good to catch you three kinais.'

‘Never thought we'd see your face again. Still playing Pirates and Raiders?' Korin sneered, referencing a popular holo game that young teens across Pegasi favoured.

Akira's eyes iced over even as his smile widened, and he leaned back in his seat with rogue casualness. ‘I prefer Robbers, Looters and Bandits myself. It's always a pleasure to witness the D'Hanna siblings in action. Especially when you're in so deep that you need me to bail you out.'

The brothers exchanged wary glances as Akira grinned at them.

Korin spoke up with a forced nonchalance, his voice steady but tinged with caution. ‘What is your role in all of this, Akira? We have our plans in motion and don't necessitate your interference.'

Akira leaned back in his seat, a smug smile on his lips. ‘Oh, I'm not here to interfere,

I'm here to ensure that everything runs without a hitch. Think of me as your insurance policy in case things go awry.'

His tone was mocking, filled with a subtle threat that sent a chill down Katya's spine.

She locked eyes with him. ‘Like I said, we don't want your ‘insurance policy. We've got this under control. We'll send you a report card afterwards.'

Akira chuckled, enjoying the tension he was causing. ‘Oh, I don't doubt your abilities, Katya. But you know as well as I do that unexpected complications can arise in the blink of an eye. Trust me when I say having me on board is in your best interest. Besides, I have a bone to pick with you.'

Her heart rate tripped. ‘Pray to tell.'

‘King K'Sumi was generous in his background intel on what you four have been up to the last few years. He revealed your activities on Enia and Galicia; he even shared footage of your visits to my establishments on both planets. It made for some interesting viewing.'

His lips were lifted in a smile, but his eyes glittered with cold rage.

Korin leaned forward, brow furrowed. ‘Fokk, Katya, what have you been up to?'

She opened her mouth, but Akira was the first to respond. ‘Oh, your dear sister here has been quite the busy bee, buzzing around my shops and picking up some of my stock at will like she owns it all.'

Akira's voice dripped with disdain as he turned his gaze back to Katya, a twist on his lips. ‘I must say, I was impressed with your audacity, beautiful. But let's say your little escapades didn't go unnoticed. You owe me hundreds of thousands of schills. '

Katya's mind raced as she tried to piece together how King K'Sumi had obtained footage of her heists on Enia and Galicia.

The capers had been risky and had overstepped the boundaries of legality, but she'd rationalised them and used great care, never expecting them to come back and haunt her in this way.

Korin's jaw clenched as he glared at his sister, shock and anger flashing in his eyes. ‘Katya, what have you gotten us into now?'

She cocked her head at him, inhaling to maintain her temper. ‘What have I done? What about what you and your two dumb-ass brothers got us into? I wasn't the one who promised King K'Sumi the world and didn't deliver. I'm the victim here and won't stand for your outlandish hypocrisy.'

‘Tut, tut, a squabbling family. See why His Highness sent me?' Akira drawled.

Katya took a ragged breath to control herself.

At that moment, the air was punctured with loud, wailing sirens.

At the same time, Akira's wrist comm trilled.

He took the call in his neural transmitter, and Katya saw his oily, handsome face blanche.

‘Seems we need to hustle out. The Zanyrians are welcoming most times. But there is the matter of a raid of one of their Imperial Cruisers in recent months that I think they're up in arms about. They're conducting a strike, and they're looking for me.'

Katya's sucked her teeth.

While appearing like beach-loving, laid-back hosts, when their hospitality was taken for granted, Zanyrians transformed into ruthless and unforgiving tyrants. They would stop at nothing to capture suspects, with severe consequences for those they managed to snag, unless you bribed their entire force.

Akira rose with haste. ‘You're leaving with me, now.'

He jerked his chin when they hesitated, and two burly men emerged from the adjacent booths. They nailed cold glares on the D'Hanna quartet, weapons in hand.

‘K'Sumi sent me a contingent of his gendarmes to make sure your asses don't run off. They've also used an Iccythrian order to forfeit ownership of Fortuna's Grace, so you've no vessel to escape with,' Akira announced. ‘So we're taking my ship to Eden II, where I can keep an eye on you.'

While her brothers protested, Katya hurriedly stuffed the Sable comm tab into her bag.

‘I need to get my things,' Katya snarled. ‘My luggage.'

‘We don't have time for packing. I've flight suits on my craft you can borrow.'

Korin and Katya's eyes met.

He shrugged, and she sucked her teeth, jerking her chin. They had no choice but to comply.

However, this game played out now; they fokkin' had to go through with it, Katya sighed, hoping to heaven that Xion's promise to always be close by was true.

With no more possible arguments, the D'Hanna siblings gave in and stepped away from the table.

Akira grabbed Katya's upper arm as he and the ALMQ gendarmes hurried the group out of the restaurant.

Katya tried to look around for Xion, but he was nowhere to be seen.

They rushed through the crowded hotel lobby, dodging guests and staff alike.

It was too late.

The sirens wailed as a gaggle of Zanyrian Police and Security flyers pulled outside the entrance.

A voice rumbled into her Sable-designed nodal earring. ‘Khaliya, I'm coming for you.'

Katya's limbs almost gave way in relief.

‘I've got eyes on you,' Xion continued in her ear.

She tore her arm from Akira and bent her head, pretending to straighten a shoe as she whispered to him. ‘Nada, kodan. We have to complete this mission. I don't require a rescue yet as long as you've got eyes on me.'

‘Sawa,' he conceded, ‘but if bullets come close to you, I'm getting you out.'

Akira yanked her upright just as a Zanyrian armoured cop stormed into the lobby and pointed their weapon at the pirate.

‘There he is,' came the shout.

The man with an arm on Katya panicked.

He barked something into his wrist comm.

Seconds later, a burst of fire hit the security personnel's crafts.

An unseen ship began firing at random at the Zanyrian law enforcement troops.

One of the police flyers imploded in spectacular fashion.

Chaos erupted through the hotel foyer.

Guests leapt. Others fell to the ground, their screams mixing with the sounds of gunfire and explosions.

‘I've stirred up a distraction,' Akira roared. ‘With me.'

He headed to a side door. ‘Through here.'

The buccaneer led them and plunged them through an emergency doorway.

Katya's heart pounded as she and her brothers followed Akira past the mayhem. Flashing lights illuminated their path, and the acrid scent of smoke filled the air.

Outside, the cops turned to the firing ship and started shooting at it.

The hotel's AI boomed over the speakers, telling all patrons and employees to duck and find their way to the safe rooms at the end of the lobby.

Beyond the shattering glass walls, guests who'd been playing volleyball scattered while others jumped from the beach and swimming pools.

Still, Akira and his entourage streaked through palm-lined paths towards a five-seater flyer hovering above the side car park, its engines humming with readiness.

Before Katya processed it all, Akira ushered them inside the vessel, locked the hatch, and left the ALMQ gendarmes outside.

The King's soldiers dashed to a second waiting craft, ducking fire and returning it as they tried to escape.

‘Strap in,' Akira shouted as the D'Hanna's found crash couches and seats in haste.

Moments later, they lifted off, rocketing away from the chaos at the hotel.

Katya craned her neck, gazing at the wild scene below her, flinching as the ALMQ flyer blew up into smithereens.

A sudden acceleration pressed Katya back into her seat, her mind reeling, body thrumming from adrenaline.

They hurtled through the atmosphere, leaving Zanyria's twinkling lights behind.

In half an hour, they rendezvoused with Akira's freighter, Clawed Vengeance, hiding in the shadow of Zanyria's moon.

Once inside, Akira led them to a lower deck storage room. ‘Move fast and change into the jumpsuits we've made available. Then join me on my bridge.'

On Zanyria, Xion raced to aid those in need.

He lifted children and vulnerable guests out of the line of fire.

He darted through the turmoil, his movements fluid and efficient as he navigated through the terrified individuals and the debris of the exploding flyers.

His focus was singular, his mind calculating the best course of action to ensure the safety of as many people as possible.

At the heart of the pandemonium, he spotted an injured security personnel trapped under a pile of rubble.

Without hesitation, he knelt and, with a surge of strength, lifted the wreckage off the man.

‘Can you stand?' Xion urged as he helped the wounded man.

The man nodded, wincing in pain but grateful for Xion's help. ‘Sante,' he breathed out before limping towards the lobby exit.

Xion didn't pause to bask in gratitude; instead, he scanned the area for more people needing assistance.

Amidst the screams and gunfire, he spotted a group of visitors huddled behind a toppled table. With a burst of speed, Xion approached them, his gaze fixed on their terrified faces.

He leapt over the fallen objects, dived under low-hanging flyer debris, and slid past the crumpled bodies of subdued security personnel.

Reaching the stricken guests, crouching in front of them. ‘It's okay; you're safe now.'

He helped each one up, guiding them towards the exit before returning to survey the scene again.

The attacking ship, he guessed either an ALMQ gunship or one of Akira's corvettes, had long since left orbit.

The police flyers were mangled and smoking at the entrance of the resort, but from what he could observe, most of the officers were OK, a few wounded but walking.

With no further time to dedicate to the rescue cause, he strode back to the accommodation wing.

He cleared his room, gathered his belongings and equipment, and, ensuring he had everything, headed to Katya's suite.

His metanoids hacked the door code in seconds, and he moved inside, packing her gear up.

While he did, his mind raced with thoughts of her safety.

He had to catch up to her and give her the freakin' backing he'd promised.

With a quick scan of the room, he made sure nothing important was left behind before shouldering the bag and heading towards the door.

As he stepped out into the chaotic hallway, the sounds of gunfire and screams still echoed through the air.

Xion navigated through the debris-strewn corridors of the hotel.

The stomp of footsteps hit his ears, approaching from around the corner.

He ducked into a nearby alcove as a group of Zanyrian security officers hurried past, their weapons drawn and expressions grim.

Mirage, he called out via his node. Where are you?

The Sable AI replied. I'm dropping to a side road behind the establishment.

Good. We must hustle to catch up with Akira and the D'Hanna siblings before they get to Eden II.

The Tachy - Rider - is one of the fastest ships in all of Pegasi. It won't be a hardship, and don't fret; I've got her in my sights.

Fokkin' keep her there.

Once the security sweep had passed, Xion emerged from his hiding spot. He continued to the exit, slipped through and headed towards the abandoned service thoroughfare where his sleek vessel awaited.

The rear deck lowered.

He leapt onto it as the doors closed and re-pressurised.

The Rider secured his gear in the secure hold and hung up his weapons.

He took the stairs to the bridge three at a time.

‘Course set,' Mirage announced as he appeared in the cockpit.

‘Thank fokk. Let's get the hell out of here,' he growled.

The engines hummed to life as the ship lifted from Zanyria Prime, hurtling through space towards after his woman.