Chapter Three: The Crew Assembles
304 Words
The skiff broke down ten miles out, because of course it did. Zara kicked the engine, cursing, as Bolt scanned the horizon. “Syndicate’s still on our tail. Also, there’s a ship approaching—not one of theirs.”
A battered starship, the Stellar Fox, landed in a cloud of dust. Out stepped Jace, a cocky pilot with a lopsided grin and a leather jacket that had seen better days. “Heard you needed a ride, Junkyard Princess,” he said, dodging Zara’s glare.
“Not in the mood, Jace,” she snapped. “You here to help or gloat?”
“Help. Mostly.” He nodded to the ship, where a green-skinned alien named Vex, a shape-shifter with a penchant for turning into terrifying creatures, waved lazily. “We saw the Syndicate’s cruisers. Figured you’d be in trouble.”
Zara hesitated, then hauled the crate aboard. “Fine. But if you call me ‘princess’ again, I’m feeding you to Vex.”
The Stellar Fox took off, dodging Syndicate fire. Inside, Zara opened the crate, revealing a glowing orb etched with lunar runes. The moment she touched it, visions flooded her mind: women wielding starlight, fighting off shadowy invaders, their voices chanting, “Blessed Luna, rise.”
Bolt whirred. “That’s a Luna Coven artifact. You’re… one of them. A cosmic witch.”
Zara laughed, half-nervous, half-thrilled. “A witch? Me? I fix engines, not cast spells.”
Jace glanced back from the cockpit. “Whatever you are, that light show back there was badass. Syndicate’s after that orb, and they won’t stop. We need a plan.”
Vex, now in the form of a six-foot lizard, grinned. “I say we steal their flagship, blow it up, and call it a day.”
Zara smirked. “I like her style.”
- Writer
