The image would be burned in the colonists minds from that day, Zephyr was sure.

  Blood dripped steadily beneath the steel door. It was an oblong shape with many steel rivets around the trim. The trailer around it was made of the same rough iron standing on many poles. Grass had grown up beneath it that ended before the dirt path they currently stood on.

  April, Carl and Zephyr stared at it in stunned silence for a moment. Watching. Then Carl stammered;

  "W-we got to check and see if they're alright!" he said with urgency and hurried towards the trailer.

  "Carl, wait!" Zephyr called after him. But it was too late, it was only a short distance to the bloodied door.

  Carl pushed open the door—it was already opened ever so slightly.

  Light was casting dark shadows across the room from a large monitor hung on the wall. It was playing some random TV show. The living space was small. Very small. About 3 meters wide and 9 meters long. Across from the monitor was a couch and a coffee table with a pizza box opened on top.

  A narrow door to the far end of the room led to a small bathroom and to the opposite end there was a kitchen area crammed into a small space partitioned by a counter. A ruddy refrigerator and stove packed next to each other. A sink with a basin barely wide enough to fit a regular sized plate.

  Zephyr envied the size of it actually. It was luxurious compared to her bunkroom aboard the Sequester.

  The body did little for the rooms aesthetic.

  Carl stumbled off to the side into the grass and vomited when he saw.

  It was a fresh kill. Minutes old. Blood pooled across the tile floor and flowed over the doors trim. From a man half-laid on the couch, clutching his stomach that was cut open. His insides spilling out. Bald, late thirties, burly. Average height.

  "Why?" Zephyr found herself asking out loud. Why would Selene do this? Was she turning into a complete psychopath?

  April was staring at it, hyperventilating.

  Zephyr took her by the shoulders and led her from the trailer. "It's okay April, just try to calm down."

  She slapped off Zephyr's hands and pushed away; "Calm down? That man is dead! Murdered!"

  "We don't know that April. It might've been some animal."

  "We-we should call se-se-security..."

  Zephyr thought about this for a moment, then nodded; "You guys go ahead. If they ask about me and my friend, tell them that we were with you when this happened, okay? I'm going to find Abbie and get the hell out of here."

  April shook her head; "You guys can't go back out there! Not if there's some predator on the lose, or worse- a killer!"

  "I know... For now let's just get back to the bar. We'll be safer around other people and you can call the enforcers from there."

  "She-she's right April. Les-let's go." Carl stuttered.

  The three of them hurried down the path back towards the pub.

  Selene stepped inside the throne room.

  It was carpeted with velvet red, curtains of the same color hung from the rooms many windows. White columns lined the room, and a throne of white stone stood. Lightening cracked outside the tall windows as rain fell in sheets outside. The sound of the storm outside made her grateful to be inside.

  Though this vision quest of hers seemed to be unpredictable that way. Room-to-room nothing seemed to stay the same for long.

  But it was calm for now, which she was thankful for. Pipsqueak moved into the room first. Lighting it like a torch as he did. Illuminating the glass displays of jewelry and stone busts that stood near the pillars.

  Suddenly she was struck with a dull pain that throbbed between her ears.

  "Ugh!", she grunted and clutched the side of her head. She staggered towards a display and knocked over the glass box on top of it, sending it crashing to the floor. Shattering the glass.

  One of her eyes showed a different perspective for a moment.

  It showed her using her abilities to question some man she's never seen before. Asking where his boss was then slashing his stomach open.

  Pipsqueak looked back to her. His antenna turning around to face her.

  "It's fine Pip, just a headache... I hope."

  She had no idea what anything meant inside this dream. Any random thing could happen for all she knew... She waited for a moment, seeing if any other visions came to her. Then they continued down the long room towards the throne.

  Once there she put a hand on the armrest. It was wide and made of the same stone the rest of it was. A brilliant white color. Smooth and simple in shape. A red cushion placed on the seat of it.

  She gave one final look around the room. Then sat.

  Pipsqueak sat near her feet. Then chittered.

  All was quiet. Besides the rain and lightening outside.

  "...Now what? Isn't this what you wanted?" she said in mild irritation and fatigue. "I'll do it. I'll take over what I have to. Do what I have to... I get it already!"

  There was no answer to her declaration. It was just an empty room.

  The lighting struck again, and Selene noticed the view outside thanks to the light.

  The core-world city outside was caked in biomass. It lined the edges of every building. Pillars of it clutched the metal buildings like skeletal hands. Yellow dots of many Zykra eyes lurked within their broken windows and shadowed depths. A city destroyed, consumed, and changed.

  This is what you wanted. Human and Zykra. The inevitable result of your conquest.

  The words assembled themselves in Selene's mind from a cloud of psionic energy. Motes of reason and will arranged themselves to be interpreted by human means.

  This psionic signature was like a gentle poke compared to Ku'senai's and the meaning was more easily derived. As if it were rehearsed. As if the voice was more energetic and spry. It was mostly void of personality or emotion like any translation. But Selene was slowly beginning to learn to derive that much as well.

  Just then the door at the far end of the room opened up.

  And a small encephalon stepped in. It's carapace starkly blue with black flesh beneath.

  Unlike Ku'senai, it's features were more delicate. Smoother. The energy she emitted was far more subtle, dark smoke rolled off her shape as she stepped towards Selene. Adding to the rooms shadows. It grew larger as it came closer, until it was about the size of a truck.

  "Who are you? Another queen?" Selene asked quickly, sitting up straighter and moving deeper into the thrones seat. Pipsqueak stood in front of her protectively and chittered angrily.

  I am your sister.

  "What?"

  Selene was getting better at understanding the complex way of communicating the encephalon's used but that translation didn't seem right. Sisters?

  The encephalon looked into the rain outside the windows. Her violet eyes flared.

  Your brood is retaliating. You must bring it into submission.

  "Is that why I'm trapped here?"

  It seemed to ignore her as the psionic communication continued, flowing uninterrupted. It looked to the small scantid between them curiously.

  Your connection to this one is unusual. Perhaps this is why much of your brood favors you, despite your lack of ferocity.

  Selene looked to the small scantid bravely defending her. Their connection always has felt different—even since all that time ago when she first spawned him. The first of hundreds. Hers.

  The sense of pride and affection was innate.

  The smallest scantids' eye's flared with yellow light and Pipsqueak shook his head as if he were shaking off mud.

  "The others... They're just nameless hundreds.. It's not the same."

  The blue encephalon closed her eyes sullenly, antenna flicking slightly.

  It is. Zykra react. Zykra change. Your acceptance of them affects their change. As this one demonstrates.

  She gestured to the small Zykra with her elongated chitinous arm in a regal fashion.

  It has found you here, in the bosom of your demesne rather than obey the will of the shade which has taken your shape.

  Selene made a confused expression; "There's no way that you're telling me love is the answer."

  Affection is not acceptance.

  With that, Selene understood completely. The blue queen was telling her to let down the floodgates. But that wasn't a surprise. That's essentially what everything has told her to this point.

  The problem was she didn't trust that.

  She had no reason to trust this encephalon. No matter how polite and gentle she was.

  You will come to understand in time. When you do, seek me out. We could be allies. Goodluck, green queen.

  Her form dissipated into dark smoke, leaving only a empty space where she had stood. Selene stared at the dissolving black shadow then grumbled a bit, sitting back down. Clutching the armrests of the throne in frustration. This place was getting old. And the encephalon's advice didn't help.

  Pipsqueak was about to lay down by her feet again—but stopped. He gave a growl-like chitter and looked towards a set of white doors with panes of glass in them that led to a balcony behind them.

  Selene followed his gaze to see a shadow standing outside.

  "What this time?" she asked, half frightened and half angry.

  The flea-dog next to her hopped over to the door and crashed through the glass.

  "Pipsqueak!" Selene chased after the tiny scantid, pushing through the set of doors into the stone balcony outside. The shadow had disappeared and reappeared down in the courtyard below. She felt the rain drenching her as she watched it.

  There was a large circular fountain filled with the rains water, and a garden area that was overgrown with weeds. A statue laid crumbled to pieces having fallen from it's pedestal.

  There were distant buildings beyond that. Dark and foreboding. It wasn't so dark that it was pitch black, but it was close. The shadow was watching her. The shape of a person. A man it seemed. Pipsqueak attempted to leap over the balcony edge but Selene grabbed him. She lifted the struggling flea like it were a puppy avoiding a bath.

  "Stop! I need you to stay close!"

  The flea kicked a few more times before it went limp in Selene's hands. It's glowing sets of yellow eyes glared at the shadow. Burning with primordial fury. It chittered.

  "That's my brave soldier. Let's find a way down, I think this shadow wants to talk... That's what they all seem to want." Selene looked to the side of the balcony and saw a crumbled section that could be used as an impromptu staircase down.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Zephyr entered the bar with Carl and April close behind.

  "Help!" April shouted. A few pub patrons looked over from their drinks and jovial conversations.

  "SOMEONE WAS KILLED!" she shouted again—more loudly.

  That attracted their attention—as well as the attention of some men dressed in security uniforms sitting at a table nearby. They wore light blue collared shirts with a lanyard that had a badge hanging from it.

  Someone cut the music leaving only the murmur of confused patrons.

  "Relax, girlie. Killed, what do you mean? How?"

  The security guard who asked was older in their late forties to mid-fifties. Grey hair and goatee, tan skin with dark eyes.

  April glanced to Zephyr who had edged towards Aboleth, who was in the middle of an argument with Desmond.

  "I-I don't know, I think maybe it was an animal or—"

  Another person pushed into the bar, followed by two people wearing enforcer armor. It was rusted on the edges and poorly maintained suits, but they got the job done. People grew quiet as the heavy thuds of their footsteps entered the establishment.

  The man who led them wore a black suit and tie, with a slate grey trench coat over it. He was a in his thirties and white. Short brown hair combed to one side.

  "Vern, we got a problem." he said.

  "I heard." the security officer that had questioned April said. He downed his drink and pulled a similar trench coat that was draped over the back of his chair. Then followed the man and enforcers out of the bar. One of his security officer entourage stopped before leaving and turned to face everyone; "Don't worry everyone, we'll get this all checked out. Probably an accident. Go back to your company allocated breaks."

  Then he left too.

  "What the hell happened?" someone asked April. A voice in the back of the bar.

  She went to a chair and sat.

  "I... I'm not sure. This guy- he.. Had his stomach ripped open in his trailer... It was horrible.." her eyes became glossy. Desmond didn't give Aboleth a second look as he got up from his chair and went to comfort her. Rubbing one of her shoulders.

  "I'm so sorry you had to see that." he said, and kissed her on the top of the head.

  "I'm going home." an old lady said, getting up from her chair and grabbing her purse. She shuffled towards the door.

  A tall muscular and bald black man from behind the bar wore a white apron and had been cleaning glasses with a cloth spoke up then; "Mrs. Alkason maybe you should call your grandson. If there's a wild animal out there-"

  She gave a complacent wave as she pushed through the saloons doors. Grumbling something about being too old to get killed by some wild animal.

  The air in the bar was strange then. People exchanged looks. Quiet murmurs of conversation between frightened patrons. A murder had occurred, and not far from them. Some of them seemed to have insider information that it's been more than one murder at that. Which began to circulate. Rumors spread about the room and people began to get rowdy again.

  The volume built as people began to say what they'd do.

  A stout group of men at one table spoke about hunting the thing down.

  A group of younger people were considering going home and hunkering down.

  The people who ran the bar were tightening security.

  Zephyr and Aboleth just glanced about the pub as all this happened. Confused as to what they would do next. After a knowing look the two left the bar and hurried into an alleyway between two buildings. The smell of moldy trash greeted them as they stood between two dumpsters.

  "What the fuck is Selene doing? She ripped that guys guts out!" Zephyr pushed Aboleth. Which she might as well tried to push a brick wall for all the good it did.

  Aboleth wasn't happy either.

  "I'm not sure... She's acting strange. I'm calling Dr. Bryant."

  She pulled out her tablet and the call symbol flashed a few times before a voice answered.

  "Yes Aboleth? Does our queen require our assistance?" he asked. Lingering on the word queen a moment longer than he needed to.

  "What the hell is wrong with Selene? She's here killing people."

  The line was quiet for a moment.

  "...You did clarify that your plan may require a few deaths, did it not?"

  "Not like this. And you know what I mean. You know she's different. Something is wrong. My Zykra side has been bucking me all day. I feel like I could transform and start snapping necks if it weren't for my rational side keeping me in check."

  Zephyr was surprised by that. And took a step back from Aboleth with a 'yikes' expression.

  Dr. Bryant could be heard sighing on the other end of the line; "..I felt that this may happen eventually. The queens Zykra essence is becoming impossible for her to ignore."

  "So what? Selene is just a psycho now!?" Zephyr spoke into the tablet. Then looked over her shoulder. Some patrons were leaving the saloon in a hurry. Talking about how they would get their guns and go hunting for the killer beast on the loose. Dr. Bryant's voice emerged again from the tablet.

  "The Zykra do not possess the same moral proclivities as we do. Killing the weak is not a cruel or depraved act to them. Fishing is a common hobby for example. They bait hooks, drag innocent creatures out of their homes, and eat them. All the while not feeling an ounce of guilt for it. It's even relaxing for the fishers, an innocent hobby. I imagine that's what the Zykra may feel. Ms. Carrington's recent changes may be wearing on the barrier between her human and Zykra selves, causing her human side to dissolve."

  Zephyr gave Aboleth a concerned look.

  "We may have to accept that this is simply who our queen is now. She is not unreasonable, and her rule while stern, could be prosperous. The sector may change, but isn't this the natural order-"

  Aboleth hung up on the scientist.

  "We have to find Selene and talk to her." she said.

  Zephyr stepped closer to Aboleth, whispering. As there were more people walking by the alley now.

  "What do you feel Aboleth? Do you have a 'barrier' between the Zykra and your human self?"

  The burly woman sheathed her tablet and considered her feelings. What did she feel?

  Abrupt violence flashed within her. Flashes of sporadic urges rippled through her body. Whatever was happening to Selene was happening to her as well. But she concentrated on the image of her husband and children to stay sane.

  "I feel... Okay. I'm a little agitated, but my human side is very much still a factor.. I think if we corner Selene and press her about things, we could convince her to put the barrier back up herself. I can. So maybe she can."

  Zephyr breathed a sigh of relief. "God I hope so. This is really giving me second thoughts about Danny becoming a Zykra too, you know?"

  "I can't blame you. Being Zykra isn't easy. Violence is second nature to us. Literally."

  "Can you track her? Like with the connection you two have?" Zephyr asked.

  "Only if she wants me to. And she doesn't. I sense... She's having fun. Kind of like how Dr. Bryant said with the fishing analogy."

  "Ugh... Should we split up then and search? I'll ping you if I see her, and you do the same. It's not like she'd hurt either of us, not for no reason anyway..."

  Aboleth nodded. "If an enforcer or some member of security see's us, we'll just tell them we're apart of a search party. But you might as well keep an eye out for the compounds administrator. We still need them."

  Zephyr nodded.

  And they parted. Each went down a separate direction in the alleyway. Each of them was very conflicted. Selene was far worse than they thought. Aboleth was worried about what it meant for her human side. And Zephyr? Well, if the person she looked up to was a serial killer now, then she'd have to reconsider who her role models were.

  Technically this was a mission. And just like how she killed those enforcers who were trying to get to Selene on that sand planet—there was a good reason to kill. They were in a war.

  But it was weird for her still. Seeing it from this end. The scared bar patrons. The way April and Carl reacted to seeing the body... It was sobering to the realities of war. In a way, Zephyr was no different. Capable of no less. And she had no Zykra side to blame.

  She exited the alleyway onto a street corner, standing beneath the light of one of the compounds many floodlamps. Sounds of shouting were happening around the compound. People calling out to each other while on the hunt.

  A group of three ran down the street across from her. One of them noticed Zephyr and stopped; "Hey! Get inside! There's a wild animal on the loose and it's killing people!" they shouted, before hurrying after their friends.

  The cold was biting. Causing her cheeks to flush and her nose to get wet.

  A clattering sound drew her attention. A warehouse not far from her had the sliding hangar door pushed open a bit. it seemed some of Selene's hunters were searching inside. Zephyr approached it and peaked inside.

  Thick chains dangled from the ceiling. Some held what seemed to be engines or parts of machinery suspended in the air. Massive crates and conveyor belts created a maze within the room. It must've been two acres in diameter and at least two stories tall.

  The room was lit in a warm yellow light from a series of rectangular hanging lamps. Shining just bright enough to reach the corrugated metal walls. The light of two moons in the sky above could be shining through tiny square windows that sat at the top of the walls.

  She stepped inside, it was slightly warmer here.

  "Billy? Where the hell did you go?" she heard a mans voice ask nearby. He was on the other side of a wall of crates next to her. She didn't answer and kept searching around. The floor was concrete with the occasional grate to collect machine oil and water.

  Looking up to the ceiling she saw beams that a person of Selene's agility could easily use to move about the room.

  She was anxious as can be but forced her breathe to be steady and quiet. Gradually she moved through the maze of machines and dangling chains. Eventually there was a workshop kind of space—many foldout tables were collected in a rectangle. With many power tools placed about.

  And a man's head was placed on one table. His expression was horrified.

  Zephyr's breath hitched.

  "Selene..? Can you hear me?" she spoke barely above a whisper—certain that if Selene was inside the warehouse she would hear her regardless thanks to her Zykra senses.

  A chain rattled a short distance away, drawing her gaze.

  A flash of movement moved across the tops of crates out of sight.

  "I just wanted to talk about the mission... Me and Aboleth think you're going a bit overboard. We're worried about you."

  There was a sourceless chuckle then. Selene's voice layered itself as it always did when she was in her combat form.

  "Oh my god..." a man's voice said from behind her. He was staring at the decapitated head on the table, his face pale with fear. He wore a flannel beneath a thick denim jacket and cargo pants with a ballcap. "Billy..." he breathed.

  Selene landed behind him silently.

  "W-where did it go?" he asked Zephyr.

  "Selene... These people are powerless, there's no reason we need to-" she began to negotiate on the mans behalf but it was too late.

  A fist gauntleted in green carapace punched through his chest.

  "Behlp." he coughed up blood onto his flannel and looked down at the fist, covered in blood sparkling in the warehouses light. Then his eyes grew lifeless as his body went limp.

  Selene turned her arm towards the ground and let the man's corpse slide off her arm. Thudding onto the concrete floor. Her magenta eyes stared at Zephyr in the similar manor they did that morning on the ship. Flirtatiously.

  "What were you saying?" she asked. Her tail weaved in gentle patterns behind her as she began to pace around the room. Her senses searching for anyone else.

  Zephyr immediately pulled out her tablet and pushed the message button next to Aboleths name on her contact list. She only managed to send a few letters before Selene ripped it out of her hands using some kind of telekinetic ability. It spun across the floor away from them.

  "It's rude to look at your phone when we're talking."

  "Selene... You're not yourself. Something is wrong, we should call off the mission—we need-"

  The Zykra queen stopped her patrol and looked to Zephyr. Her gaze was bloodthirsty.

  "I'm more myself than ever before. I'm more than anyone. You have no idea what this is like..."

  She smiled as she finished saying so. Leaning on the table next to Billy's decapitated head. She stroked some of his brown hair out of his face.

  Zephyr swallowed.

  "No... I don't. But the Selene I know is kind. She doesn't hurt people unless she has too. They don't all need to die."

  Selene's expression became less playful at that; "You sound just like her."

  "Who?" Zephyr asked quickly.

  "Who do you think? The other me. The human. Always getting in the way. Always ordering me around. Telling me who to kill. But I'm tired of being ignored. Aren't you?"

  Her question confused Zephyr, and Selene noticed. She blurred into motion and stopped inches from Zephyr's face—causing her to wince. A gust of wind tossed her blonde hair about. Zephyr peaked at Selene through her squinting eyes. Were they about to fight?

  Selene smiled coyly again, and stroked a clawed finger down the side of Zephyr cheek.

  "Unlike Selene, I don't mind using my power. So I know the truth about your feelings... I wonder if you do." her tail began to coil around Zephyr's waist.

  Her heart pounded in fear and other confusing feelings. Zephyr had no idea what she meant, she respected Selene as her friend. Zephyr wasn't lying when she told Aboleth her preferences in that regard either.

  Selene's tilted her head, gazing into her eyes. No doubt reading her psionic signature.

  "I wouldn't ignore you... In fact, I could give you everything you wanted from her. You only need to serve. Starting with..." she closed her eyes and leaned in, Zephyr was caught off guard as she felt Selene's lips meet hers.

  Zephyr surprised herself when she allowed it to go on for a moment. But she pushed Selene away as soon as she came to her senses.

  Silver armor appeared around her, disintegrating her winter clothing; "Stop!"

  Selene flew back and clattered through a foldout tablet, sending power tools scattering around the room.

  She wiped her lips and smirked; "Oh well, it was worth a shot. Whether it's through honey or vinegar, that device is mine."

  So that's what all the weird signals were really about. It wasn't Zephyr she lusted after—it was the power of the preservers device.

  "Selene just... Go back to the way you were! Please!"

  "Not a chance. I like the way I am. You're the one who needs to change, and here's your first lesson!" Selene blurred ahead, her wings appeared out of her back and began to buzz at the same time.

  She kicked Zephyr.

  Who for what it was worth—Zephyr blocked it. But it didn't matter as it sent her flying through the machinery and crates next to them as if they were made of papier-maché. The crash was too loud to not of attracted some attention.

  "Ow..." Zephyr groaned as she laid on her back atop shards of metal and wood.

  A ghostly chuckle sounded as Selene strolled over. She kicked bits of boards off the armored woman before picking Zephyr up by the throat gingerly.

  "At least this way I don't have to pander to your emotions. It'll be tedious at first but I'm sure you'll get the picture."

  Zephyr clutched at Selene's grip on her throat.

  "Please.. I know you're in there.."

  Selene looked at Zephyr with a confused glance. Then started laughing sardonically. She wiped a tear from an eye gleefully;

  "Aren't you just whipped. And why? What did she do for you besides murder your mommy?"

  "She.. Is teaching me a better way..."

  She coughed as Selene's grip tightened on her throat. Her face grew angry.

  "Her way is pathetic... You've adequately convinced me that you're not salvageable. Perhaps I can harvest the device from your corpse."

  A bullet ricocheted off the side of Selene's face, leaving a dark mark of disintegrated metal across her cheek. Her head didn't even flinch from the impact. She wiped the mark off with her free hand and looked towards her new attacker.

  It was one of many enforcers that had entered the warehouse during their conversation.

  Selene closed her eyes sullenly then. As if coming to terms with something.

  "..I was having fun. Shame. Guess I'll get this over with."

  A scantid clawed up through the concrete near by. And another. A dozen of them came up through the ground around them and began to assault the troopers without hesitation.

  Gunfire and their screams filled the warehouse. Scantid-sized holes appeared in the walls as they leapt through.

  Selene free of distractions looked back to Zephyr, whom she still held suspended by the throat with one hand.

  "Now, where were we?"

  Her tail pointed itself over a shoulder—aimed straight at Zephyr's helmet. Zephyr prepared herself for the inevitable. She wouldn't weep or beg this time. This time, it would only make Selene enjoy it more.

  "Can I cut in?" Aboleth asked.

  Selene and Zephyr both looked up towards the ceiling to see a massive serpentine tail coiled around the warehouses many beams. Aboleth reached down and grabbed Selene by her ridiculously long antenna's then ripped her away. Sending Zephyr to the ground gasping.

  "How? I am your queen!" Selene shouted at her as Aboleth spun around—flinging the Zykra queen through the air—and through the ceiling of the warehouse. Selene corrected herself in the air and clawed the side of a refinery tower a distance away. Her distant shape outlined by the light of one of the jungle planets moons. Sparks flew from her claws as they dug into the tower.

  "I'd rather die than serve a queen like you..." Aboleth muttered as she glared at Selene through the dark of the night. Then she turned to see Zephyr picking herself up from the floor.

  "Get ready. If we're going to die, we might as well put up a good fight!"

  "I need to call the Danny first! Him and Raymond need to get the hell out of here!"

  Aboleth made a tsk sound.

  "Make it quick." then pounced from the beam she was twisted around and into the night. The sounds of their battle began immediately. Crashes and explosions began to ring out around the compound as Zephyr searched for her tablet frantically.

  She picked it out of some rubble and typed furiously;

  [Zephyr] - Selene is evil. Run. Not a joke. Srs. Gogogogo.

  [Danny] - ???

  'Crash!'

  A half-snake woman flew through the warehouse ceiling creating another hole in it, bisecting a conveyor belt. Fire began to flicker up from within the machinery around them. Blood dripped from her brow onto her chest, she brought a hand up to the wound and groaned.

  "Fucking tough bitch." Aboleth complained, looking back up to the new hole in the ceiling.

  "Uah, aah!" a man screamed as a scantid clawed through him nearby. The Zykra from the Sequester were attacking the compound.

  "Little help here!" Aboleth called before launching herself back out into the night once more. Sending bits of conveyor belt bouncing across the room.

  "I'm coming!" Zephyr called and typed one last line on the tablet before discarding it.

  [Zephyr] - Please, just go. She'll kill you. Kill Dr. Bryant if you have to. Just go.

  Then their battle began in earnest. Blue light burst around her as she lifted from the ground and flew after Aboleth.