A Fractured Crew

The hideout was alive with the hum of activity. Maps, schematics, and datapads covered every surface, while the faint scent of burnt circuits lingered in the air from Renji's constant tinkering. For all its chaos, the room mirrored the crew itself—fractured but functional.

Morgan Reeves stood near the cracked window, staring into the neon-lit streets of the Rift Zone. The twin stars of his home solar system, Kreeon, seemed like a distant memory here. He clenched his biotech-enhanced left hand, feeling the faint vibrations of its intricate systems. Each servo and circuit told a story of survival, adaptation, and sacrifice.

"Thinking about your family again?" Leo's voice cut through his thoughts.

Morgan turned slightly, catching her reflection in the window. She leaned against the doorframe, her usual smirk softened by a rare moment of empathy.

"Always," Morgan said, his tone clipped.

Leo stepped into the room, her boots clicking softly against the floor. "You ever think about going back? You know, after all this?"

Morgan turned to face her fully, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "And bring Valtor's wrath to my doorstep? No. Not until he's gone. Not until every version of him is gone."

Leo nodded, leaning back against the wall. "Fair enough. Just don't forget what you're fighting for."

"Don't you?" Morgan asked, raising an eyebrow.

Leo's smirk returned, but it didn't reach her eyes. "You're not the only one with regrets, Reeves."

Before either of them could say more, Iris's voice rang out from the main room. "Everyone, get in here. Now."

Morgan and Leo exchanged a glance before heading back to the central table, where the rest of the crew had already gathered. Iris stood at the center, her presence commanding as always. Renji was seated on a stool, nervously adjusting his glasses, while Kane Mercer lounged in the corner, a lazy grin on his face that didn't quite match the sharpness in his eyes.

"Trouble?" Morgan asked as he entered.

"Potentially," Iris replied. She tapped the holographic display, and an image of Alexander Valtor appeared, his sharp features and piercing gaze dominating the screen.

"Valtor's increased security," Iris explained. "His fortress now has three additional layers of quantum shields, and his personal guard has doubled in size."

"Fantastic," Kane drawled. "Why not just send him an invitation to kill us while we're at it?"

Iris ignored him, continuing, "This complicates things, but it doesn't change the plan. We adapt, we adjust, and we succeed. Failure is not an option."

"Adapt?" Renji's voice cracked slightly as he spoke. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to counter quantum shields? They're designed to detect and neutralize any form of dimensional interference. The moment we get close—"

"We won't get close," Iris interrupted. "At least, not physically. That's where you come in, Renji."

Renji blinked, his nervous energy intensifying. "Me? What do you mean?"

Iris gestured to the Quantum Rift Stabilizer on the table. "You built this device. You know its limits, its capabilities. If anyone can find a way to bypass those shields, it's you."

Renji hesitated, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to reach for the stabilizer but was too afraid. "I'll need time. Resources. And even then, there's no guarantee—"

"There are no guarantees," Iris said firmly. "But you're the best chance we have."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of her words settling over the crew.

"So," Kane said, breaking the tension with a lazy grin. "What's my role in this death wish?"

Iris's gaze hardened as she looked at him. "You're the navigator. Without you, we can't get in—or out. I need you focused, Kane. No games, no distractions. Can you handle that?"

Kane's grin widened, but there was a glint of something dangerous in his eyes. "Oh, I'm always focused. Don't worry about me."

Leo snorted. "That's what worries us."

Kane shot her a wink, but before he could respond, Morgan spoke up. "What about me?"

Iris turned to him, her expression softening slightly. "You're the enforcer, Morgan. When things go south—and they will—I need someone who can hold the line. Someone I can trust to get the job done."

Morgan nodded, his jaw tightening. He didn't need to be told twice.

"What about you, Iris?" Leo asked, folding her arms. "What's your role in all this?"

Iris's green eyes flicked over the crew, her gaze steady. "I'm the mastermind. I plan, I adapt, and I make sure we don't fall apart. Without me, this crew doesn't exist."

The room was silent for a moment, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air. Then Leo let out a low whistle.

"No pressure, huh?"

Iris allowed herself a small smile. "Pressure's what makes us sharp. Remember that."

---

Later That Night

Morgan couldn't sleep. He lay on the worn cot in his room, staring at the cracked ceiling. His mind was a storm of thoughts—his daughters' laughter, Samaya's smile, Olivia's quiet strength. And the blood. The screams. The moment everything changed.

He sat up abruptly, running a hand through his short hair. The soft hum of his biotech-enhanced hand was a constant reminder of what he'd lost—and what he still had to fight for.

The door creaked open slightly, and Renji's nervous face appeared in the gap. "Hey. You awake?"

Morgan sighed. "What is it, Doc?"

Renji stepped inside, clutching a datapad to his chest like a lifeline. "I've been running some calculations. About the quantum shields."

"And?"

Renji hesitated, then thrust the datapad toward Morgan. "I think I've found a way to bypass them. But it's risky. Extremely risky."

Morgan glanced at the datapad, frowning as he read the data. "Define 'risky.'"

Renji swallowed hard. "If the stabilizer overloads, it could cause a chain reaction that destabilizes the entire Rift Zone. We're talking catastrophic failure."

Morgan stared at him for a moment, then handed the datapad back. "Tell Iris. She'll decide."

Renji nodded, his hands shaking slightly as he took the datapad. "Right. Yeah. I'll, uh… I'll do that."

As Renji left, Morgan leaned back against the wall, his thoughts heavier than ever. The stakes were higher than he'd imagined. But he couldn't afford to falter. Not now.

For his family. For the multiverse.