Chapter 4: The Capital Run

Jewels and Julio ran like their lives depended on it, because they did. Plasma fire sizzled past them, scorching the metal walls of the ancient city-ship. The Mancer drones weren't just hunting them; they were herding them, driving them deeper into the ship like cattle.

Jewels glanced back and immediately regretted it. "Oh, you've got to be shitting me."

Julio didn't bother looking. "Nope. Not shitting you. Definitely getting shot at, though. Move your tiny ass, Jewels!"

"You move your fat ass!"

"Hey!"

Another plasma bolt slammed into the floor near Julio's feet, and he let out a very undignified yelp. "FUCK— Okay, okay! Let's save the body-shaming for after we're not dying, yeah?"

They turned a sharp corner, nearly slipping on the dust-covered floor. The city-ship had been abandoned for centuries, and it showed. Rusted-out pipes jutted from the walls, shattered panels sparked weakly, and the occasional skeletal corpse added some real homey atmosphere.

Jewels glanced at her neural interface, her eyes flickering with data. "We need to find the capital hub. If I can get into the ship's core systems, I might be able to lock the drones out."

Julio huffed. "Might?"

"Well, I might also fry my own brain in the process, but hey, risks and rewards."

Julio groaned. "Why is it always a fucking gamble with you?"

"Because life's boring without a little excitement."

Julio deadpanned. "We're getting hunted down by Mancer drones and you think life isn't exciting enough?"

Jewels grinned as she kicked open a side hatch. "We gotta keep things interesting somehow."

Before Julio could respond, a plasma bolt melted through the wall inches from his head.

"FUCK! Okay! Moving now!"

They squeezed into the narrow maintenance tunnel, panting as they crawled through the dark space. The metal was ice-cold against their palms. Julio grumbled, struggling to fit his massive frame through the cramped passage.

Jewels smirked. "Aw, poor big guy. Maybe you should lay off the extra rations."

Julio huffed. "You wish I was eating extra. Meanwhile, you weigh, what, a hundred pounds soaking wet? Bet a strong breeze could knock you out."

Jewels grinned. "Lucky for me, space doesn't have wind."

"Yeah, well, lucky for me, I can bench-press you and this entire damn tunnel."

Jewels rolled her eyes. "Alright, testosterone boy, let's get moving before the drones realize they can just blast us through the walls."

They finally emerged into a large chamber. Dust swirled in the dim emergency lighting. The architecture here was different—grander. Unlike the rusted-out corridors behind them, this place had been built to last. Towering columns stretched to the ceiling, each inscribed with unknown symbols. At the far end stood a massive circular door, its surface etched with golden lines that pulsed faintly.

Julio whistled. "Well, if I had to guess, I'd say that looks important."

Jewels smirked. "Yeah, no shit."

She strode forward, her neural interface scanning the door's old systems. Lines of code flickered in her vision.

[ACCESSING CORE SYSTEMS…]

[SECURITY OVERRIDE REQUIRED]

[MANUAL INPUT NEEDED]

Jewels groaned. "Of course it needs a manual input. Nothing can ever be easy."

Julio leaned against a nearby column. "Yeah, well, at least we—"

A piercing screech filled the air.

Jewels and Julio froze.

Julio sighed. "And there it is. The part where things go to complete and utter shit."

From the dark corridors behind them, a familiar sound echoed. A wet, clicking sound.

Jewels closed her eyes. "Please don't say it."

Julio gulped. "Ripper."

Jewels cursed under her breath. "Well. Guess we're fucked."

The grotesque insectoid creature crawled into view, its mandibles dripping with something that was definitely not water. It was even bigger than the last one, its scythe-like claws gleaming in the dim light.

Jewels turned to Julio. "How do you feel about running?"

Julio nodded rapidly. "Love it. Big fan. Let's go!"

Just as they turned to bolt, another sound filled the air.

The drones had found them.

A squad of Mancer drones hovered at the entrance, their weapons glowing with lethal intent.

Jewels groaned. "Oh, come on!"

Julio stared between the drones and the Ripper. "Okay. So. We've got two options."

Jewels crossed her arms. "Oh, this oughta be good."

Julio cleared his throat. "One: We try to fight both of them at the same time and die horribly."

"Uh-huh. What's option two?"

Julio grinned. "We make them fight each other."

Jewels stared at him for a long moment. Then, in the most sarcastic voice she could muster, she said, "Wow, what a good idea. You thought of it all by yourself?"

Julio blinked. "Uh—"

Jewels clapped her hands. "So proud of you, buddy. Real groundbreaking stuff."

Julio scowled. "Alright, asshole, no need to be a dick about it."

Jewels grinned as she raised her gun and fired at the Ripper. The bullet bounced harmlessly off its armored hide, but the creature turned, now focusing on its new "attacker."

The drones registered the movement and instantly calculated a new priority threat.

[NON-HUMAN ENTITY DETECTED]

[CLASSIFICATION: HOSTILE]

[ENGAGING]

The first plasma bolt slammed into the Ripper's hide. The creature let out an ungodly shriek and lunged.

Then, absolute chaos.

The Ripper tore into the drones, its claws slicing through metal like paper. Sparks and ichor-like fluids sprayed across the room. The drones fired back, their plasma blasts searing through chitin and flesh. The air filled with screeches, mechanical whirring, and the occasional explosion.

Julio and Jewels ducked behind a fallen column.

Julio cackled. "Holy shit! I can't believe that worked!"

Jewels smirked. "I can! I'm a genius."

Julio rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Now, how about you use that genius brain to get that big-ass door open before we become collateral damage?"

Jewels got to work, fingers flying across the old system's interface. She bypassed layers of ancient security, rerouting power where it was needed.

[ACCESS GRANTED]

[CAPITAL HUB DOOR OPENING…]

With a deep rumble, the massive golden door slowly began to slide open.

Julio peeked over their cover. "Uh, not to rush you, but the Ripper just ripped a drone in half and is looking real pissed."

Jewels grabbed his arm. "GO GO GO!"

They sprinted through the opening just as the Ripper let out another blood-curdling shriek. The door slammed shut behind them, locking the carnage on the other side.

Both of them collapsed against the nearest wall, panting.

Julio wiped sweat from his brow. "Jesus fuck."

Jewels let out a breathless laugh. "Tell me that wasn't the coolest shit you've ever seen."

Julio chuckled. "Oh, definitely top ten. Right up there with the time Max tried to cook dinner and almost lit the Rusty on fire."

Jewels laughed. "Rest in peace, you magnificent idiot."

They sat there, catching their breath.

Then, Julio frowned. "So, uh… what now?"

Jewels grinned. "Now? We see just how much of this city-ship I can control."

Julio sighed. "And I just got my heart rate back down."