Chapter 6 – Between Enemies and Machines

Volaris System, Sector 7-42D

 Wastelands of Xyphora, Near the Ruined City-

The battlefield was silent.

The only remains of the fight were scattered debris, burnt metal, and the smoking corpses of the Killer Drones.

Rei exhaled shakily, still gripping the short energy blade Seyra had given him. His arms ached, his body sore from the relentless chase, but the fight was over.

At least, he thought it was.

Then—

"I didn't think I'd see you again, Seyra."

The voice came from the cybernetic-armed man, the leader of the group that had just saved them. His team—the Scavenger Clan—stood behind him, their makeshift weapons still drawn.

Seyra scoffed, flipping her spear onto her shoulder. "Didn't think I'd see you again either, Garek."

Rei's gaze flicked between them. They knew each other.

And judging by Seyra's stance—she didn't like him.

Garek smirked, folding his arms. "You look like hell, but I see you're still alive."

Seyra clicked her tongue. "I don't die easy."

Rei could feel the tension between them.

Garek's squad had just saved their lives, but Seyra wasn't acting grateful. Instead, she looked like she wanted to be anywhere else but here.

Garek tilted his head. "So, what's the deal? You finally gave up and decided to crawl back to us?"

Seyra's grip on her spear tightened.

"I didn't ask for your help."

Garek raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? Well, you sure as hell needed it."

Rei shifted uncomfortably. The air between them was thick with hostility.

One of the other scavengers, a younger guy with an eyepatch, muttered, "She should've died solo like she wanted. No reason for us to save her."

Another scoffed. "Yeah. She turned us down before. Why should we trust her now?"

Seyra's jaw clenched.

Rei took a step forward. "Wait, hold on. What's going on here?"

Garek turned to him. "Your friend here refused to join us a long time ago. Said she worked better alone."

Rei frowned. "And you're mad about that?"

"Mad?" Garek let out a short laugh. "No. Just not interested in cleaning up her mess when she gets herself in trouble."

Seyra's voice was sharp. "I don't need your protection, Garek."

Garek's amusement faded. His expression turned cold.

"Yeah?" He took a step closer. "Then why are you bleeding and limping in my wasteland?"

Seyra didn't back down.

Rei could feel it—this wasn't just some argument. This was old. A grudge that had been brewing for a long time.

Garek exhaled, rubbing his forehead. "You know what? Doesn't matter. We already wasted ammo saving your ass. I should leave you both here to die."

Rei tensed.

Seyra's fingers twitched near her weapon. "Then do it."

Garek gave her a long look.

Then, suddenly—

He turned his gaze to Rei.

"You. The new kid. Why the hell are you with her?"

Rei hesitated. "I… I don't know. I just—woke up in the ruins, and she was there."

Garek narrowed his eyes. "Woke up in the ruins?"

The way he said it made Rei's stomach turn. Like that was something that didn't just happen.

A murmur ran through the scavengers.

Garek sighed. "So, what? You expect us to just let you two walk into our camp after all this?"

Seyra opened her mouth—

Then—

BEEEEEEP.

A high-pitched alarm blared through the scavenger team's comms.

One of them cursed. "We've got incoming—!"

Garek's expression darkened.

And then Rei heard it.

THUD-THUD-THUD.

Heavy mechanical footsteps.

No… no, no, no—

Seyra spun around. "Damn it. More of them?"

Rei's breath caught in his throat as shadows emerged from the ruins.

Killer Drones.

And this time—there were more.

A full squad of at least twelve, moving in perfect synchronization.

"Detected: Hostile scavenger forces. Commencing extermination."

Rei's hands went cold.

Garek's expression turned grim.

"Great," he muttered. "Now look what you dragged in."

Seyra gritted her teeth.

"Less talking," she snapped. "More running."

And then—

The battlefield erupted into chaos.