Embers of Truth

The gunship's loud noise fades as it turns away, leaving us hanging above the shining city. Inside, heat and stress mix like the dust from our quick escape. Adrian secures the door while Rafe checks our equipment. Nico taps at his tablet, his face pale in the red emergency lights.

I sit down, the broken ID chip pulsing faintly against my palm. "What's wrong?" I ask, my voice steady despite the pain in my ribs.

Nico breathes out sharply. "Encrypted signal—it's coming from inside the ship." He points to the screen: a single glowing symbol, a stylized raven. "Project Raven. Someone is restarting it—right now. And you're the target."

A chill runs down my spine. "On the ship?" I quickly stand up.

He nods. "Someone is hidden—like me, in the bunker. Must be another agent."

Adrian's hand tightens on the door frame. "I'll secure the cockpit."

He glances at Rafe. "Stay here, protect her. I'll handle the pilot."

Rafe nods quickly. "I've got your back." He turns to me, his eyes intense. "We'll find out who it is—together." He moves into the back, his rifle pointed down the aisle.

I swallow. "Nico, can you find the signal?"

His fingers move quickly over the keys. "If we can trace the connection… there. A maintenance area, Sector C. Five minutes ago."

The ship shakes, systems blink. Adrian's shout echoes from the cockpit: "Unknown person in the cockpit!"

I run down the narrow aisle—rifle in hand—just in time to see a cloaked figure moving past the cockpit door, a blade in their hand. Rafe's shot glows in the flashing emergency lights: the intruder stumbles, their mask cracking.

I raise my rifle and tackle them. We crash to the floor, sliding across oily plates. The blade clangs on metal. I grab their wrist and twist. The mask falls off.

A woman's face—familiar, but impossible. Not my twin. She's older, her eyes softer, but with the same steel-blue look.

"Evelyn Stroud," I say, dread filling me. "Raven's Vault Mistress."

Her lips curve into a smile. "You escaped the fortress, but you can't escape your family." She kicks me away and ducks behind a console. "Project Raven is family business. And now, you'll finish the plan."

Rafe rushes in, rifle aimed. "Step away from her." His voice shakes.

Evelyn's gaze goes to him. "Brother," she says softly, her voice cold.

Rafe freezes.

I drop my rifle and step between them. "You lied to me. To all of us."

She stands, holding the broken mask. "I did what was necessary." She presses her hand to the console—and the cabin lurches. Alarms sound. The gunship shakes as systems shut down.

"She's overriding the autopilot!" Adrian's voice shouts through the intercom.

Rafe pulls out his gun. "Why?"

Evelyn's eyes shine with sadness. "To keep you alive. The Kings will hunt you until you're dead. We'll crash into the harbor—no one will follow, no trace."

My heart beats fast. "And then?"

"Then you'll disappear as I did. Start over."

Silence. Below us, the city lights blur. The gunship tilts towards the water.

Rafe lowers his weapon. "You've chosen mercy. I'll take it."

Evelyn nods. "But you must trust me—Elyra, only you can end this war." She holds out the mask pieces. "Destroy Project Raven's core. It's on the drives in your pocket."

I glance at the chip. It holds every secret we've found—Devlin's orders, Adrian's involvement, the original operation logs. "I promise."

She speaks to Adrian in the cockpit. "Give us thirty seconds. I'll clear the override."

The cabin tilts sharply. I stumble, holding the chip. Rafe helps me. "You ready?"

I close my eyes, take a deep breath. "Let's end this."

Behind me, Evelyn's fingers move across the panel. Lights flicker back on. The nose lifts from the dive.

Adrian's voice returns, steady. "Course corrected. Good work, Evelyn." He pauses. "Who the hell is she?"

I glance at Evelyn—her face pale in the red light. "Family."

Rafe's eyes narrow. "Family business never ends." He hands me the rifle. "You know what to do."

I nod, my resolve strong. I take the chip from my pocket and put it into the airlock console by the door. Images swirl—Project Raven's entire system. I breathe in.

Behind me, the ceiling plate opens. A hatch. Another intruder.

My rifle snaps up.

The unknown figure steps into the cabin. And I freeze—because it's not Evelyn, not the twin… it's me.

My voice catches: "What does she want?"

And the rifle in my hands feels incredibly heavy.