Chapter 20: Chase of the Hunters

The air was still thick with the acrid smell of smoke and debris from the sentinel explosion, but Ethan and his crew didn't have time to rest. Every instinct told him they were still being hunted, even though the hulking machine had been reduced to little more than twisted metal and sparking circuits.

Ethan stood on the rocky plateau, scanning the horizon as he tried to catch his breath. His heart was still racing from their narrow escape, and his legs felt like jelly beneath him. But something else gnawed at him, a feeling that they weren't alone.

"We need to move," Prella said, her voice as sharp as ever, though there was an edge of exhaustion to it. She was cleaning her energy blade, wiping off the blackened soot from their battle with the sentinel. Her eyes flicked from the horizon to Ethan, her face hard with determination. "That explosion won't be the last of it. The Council will have more of those things."

Vala stood beside them, her amber eyes narrowed as she surveyed the landscape. She had her blaster ready, her cobalt-blue fur shimmering under the twin suns. "I agree. We're still exposed here. They'll come for us, if they haven't already."

Ethan nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "Yeah. I know. I've been feeling it too. We're sitting ducks out here."

Just as he said it, a cold chill ran down his spine. His hand instinctively went to his blaster, his fingers tightening around the grip. The faint sound of footsteps echoed from behind the nearby rocks, barely audible over the distant wind.

"Did you hear that?" Vala whispered, her body tensing as she crouched low, scanning the rocky outcroppings around them.

Prella didn't say a word, but she immediately shifted into a combat stance, her blade glowing with a soft blue light. She moved silently toward the rocks, her eyes narrowed with the focus of a trained warrior.

Ethan could feel his heart pounding in his chest, the adrenaline kicking in once again. Whoever, or whatever, was out there wasn't making themselves known. That only made things worse.

"Get ready," Ethan whispered, moving to cover behind a jagged crystal formation. "We've got company."

As if on cue, the first shot rang out.

A blaster bolt sizzled past Ethan's head, hitting the crystal spire next to him and sending shards of glowing debris flying in all directions. He ducked low, his instincts taking over as he raised his own blaster and fired back, but there was no clear target, just shadows darting between the rocks.

"Snipers!" Vala hissed, diving into cover behind a large boulder as another bolt zipped past her.

Prella deflected an incoming shot with her energy blade, the plasma sizzling as it collided with the beam. "They're fast, but they're not invisible. We can flush them out."

Ethan gritted his teeth, adrenaline surging through his veins. These weren't just random bandits or wild animals, these were professionals. The Council's elite soldiers, the Hunters, had found them. And they weren't here to take prisoners.

"Nova, any chance you can run interference?" Ethan muttered, hoping his AI companion could give them a fighting chance.

Nova flickered into view next to him, her holographic form glowing faintly. "I'm already on it, Captain. Give me a minute to scramble their comms. These guys don't like to fight in the dark."

As Nova worked, Ethan peeked out from his cover, trying to get a sense of where the Hunters were positioned. They were using the terrain to their advantage, darting between rocks and staying hidden while raining blaster fire down on them. Ethan fired back, but it was more to keep them at bay than to hit anything.

"We need to get closer," Prella growled, her voice low as she ducked behind a rock. "If we stay pinned down, they'll pick us off one by one."

Ethan's mind raced. They couldn't stay here, but moving would make them easy targets. They needed a plan.

"Okay," Ethan whispered, thinking fast. "Vala, you stay here and keep their attention. Fire a few shots, make them think we're stuck. Prella and I will circle around, get behind them, and hit them from the side."

Vala nodded, a faint smile on her lips. "Got it. I'll give them something to aim at."

Prella gave Ethan a sharp look, her eyes hard. "Stay close, Captain. I'm not dragging your ass out of the fire if you get yourself shot."

Ethan smirked, despite the tension. "I'll try to keep up."

With Vala providing cover fire, Ethan and Prella moved quickly, darting between the rocks as they circled around the Hunters. Ethan could hear the blaster fire intensifying as Vala drew their attention, her shots keeping the enemy pinned down. Every time a bolt hit the rocks near her, she returned fire with deadly precision, keeping them guessing.

Prella moved like a shadow, her energy blade humming softly as she led the way. They kept low, using the jagged terrain to stay out of sight. Ethan's heart pounded in his chest, but he trusted Prella's instincts. She'd been through worse than this, and if anyone could lead them out of an ambush, it was her.

As they neared the enemy's position, Ethan caught sight of one of the Hunters, a tall, armored figure crouched behind a rock, his blaster trained on Vala's position. Ethan's pulse quickened. This was their chance.

Prella gave him a quick nod, and without a word, she launched herself forward with a burst of speed that made Ethan's head spin. Her energy blade flashed through the air, and before the Hunter could react, she was on him, her blade cutting through his blaster in a single, fluid motion. The Hunter staggered back, but Prella didn't give him a chance to recover, she slammed the hilt of her blade into his chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Ethan didn't hesitate. He aimed his blaster at another Hunter, who was just turning to see what had happened. Before the enemy could raise his weapon, Ethan fired, the shot hitting him square in the chest and sending him collapsing to the ground.

"Nice shot!" Prella called over her shoulder, already moving toward the next target.

But the Hunters weren't going down without a fight. The remaining soldiers regrouped quickly, and soon the air was filled with the sound of blaster fire. Ethan and Prella ducked behind cover as bolts of energy zipped past them, hitting the rocks with sizzling impact.

"We're pinned down!" Ethan shouted over the noise, trying to get a clear shot.

Nova's voice crackled over the comms. "I've got their comms scrambled, Captain. They're flying blind now. Should make things a little easier."

"About time!" Prella growled, deflecting another shot with her blade. "Ethan, we need to press the advantage. If we wait too long, they'll call for reinforcements."

Ethan nodded, his mind racing. "Alright, let's push forward. Vala, we're closing in! Keep them distracted!"

With Nova's interference and the Hunters' communication disrupted, Ethan and Prella made their move. They darted from cover to cover, getting closer to the remaining soldiers. Ethan's pulse pounded in his ears, but he forced himself to stay focused. Every shot needed to count.

The Hunters, now disoriented by the loss of their comms, were starting to lose their coordination. Prella took advantage of the chaos, her blade cutting through the enemy ranks with lethal precision. Ethan followed close behind, firing shot after shot, his mind laser-focused on taking down as many as possible before the Hunters could regroup.

As they closed in on the last few remaining soldiers, a sudden explosion rocked the ground, sending Ethan and Prella sprawling. Ethan coughed, his ears ringing as he tried to get his bearings. Dust and debris filled the air, and he could barely see through the haze.

"Captain!" Vala's voice crackled through the comms. "They've got explosives! Watch out!"

Ethan staggered to his feet, his body aching from the blast. He could see the remaining Hunters retreating, their leader, a tall, imposing figure clad in dark armor, motioning for the others to fall back. But before they could make their escape, Prella was on them.

With a battle cry that echoed through the rocks, Prella charged forward, her energy blade cutting through the air as she launched herself at the Hunters. The remaining soldiers barely had time to react as she slashed through their ranks, her movements a blur of speed and precision.

Ethan fired his blaster at the leader, but the dark-armored figure was faster than expected. The shot missed, and the leader disappeared into the smoke, retreating into the rocky terrain.

"They're getting away!" Vala called out, her voice tense.

Ethan cursed under his breath. "We need to go after them. If they report back to the Council, we're screwed."

Prella wiped the blood from her blade, her eyes sharp as she looked toward the retreating figures. "Then let's hunt them down."

Ethan's heart raced as he watched the last few Hunters retreat into the jagged, rocky terrain. The leader, a dark-armored figure with an eerie grace, had slipped away like a shadow, leaving behind the smoldering remains of the battle. His mind screamed for him to go after them, but the exhaustion of the fight was already beginning to settle in his muscles.

Prella, however, showed no hesitation. With her energy blade still humming at her side, she wiped the sweat from her brow and turned toward Ethan and Vala, her eyes blazing with a fiery intensity.

"They're on the run, but they won't be for long," she said, her voice as sharp as her blade. "We have to finish this."

Ethan nodded, trying to push through the fog of exhaustion. He couldn't afford to let the Hunters escape. If they regrouped, they'd bring reinforcements, and next time, they wouldn't be as lucky.

"Nova," Ethan called, tapping into his comm. "Can you track them? We can't let them get far."

Nova flickered into view beside him, her holographic form floating just above the ground. Her usual playful demeanor was absent, replaced by a look of intense concentration. "Already on it, Captain. They're moving fast, but I've got a lock on their biosignatures. Heading northeast, deeper into the canyon."

"Perfect," Ethan said, his voice tight. "Prella, Vala, let's go."

Without another word, the three of them moved out, their footsteps silent as they navigated the rocky terrain. The jagged formations provided some cover, but the open space made them vulnerable if the Hunters decided to lay another trap.

As they approached the canyon, the air grew thicker, the temperature dropping as the twin suns began to set in the distance. Long shadows stretched across the ground, casting an eerie glow over the landscape. Ethan could feel the tension building, every muscle in his body on high alert. This wasn't just a chase anymore, it was a hunt.

Nova kept them updated as they moved, tracking the Hunters' movements through the canyon. "They're sticking to the shadows, trying to stay hidden," she said. "But they're leaving a trail, bits of debris, weapons. Looks like they're wounded."

"Good," Prella muttered. "That'll slow them down."

They reached the mouth of the canyon, and Ethan could see the faint outlines of the fleeing Hunters in the distance. The leader was still at the front, his dark armor gleaming in the fading light as he led the others deeper into the rocky maze.

"We've got them in a bottleneck," Vala whispered, her blaster raised as she crouched behind a rock. "They can't go much farther without getting cornered."

Ethan's mind raced. They needed to act fast, but charging in blindly would be a mistake. He scanned the terrain, looking for any advantage they could use. His eyes settled on a series of rock ledges that ran along the sides of the canyon, high above the ground.

"If we split up, we can hit them from two sides," Ethan said, his voice low but urgent. "Prella, you take the high ground and flank them. Vala and I will press them from the front."

Prella gave a sharp nod. "I'll clear the way."

Without waiting for further instructions, Prella scaled the nearest rock wall with ease, her movements as fluid as ever. Ethan watched her disappear into the shadows above, then turned to Vala.

"You ready?" he asked, his voice tight with anticipation.

Vala gave him a quick smile, though her eyes were focused on the task ahead. "Always."

They moved together, slipping through the canyon with practiced precision. The sound of the Hunters' footsteps echoed off the rocks, growing louder as they neared the end of the canyon. Ethan could see their dark shapes now, five of them left, including the leader.

"On my mark," Ethan whispered, gripping his blaster tightly. "We'll draw their fire, and Prella will take them down from above."

Vala nodded, her amber eyes locked on the targets. She was calm, collected, ready.

"Now!" Ethan shouted, stepping out from behind the rocks and firing a volley of blaster bolts at the retreating Hunters.

The reaction was immediate. The Hunters spun around, their weapons blazing as they returned fire, but Ethan and Vala had the element of surprise. They ducked and rolled, dodging the incoming shots as they pressed forward, keeping the pressure on.

Above them, Prella made her move.

With a fierce battle cry, Prella launched herself from the ledge, her energy blade flashing in the dim light as she descended upon the Hunters from above. The first soldier barely had time to react before Prella's blade cut through him, dropping him to the ground in a heap of dark armor.

The remaining Hunters scattered, but they were too slow. Prella moved like a storm, her blade a blur of lethal precision as she cut through the soldiers one by one. Ethan and Vala provided cover, firing at the remaining targets and forcing them to stay on the defensive.

It was over in moments.

The last of the Hunters fell to the ground, their dark armor smoldering as the dust settled around them. The only one left standing was the leader, the tall, dark-armored figure who had led the ambush. He was cornered now, his back against the canyon wall, but he showed no fear.

Ethan approached cautiously, his blaster trained on the leader. "You're done. There's nowhere left to run."

The leader slowly raised his hands, his helmeted face unreadable. "It seems you've won this round, Captain Warren," he said, his voice deep and calm. "But the Council is far from defeated."

Prella's eyes narrowed, her blade still at the ready. "What's the Council's plan? Why send you after us?"

The leader chuckled softly, the sound hollow and unsettling. "You're a nuisance. Nothing more. But you've gotten too close to something you don't understand."

Ethan stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about?"

The leader tilted his head slightly, as if considering whether to answer. "You'll find out soon enough. Alturus Prime is just the beginning."

Before Ethan could react, the leader moved with lightning speed, reaching into his belt and pulling out a small device. There was a blinding flash of light, and then the leader was gone, vanished into thin air, leaving behind only the faint hum of the teleportation device he had used to escape.

Ethan cursed under his breath, holstering his blaster. "Damn it. He got away."

Prella sheathed her blade, her expression dark. "That was no ordinary soldier. He knew exactly what he was doing."

Vala stepped forward, her eyes scanning the area where the leader had disappeared. "He mentioned Alturus Prime… and something bigger. Whatever the Council is planning, we're not finished here."

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We need to regroup, figure out our next move. If the Council is sending Hunters after us, it means we're on the right track. But we're also in more danger than ever."

Nova flickered into view beside him, her holographic form glowing faintly in the fading light. "Captain, I've analyzed the remnants of their comms. Looks like they were broadcasting to a nearby facility, there's something underground. Might be worth checking out."

Ethan nodded, his mind already racing with possibilities. "Then that's where we're headed next. We'll find out what the Council's hiding, and we'll make sure they don't get away with it."

As the twin suns of Alturus Prime dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the canyon, Ethan and his crew prepared for the next leg of their journey. The battle against the Council of Shadows was far from over, but they weren't backing down.