Chapter 17: Under Fire!

Ethan's heart pounded in his chest as he sprinted away from the smoking wreckage of the Ark, the heat from the explosion still burning in the air behind him. His legs ached, his mind reeled, but there was no time to think, no time to process the devastation. The massive laser that had come from the sky, splitting the heavens apart, had hit their ship with pinpoint accuracy, vaporizing a chunk of the vessel and killing three of his crew instantly. The rest of them were scattered, panicked, and cut off from each other.

The sky over Alturus Prime, once serene with its glowing twin suns and soft ethereal light, now looked ominous, choked by the black smoke billowing from the destroyed ship. The beautiful crystal-like structures that dotted the horizon reflected the fire and chaos, distorting the once-peaceful landscape into a twisted nightmare. Ethan glanced over his shoulder, seeing the crater left where the Ark had been. It was almost surreal, like something out of a nightmare, or worse, a game.

But this wasn't a game. This was real. His crew had just been slaughtered, and they were stranded on a hostile planet with no way to call for help.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Ethan muttered under his breath, ducking behind one of the tall, crystal spires jutting from the ground. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, his mind racing with panic and anger. How had they not seen this coming? How could they have been so careless?

His hand flew to his comm device, but the signal was dead. "Nova? Prella? Vala? Anyone, do you copy?" Static buzzed in his ear, the only answer to his desperate call. The laser strike had cut off their communications, severing their link to each other and any outside help.

He clenched his fist, gritting his teeth. We're cut off. Completely isolated.

Footsteps crunched on the rocky ground behind him, and Ethan's muscles tensed. He spun around, raising his blaster, but lowered it when he saw the familiar figure sprinting toward him. It was Prella, her face hardened with a mixture of fury and concern. Her armor was scorched, and there was a streak of blood on her cheek, but she was alive.

"Ethan!" Prella called out, skidding to a stop beside him. She looked at him with wide eyes, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Ethan replied, though the fear gripping his chest told a different story. "Barely. What the hell just happened? One second, we're landing, and the next, "

"We were ambushed," Prella growled, her fists clenching at her sides. "That laser wasn't random. Someone knew exactly where to hit us."

Ethan nodded, his stomach sinking. He had been getting that feeling since they arrived on Alturus Prime, that nagging sensation that something was off. And now, they were paying the price for not acting sooner. "We need to find the others. We're not going to survive out here alone, especially with that thing in the sky."

Prella's gaze darkened as she looked toward the horizon, where the faint silhouette of a massive satellite hovered far above the planet. "That's where the laser came from. Some kind of orbital weapon, I'd bet. We need to take it down or we're sitting ducks."

Ethan pressed a hand to his forehead, trying to think through the fear. "One problem at a time. First, we regroup. Have you seen Vala? Zira?"

Prella shook her head, her jaw tight. "No. I lost sight of them when the ship was hit. They could be anywhere."

Ethan cursed under his breath, knowing that every second they wasted could be the difference between life and death for the rest of his crew. The thought of Vala or Zira lying injured, or worse, out there in the hostile terrain made his stomach churn. He couldn't lose anyone else. Not today.

"We'll find them," Ethan said firmly, forcing himself to focus. "We're not letting that damn satellite take any more of us."

Prella nodded, her expression grim but determined. "Right behind you, Captain."

They moved quickly, keeping low as they navigated the rocky outcroppings and crystal formations that made up the landscape. The once serene and breathtaking beauty of Alturus Prime had taken on a dangerous edge. Every shimmering reflection in the crystals, every shadow that stretched across the ground felt like it could be hiding something deadly.

As they made their way through the maze of spires, Ethan's mind kept drifting back to the flashback he'd had when they landed. He'd seen Alturus Prime before, in the game. He had known something was wrong, but he hadn't been able to remember why. Now, that memory gnawed at him like a wound that wouldn't heal.

In the game, Alturus Prime had looked beautiful on the surface, but it had been deadly beneath its shimmering facade. Something about this place was all too familiar, the ambush, the danger. But there was more to it, a sense of dread that came with remembering what had happened next in the game. Something was waiting for them here, something worse than the laser.

"Prella, hold up," Ethan whispered, pulling her behind a large crystal formation. He crouched down, motioning for her to do the same. "I think we're walking into another trap."

Prella's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"I played this planet before. In the game," Ethan explained, his voice low but urgent. "Alturus Prime wasn't just some random world. It was a trap. The whole place was rigged to lure people in with its beauty, then kill them off one by one. We need to be careful."

Prella gave him a hard look, her eyes searching his face for any sign of hesitation. "And you're just remembering this now?"

Ethan shook his head, frustrated with himself. "I don't know. It's like the memories were locked away, and now they're starting to come back. But I don't think we should stick around long enough to find out what else this planet has in store for us."

Before Prella could respond, a loud crack echoed through the air, followed by the sound of blaster fire. Ethan's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the distinct whine of the shots, they were nearby. Too nearby.

"That's not friendly fire," Prella muttered, her body tensing as she gripped her weapon. "We're not alone."

Ethan swallowed hard, adrenaline surging through his veins. "Come on. We need to find the others."

They moved quickly, the sounds of the firefight growing louder with every step. As they rounded the corner of a particularly tall spire, they came upon a scene that made Ethan's blood run cold.

Vala was crouched behind a rock formation, her blaster raised as she fired at a group of unknown figures closing in on her position. Her cobalt-blue fur was matted with sweat, and her breathing was labored, but her focus was razor-sharp.

Three of the attackers, clad in dark armor with sleek helmets obscuring their faces, were advancing on her, their blasters lighting up the air with every shot. They moved like trained soldiers, coordinated, efficient, and deadly.

"Vala!" Ethan called out, raising his own blaster as he sprinted toward her position.

Vala's amber eyes flicked toward him for the briefest moment before she ducked back behind cover. "About time you showed up, Captain! We've got company!"

Ethan and Prella wasted no time joining the fight, taking up defensive positions beside Vala and laying down suppressing fire. The attackers were relentless, but Ethan could see that they weren't Vrak, they were something else. Something more organized.

"Who the hell are these guys?" Ethan shouted over the noise of blasters and explosions.

"Not sure!" Vala replied, gritting her teeth as she fired another shot. "But they're not friendly!"

Ethan glanced at Prella, who was already narrowing her eyes, trying to read the situation. "They're too coordinated. These aren't just random soldiers, they're after us specifically."

Ethan felt his stomach twist. The Council. It had to be. They were being hunted, and it was only a matter of time before the Council of Shadows made their move in full force.

"Then let's give them a reason to regret it!" Ethan shouted, rallying his crew as the blaster fire intensified.

They had no choice but to fight their way out. Stranded on a hostile planet with no communication, hunted by a relentless enemy, and haunted by the echoes of the game, Ethan knew they were in for the fight of their lives.

The sound of blaster fire crackled through the air, echoing off the crystal formations as Ethan, Prella, and Vala hunkered down behind their makeshift cover. Every time one of them popped out to fire a shot, they were met with an immediate barrage from their attackers, who were advancing steadily.

Ethan's breath was ragged, his heart pounding as he struggled to keep up with the relentless pace of the fight. He was no soldier, but he'd learned enough in his time aboard the Ark to know when they were outmatched. These soldiers weren't just random enemies, they were after his crew, and they were well-trained.

Prella was beside him, taking quick, precise shots, each one aimed to suppress the enemy's advance. "We need to break through their line!" she growled. "We can't stay pinned down like this!"

Vala, her fur slick with sweat, nodded in agreement. "We need to get to higher ground, somewhere we can see what we're dealing with!"

Ethan wiped the sweat from his forehead, trying to think. The crystal spires around them stretched up toward the sky like jagged teeth, casting eerie shadows over the battlefield. Higher ground was a good idea, but the problem was getting there without being gunned down.

Just as Ethan was about to suggest a plan, a sudden flash of movement caught his eye. One of the attackers had broken off from the main group and was flanking them, moving with an unsettling grace. Before Ethan could react, the figure was almost upon them.

"Prella, left flank!" Ethan shouted, raising his blaster and firing off a desperate shot.

Prella turned just in time, her reflexes sharp as ever. She swung her energy blade in a wide arc, slicing through the air with a deadly precision. The flanking attacker was caught mid-motion, stumbling back with a grunt of pain as Prella's blade connected.

"Nice try," Prella muttered, her eyes narrowing as the attacker crumpled to the ground.

Ethan breathed a sigh of relief, but the reprieve was short-lived. More of the enemy soldiers were advancing, closing in from all sides. It was only a matter of time before they were completely surrounded.

"We need to move," Ethan said, his voice tense. "Now."

Prella nodded, already on her feet. "I'll cover you."

Vala, still crouched low, glanced at Ethan. "There's a ridge up ahead," she said, pointing toward a series of jagged rocks rising in the distance. "If we can make it there, we'll have a better vantage point."

Ethan's pulse quickened. It was risky, but they didn't have many options. "Alright, we go on three. Prella, you take point. Vala, you're with me."

Prella gave a sharp nod, tightening her grip on her weapon. "Three, two, one, move!"

They bolted from their cover, sprinting toward the ridge as blaster fire erupted around them. Prella was in the lead, her energy blade flashing as she deflected incoming shots with a fluid grace that seemed almost impossible. Ethan followed close behind, his legs burning with the effort of keeping up, while Vala fired off shots to cover their retreat.

The attackers weren't far behind, but the crew pushed harder, adrenaline fueling their desperate flight. Ethan could feel the heat of the lasers whizzing past him, but he forced himself to focus on the ridge ahead. If they could just get there...

A sudden explosion rocked the ground beneath them, sending a shockwave through the air. Ethan stumbled, barely catching himself as the blast sent him sprawling onto the rocky ground. His vision blurred for a moment, the sound of the explosion ringing in his ears.

"Ethan!" Vala's voice cut through the noise, her hand gripping his arm as she hauled him to his feet. "Come on, we're almost there!"

Ethan nodded, shaking off the disorientation as they made the final push toward the ridge. The rocky terrain provided some cover as they scrambled up the incline, the enemy soldiers hot on their heels.

By the time they reached the top, Ethan was gasping for breath, his legs feeling like they might give out at any moment. But they had made it. The ridge offered a much-needed reprieve, and from their elevated position, they could finally see the full scope of the battlefield.

The attackers, at least a dozen of them, were regrouping below, their dark armor glinting in the fading light. Whoever they were, they moved with a precision that reminded Ethan of elite military units. These weren't just random thugs. They were here for a reason.

"Who the hell are these guys?" Ethan muttered, trying to catch his breath.

Vala crouched beside him, her eyes scanning the enemy below. "They're too organized. Too well-equipped. This has to be the Council."

Prella, standing at the edge of the ridge, let out a low growl. "They came prepared to kill. They won't stop until we're dead."

Ethan felt a chill run down his spine. The Council of Shadows had finally made their move, and they were playing for keeps. This wasn't just about survival anymore, it was about stopping whatever the Council had planned before it was too late.

"We need to regroup with Zira and the others," Ethan said, trying to think through the chaos. "We're not going to win this fight alone."

Prella nodded, her face set in grim determination. "Agreed. But we need a plan, and fast."

Vala leaned in, her voice low but urgent. "We don't have long before they come up here after us. We either fight, or we find a way to lose them."

Ethan's mind raced. They were outnumbered and outgunned, and even with the higher ground, it was only a matter of time before the attackers figured out a way to flush them out.

But then, a flash of memory hit him. The game. The part he had been trying to remember about Alturus Prime. The planet had been rigged with traps, hidden throughout its surface, defenses left behind by an ancient race that had once called this world home.

"I've got it," Ethan said suddenly, his eyes lighting up with the realization. "There's a way off this ridge, and it's not through the front lines."

Prella and Vala both turned to him, confusion etched on their faces. "What are you talking about?" Prella asked.

Ethan pointed toward the far side of the ridge, where the terrain sloped downward into a series of jagged crevices. "In the game, there was a hidden passage in those rocks. It leads to an underground network of tunnels, safe from the surface, and a way to regroup without being seen."

Prella raised an eyebrow. "You think the game was that accurate?"

Ethan shrugged, his heart still pounding. "It's the best shot we've got. We can't take them head-on, not like this. But if we get into those tunnels, we might have a chance."

Vala nodded, already moving toward the edge of the ridge. "It's worth a try."

Prella grinned, her energy blade glowing faintly in the fading light. "I like this plan better than getting shot at."

With the enemy soldiers still regrouping below, the crew made their move. They descended the far side of the ridge, careful to stay low and out of sight. The crevices were narrow, but just as Ethan remembered, there was an opening hidden in the rock, barely noticeable to the untrained eye.

Ethan squeezed through first, the tunnel dark and cool as he made his way inside. Vala and Prella followed close behind, and for the first time since the ambush, Ethan felt a glimmer of hope.

They weren't out of the woods yet, but at least now, they had a fighting chance.