Chapter 30: Schisms Part I

Clutching her side, Sergeant Ledoyen lurched along the shadowy corridor.

Helpless rage burned her heart. She'd lost her entire squad. And, as far as she could tell, she was the only one left breathing who was loyal to the Crown.

The Bald spawner was somewhere ahead, fleeing the battle.

He'd stopped replicating for some reason. A physical limitation? A strategic maneuver? Either way, it didn't matter. Ledoyen was going to kill him.

She heard Maddie Two-Tooth and the pirates nearby, grunting with effort as they looted all the random junk they could find.

Ledoyen stopped.

Where was the spawner? Surely, he'd come this way.

Her boot slipped on something wet. She lost her balance and collided with a tower of crates.

Several pirates cried out in shock. Someone twitch-fired into the ceiling.

As Ledoyen tried to recover, the pirates came running.

"Gawd blind me, lookit the state of ya's!" Maddie Two-Tooth put her arms around Ledoyen, steadying her before she collapsed.