Chapter 15: A Choice

Jax leaned against the cold bars of his cell, the weight of exhaustion pressing heavily on his shoulders. He watched with bated breath as the plasma generator was carefully passed to Vissi. Her unconscious form remained still, barely a flicker of life within her glowing body. But the moment her hand touched the generator, something changed.

A faint blue glow began to radiate from her fingertips, crawling slowly up her arm as she cradled the generator close. The energy pulsed through her, a soft hum filling the air as she absorbed the power. Her color, once dull and dim, began to shift—deepening into a rich, dark shade of blue. Her once-frail figure seemed to gain strength, her light brightening with each passing second.

The generator, drained of its energy, became nothing more than a hunk of junk in her arms, its once-glowing components now lifeless. Vissi's eyes fluttered open, her iridescent gaze locking onto Jax. She didn't say a word, but her presence alone spoke volumes.

Jax let out a long, shaky sigh of relief, the tension in his muscles slowly releasing. "You're back," he murmured, grateful to see her on her feet again.

Without speaking, Vissi floated gently toward Jax's cell, her body gliding effortlessly through the air. She extended her hand, and with a single gesture, space around the bars of his cell bent and warped. The metal twisted, bending as though it were made of liquid. The bars parted, and Jax stepped through the opening, free once again.

"Thanks," Jax said, giving her a small nod of gratitude. He had no idea how long he would have lasted without her.

Vissi's expression remained calm, unreadable as she floated beside him. "We need a plan," she said, her voice soft but steady. She closed her eyes for a moment, her fingers tracing invisible lines in the air as she sensed the space around her.

Jax watched as Vissi worked, her mind reaching out into the structure of the Necrolythian facility. After a few moments, she opened her eyes and spoke. "The building is massive, but I've found the nearest Federation space station. It's a few floors down, close to the outer perimeter. If we can get there, we can escape."

Jax nodded, feeling a small flicker of hope. But then reality hit him like a punch to the gut. "Rhys," he blurted, the name escaping his lips before he could stop himself. "We need to find Rhys."

Vissi's glowing eyes focused on him, narrowing slightly in confusion. "Rhys? Who is that?"

Jax hesitated for a moment, realizing he had never actually described his partner to Vissi. He took a deep breath, mentally pulling together the words. "He's about my height, maybe a little taller. Lean but tough. Dark hair, sharp eyes… always looks like he's sizing up a fight, even when he's relaxed. He's got this way about him—acts like he doesn't care, but you know he's always thinking, always figuring out how to survive."

Vissi tilted her head, considering his words carefully. "And he's here, in this facility?"

"Yeah," Jax confirmed. "He was captured like me. We got separated, but he's gotta be around here somewhere."

Vissi closed her eyes again, her form glowing softly as she extended her senses outward, feeling the contours of the space around them. Several moments passed in silence before she finally opened her eyes, her expression hard to read.

"I've scanned as far as I can reach, but I can't locate him. The building is too vast, and there are too many variables," Vissi said, her voice calm but tinged with the weight of reality. "Something is dampening my abilities. There's a strange force, almost like a gravitational pull, that's interfering with my powers. I can't pinpoint exactly what it is, but it's disrupting the space around us. I don't have enough energy to fully navigate through it and find this Rhys, let alone get us out safely."

Jax frowned, his thoughts racing. "What kind of force?"

Vissi shook her head slightly. "I don't know… it feels like it's something massive. Whatever it is, it's hindering me. And with my limited energy, I can't overcome it."

Jax's heart sank. The thought of leaving without Rhys was unbearable, but the situation was dire. Every second they lingered in this facility was another second closer to being caught again.

"We can't leave him behind," Jax said, his voice hoarse with desperation. "I can't leave him."

Vissi's expression softened, but her tone remained steady. "I understand, but my energy is limited. I've just recovered enough to get us out of here, but helping everyone escape and finding Rhys afterward would be impossible. You have to choose, Jax."

Jax's chest tightened as Vissi's words washed over him. He felt the weight of the choice pressing down on him—a decision he didn't want to make. He could feel his pulse quicken as the reality of the situation set in. Either he attempted to find Rhys, risking not only his life but Vissi's and the other prisoners', or he saved everyone now, with the hope of returning for Rhys later.

"If we leave now, we can help these prisoners escape," Vissi continued. "We can get them to safety. But if you choose to search for Rhys, it puts everything at risk. There's no guarantee we'll find him in time, and even if we do, we may not survive the encounter."

Jax closed his eyes, his mind racing. Memories of the space station flooded back—his guilt over the lives that were lost, his frustration with himself for not acting sooner.

Jax opened his eyes and looked at Vissi, his expression hardening with resolve. "We have to get these people out of here," he said, his voice steady. "Rhys… Rhys is strong. He'll survive. He'll find a way."

Vissi nodded, her understanding clear in the way her glowing eyes softened. "I believe he will."

Jax's stomach twisted with the weight of his decision. Leaving Rhys behind was the hardest thing he had ever done, but he had to believe in his friend's strength. Rhys had survived worse. He could make it out of this too.

Jax exhaled, trying to rationalize his choice. "It's the greater good," he whispered to himself. "We can save everyone now, and we'll come back for Rhys. He wouldn't want us to waste this chance."

Vissi floated silently beside him, her presence calm and steady as she prepared herself to bend space once more.

"Do it," Jax said, nodding to Vissi.

With a flick of her wrist, Vissi's eyes closed, and the space around the cells began to warp and twist. Metal bars bent as if made of liquid, and one by one, the prisoners were released from their confinement. Many of them stumbled forward, their bodies weak and malnourished, but their eyes were filled with the glimmer of hope.

Jax moved through the crowd, helping the weakest to their feet. "You're getting out of here," he said to them, his voice firm and reassuring. "Stay close to Vissi, and she'll get you to safety."

The prisoners huddled together, their faces pale and gaunt, but their spirits slowly beginning to lift. Vissi, now fully recharged, extended her arms, her glow intensifying as she focused. A portal shimmered into existence in front of them, the space beyond its shimmering edges revealing a glimpse of freedom—a Federation space station, a sanctuary far from the horrors they had endured.

Jax motioned for the prisoners to follow her, guiding them through the portal one by one. Each step felt like a small victory, and as the last prisoner passed through, Jax turned to Vissi.

"You've done more than enough," he said, giving her a small, grateful nod. "We'll come back for Rhys. I promise."

Vissi offered a faint smile in return, her body dimming slightly from the strain maintaining the portal.

As the portal closed behind them, Jax paused for a moment, his eyes lingering on the Necrolythian facility. One day, he would come back. He would find Rhys, no matter what.

With a final glance at the towering collections of cells, Jax turned his back and stepped through the portal, leaving the horrors of the facility behind.