The blast doors of the bridge closed, leaving Kylus and Requiem to manage the new flight path. Xavier walked down the narrow corridor toward the captain's wing. The deck plating vibrated beneath his boots as the hyper-drives pushed the Strider through the deep void.
He stopped in front of his quarters. The biometric lock chimed under his palm, and the heavy metal door slid open.
Empress Xalvoria sat rigidly on the edge of his cot. Her heavy crimson mantle was still draped over her shoulders, her posture as stiff as a marble statue. Her gaze snapped toward the door the second it opened. The pale gold light from the Goddess's fragment on the nearby table cast harsh shadows across her face, highlighting the venomous glare she directed at him.
Xavier stepped inside. The door sealed shut behind him, the lock engaging with a heavy click.
