Kael's blaster felt heavy in his hand, but it wasn't as heavy as the silence between him and the man who used to be his brother. The corridor hummed with the power of Taren's warship, its walls alive with the cold machinery of the Council.
Dozens of soldiers surrounded them, their black armor shining, rifles raised. Rhea still held her weapon up, but she knew what Kael knew—one wrong move, and they'd be dead before the first shot hit.
Taren's smile was thin. "You walked straight into my arms. I expected more caution from you, Kael."
Kael's jaw tightened. "You always underestimated me."
"Not underestimated," Taren responded smoothly, pacing closer, his boots echoing. "Predicted. You always came chasing after me. The dutiful little brother."
Lyra's voice cut through like a knife. "You lured him here. You wanted this confrontation."
Taren glanced at her, calculating. "Of course I did. The Ark binds to her, and you, Kael, have tied yourself to her. Two vulnerabilities packed into one. I couldn't resist."
Kael stepped in front of Lyra, rage flaring in his chest. "If you touch her—"
Taren chuckled darkly. "Still so protective. Still so human."
Taren raised a gloved hand, and the soldiers shifted but did not fire. His voice lowered, almost gentle. "You don't have to fight me, Kael. You don't have to die here. Join me. Together we can shape the galaxy. I have seen what the Council is becoming. It's rotting and weak. But I have the fleet, the loyalty, and the vision to replace it. You and I, side by side, unstoppable."
Kael's chest tightened. For a moment, the child inside him—the boy who once looked up to his older brother—wanted to believe.
But then he remembered Lyra collapsing after channeling the Ark's power. He remembered the outpost burning. He remembered the cries of innocents caught in the Council's grip.
He shook his head. "You're not the brother I knew. That man died. You're something else now."
Taren's smile faded, replaced by cold steel. "So be it."
It happened quickly. Rhea fired first, taking down a soldier with a clean shot to the visor. The corridor exploded into chaos—blaster fire scorching the air, soldiers shouting, Lyra's hands blazing as she unleashed the Ark's energy in raw bursts.
Kael charged forward, his blaster firing as he cut a path toward Taren. But his brother moved like a shadow, drawing a sword that shimmered with plasma. With a single strike, he deflected Kael's shot and sent sparks flying.
"Taren!" Kael roared, lunging. Their weapons clashed, the hiss of energy drowning out the screams around them.
"You've grown stronger," Taren admitted, his blade pressing dangerously close. "But not enough."
Kael gritted his teeth, forcing all his strength into holding his ground. "Strength isn't enough. Not without purpose."
Behind them, Lyra unleashed a wave that sent soldiers flying back, their weapons sparking and shorting out. The Ark's bond surged through her veins, her eyes glowing faintly. But the effort drained her; Kael saw her stumble, knees buckling.
"Lyra!" he shouted, panic cutting through the battle.
Rhea pulled her up, firing wildly with her free hand. "She's burning out, Kael! We can't hold this off!"
Taren's eyes flicked to Lyra, cold and calculating. "So fragile. And yet she carries the key to the Ark. Fascinating."
Kael's anger boiled over. "Stay away from her!"
With a surge of strength, he shoved Taren back, their blades screeching as they locked. Sparks rained down, lighting the corridor in flashes of fire.
"Kael!" Rhea shouted over the noise. "We need to move! Now!"
Kael knew she was right. They couldn't win—not against this many soldiers, not against Taren.
He broke free with a feint, blasting a soldier who got too close. "Lyra, can you link us back to the Ark?"
Lyra's face was pale, sweat dripping, but she nodded. "Yes… but it'll take everything I have."
Kael's heart clenched. He ran to her side, gripping her shoulders. "Then do it. I'll cover you."
She met his eyes, fear and determination mingling. "Don't let him take you."
"Never."
Kael turned back just as Taren advanced, sword gleaming.
"You're throwing away everything we could build together," Taren hissed.
"And you're throwing away the man I admired most," Kael fired back.
Their swords clashed again, sparks lighting the darkness. Kael fought with desperation, every move fueled by love, anger, and loss. Taren fought with precision, his strikes merciless and sharp.
For a moment, Kael thought he saw hesitation in his brother's eyes—a flicker. But it vanished just as quickly, replaced by the cold fire of ambition.
"You're weak, Kael," Taren spat. "Love has made you weak."
Kael gritted his teeth, parrying a strike that nearly cut him. "No. Love is what makes me stronger than you'll ever be."
Behind them, Lyra trembled as she poured her soul into the Ark. The ship responded, its presence surging through the corridors like a storm. The walls vibrated, lights flickering as if reality itself bent under her will.
The soldiers hesitated, some clutching their helmets as if in pain. Even Taren staggered slightly, his blade wavering.
Kael seized the moment. With a roar, he struck hard, disarming his brother and sending the plasma blade skidding across the floor.
Taren fell back, eyes blazing with fury and disbelief. "This isn't over."
Kael aimed his blaster, chest heaving. "It never is."
A flash of light engulfed them all as Lyra's link activated, the Ark pulling them back in a burst of energy.
They collapsed onto the Ark's deck, breathless and battered. Rhea lay sprawled, laughing weakly. "Well… that was fun. Let's never do it again."
Lyra slumped against Kael, her body limp with exhaustion. He caught her, holding her close, his heart pounding with fear. "Lyra… stay with me."
Her eyes fluttered open, faint but steady. "I'm here… always."
Kael pressed his forehead to hers, relief washing over him. Around them, the Ark hummed softly, as if cradling its chosen in safety.
But Kael's mind raced. They had proof now—Taren's fleet, his ideology, his hunger for power. But they had also revealed themselves.
The Ghost Admiral knew they lived. And he would never stop hunting them.