"Do it," he said finally. "But make it count."
The girl nodded, her tiny fingers flicking a switch on the device. A high-pitched whine filled the air, and for a mont, everything went still.
Then, with a blinding flash, the EMP pulse erupted. The ch staggered, its systems shorting out, and the other attackers cybernetics were also deactivated.
Rex's wings folded back into his coat, the living tal temporarily inert. "Alright, ti to do this the old-fashioned way," he said while cracking his knuckles.
The remaining attackers hesitated, clearly not expecting their tech to fail. Rex didn't give them ti to recover. He charged at them; his fists were like a blur as he took down one enemy after another. The girl watched in awe, her cybernetic eye tracking every move.
When the last attacker hit the ground, Rex turned to her while breathing heavily. "Not bad for a guy as handso as , huh?"
She bead. "You're amazing, mister!"
"Yeah, yeah, don't get used to it," Rex said, though he couldn't hide a small smile. "Now, let's get out of here before more show up."
As they slipped out of the alley, the girl tugged on his sleeve. "Where are we going?"
"Sowhere safe," Rex replied. "And then... we're going to pay your mom and the Supre Commander a little visit. If they want a war, they've got one."
The girl's eyes lit up. "Really? You're going to help take them down?"
Rex glanced at her, his expression serious. "Kid, you've got guts. And those eyes of yours might just give us the edge we need. But this isn't going to be easy. Are you ready for that?"
She nodded while her tiny fists clenched. "I'm ready."
"Good," Rex said, his voice low. "Because things are about to get a whole lot worse before they get better."
As they disappeared into the shadows, the city's neon lights flickered overhead, casting long, twisting shadows. Sowhere in the distance, a siren wailed.
The Nexum reinforcents arrived minutes after Rex and the little girl had slipped away. The alley was now a battlefield of scorch marks, shattered debris, and the groans of defeated soldiers.
The night sky buzzed with the hum of transport ships, their blinding searchlights sweeping the area like the eyes of an angry god. But Rex and his tiny companion were long gone, vanishing into the labyrinthine underbelly of the city.
Hours later, after a tense journey through shadowed streets and hidden pathways while being guided by Mini Cleo's calm and playful voice, they finally reached their base.
It was a nondescript building tucked away in a forgotten corner of the city, its exterior worn and unassuming. But inside, it was a fortress of advanced tech and hidden comforts.
The mont Rex opened the door, Ys pounced on him like a cat. "Daaarliiing～, did you miss ?" she purred while wrapping her arms around his neck and locking her legs around his hips.
Her light green hair shimred under the soft light of the room, and her playful grin was as radiant as ever.
Rex sighed while patting her head with a mix of affection and exasperation. "Nupe."
Ys pouted, her lower lip jutting out dramatically. "Buuuu, you're so an!" Her eyes then flicked to the little girl peeking out from behind Rex's leg. "And who's this? Did you pick up a stray kitty, darling?"
Rex gently pried Ys off him and set her down. "First, let go so I can explain. Second, is there anything to eat? For and the kid. She looks like she hasn't eaten in days."
Ys tilted her head, her playful deanor shifting to concern. "Of course, darling. Let see what we have." She floated over to the refrigerator, her movents as graceful as ever as she pulled out a couple of organic bars.
These weren't the bland, paste-like rations from food printers; these were the good stuff, made from dehydrated organic materials. Just pull the cord, and they were ready to eat.
Rex handed one to the little girl, who took it with trembling hands. She stared at it for a mont, as if unsure it was real, before tearing into it like a starving animal.
Rex watched her for a mont, his expression softening, before sitting down on the sofa. Ys joined him, lying down and using his leg as a pillow while he explained everything that had happened.
"Mmm, I see…"Ys said once he finished, her fingers idly tracing patterns on his knee. "So that's the situation. I told Mom about it, and she said it's a good opportunity for us."
Rex nodded while his gaze fixed on the little girl as she devoured her food. "As expected of her. She thought the sa as ."
Ys propped herself up on one elbow with her eyes narrowing slightly. "So, little girl, you asked for my darling's help, and he's willing to give it. But you have to promise sothing first."
The girl looked up with her cheeks stuffed with food. "What is it, miss?" she mumbled through a mouthful.
Rex raised an eyebrow. "First, don't talk with your mouth full. Mind your manners, little lady. Were you starving for days or sothing?" He reached out and poked her rosy cheek; his tone was teasing but gentle.
The girl blushed, quickly swallowing her food. "I'm sorry. I was just so hungry… I haven't eaten or drunk anything for days."
Rex's expression darkened. "Why is that? Wait… don't tell ." His jaw tightened as the realization hit him.
The little girl let out a bitter laugh, her mismatched eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Yes, it's exactly what you're thinking. All the food and water they gave was poisoned. Thanks to my eyes, I could detect it, so I didn't eat or drink any of it." Her voice broke, and tears began to stream down her face.
Rex's hands clenched into fists; his fury was palpable. Even though his ultimate goal was to conquer worlds and resurrect the Kaelzar Empire to fulfill his promise to Cleo, he wasn't heartless.
He still had a soul, a sense of right and wrong. And seeing soone harm a child... a child for their own gain, ignited a fire in him that he hadn't felt in a long ti.
Ys sat up, her playful deanor gone. "Darling…" she said with her voice soft but firm.
Rex took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He looked at the little girl, his expression was a mix of anger and determination.
"Listen to ," he said, his voice steady but intense. "You're safe now. No one's going to hurt you. And those people? They're going to pay for what they've done. I promise you that."
The girl wiped her tears, her cybernetic eye glowing faintly. "Thank you, mister."
Rex nodded, then glanced at Ys. "We need to plan our next move. This isn't just about her anymore. This is about sending a ssage."
Ys smirked while her playful energy returned. "Oh, darling, you know I love it when you get all heroic."
Rex rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just focus on not getting killed, alright?"
As the little girl finished her food, Rex leaned back on the sofa while his mind was racing.
The little girl quickly wiped away her tears while straightening her back as if trying to regain so dignity. Then, as if rembering sothing, she turned to Y'ssera.
"Oh right, miss... you said I had to promise sothing first. What was it?" Her voice was steady now, but her small hands remained clenched at her sides.
Y's smiled, her green, serpent-like eyes gleaming under the dim lights. "Nothing much, young one. Our mission here is simple.... take this planet under our control. In return, we'll help you rid yourself of the 'pest.'" She tilted her head slightly. "All we ask is that you co under our banner. How does that sound?"
The girl's fingers tightened further. "You an… making a puppet ruler? Like the Elders wanted?"
Rex let out a loud laugh. "Hah! Hell no!" He leaned forward while grinning. "Why would we need a puppet king when a friendly one is better? All you have to do is swear loyalty to and give us 40% of the planet's inco. That's half of what you're paying Nexum right now, isn't it?"
The girl blinked. "Wait… we pay Nexum 80% of our inco?"
Rex smirked while crossing his arms. "You really need better accountants, kid."
The little girl frowned but remained thoughtful. "...I don't see a problem with that. But.... are you going to help us with a fleet? A world without a military is pri prey for slavers and pirates." She looked directly into Rex's eyes, her expression more calculating now.
"Don't worry about that. Our soldiers are mass-produced in batches. We'll set up manufacturing facilities here, and your world will have military strength rivaling a comrcial hub," Rex assured her. Then, with a small grin, he added, "Of course, you cover the material costs."
The girl narrowed her eyes. "So… they're droids? Or sothing similar?"
Rex chuckled. "Sothing similar, but stronger. You'll see soon enough."
Y'ssera smirked at the exchange but said nothing.
The girl inhaled deeply, her young face carrying the weight of far too many burdens. "I'll need to see proof of your strength first."
Rex's grin widened. "Oh, you'll see. Once we hit the Hive City, you'll know exactly what we're capable of. When the war is over, we'll have this conversation again, and then you can decide what's best for you."
The girl didn't respond imdiately because she already knew the truth.
Once Rex crushed the Hive City, there would be no real choice left for her. The mont his army took over, any resistance would be aningless.
But…
It was still better than being poisoned to death by her mother.
She clenched her fists even tighter, her voice barely above a whisper. "Alright, mister." Show your power."
A smirk tugged at Rex's lips. "Pleasure doing business with you!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)