"It’s... it’s the Black Dragon!"

"Dominion is here! The cargo’s compromised!"

"Fall back!"

"Out now! Push them back!"

A chorus of yells and gunfire roared through the air, each voice swallowed by the chaos around them. In an instant, the entire ship had become a battleground between Dominion and everyone aboard it.

As for Ashley, she stayed where she was, seated on top of the containers. Her eyes remained fixed on the man who had landed on top of one of the containers at the end of the row.

Lucian.

"Right," she breathed out, touching the chip she had slipped to the side of her teeth, now wedged between her molars from biting down on it.

A part of her had known Dominion would come. They would follow her to the ends of the earth whenever she tried to escape, after all. But at the same time, a strange feeling stirred in her chest the moment she saw Lucian.

A strange feeling too foreign for her to name.

Was it disbelief that they had truly arrived?

Relief that she was finally safe?

Surprise that he himself had come wearing full tactical gear like a soldier?

Or... fear that there was truly nowhere in this world she could hide from him?

What was it?

Which was it?

Ashley had no idea.

But what she did know was this... her life wasn’t ending tonight. And she got time to think of the answer.

"Lucian!" she shouted as she caught sight of someone emerging from the side, rifle aimed directly at him.

Lucian stopped, his eyes snapping to her. But instead of turning after she shouted, "On your right!" he pointed his rifle in her direction.

BANG!

Gunfire echoed everywhere, but that particular shot rang louder in her ears. Ashley’s breath hitched for a second as she watched the man aiming at Lucian collapse face-first onto the floor, a bullet through the back of his head.

THUD!

Her attention snapped to her other side as another body dropped. Only then did she realize it was the man Lucian had shot — the one aiming at her.

Not caring about the people charging at him, he had prioritized her safety first.

"Ashley!" Lucian shouted, throwing something toward her.

When she turned, all she saw was a rifle spinning through the air.

For a second, her world stopped as she glanced at him, seeing his gaze already shifting elsewhere while he continued making his way toward her. Since Lucian couldn’t land directly where she was, he had to cut through the enemies just to reach her.

"This is not the time for this, you fool," she whispered as she looked up at the rifle flying toward her. "This is not the time... for your stupid heart to be beating so fast."

As the words left her lips, Ashley finally reached out and caught the rifle midair.

The moment her fingers wrapped around it, she dropped into a glide on her knees, one palm pressed against the metal surface as she spun. Her free hand raised the rifle instantly, firing at everyone in sight.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Huh?"

The crew inside the helicopters, providing cover for both Ashley and Lucian, paused as she started firing almost recklessly.

But despite how random it looked, every shot landed with precision.

BANG!

"Shit—"

Red jumped aside as crates near him exploded into splinters. When he turned toward the source of the bullet, his eyes landed on Ashley.

A vein bulged on his forehead as he saw her purse her lips and smile at him apologetically.

"That damn witch..." he hissed. "Are you trying to kill me?!"

Ashley grinned before crawling away from her position, springing to her feet, and running toward Lucian. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Red scoffed, though the anger on his face eased slightly.

"That damn witch..." he muttered, snapping his sharp gaze back toward the enemies. "...I’m glad she’s still alive."

Just as Red said those words, he prepared to dive back into the fight, only for movement at the corner of his eye to catch his attention.

For a second, everyone paused.

Their eyes lifted toward the small figure leaping onto one of the extended hooks attached to the crane inside the ship.

Ashley grabbed onto the hook, exposing herself completely above the battlefield as she dangled in the open air, firing at every enemy she saw.

Dominion: "???"

The enemy: "!!!"

"Shoot her!" someone yelled from the background, causing several men to immediately raise their guns toward her.

But Dominion seized the opportunity.

The members who had been struggling to board the ship while being pushed back finally broke through, shooting down those targeting Ashley.

Ashley, meanwhile, wasn’t just creating a distraction.

She was providing cover.

By the time the path cleared around Lucian, she was already close to Lucian’s container.

"Lucian!!" she shouted, pulling his attention away from the enemies in the aisle.

The moment he looked up, his eyes widened.

Ashley grinned from ear to ear while hanging from the extension with one hand. Then, one finger at a time, she let go.

"Careful—"

But before he could finish, Ashley released herself entirely and dropped. Without hesitation — despite his crew watching — Lucian sprinted forward to catch her.

Fool. Of course, it was foolish.

But none of that mattered.

All he could think about was cushioning her fall.

THUD!

Even with him catching her, the force of her body sent them both crashing backward. His back slammed hard against the container, and he hissed as the bulletproof vest failed to absorb the full impact.

"Ugh..." he grunted, eyes squeezing shut.

As he tried to open them again, a soft peck landed on his lips. His brows furrowed.

When his eyes finally opened, Ashley’s bright face hovered above him.

A soft giggle escaped her. She lowered her head again, giving him another quick peck before grinning.

"You really came."

Lucian blinked. He knew this wasn’t the time for this.

And yet, he still smiled back.

Without taking his eyes off her, he lifted his gun and fired to the side, taking down another enemy instantly.

"Mhm," he hummed, calm finally beginning to settle within the storm in his chest. "Let’s go home."