Spark

The branch bent again.

This time, closer.

Nobody moved.

Daniel kept his hands closed around the grips.

A blade on either side.

In front of him, the four canids stood motionless.

They were no longer baring their teeth.

They were no longer growling.

They were looking towards the forest.

Serrano was still on the ground, one hand pressing against his leg and the other gripping his A.R.E.

“Don’t move.”

Something passed between two trees.

Large.

Too fast to make out.

A spark jumped between Xenya’s fingers.

“Xenya,” Vega said.

She did not answer.

“No.”

Xenya clenched her jaw.

The electricity disappeared.

Melisa was still beside Serrano.

“I need to move him.”

“Wait.”

“He’s bleeding.”

“I know.”

Melisa held Vega’s gaze for a moment, then returned to the wound.

“Can you feel your toes?”

Serrano moved his foot slightly.

Pain immediately showed on his face.

“Yes.”

“Good.”

“It doesn’t seem very good.”

“Trust me. Right now, it is.”

Melisa’s hands stayed steady as she worked. Only when she reached for another bandage did her fingers tremble.

She took it.

Kept going.

Another crack.

Iskander brought his shield forward.

Alyra extended a hand. A small amount of water emerged from her A.R.E. and hung suspended beside her.

“When I say back,” Vega ordered, “we fall back towards E-47.”

Serrano shook his head.

“I can’t.”

Iskander stepped beside him and moved the shield to his other hand.

“Then you won’t be walking.”

“You can’t cover us with one hand.”

“Yes, I can.”

“You don’t know how much I weigh.”

“Right now, I don’t care either.”

Serrano looked at him.

Nodded.

One of the canids stepped back.

Then another.

They did not flee.

They moved aside.

Alyra frowned.

The third made room.

The fourth did the same.

And then it appeared.

First a paw.

Then the muzzle.

Then the body.

She was a female canid.

But unlike the others.

Larger.

Heavier.

Her coat had irregular patches altered by Ether. An old scar ran down one of her flanks.

She did not look ill.

She did not look deformed.

She looked built to stay alive.

She emerged fully from between the trees.

The other four lowered their heads slightly.

Xenya whispered:

“Fuck...”

The Alpha looked at Vega.

Then at Serrano.

Her gaze dropped to his wounded leg.

Serrano tightened his grip on his A.R.E.

“She’s seen me.”

Alyra did not take her eyes off her.

“She’s been watching us since before this.”

The Alpha advanced.

“Back,” Vega ordered.

Iskander took hold of Serrano. Alyra supported his other side.

Daniel stayed beside Melisa.

Xenya covered the flank.

They backed away.

The pack advanced with them.

“Don’t run. Don’t turn your backs on them.”

E-47 was getting closer.

Iskander was struggling to breathe.

The shield was still in front of him.

“Leave me,” Serrano murmured.

“No.”

“I’m slowing you down.”

“Yes.”

Serrano looked at him.

“Then leave me.”

Iskander kept his eyes ahead.

“No.”

Serrano did not insist.

The Alpha stopped.

So did the others.

One of her ears moved.

A canid shot forward.

“RIGHT!” Alyra shouted.

A gust from Vega struck it from the side before it reached the group.

The second came in from the left.

Serrano raised his A.R.E.

Fire.

The animal stopped short.

A third began to circle them.

“It’s cutting us off!” Melisa shouted.

“E-47! NOW!”

They ran.

Iskander all but carried Serrano over the last few metres.

Melisa went through.

Daniel.

Xenya.

Vega was last.

A canid leapt towards her.

Vega did not even step back.

A movement of her A.R.E.

A brief, precise gust.

The animal changed course in mid-leap and slammed into the ground.

“Inside.”

Daniel shut the door.

CLANG.

Another canid struck the fence.

Melisa was already kneeling beside Serrano.

“Sit down.”

“I’m fine.”

“Sit down.”

“Melisa...”

“If you want to faint and crack your head open, do it when I’m not responsible.”

Serrano looked at her.

Sat down.

Xenya gave a brief laugh.

Melisa did not even raise her head.

“You’re not helping either.”

Outside, the Alpha reached the perimeter.

She did not attack.

Vega activated the link.

“E-47 to Control. Requesting immediate support. Operator injured. Five Altered confirmed. Coordinated behaviour. One larger specimen.”

Static.

“Control, do you read?”

A broken voice replied.

“...E-47... received... support...”

Melisa checked the system.

“The transmission’s unstable again.”

The technician came over.

“We’d stabilised it.”

“Not any more.”

Daniel looked at the cameras.

The canids were spreading out.

One in front of the entrance.

Two towards the sides.

Another disappeared between the trees.

The Alpha stayed back.

Alyra watched the images.

“They’re not coming in.”

Xenya stepped beside her.

“Good.”

Alyra shook her head.

“I didn’t say that.”

A blow shook the fence.

CLANG.

Another answered from the opposite side.

Xenya drew both daggers.

Vega blocked her path.

“No.”

“We can take them out one at a time.”

“We’re waiting for support.”

“And they’re waiting outside.”

Alyra spoke from the cameras.

“They’ve already seen you move.”

Xenya turned towards her.

“And?”

“Before, they were trying to reach you.”

Alyra followed the images.

“Now they’re keeping their distance.”

“Because they can’t keep up with me.”

“Maybe.”

Xenya waited.

Alyra added nothing.

She did not need to.

“...support in nine minutes...”

Melisa took the communicator.

“Control, confirm nine minutes.”

Static.

“...confirmed...”

The light flickered.

Once.

Twice.

The technician turned towards the panel.

“No.”

A metallic blow sounded outside.

Melisa found the camera.

One of the canids was striking the electrical system’s outer casing.

It backed away.

Struck again.

CRACK.

“Can it break it?” Daniel asked.

“Yes.”

Xenya was already beside the door.

Another blow.

The light flickered.

“If we lose the system, we lose the link.”

“They already know our position,” Vega said.

“But we stop knowing when they’ll get here.”

CRACK.

Part of the casing gave way.

Xenya looked at Vega.

There was no smile.

“I can do it.”

“Not alone.”

“Then come with me.”

Vega studied her.

Xenya looked at Serrano.

At Melisa.

At the others.

“I’m not trying to prove anything.”

She turned back to Vega.

“I want all of us to get out of here.”

Silence.

“Thirty seconds.”

Xenya nodded.

“Thirty.”

“If I say back, you come back. Even if you can reach it.”

Xenya took a moment.

“Yes.”

Vega opened the door.

Xenya walked out.

The canid raised its head.

A spark ran along her forearm.

CRACK.

Then another.

The first dagger responded.

So did the second.

Xenya kept going.

Without running.

The canid backed away.

Then the Alpha appeared between the trees.

Xenya stopped.

Another discharge ran along her arms.

This time it did not disappear.

Small electrical arcs jumped between her clothes and the grips.

CRACK.

CRACK.

A few strands of hair began to rise around her face.

Then others.

Her hair rippled gently.

There was no wind.

Sparks ran along the edges of both daggers.

The Alpha advanced.

Xenya did not retreat.

She stood in the way.

Between her...

and E-47.

“Xenya,” Vega said.

She did not answer.

Daniel watched her profile.

She was not smiling.

She was afraid.

He could see it in her breathing.

In the hand trembling around one of the daggers.

Xenya knew he had seen it too.

She did not try to hide it.

“Daniel.”

“What?”

“Stay with Melisa.”

“Xenya...”

“Do it.”

The Alpha lowered her body slightly.

Another discharge coursed through Xenya.

Her hair rose a little further.

“Xenya, come back,” Vega ordered.

She shook her head.

“If she comes...”

A spark jumped between the two daggers.

“...she finds me first.”

The Alpha launched herself forward.

Xenya disappeared.

Daniel heard the impact before he found her.

A discharge lit up the clearing.

Xenya appeared to the Alpha’s right.

Dagger.

Turn.

Second dagger.

The Alpha reacted.

Late.

Xenya was already behind her.

Another cut.

The animal turned.

She had disappeared.

Daniel tried to follow her.

He could not.

He could see where she had been.

Then where she was.

Not the route between.

Xenya planted a boot against a trunk.

Push.

Turn.

A dagger came down.

The Alpha dodged it.

The second grazed her flank.

CRACK.

The animal backed away.

Serrano raised his head.

“Vega...”

She did not answer.

Xenya went in again.

The Alpha snapped at her.

Empty air.

Xenya appeared on the other side.

Iskander involuntarily lowered his shield a few centimetres.

“I can’t follow her.”

Serrano looked at Vega.

“Have you seen her like this before?”

“No.”

“Is it normal for Voltris?”

Vega took a moment to answer.

“Not like this.”

Xenya attacked again.

The discharge forced the Alpha back.

Xenya landed with one knee on the ground.

Sparks ran across her shoulders.

Her hair was still raised around her face.

She was breathing too fast.

She stood up.

So did the Alpha.

Xenya smiled.

There was no mockery.

“Come on.”

The Alpha did not attack.

She stepped sideways.

Xenya adjusted.

Another.

She did it again.

Alyra narrowed her eyes.

The Alpha advanced half a step.

Xenya shifted her weight onto her right foot.

The animal stopped.

“Xenya.”

She did not answer.

Another shift.

Xenya adjusted.

Her weight went onto her right foot again.

Alyra leaned forward.

“Xenya, your foot.”

“What?”

The Alpha moved again.

Xenya prepared to push off.

Right.

Alyra’s eyes widened.

“YOUR FOOT!”

Xenya launched herself forward.

The Alpha turned first.

Her paw found her as she appeared.

The impact threw her several metres.

“XENYA!”

Daniel moved forward.

“NO!” Vega ordered.

Xenya rolled and drove a dagger into the ground to stop herself.

Blood on her lip.

The Alpha ran towards her.

Electricity.

Xenya disappeared.

The jaws closed on earth.

She reappeared several metres away.

Breathed.

The Alpha looked at her legs.

Xenya followed that gaze.

Then looked at her own foot.

Understood.

She wiped the blood away with the back of her hand.

“Right.”

She raised her daggers.

“That was new.”

A second canid appeared on her left.

Another on her right.

They were not heading towards her.

They were heading towards E-47.

Xenya’s expression changed.

“No.”

She looked at the Alpha.

Then at the two canids.

She had to choose.

It did not take her even a second.

She turned round.

Ran towards the others.

The first canid leapt.

Iskander stepped into its path.

CLANG.

The shield took the impact.

One step back.

Another.

“ISKA!” Xenya shouted.

“I’M FINE!”

The animal struck again.

CLANG.

Iskander held.

When the canid backed away, he opened and closed the hand holding the shield.

Nothing.

He did it again.

His fingers responded late.

Iskander looked at his own hand.

Just for a moment.

The canid charged again.

Iskander closed his fingers around the grip.

“Right.”

His arm was trembling.

He did not lower the shield.

Alyra looked at the second animal.

She did not send the water out.

Waited.

The canid feinted towards Daniel.

Changed.

Iskander.

Changed again.

Alyra followed its paws.

Two steps.

Three.

Then she moved her hand.

The water fell onto an empty patch of ground.

Xenya looked at her.

“What are you doing?”

“Wait.”

The canid shot forward.

Daniel readied his blades.

“No!” Alyra shouted. “Let it!”

“What?”

The animal changed direction.

Stepped exactly where Alyra had left the water.

“Now.”

Iskander struck the ground.

Ice.

The canid’s front paws lost their footing.

The animal fell onto its side.

Daniel understood.

Moved in.

One blade deflected the claws.

The other struck its flank.

The animal managed to get up.

A discharge struck it from the side.

Xenya.

Dagger.

Turn.

Second dagger.

The canid backed away.

Xenya appeared in front of Daniel.

“I told you to stay with Melisa.”

“You’re not much good at listening either.”

“I know.”

Daniel looked towards Alyra.

“Did you know it would step there?”

Alyra was still watching the animal.

“No.”

A pause.

“But I knew where I wanted it to step.”

The canid feinted towards them again.

Vega raised her A.R.E.

A single gust.

Precise.

It forced the animal back without anyone else having to move.

“Less talking,” she said.

Over the next few seconds, they stopped fighting as individuals.

Vega controlled the approaches.

Serrano covered them from inside.

Iskander blocked.

Alyra prepared the ground.

Daniel closed gaps.

Xenya appeared wherever someone was missing.

And Melisa watched.

“Iskander, left!”

Impact.

“Alyra, behind Daniel!”

Water.

Daniel turned.

“Xenya, stop!”

Xenya stopped short.

Claws swept through the place she was about to enter.

She looked towards Melisa.

“How...?”

Melisa pointed to the side.

“Now, right!”

Xenya disappeared.

Discharge.

Impact.

Daniel backed up to Melisa.

“How do you know where they’re going?”

“I don’t.”

“It looks like you do.”

Melisa was breathing fast.

“I don’t watch the one attacking.”

Daniel waited.

“I watch the one that hasn’t yet.”

Another canid began to move.

Melisa was already pointing.

“Iskander, two steps back!”

“Daniel’s behind me!”

“Not any more!”

Iskander looked.

Daniel had moved aside.

He stepped back.

The animal came in too far.

Alyra closed water around a paw.

Iskander struck.

Ice.

For a moment, it was immobilised.

Xenya appeared.

The canid managed to break free.

Fled.

Xenya took a step after it.

Then another.

She stopped on her own.

Vega saw her.

Nodded once.

Xenya did the same.

The Alpha advanced.

The others withdrew.

Nobody celebrated.

Xenya was struggling to breathe.

A small discharge ran along a dagger.

Disappeared.

Returned.

Weaker.

Even so, she moved forward.

Daniel looked at her.

“Xenya.”

“I’m fine.”

“That sounded exactly like Iskander.”

“Then it must be true.”

Iskander opened and closed his numb fingers again.

“I was lying.”

Xenya looked at him.

“So am I.”

For the first time since the Alpha appeared, Iskander smiled.

It did not last long.

The female canid watched the group.

Her gaze moved from one to another.

Stopped on Xenya.

She raised her daggers.

Exhausted.

Injured.

Still in front.

“I’m still here.”

The Alpha turned her head.

Towards the track.

In the distance...

an engine.

Melisa took the communicator.

“The support team.”

The canids began to scatter.

Not away from the sound.

Towards it.

Alyra went pale.

“No...”

Vega took the communicator.

“Control, abort approach to E-47.”

Static.

“Repeat. Abort approach.”

Nothing.

The engine was getting closer.

“CONTROL, ABORT APPROACH!”

Static.

The Alpha walked towards the trees.

Xenya moved forward.

Vega caught her arm.

“No.”

“They’re going after them.”

“I know.”

“Then let go.”

“We don’t know how many are out there.”

Xenya tried to pull her arm away.

“They’re going after them!”

Her voice broke.

Not with anger.

Xenya looked towards the track.

Sparks still ran along her arms.

Small.

Irregular.

Her hair was beginning to fall around her face.

“They’re going after them...”

Vega kept her hand on her arm.

“And if you go out alone, we’ll lose you too.”

Xenya gritted her teeth.

“I can’t stay here.”

Daniel watched her.

“I can’t listen to something happening to them when I know I can get there.”

Vega let her go.

“Then you’re not going alone.”

Iskander adjusted his shield.

His fingers were slow to close.

He did it anyway.

Alyra gathered the water.

Daniel readied both blades.

Melisa took the communicator.

Serrano tried to stand.

His leg gave way.

Iskander caught him before he fell.

“Shit!”

Melisa knelt in front of Serrano.

“We’re staying.”

“No.”

“You can’t walk.”

“Melisa...”

“And someone has to keep the link open.”

Serrano looked towards the track.

Then at Vega.

She nodded.

Serrano closed his eyes for a moment.

When he opened them again:

“Bring them here.”

Vega turned.

“Daniel. Alyra. Iskander. Xenya.”

The four looked at her.

“Nobody splits off.”

Xenya watched the forest.

The Alpha had disappeared.

Only trees remained.

And the sound of an engine.

Vega opened the door.

“Let’s go.”

Xenya was the first out.

She took three steps.

Stopped.

Looked back.

Daniel came out.

Then Alyra.

Iskander.

Vega.

Xenya waited until she could see them all.

Then she turned.

The last sparks ran along her daggers.

And she ran.

With them.

CUT TO BLACK.

END OF EPISODE 18 — SPARK