The van rolled to a stop two blocks away from the house.
Shadow's voice was calm, controlled.
"Everyone, suit up."
Masks came on. Gloves sealed tight. Every inch of exposed skin disappeared beneath dark fabric. In seconds, the squad became faceless shapes, untraceable, anonymous.
They moved on foot.
The house was small, single-story, and unremarkable. A place designed to be ignored.
Kess crouched beside the wall, scanner humming softly.
"Five inside. All armed."
Nightcoil pressed his palm against the side of the building, listening.
"They're relaxed. Not expecting trouble."
Shadow nodded.
"Nightcoil, Kess, sliding door in the back. Marlin with me, front entry. On my mark."
They took position.
Shadow kicked the front door in.
At the same moment, Nightcoil burst through the sliding door.
Chaos lasted less than ten seconds.
Shadow and Kess slammed into the first two thugs, ripping weapons from their hands and driving them to the floor. Marlin dropped two more with ruthless efficiency.
Nightcoil struggled with the last one, his grip slipped as the man reached for his gun.
Shadow was there instantly, twisting the arm, breaking the hold.
The thug went down.
Silence returned.
Breathing steady, controlled.
"Clear." Marlin said.
They split up, searching.
Nightcoil opened a closet.
Inside,
Elias Korrin.
Tied. Gagged. Eyes wide with fear.
Nightcoil knelt, peeling the tape away gently.
"Sir… I found her. She's over here."
Shadow rushed in, nodding once.
They cut her free, wrapped her in a spare jacket, and moved fast.
As they returned to the van, a small figure darted from between two buildings.
A kid.
Barefoot. Dirty. Eyes full of fear.
He grabbed Nightcoil's sleeve.
"Please… can you come back? The gangs said they'll hurt my mom when they get back."
Nightcoil froze.
He looked at Shadow.
Kess leaned close, voice low.
"We can't. If we stay, we compromise the mission. If they realize who we are, we lose our cover, and we don't get another shot at this planet."
Shadow's jaw tightened.
"I know."
He turned to Nightcoil.
"We can't stay."
Nightcoil shook his head.
"But sir… this kid needs help. Isn't that our job?"
Shadow knelt so they were eye level.
"If we help now, we risk everything. This mission isn't about one family, it's about saving an entire planet."
His voice was firm, but not cruel.
"You didn't sign up for the Hero Program. You joined the Nightcrew. We do the dirty work so the Empire's soldiers can look like heroes later."
Nightcoil swallowed hard.
He turned to the kid.
"Help is coming. I promise."
The lie tasted bitter.
They left.
The van pulled away.
Kess tried to lighten the silence.
"Look on the bright side, Nightcoil. If we do this right, we'll save more than one family."
Nightcoil didn't respond.
Then,
"Shadow," Marlin said from the driver's seat.
"I think the gangs caught on."
Five vehicles appeared behind them.
Closing fast.
Shadow pressed a button.
The van's panels shifted, compartments opening as rifles and pistols slid into reach.
"Nightcoil, put this tracker on Elias."
Shadow handed it back.
Nightcoil clipped it to her jacket.
Elias finally spoke.
"What's that for?"
Nightcoil hesitated.
"I… I don't really know."
Shadow answered smoothly.
"Insurance. If we lose you again, we'll find you faster."
Gunfire erupted.
Nightcoil rolled down the window and fired, adrenaline surging. Kess called HQ, requesting a vehicle swap and new disguises.
"Three miles out. We need to lose them first."
Bullets slammed into the van.
Marlin drifted hard through traffic as civilians barely reacted, this was just another day on Noctyrr Prime.
Shadow fired once.
A pursuing car lost a tire, spinning out and smashing into another.
"You might wanna step on it!" Nightcoil yelled.
Two vehicles nearly clipped the van before losing control and crashing.
The last three pressed on.
Nightcoil fired again, clean shots.
Drivers slumped.
Cars crashed.
They reached the parking garage.
Switched vehicles.
Shadow uploaded a virus into the old van.
"If they find it, it's dead."
Nightcoil climbed into the new transport.
"Where to next?"
Kess answered quietly.
"Spaceport. We leave quietly and go home."
And Nightcoil stared out the window, realizing something important:
Saving the galaxy didn't always feel heroic.