Last chapter. The Heaven's Wing

The remaining creature’s hand twitched, fingers curling unnaturally before a blade of shimmering, translucent force erupted from its grip — a weapon forged entirely from telekinetic energy. It moved, stepping forward and swinging the psychic blade in a wide arc aimed at Mercer’s midsection.

Mercer twisted just in time, protected by his armor and shield.

Corbin leveled his rifle again, breath steadying as he lined up his shot. The burst of laser fire streaked down the corridor, illuminating the glossy walls — but the shot went wide, the beam scorching harmlessly against the bulkhead just past the creature’s shoulder.

Douklan is unsure if there will ever be a moment with a clear shot. He can either risk it now, move closer or wait and hope for the best.

---

Hank steps forward, leaving the chaotic fight behind him, trusting Mercer, Corbin, and Douklan to handle the creature. His boots echoed faintly against the deck plating as he moved into the right-hand corridor. The door slid open, revealing a lounge area — or what was left of it.

Furniture was bolted to the floor, but most of it had been overturned or damaged, as if something had passed through in a frenzy. A few chairs were intact, one lying on its side. A small bar in the corner was partially stocked, though many bottles lay shattered across the floor, their contents long evaporated.

Near the far bulkhead, a small personal locker stood open, its contents partially spilled onto the deck. Hank approached, nudging a few items aside with his boot until he spotted what he was hoping for — several personal portable computers, the kind crew members would have used for everything from work logs to personal messages. Most were old models, their screens dark, but with a little luck, some data might still be retrievable.

Meanwhile, Erin’s search of the left-hand corridor revealed a row of staterooms. Each door stood ajar, some forced open, others left wide in haste. The rooms were modest, clearly crew quarters, with bunk beds, small desks, and the scattered remnants of personal belongings.

Maya remained in the main corridor, glancing nervously back the way they came.