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13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4joTB2asZ7
Varok stood at the bridge of his command ship, his arms clasped tightly behind his back. The dusty atmosphere of Dusk Hollow loomed in the viewport. It was a lawless, hostile world, the kind that swallowed fleets whole if they weren’t careful. Varok wasn’t afraid, but he was no fool either. This was a mission that required precision, and the Emperor tolerated no excuses for failure.
“Commander,” came the voice of one of his officers, snapping him from his thoughts. “We’re nearing the planet’s orbit. No signs of Shadow Paw’s ship on long-range scanners.”
Varok turned his head slightly, his tone sharp and commanding. “Then check again. Dusk Hollow’s atmosphere is thick with interference. I don’t want surprises.”
“Yes, sir,” the officer replied, nodding quickly and returning to their station.
Varok’s gaze returned to the planet. Shadow Paw was a criminal, a thorn in the Emperor’s side for far too long. This mission wasn’t just about capturing him—it was about restoring his own standing in the Emperor’s eyes. Failure was not an option. Not again.
“Deploy the recon drones,” Varok ordered. “I want a detailed scan of the planet’s surface. Focus on landing zones and areas with unusual activity.”
Another soldier saluted. “At once, General.”
As the drones launched, Varok paced the length of the bridge, his boots clicking against the polished floor. His troops worked silently and efficiently. This was the Emperor’s elite force, a reflection of his power, and Varok was their spearhead.
Dusk Hollow, however, was a different battlefield. It wasn’t just the hostiles or the scavengers—it was the chaos itself. Every shadow could hide a blade, every deal could lead to betrayal. Varok knew he couldn’t afford to underestimate this place.
Varok’s eyes briefly followed a rusty ship as it emerged from Dusk Hollow’s atmosphere, its engines sputtering and leaving a faint trail of exhaust in its wake. He scoffed, unimpressed.
One of his officers turned toward him, curious. “Should we intercept, General? It’s leaving the planet without clearance.”
Varok shook his head, his voice firm and dismissive. “No. That’s not Shadow Paw. He never steals trash ships."
The officer nodded and returned to their station, marking the rusted vessel as “non-priority.” Varok’s gaze shifted back to the viewport, his mind already returning to the task at hand. Shadow Paw wouldn’t be foolish enough to leave Dusk Hollow in a junker like that—not when he was known for his skill and cunning.
"Shadow Paw is too smart to pilot something so obvious," Varok muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. "He wouldn’t risk leaving such a distinct trail—especially not in a ship that looks like it could fall apart mid-flight."
The officer beside him chuckled faintly but quickly stifled the sound under Varok's sharp glare. "Deploy the drones into the planet’s atmosphere," Varok continued. "Focus on denser population zones. Shadow Paw wouldn’t stray too far from civilization. He always has contacts to fall back on."
"Understood, General," the officer said, saluting before stepping away to carry out the order.
As Varok turned to his tactical display, a low hum filled the air, signaling the drones' launch. Their sleek, compact forms disappeared into the planet's dusty clouds, ready to sweep the surface for any sign of the infamous outlaw.
"Sir," another soldier called from the communications station. "We’ve intercepted several local transmissions. Most of it’s irrelevant—scavengers and petty traders—but there’s been chatter about a group leaving the planet recently. Might be worth investigating."
Varok raised an eyebrow. "Define 'chatter.'"
"One transmission mentioned a group boarding a ship under... less-than-legal circumstances," the soldier replied hesitantly. "Nothing that matches Shadow Paw’s known tactics, but—"
"But this is Dusk Hollow," Varok interrupted. "The unusual is common here." He folded his arms, narrowing his eyes. "Still, Shadow Paw wouldn’t risk an escape that sloppy. Keep monitoring the transmissions for anything more specific. And sweep for ships matching his typical profile."
The soldier saluted again. "Yes, sir."
Varok returned his attention to the viewport, his thoughts racing. Shadow Paw was out there somewhere, hiding in the chaos of Dusk Hollow, and Varok was determined to drag him out of whatever hole he was cowering in. Every move, every resource, every decision—he would not let the Emperor down again.
Meanwhile, aboard the rusty stolen ship, Twilight adjusted his position in the co-pilot seat as the planet below grew smaller. Erin, leaning back with her feet propped up on the dashboard, smirked. "Well, that was easier than I thought. No alarms, no pursuit... Maybe I should pick up piracy full-time."
Twilight’s red eyes flicked toward her. "Don't get too comfortable. We’re not in the clear yet."
"Aw, come on," Ava chirped from the back, sprawled across a seat. "You saw that big fancy ship in orbit, right? No way they cared about this old thing."
Orion’s ears twitched as he nervously gripped the controls, glancing at the sputtering engine readouts. "I-I don’t think they even noticed us. But, um… we should probably land somewhere soon. This ship’s… not in the best shape."
Twilight sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We’re on borrowed time. First priority is getting somewhere safe to regroup. Then we figure out where Levi’s ship is headed."
Orion's eyes widened, a nervous smile forming on his face. "Y-yeah! It’s a place called Rivet's Rest. It’s a small station on the outskirts of the system. Not too far from here, and it’s got a mechanic shop that can fix up just about anything. Plus, there’s a little market. We could use a break."
Ava’s wings fluttered in excitement. "Yes! I’ve been there once before! They’ve got the best fried sparkfish! Oh, and spicy slaw—" She paused, her eyes gleaming. "We should totally get that while we’re there!"
Twilight raised an eyebrow, glancing at the battered controls. "A mechanic’s shop, huh? That doesn’t sound too bad. We could use some patching up before we head anywhere else."
Erin shot him a sidelong glance. "And snacks, right? You’re not fooling anyone."
"Let’s just hope we don’t run into any trouble while we’re there," Twilight muttered, his mind already racing through possible scenarios. "I’m not in the mood to deal with more distractions."
"Don't worry about it!" Erin chirped. "They'll think you're Shadow Paw just like everyone else does!"
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