Chapitre 24: Chapter 24: Stars of Blood and Sacrifice
Boyka's gaze lingered on the stars above, his thoughts a storm of memories and emotions. He often found solace in pondering about their brilliance, knowing how much they mirrored his own existence—distant, enigmatic, and burning with purpose. Yet, tonight, those stars felt more like witnesses to his sins, their cold, unwavering light reminding him of the countless lives lost under his command.
"The stars once seemed like allies," Boyka murmured to himself. "But I've long since learned that nature does not choose sides. It simply exists, watching as men like me wage wars against it."
His fingers clenched into fists as his mind drifted to the bloodshed he'd been forced to endure—and cause. The weight of his choices pressed heavily on his shoulders, and for a moment, he wondered if even the stars could understand the burden of his mission.
The crackle of the radio broke his reverie. A soldier's voice came through, steady and resolute despite the chaos surrounding them.
"Commander," the voice began. "The mission is a success. All prisoners, including Azazel and Rahel, have been secured. We're awaiting your arrival at the extraction point."
A sigh of relief escaped Boyka's lips, though it was short-lived.
"Good work," Boyka replied. "Listen, everyone, it's time to move. We've accomplished our objective. Fall back to the ships immediately."
"Sir," another voice interrupted, urgency coloring the tone. "Imperial forces are converging on our position. We need to leave now!"
The air around them erupted with gunfire. Bang! Bang! Blasts tore through the walls and ground as Boyka and his men returned fire, their movements sharp and efficient.
"Keep moving!" Boyka barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Clear a path and get to the ships!"
His men obeyed without hesitation, their weapons lighting up the night as they carved their way through the advancing imperial soldiers. The sound of gunfire roared in the air, the sharp smell of smoke and scorched metal overwhelming the senses.
After what felt like an eternity, they reached the ships. Boyka's team moved swiftly, boarding the craft while continuing to fire at the pursuing forces.
"Take off now!" Boyka commanded. "We've made it past their blockade. All we need to do is pray they don't shoot us out of the sky."
But just as the engines roared to life, a voice cut through the comms.
"Commander," a soldier called out, his voice trembling with uncertainty. "We're still missing Deputy Commander Moyo."
Boyka froze, his heart sinking. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath, clenching his jaw. For a moment, he was silent, the weight of the decision pressing down on him.
Finally, he turned to his men. "Listen to me," he said, his voice firm but laden with emotion. "I'll handle this myself. You're all going to leave without me."
The protest was immediate and unanimous.
"Commander, we can't leave you behind!" one of his men shouted, echoed by others.
Boyka raised a hand, silencing them. "Enough!" he snapped. "I'm grateful for your loyalty, more than you can ever know. But I care more about your survival than I care about this mission. I've lost too many men today, and I refuse to lose any more."
The men exchanged uncertain glances, their faces a mix of defiance and sorrow.
"This is something I must do," Boyka continued. "Get off this planet. I'll find Moyo, and I promise you, I'll return. But I can't leave without him. He's more than a deputy—he's my friend."
Reluctantly, his men nodded, their voices heavy with emotion as they replied in unison. "Yes, sir. We'll be waiting for you."
Boyka watched as the ships took off, their engines roaring into the sky. For a brief moment, he felt relief knowing they were on their way to safety. But that relief was quickly replaced by the cold reality of his situation.
---
The streets of Nebula were chaos incarnate. Imperial forces were swarming in every direction, their attention focused on the fleeing ships. Boyka moved through the shadows, his every step calculated. His stolen imperial uniform gave him a slim chance of blending in, but he knew it wouldn't hold up under close scrutiny.
"I hope they make it out of here," Boyka muttered to himself as he pressed forward. His thoughts were laser-focused on Moyo. The man had been captured during the initial assault, and Boyka refused to abandon him.
The imperial palace loomed ahead, its grand spires glistening in the moonlight. Boyka knew the risks of returning to the heart of enemy territory, but he had no choice. Moyo was somewhere inside, and Boyka intended to find him.
Using the chaos to his advantage, Boyka slipped past the outer guards and into the palace. The halls were eerily quiet, the sounds of distant battle muffled by the thick walls. He moved quickly, his weapon at the ready, every sense on high alert.
It didn't take long for him to encounter resistance. A patrol of imperial soldiers rounded the corner ahead, their faces immediately twisting into suspicion at the sight of him.
"Who are you?" one of them demanded, raising his weapon.
Before they could react, Boyka struck. Bang! Bang! His shots were precise, dropping the soldiers before they could sound an alarm.
He continued deeper into the palace, his mind racing. Where would they hold Moyo? The dungeons? A high-security wing?
Boyka's thoughts were interrupted by the faint sound of voices. He pressed himself against the wall, listening intently.
"Commander Moyo's interrogation is complete," one voice said. "He'll be transferred from Avalon in the next hour."
Boyka's heart raced. They were planning to move Moyo off-world. He didn't have much time.
Following the voices, Boyka found himself outside a heavily guarded room. Through the small window in the door, he saw Moyo—bloodied but alive, chained to a chair in the center of the room.
Boyka took a deep breath, steadying himself. He had to act fast.
---
Moments later, the guards outside the room were dead, their bodies slumped against the walls. Boyka entered the room, his weapon trained on the remaining officer inside.
"Step away from him," Boyka growled.
The officer hesitated, his hand moving toward his weapon.
Bang!
The shot rang out, and the officer fell to the ground. Boyka rushed to Moyo's side, his hands working quickly to unlock the chains.
"Moyo," Boyka said, his voice softer now. "Can you stand?"
Moyo groaned, his eyes fluttering open. "Boyka?" he rasped. "You… came back for me?"
"Of course I did," Boyka replied, pulling Moyo to his feet. "Let's get out of here."
Supporting Moyo's weight, Boyka began the long, dangerous trek back through the palace. The halls were alive with activity now—imperial forces scrambling in response to the earlier chaos.
But Boyka's determination burned brighter than ever. He'd come this far, and he wasn't leaving without his friend.
As they emerged into the night, the stars above seemed to shimmer with approval, their light guiding Boyka and Moyo toward freedom. The battle wasn't over, but for now, Boyka had won.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone