Lapis Sepulcrum-4

Some goodbyes do not need words

[FFWD: 02:23:17]

[RESUME PLAYBACK]

For over an hour, Ivy-3 and Marshall search the Glykon's aft section. They find Arzix first. His body has been stretched across the wall like a grotesque mural. Cabal slugs, hand cannon rounds, and Arc residue lead toward the engine room. They follow. Phoebe is waiting inside. Ogtroc and Syox lie dead beside her. Her Ghost is shattered in her hands.

"Phoebe?" Ivy asks.

The Warlock looks up. Her eyes are black.

"Stay back..."

Taken energy tears through her body.

"Please."

Something pulls her upright. Then she lunges. Marshall meets her first. Ivy fires. The thing inside Phoebe moves too quickly.

Taken energy erupts across the room. Ivy shatters. Pepper revives her. When she opens her eyes, Marshall is still holding Phoebe back. Taken Thralls begin forming in the shadows. Too many. Marshall looks at Ivy. Then at the exposed fuel lines. They understand.

Neither says goodbye.

Marshall tightens his grip around Phoebe. Then takes them both over the edge. Ivy raises her Golden Gun. Fires. The engine room becomes flame.

Some time later, Ivy wakes to the sound of alarms. The Glykon is coming apart. She runs.

Her Hawk is destroyed before she reaches the hangar. Only the Psion Harvester remains. Ivy climbs inside and begins the launch sequence. Something pounds against the starboard hatch.

"Open the door, Ivy."

She freezes.

"Marshall?"

The voice comes again.

Wrong.

Wet.

Smiling.

"Come on, Ivy..."

Another impact.

"Won't you be a chum and open the door?"

Ivy punches the throttle. The Harvester tears free.

Behind her, the Glykon explodes. She never looks away from the hatch. Not until she is home.

[END PLAYBACK: 02:44:37]

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