She put one foot on the floor, rising. Fear bloomed like a toxic flower in her chest as she looked at the soldiers surrounding her. The voice spoke again in her head, urging her to try an attack. She lashed out, pulling at one of the soldiers. A ripple sang through her arm coils, and he rushed forward with a cry and fell.
She turned to the next soldier, yanking him in the same way. She tore through them, but after a minute or so, when she held out her hand to pull, nothing happened. Panic joined some of the fear that had receded, wilting the hope that had begun to grow.
Her vision flashed red as she felt every gunshot discharged at her. She turned. There!
She raced toward the door, pushing the soldier there out of the way. She frowned as he flew a little, but kept moving.
There was a crate ahead, and the voice made her slow down. She spotted objects on them and walked up. She narrowed her eyes at the sword and staff that sat there. She snatched the staff and kept running, fingers springing around the weapon, hands moving it instinctively.
A soldier came running at her, and she thwacked him with the staff. He shot back, smacking against the wall. She winced, a sinking feeling in her gut. She hoped these guys would be okay in the morning.
And then his friends came around the corner. She swung and twirled and pushed and broke free. Then she was running again.
Red flashed across her eyes, and she glanced over her shoulder. At least ten soldiers were chasing her, shooting at her. She felt nauseous, and the black tinged the edges of her vision. She had to get away. She vaguely felt her knees buckle under her, and the ground rushed up to her face.
The footsteps grew closer, and she shut her eyes. Then the blows began to land.
After what felt like an eternity, the blows stopped. A pair of red booted feet, chased by gold, passed her eyes and knelt in front of her. A hand under her armpit, and one on her elbow. The other person slings her arm over his shoulder.
She moaned.
"I know," the other rumbled. "We have to finish this though." He helped her up. "Let's go," he said. They did… something. Were they on a wall?
"The knives or the gun?" She startled. She swallowed. Pointed at the knives. He lifted them and placed them gently in a holster at her thigh. The yells of soldiers echoed at them, and the presence at her side left.
She heard the soldiers cry out, same as what she'd heard before. At her hands. She'd hurt them.
"We've got to get to the extract," he huffed. He let go and simply pushed her. She panted.
"Keep moving, we're almost- of course."
She lifted her head. The lander was on fire and falling to the planet's surface. The leader, the man from before, was outlined by the flames.
"Move!" A shot tore through the dirt where she had been standing. A red hand appeared in her vision. Holding her knives. "Throw them at his head!" He shouted. She nodded. "I'll handle the rest."
She popped her head up from the crate the not-stranger had pushed her behind. Her vision picked out the man, and she hefted the small knife in between her fingers. Biting her lip, she threw.
The knife bounced off the shield, and she hissed. She began throwing, hands blurring and volleys flying. At one point, the holster was empty. A few moments later, it was full. She threw again, the Titanium glinting in the air. Then, with a surge of joy, she saw the shield fall. But the man laughed.
"My decrepit heart is pounding!" He exclaimed. "This one is stronger than the rest. Lock the area down! This Tenno is mine!"
Lockdown? Her mind raced. What should she do? The voice and the not-stranger came up with the same idea to stop the lockdown.
"We've got to hack the panel!"
"Quick, get to the console and release the lockdown. Do that and I will guide you to your old ship. It's your only chance."
Only chance?
"The Queens want to destroy you, but I need to know more."
The man ran off.
"What?" She sputtered finally.
"The panel!" He yelled in her ear.
"Who even are you?" She asked.
"Crimson. The Lotus will help you with the panel."
"Okay."
She walked up to the panel. Breathed. Plugged in. Pushed the tumblers into place. Then they were off again.
More crates. Another choice. She picked up a bow, admiring the lines of the weapon. Then she ran, making Crimson catch up. She laughed a little.
"Where are we going?" Crimson asked.
"My old ship!" She responded. They ran side by side. She was pretty sure Crimson was chuckling as they ran. They went up a ramp and to the ship. Another panel.
She hesitated a little in front of it before stepping up to it entirely. A different voice echoed in her head.
"Stop touching me! You- what? Operator, is that you?"
The first voice, probably the Lotus from what Crimson said, spoke.
"Enemy reinforcements are here! Ship Cephalon, we require immediate extraction!"
"The Operator is in danger? I'll need a few moments to cycle the engines!"
The shouts of the soldiers were approaching. Crimson dashed off, yelling something about a defense mission. She didn't have much time to worry. The soldiers were pretty much on top of her.
She grimaced and spun her staff, pulled the soldiers, threw her knives, and shot her bow. Eventually, the Cephalon (at least that's what she thought he was called) said that they could go.
"C'mon," Crimson said, suddenly appearing beside her. "We gotta go." They piled in, and took off. The man stood below them on the platform, a menacing glare affixed to his face.
"Tenno, are you afraid?" He shouted. "You cannot hide from these old eyes. I've marked you! You will return to me."