"I have reached a decision," Brevon announces, looking directly at Shankara.
++Very well.++ Syntax moves round behind Shankara and seats herself on his head. Shankara screams in agony as Syntax extends electrodes through the dragon's skull and into his brain.
With Syntax holding Shankara firmly, Brevon releases his grip. "Now, what do I do with you?" he asks himself, turning to Aquila.
"You'll never get away with this," Aquila growls.
"Oh, but I already have," Brevon corrects. "In moments I will have the Crystals, and you will be of no further concern to me."
Syntax finishes her work and retracts her electrodes, dropping the unconscious Shankara to the floor. ++I have the location of the Crystals.++
"Fetch them for me," Brevon commands.
Syntax disappears, reappearing seconds later with both the Fire and Wood Crystals. Brevon drops Aquila and pins him there with his boot, then takes the Crystals from Syntax. "Where are the other three?"
++There were only two in the case,++ Syntax informs. ++They are also the only two present on this ship.++
"Then we have no further business here," Brevon concludes.
++Shall we kill the dragons?++
"No," Brevon decides. "Let's leave them to the harshness of the interstellar vacuum."
Brevon returns to Absolution, Syntax following.
Aquila stiffly rolls over and crawls over to Shankara. "Father?" he asks, trying to wake the captain. "Wake up, we need to get out of here!" But Shankara doesn't respond. Aquila checks his father's vital signs: Shankara's pulse is weak, but it's regular. "I'll get you somewhere safe," Aquila promises.
Absolution's engines start. The ship lifts off from the floor and turns towards the emergency shutter.
Aquila watches in horror as the ship turns. No… he can't be serious…
Absolution's engines wind up to maximum thrust.
Aquila curses, knowing he cannot save his father. Desperate to survive, he sprints for the hangar entrance.
Absolution accelerates through the emergency shutter and out into space.
Aquila dives through the door against the outrushing air, but he doesn't quite make it all the way through. The emergency door slams shut on his legs, crushing them completely. Shaking from the pain, Aquila looks around desperately for help, but there's no-one around. I'm sorry father…
As Aquila loses consciousness, he hallucinates the lieutenant rushing to help him.