From hell's heart I stab at thee

"Come on," said Astra, setting off down the corridor. "Let's go this way."

They crept along the dark corridor, taking care to avoid debris and holes in the floor where stray blaster fire had pitted the surface.

"Wait," whispered Astra, stopping abruptly. She pointed down the corridor.

Stacy saw a pair of Solidarity soldiers, their helmets poking out behind a makeshift barrier.

Astra drew her blaster but Stacy put a restraining hand on her arm.

"We can go another way," said Stacy. "Let's not get into any unnecessary fights."

Astra nodded. They went back the way they had come. They passed a map on the wall and Astra examined it. "Strange," she said, "There was nothing strategic down that way. Why were they guarding it?"

"I've got a bad feeling about this," said Stacy.

Astra traced a finger along a corridor on the map. "Let's keep going. There is a route through to the Gateway that way. Maybe there will be some useful clues there."

They followed the corridor and came to two doors.

"That can't be right," said Astra. "There is only meant to be one door here."

"What do you mean there's only meant to be one door?" asked Stacy.

"I mean the map didn't say anything about two entrances."

"We can't just sit here forever..." said Stacy.

"I suppose I'll just have to pick one," said Astra. "Left has always been my lucky direction, so let's go with that." She pressed the door control and it slid open to reveal a control room filled with Solidarity soldiers.

"Halt!" said one of the soldiers, swinging his blaster up at them.

Astra instantly shut the door, drew her gun and blasted the controls. "Let's try the right door."

The other door led to another corridor which had windows along one side onto outer space. They ran down it and opened the door at the other end. They found themselves in a dark workshop, illuminated only by dull red emergency lighting and the flashes from machinery that was welding and braising.

"Some sort of repair shop," said Stacy. There were no people, just robot arms working tirelessly. "Fully automated by the looks of things."

They made their way cautiously, weapons drawn, along the metal-grilled walkway that went between the work stations. They heard a voice, deep and metallic, from out of the shadows.

"Princess Astra," said the voice. "I have been waiting for you."

"Revenant," said Astra. "Come out where I can see you, you stinking coward."

"Charming to the last," said the voice.

A red bolt of plasma shot past them, burning a hole in the metal side of the machine next to them. Stacy and Astra ducked down low taking cover as best they could next to a machine.

From further down the walkway they saw a figure step out, silhouetted against the blue-white sparks from an arc-welding robot.

"There is nowhere to run to, Princess."

Astra stepped out and stood, hand resting on her blaster. "Who says I am running."

"Throw down your weapons," said Revenant. "My men have secured every exit and the Dark Blade and its fleet will be here in minutes. There will be no escape for you this time."

Astra exchanged glances with Stacy. Stacy held up her communicator bracelet.

"I love you," said Astra under her breath.

"I know," mouthed Stacy.

Astra straightened up and looked towards Revenant. "I am Astra the Traveller," she said in a clear voice. "Princess of Aqualaria, slayer of dragons, general of the Amazon Legions. I have commanded armies and conquered worlds. And to the last I grapple with thee. From hell's heart I stab at thee. For hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee."

Astra drew her blaster and charged at Revanant, firing as she ran. Revenant tried to return fire but only got one wild shot off. One blast hit him in the shoulder. It ricocheted off his armour, sending staggering back and scrambling for cover behind a bulky machine. Astra was almost upon him when he fired off a volley of shots from around the corner. Astra dived low, ducking under the blasts of energy. She rolled and was on her feet but then Revenant stepped out, shoulder barging her and sending her crashing into the wall. He grabbed her arm and smashed it painfully against a corner of one of the machines and she lost grip of her weapon.

Revenant stepped back and levelled his gun at her but she kicked out, her boot sending his weapon skidding across the metal walkway. She drew a sword and slashed at him, scoring his armour across the chest. She swung again but this time he blocked with his heavily armoured forearm and slapped her across the face with his gloved hand.

Astra fell back and rolled, somehow picking up her dropped blaster as she did so. She lifted her gun but Revenant was gone leaving only a plasma grenade lying infront of her, armed, it's lights blinking red. Astra dived just in time as it exploded, ripping apart the nearby machines and the blast wave carrying her clear across the room.

She regained her senses in time to see Revenant striding towards her. He lifted his weapon but space itself started to warp and Astra had just enough time to say "Better luck next time," before she was whisked away by the teleporter.

1. The Dark Blade arrives

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