740  Can't Touch This (3)

Ibis, realising that her orders fell on deaf ears, seethed with frustration. She could see the Infiltrators dropping their weapons and raising their hands in surrender through the feed, and her anger escalated to levels she had never even dreamed about.

"Stop this nonsense!" Ibis yelled into the radio, desperation evident in her voice. "Your families will have to pay the price for your-"

With his hands behind his head in a gesture of surrender, Linas calmly interrupted her, "Ibis, it's over. Don't disgrace yourself by involving our families in this."

"Disgrace? Do you even know what that word means?" Ibis struggled to maintain control, grappling with the reality of their defeat. "This was a disgrace. You've disgraced the Infiltrators!"

Linas, unyielding, retorted, "Siding with the strong isn't a disgrace; it's a way of survival."

"You pathetic bastard!" Unable to contain her frustration, Ibis shouted, "You've betrayed us! You've betrayed everything we stand for!"

"No, Ibis. We're adapting to survive. That's what true Infiltrators do." Linas replied with a hint of sorrow in his eyes.

Linas knew very well what betrayal meant for a Xyran. But for him, his squad was the only family he had, and as such, their safety took precedence over anything. Even Ibis's commands. As Ashton approached the Infiltrators, Ibis continued, saying, "You'll regret this, Linas! I will make you regret this, even if it's the last I do."

"We'll deal with the consequences when they come," Linas, still in a surrendering posture, glanced at Ashton. "But we won't be senseless martyrs in your quest of senseless 'revenge'."

By this time, Ibis recognised things were going south and needed a strategic retreat. So, she devised a plan to flee the planet. While their ship wasn't the biggest one they had, it was big enough to store several smaller aircraft. They would use those ships to get away from the chaos.

"Everyone, get to the hangar! Use those to make a break for the nearest warship," Ibis urgently relayed through the radio. She believed that even Ashton, formidable as he was, couldn't stop so many individual aircraft with his aura.

As the Xyrans hurriedly made their way to the smaller crafts, a sense of urgency hung in the air. The plan seemed like a viable escape strategy, and Ibis hoped to salvage something from the skirmish to save face.

However, before they could set their plan into motion, Ashton's laughter reverberated through the radio, sending shivers down their spines. "Going so soon?" he said. "I don't think so."

The next moment, the ship jolted violently, and gravity seemed to reclaim its hold. The Xyrans stumbled as their ship plummeted back to the planet's surface, crashing with a deafening thud.

Ibis, struggling to regain her bearings, felt a surge of panic. The ship had been forcibly pulled back to the ground, thwarting their escape plan. But more importantly, she realised they were now at one place where they didn't want to end up. Before anyone could comprehend the abrupt turn of events, the sturdy walls of the ship were torn open, revealing Ashton with an unsettling smile.

"Where do you think you're going?" Ashton's voice cut through the chaos, his eyes glinting with amusement and determination.

Ibis caught off guard, assessed the situation with a sinking feeling. Their escape had been abruptly halted, and with Ashton's presence before them, it didn't look like they would last long. Ashton, towering over the torn opening, surveyed the Xyrans with a sigh. His gaze locked onto Ibis, who met his unsettling stare with a defiant glare.

"You thought you could just slip away?" Ashton remarked, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. "You caused unnecessary trouble for me, so it's rude of you to think you can just leave without paying the price."

Maintaining a semblance of composure, Ibis retorted, "You may have stopped our escape, but we're not like those backstabbers. We won't give up so easily."

"Let's not waste any more time," Ashton's smile widened, and he gestured for Ibis to leave the damaged ship. "We have things to discuss. This time, for real."

Reluctantly, the Xyrans filed out of the wreckage, with Ibis following behind. Upon witnessing Ashton's strength and how he singlehandedly overwhelmed them all, the Xyrans became somewhat submissive. Ashton led them to a more open area within the cavernous chamber. The atmosphere hung heavy with unspoken tensions and the uncertain turn of events.

"Your plans fell apart, Ibis," Ashton addressed Ibis directly as they gathered. "What's your next move?"

"We adapt. We always do," Ibis, undeterred by the setback, replied, "This doesn't change our objective."

"So you still want to kill me?" Ashton chuckled a low rumble that echoed through the chamber. "Your persistence is commendable, but you can't deny the reality of your situation. Surrendering is your best option."

Ibis, unwilling to concede defeat, shot back, "Like that's ever going to happen."

"Your loyalty towards your kind is commendable but misplaced, Ibis," Ashton sighed and sat down on a nearby rock. "There's a bigger picture here, one you fail to see."

"Stop with the lies," Ibis mumbled. "The bigger picture I'm concerned with is your pic on your grave."

Ashton smiled and was about to say something. However, a sudden movement caught him off guard before he could utter another word. Linas had launched an unexpected attack on him from behind.

But Ashton didn't do anything and let Balmond do the work for him. While the soulblade parried Linas's attack, Ashton's newly resurrected soldier slashed Linas in half, his blood splattering around the area.

 As Linas fell to the ground, Ashton turned back towards Ibis. A sly smile played on his lips as he addressed Ibis, "Did you forget I have a handy ability to sense if someone's lying to me?"

Ashton had seen through Linas's facade during the so-called surrender. Besides, the code words between Ibis and Linas had not escaped Ashton's attention. Also, since Ashton knew Ibis to be calm-headed, her over-the-top acting about being betrayed gave her plans away. Also, Linas did not seem to be someone who would give up without putting up a fight, so Ashton already had his senses on high alert. Now confronted with the repercussions of her failed plan, Ibis struggled to find words. Ashton, revelling at the situation, decided to take matters a step further. With a wave, he gestured towards Linas's lifeless form. "Let's make this interesting, shall we?"