Miles shot up from the bed, concern etched across his face as he moved toward Page. "What's wrong? Is the Finder in bad shape?" he asked urgently.
Page let out a frustrated sigh. "The Finder needs a reactor, Miles. Without one, it's useless."
Ray, who had been leaning against the wall, scoffed. "A reactor? And where exactly are we supposed to find one? We can't go back to Alpha Dawn, and there's no way in hell I'm setting foot in Nexus."
Page crossed her arms, her voice tinged with determination. "Without that reactor, I can't repair the Finder, and if I can't fix it, I'll never be able to find my dad."
Miles's eyes narrowed. "Wait. Are you saying there's a reactor somewhere we can use? But wouldn't that mean going back to Alpha Dawn?"
"No," Page replied firmly, "but it does mean going to Nexus."
Ray's expression darkened, and he stepped forward. "Nexus? Have you lost your mind? You think we can just waltz in there and grab a reactor?"
"We don't have a choice," Page shot back. "The longer we wait, the closer El gets to finding the people we care about. So yes, we're going to Nexus."
Miles smirked. "Exactly. If it's the only way to fix the Finder, we don't have time to waste."
Page nodded. "Fine. I'll head to the cockpit and set a course for Nexus." With that, she spun on her heel and left the small operating room.
As the door closed behind her, Miles turned to Ray. "Now that that's settled, do you have anything for this wound on my shoulder? It's killing me—"
Before he could finish, a firm hand clamped down on his injured shoulder. Miles winced and turned, only to find Ray glaring at him, his face mere inches away.
"If anything happens to Page in Nexus," Ray hissed, his voice low and venomous, "I'll kill you myself—long before El even gets the chance to use you as a vessel."
Miles's face twisted in pain as blood seeped from the reopened wound. "Damn it, Ray! That's where I got shot back in the factory," he protested, trying to shrug Ray's iron grip off.
Ray tightened his hold, his eyes filled with cold fury. "I know. And if you screw this up, I'll do worse." He finally released Miles, who staggered back, clutching his shoulder.
Miles grimaced. "What's your deal? Are you in love with Page or something?" he asked, trying to inject some levity into the tense situation.
Ray's gaze turned icy. "No. But she's been through enough. She doesn't deserve to suffer because of your selfishness and desperation." His voice softened slightly, tinged with an old pain. "The person I cared about is long gone."
He paused before heading out, but he turned toward the door. By the way, the medicine is located in the upper cabinet's bottom drawer. Then he left Miles standing by himself in the operating room. "Why would I want the person who can help me the most to find her to suffer?" he muttered.
----------
Page stood at the helm of the ship, her hands gripping the wheel tightly as the golden hues of the setting sun painted the sky. The soft hum of the ship's engines filled the air, but another sound caught her attention—footsteps, faint and calculated, approaching from behind.
"Don't you dare think of sneaking up on me, Ray," she said without turning around.
A low chuckle followed. "Oh? How did you know?" Ray asked, stepping closer.
Page smirked, her gaze never leaving the horizon. "I just knew. And besides, I heard the hum of that teleporter vest you're so fond of." She glanced over her shoulder, her expression serious. "Why don't you want me to go to Nexus?"
Ray sighed, leaning against the railing. "It's not that I don't want you to go, Page. Maybe... you just don't need to find your dad. Haven't you been happy with—"
SLAP.
The sharp sound echoed across the deck as Page's hand connected with Ray's face. His head snapped to the side, but he stayed silent, his cheek reddening.
"How can you say that?" Page shouted, her voice trembling with emotion. "After everything my mom did for you? You saw how hard she worked, even though you weren't her own child. She took you in, she helped you, she looked after you!" Her voice cracked, but she pushed on. "If my dad had been around, maybe... maybe things would have been easier. Maybe she wouldn't have worked herself to death."
Her words hung in the air like a heavy storm. Without waiting for a response, Page turned and stormed off, her shoulders shaking with barely contained anger. Ray stayed rooted in place, staring at the ground.
"Only if you knew," he murmured under his breath, his voice barely audible as he took the wheel.
---
"Hey, Ray, where's that sleek board of yours?" A voice broke the tension.
Ray turned to see Miles sauntering onto the deck, his shoulder bandaged and his sword sheathed at his side. The playful grin on his face was almost mocking.
Ray let out a sigh. "What do you want now, Miles?"
Miles leaned casually against the railing. "Just making conversation. You've been acting weird lately."
Ray narrowed his eyes. "Weird? What are you talking about?"
Miles chuckled. "Relax. I just mean I get it—you care about Page. Trust me, I've been there. I had a friend I cared about too, until..." He mimicked a throat-slitting motion.
Ray raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you killed your friend?"
"What? Hell no!" Miles exclaimed, horrified. "I mean he was killed by some bastard named Grey. Absolute psychopath. If I ever see him again, I swear I'll—"
Before he could finish, Ray moved closer, raising a hand as if to stop him. But Miles stepped back, giving him a mock-creepy grin. "What? You gonna hurt me again?"
Ray smirked. "If I wanted to, I'd have finished you off back in the operating room."
Miles laughed, then paused, his expression twisting in confusion. "Wait, what?"
"Nothing," Ray said with a sarcastic edge, shaking his head. "By the way, do you even know what Nexus is?"
Miles shrugged. "How the hell would I know? I'm not from here."
Ray sighed, leaning against the wheel. "Nexus is... well, imagine Alpha Dawn's shadowy twin. It's where all the gangs, corrupt leaders, and thieves gather. They smuggle weapons, equipment, and tech stolen from Alpha Dawn. It's basically a playground for criminals."
Miles raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Sounds like you are trying to convince me ."
"Hardly," Ray muttered. "It's dangerous, chaotic, and full of people who'd kill you just for looking at them wrong."
Miles grinned, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Great. Sounds like just like the Hunter's Guild."
Ray shook his head, muttering under his breath. "You're going to get yourself killed hopefully."
Miles shrugged. "Better me than Page, right?"
Ray's glare was sharp, but for once, he didn't argue. Instead, he turned his attention back to the wheel, the soft hum of the ship filling the tense silence.