Ignoring the warning, I turned back to Illyana, eager for a way out of this mess. "You said you know how to get off this rock?"
Her smile grew wider, showing off her gleaming cybernetic teeth. "Oh, I know plenty of ways to leave a planet in your dust," she said, her eyes glinting with mischief. "But the question is, which one do you prefer?"
"How about the fastest?" I suggested, eager to put some space between me and the bounty hunters.
"Fastest, eh?" She tapped a finger on her chin. "Well, there's the traditional route—stow away on a ship, hitchhike across the galaxy—but where's the fun in that?"
"I'm not looking for fun," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm looking for a way out."
"Ah, but that's where you're wrong," she said, her eyes sparkling. "Adventure is the best way to escape your troubles. And I've got just the ticket."
The plan unfolded before us, a dizzying array of jumps and hops across the cosmos. We'd be using her "Shadowmantle," a ship that could bend reality to slip through the fabric of space. It sounded like a wild ride, and I could feel the excitement building in my chest.
"But why are you helping me?" I asked, unable to shake the feeling that there was a catch.
Illyana leaned in, her eyes locking onto mine. "Because," she whispered, "you're a puzzle I haven't figured out yet."
The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a lightsaber. I swallowed hard, my heart racing. "Okay, you've got yourself a deal," I said, sticking out my hand. "But just remember, I'm not sticking around for long."
Her grip was firm, her skin cool to the touch. "We'll see about that," she said, her smile never faltering.
As we prepared to leave, VIX whispered in my ear. "You know this is probably a terrible idea, right?"
"Yeah," I murmured back. "But when has that ever stopped me?"
We made our way to the Shadowmantle, a sleek, black ship that looked like it was born to break the laws of physics. As we approached, the ramp lowered with a hiss, and I could see the gleaming interior, all chrome and leather and danger.
Lyra looked at me, her eyes serious. "You know we can't just leave without a plan, right?"
"What's the plan?" I asked, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
"Improvise," she said with a smirk. "It's what we do best."
The three of us boarded the ship, the ramp closing behind us with a finality that made me shiver. As the engines roared to life, I couldn't help but feel like I was stepping into a whole new world—a world where anything was possible, and death was just another door to walk through.
But as we blasted off into the inky void of space, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was playing with fire. And with a woman like Illyana at the helm, it was only a matter of time before I got burned.
"So, VIX," I whispered, my voice low so that Lyra wouldn't hear. "If I kill myself right now, what happens?"
Her digital eyes rolled. "You don't get reborn, Cody," she said, her tone a mix of exasperation and amusement. "Suicide is the ultimate game over. No extra lives, no do-overs. You're just... done."
"What?" I stared at the blue hologram in shock. "But you said—"
"I know what I said, Cody," Vix cut me off with a smirk. "But I don't encourage suicide. That would be a bit counterproductive, wouldn't it? Besides, you're too much fun to have you check out permanently."
Lyra shot me a look that said she was catching on to the fact that I was conversing with thin air. "You okay?" she asked, her hand still hovering near her blaster.
I nodded, trying to play it cool. "Yeah," I said, giving Vix a glare that she couldn't see. "Just... thinking out loud."
Illyana's eyes studied me, a hint of concern in their depths. "You sure?" she asked. "You're looking a bit... pale."
"Just peachy," I replied, trying to ignore the fact that the floor of the ship was rumbling beneath my feet. It was like it was alive, or at least had a serious caffeine addiction.
Illyana leaned back in her captain's chair, her fingers tapping a rhythm on the armrest. "The Shadowmantle," she announced, "has a particular set of... talents." She winked, and the ship's engines roared in what I could only assume was agreement. "But why are you helping us?" I had to ask. It's not every day a woman with wings of steel and a penchant for smuggling offers you a free ride out of the cosmic dumpster fire you've stumbled into.
Her smile was a sly thing, slipping into existence and then vanishing again. "Let's just say I find myself in a similar situation," she said. "Ended up here by accident. Got a taste for the chaos. And when I saw you two..." She gestured to Lyra and me. "Well, I couldn't resist the potential for a good time."