Shaula Scorpio's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Shaula Scorpio crouched on the red dust and watched the trap line up. Her crew had one job: bring back the two Mars rovers for Betelgeuse. She did not ask why. She never did. The spiked key hung at her belt, cold against her suit. It was the boss's mark. It opened the rocket waiting behind the ridge. It reminded her who she answered to. Ahead, the giant cage hummed on the sand. Blue light cracked along its bars. Inside, the first rover sat trapped under a glowing net. Sparks ran across its wheels. It twitched once, then went still. Shaula lifted the radio. "One down," she said. Static answered. Then a second rover crawled into view, slow and curious. Her crew tightened the second net. It dropped clean. Both rovers were caught. Shaula let out a short breath. The mission was done. She turned toward the rocket ship behind the ridge. Then the radio crackled again. A new voice, not her crew. Someone else was on Mars. And they wanted the rovers too.