The Spider Queen

(Hydra Star System- Interplanetary Space Station)

(Cargo Bay- Unnamed Side Corridor)

Qiana slowly walked through the corridor while tightly gripping the plasma rifle that was in her hand.

She wore the same black cloak as the invaders who attacked the space station and the hood covered most of her facial features.

There was not a hint of panic in her steps as she walked over the corpses that littered the floor.

Most of the bodies had a single hole in the middle of their chests but some were missing limbs or chunks of meat from their ribs.

Such brutality…

Qiana shook her head and focused on the matter at hand. Currently there was no way out of the station except for the transport bay.

The null field surrounding the station would prevent any communication so she would be unable to call out or signal for help.

Her best bet would be to steal a starship from the hangars and then leave the station quietly while the fighting still continued.

Qiana touched the side of her glasses as she wandered through an endless labyrinth of side passageways and corridors.

It was a habit that she did whenever she was under some kind of stress. Astrid always teased her about it…

Qiana's lips gently curved upwards as she pictured her Mendolesa girlfriend smiling at her with her tail wagging furiously from side to side.

Looks like their virtual date night would have to be delayed.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Qiana walked towards the direction of the noise and saw three black cloaked figures engaging in battle with a horde of mechanical soldiers.

"Arghhh!" one of the figures cried out in pain as an energy blade sliced his arm clean off.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

His companions were undeterred and continued to fire at the androids whose reddish eyes glowed eerily in the darkness.

Qiana stepped forward and pointed her rifle in the direction of the incoming robots. She gently pulled the trigger and fired a barrage of shots.

Each shot was perfectly timed and aimed.

Seven robots collapsed to the ground with large holes in the middle of their chests where their energy cores were located.

"Reinforcements are here," Qiana confidently spoke as she assisted the cloaked figures in taking down their enemies.

The fight was long and arduous but eventually they emerged victorious. Qiana walked towards one of the figures and placed a warm hand on his shoulder.

"Good work… the boss will be pleased with your performance," Qiana casually spoke in a voice loud enough for the others to hear.

The key to any disguise was confidence.

In an organization as large as the one that invaded the space station, it was impossible for every member to know each other.

Especially considering that their facial features were completely covered. Her attitude and confidence are what would make her disguise fool the members that she came across.

"Thank you for the help," the man respectfully replied as he cupped his fists together and bowed.

"No worries. I have been ordered to secure the transport bay to ensure that there are no survivors who escape," Qiana spoke firmly.

"You will join me."

Her tone was a commanding one without room for questioning of her order.

As a lone person wandering around, she was inherently suspicious but when placed in a large group…

Qiana led the way with large strides and the black cloaked figures behind her quickly fell in line.

They did not even consider that the person they were following was a fake.

The young woman closed her eyes and briefly recalled the steps she had taken to enter the auction hall from the transport bay.

Fortunately, her enhanced memory from her high cultivation level meant that it was easy for her to retrace her steps.

Qiana led her newfound team in the direction of the transport hub while occasionally engaging in battle with the mechanical soldiers and survivors in their path.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Qiana ruthlessly shot a woman who leapt out of the shadows holding a knife in her palm. She collapsed to the ground motionless.

"Move out of the way," Qiana coldly spoke to the other black cloaked figures that appeared on the way to the transport bay.

Without hesitation they would move to the side and Qiana would pass through unhindered.

By now the three men who she had picked up where in complete awe of the powerful woman and were convinced that she was a high-level executive.

It took around thirty minutes until they reached a large set of mechanical doors that were tightly guarded by a squad of twenty black cloaked figures.

They were different from the other members of the so-called Black Order that Qiana had come across.

Her eyes narrowed as the black markings on her body stirred to life. These people were no ordinary killers…

"Go and explain the boss' order to examine the transport bay for any survivors," Qiana ordered one of the men behind her.

While he walked forward, she quickly reached into her storage bag and pulled out a gas mask along with a circular metalloid device.

Qiana clicked a button on the side of the device and small section on its underside began to vibrate slightly.

Ten seconds.

Qiana placed the mask on her face, and it melted into her skin. Soon her nose and mouth were both completely covered.

A cultivator in the qi tide stage was capable of holding their breath for at least an hour which is what Qiana was relying on.

The mask on the other hand was to ensure that no foreign airborne substances would enter her body.

Seven seconds.

"What orders? We have secured the transport bay and I assure you that no survivors have managed to get inside," one of the figures guarding the doors spoke.

Five seconds.

Qiana stepped forward and got the attention of the cloaked figures as she opened her mouth and began to speak.

"The boss is not please with your performance and has sent me to evaluate and take over this operation," Qiana whispered softly.

Three seconds.

"He believes that…"

One second.

Qiana flung the circular device on the ground and melted away into the shadows beneath one of the cloaked figure's feet.

The circular device popped open with a hissing noise and a dark green gas escaped from the container.

The cloaked figures barely had any time to react before their bodies collapsed on the ground and they began to convulse.

Blood started to leak out from their eyes, their throats began to close and large disgusting blisters appeared on their exposed skin.

They twitched on the ground painfully as the gas entered their orifices and destroyed their bodies from the inside.

Qiana rose up from the shadows and walked towards the mechanical doors that were now unguarded.

The black cloaked figures on the ground were no longer capable of movement or speaking and could merely watch as she stepped forward and used a knife to slice the door.

The reinforced steel was easily torn apart by Qiana's knife and soon she carved out a human-sized hole for her to enter.

She took one last look at the dying men and women on the ground…

And then stepped inside.