Scarlet moved first.
One second she was standing near the entrance of the data center, blade lowered at her side. The next, she launched through the air toward Cassian like a shadow with an edge.
Cassian reacted faster than most would have.
A hidden blade snapped from beneath his sleeve, catching Scarlet's first strike with a sharp metallic crack. Sparks jumped between them as they traded blows in the middle of the server room, the glow of stolen data flashing across their faces.
For someone who ran auctions, Cassian could fight.
But Scarlet was not impressed.
He swung low. She stepped over it. He stabbed toward her ribs. She redirected his wrist and slammed her elbow into his jaw. Cassian stumbled back, tried to recover, then lunged again.
Scarlet spun inside his guard, hooked his arm, and drove him into the floor hard enough to crack the polished surface beneath them.
His blade skittered away.
Scarlet pressed her weapon near his throat.
"Should've stayed at the party," she said.
Cassian breathed hard, glaring up at her. "You think this ends with me?"
Before Scarlet could answer, Kairoth stepped forward from the upper platform, his presence making the room feel colder.
"No," Kairoth said. "But you're still coming with us."
He reached down and grabbed Cassian by the back of his collar, lifting him like he weighed nothing.
Then Kairoth glanced at Scarlet.
"Also, the Pale Envoy got away."
Scarlet's eyes narrowed. "Of course they did."
"They left a message."
That made the room go quiet.
Kairoth dragged Cassian toward the exit while the rest of the Nightcrew secured the vault. The data was locked. The buyers were exposed. The upload chain was broken.
But the real enemy had slipped through.
Back at STF Headquarters, Cassian was taken directly to holding for interrogation.
The rest of the Nightcrew returned to the Intelligence Wing, still wearing pieces of their Black Mode gear. The room was alive with analysts sorting through recovered files, encrypted buyer lists, and corrupted data trails connected to the Ancient Shade.
Kairoth stood near the main console, decoding the message left behind by the Pale Envoy.
One by one, the letters appeared across the holo-screen.
The Ancient Shade does not need to break the Empire from outside.
Silence settled over the room.
Renn Varos stared at the words, arms crossed.
"What a message to leave behind."
Deadshot Valor leaned back in his chair, rifle resting beside him. "I know. This Ancient Shade guy sounds like he could use a vacation on a private island."
The doors opened before anyone could respond.
Ian walked in, looking at Deadshot like he already knew where this was going.
"Yeah, and we all know you're going to call off after this so you can escape to yours."
Deadshot spread his hands. "I mean, a man has to reward himself."
Renn glanced over. "How many girls do you already have waiting for you there?"
Deadshot chuckled like that was the most normal question in the world.
Ian laughed. "This is why you're still single."
Deadshot leaned back farther, completely unbothered. "Single life is fun. You guys should try it."
Ian shook his head immediately. "I'm good off that."
Renn nodded. "Yeah. That's all you."
For a moment, the tension cracked.
Just a little.
Even with the Ancient Shade's warning still glowing on the screen, the room felt human again.
But nobody forgot what the message meant.
If the Empire didn't need to be broken from outside…
Then something was already inside.