Novels by Fellycia Star

Chapter 10: The False MorningAdrian stared at the hundreds of headlights on the horizon, his breath hitching in his throat.“System,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “Tell me those are just really aggressive fireflies.”[ System: Negative. It’s an armored battalion. Estimated arrival: 15 minutes. Also, your heart rate is embarrassing. ]“Good to know,” Adrian muttered, sliding down the wall until his rear hit the cold concrete. “We just dropped a floor on a god-tier cockroach, and Knox brings the heavy cavalry. Classic.”Seraphina dropped down beside him, her shoulder pressing against his. She looked like she’d been dragged through a rock tumbler, but she was still holding her sidearm.“You did well, Adrian,” she said, her voice surprisingly soft.“I destroyed half my floor-plan, Seraphina. That's a 'C-minus' in any firm,” he replied.“You’re still breathing. That’s an 'A' in the wasteland.” She pulled a silver packet from her tactical vest. “Here. High-nutrient paste. Tastes like

Chapter 9: Battle of the BulwarkThe heavy iron slabs of the gate didn't just fall; they shrieked as they hit the concrete, a sound that felt like it was ripping Adrian’s ear drums out.“System! Please tell me Sector 4 is ready to dance!” Adrian yelled, shielding his eyes from the billowing wall of dust.[ System: Trigger sequences standing by. Recommendation: Don't miss. ]“Jax! Now! Pull the first anchor!” Adrian roared into his comms.“I’m pulling! I’m pulling! It’s stuck—wait, there it goes!” Jax’s voice was an octave higher than usual, cracking under the strain.A series of heavy clunks echoed from the floorboards of the main ramp. The first wave of mutants—sinewy, pale things with too many joints—didn't even have time to hiss. The floor plates beneath them buckled, tilting at a sharp angle.“It's working! Look at them slide!” Grimm’s voice crackled through the speakers, followed by the sound of something wet and heavy hitting a pit of spikes. “That grease mix is better than butt

Chapter 8: Engineering the Trap“System, confirm. Did the floor-shifters actually lock or did I just waste our last four percent of power on a mechanical hiccup?” Adrian barked, his eyes straining against the sudden, oppressive gloom of the med-bay.[ System: Shifters engaged. Status: Primed. Visibility: Zero. Recommendation: Try not to walk into any walls. ]“I’m an architect, not a bat! I need data to see the stress-points!” Adrian hissed. He fumbled for a glow-stick in his harness, snapped it, and watched the neon-green light flood the terminal. “Grimm! Seraphina! Get in here before someone accidentally trips into a turbine!”“I’m right here, kid. Stop shouting, you’re making the dust rattle,” Grimm’s voice rumbled from the doorway. He looked like a nightmare in the green light, holding a massive, modified welder like a battle-axe.“Is everyone clear of the Sector 4 floor-plates?” Adrian asked, leaning over a dim holographic map.“Mostly,” Seraphina said, stepping into the light. S

Chapter 7: Structural StressThe dust from the mortar hit settled in a thick, choking veil that tasted of pulverized concrete and ancient disappointment. Adrian spat into the grit, his ears ringing with a high-pitched whine that wouldn't quit.“System,” Adrian croaked, his voice barely audible over the hum in his head. “Tell me the dome didn’t just turn into a convertible.”[ System: Wall Section 4B is currently classified as ‘Optimistically Porous.’ Structural Integrity: 2.8%. ]“Great. Two percent. I’ve seen gingerbread houses with better stats,” Adrian muttered. He looked over at Seraphina, who was dusting off her shoulder with a grimace. “You okay? You’re not leaking green juice, are you?”“Just regular blood this time, thanks for asking,” Seraphina said, testing her weight on her leg. “That bluff of yours? Knox didn’t buy it. He just sampled the appetizer.”“It wasn't a bluff, it was a creative interpretation of future events!” Adrian snapped, gesturing to the smoldering gap. “We

Chapter 6: The First ParleyThe ground didn't just shake; it groaned, a deep tectonic vibration that made Adrian’s teeth feel like they were loose in his gums. From atop the rusted rampart, he watched the dust cloud part to reveal a nightmare of iron and steam.“Is it just me, or is that thing compensating for something?” Adrian muttered, his hands white-knuckled as he gripped the railing.“It’s a city-cracker, Adrian. Be professional or be dead,” Seraphina said, her voice a steady hum despite the madness below. She crouched low, her thermal goggles pushed up onto her forehead.“Professional? I’m an architect!” Adrian hissed. “In my profession, we use blueprints, not armored trains that look like they eat orphanages.”[ Alert: Settlement Heat Score: OVERFLOW. ][ System: Commander Knox is initiating proximity communication. Recommendation: Don't stutter. ]“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Siri,” Adrian groaned. He tapped the console on the wall. “Hey, you with the oversized LEGO se

Chapter 5: The Hunger Games of EdenThe massive, oil-black limb of the Harvester shuddered as the gate’s motor screamed in protest. Sparks showered Adrian’s face, smelling of ionized ozone and old blood.“System! Emergency clamp!” Adrian roared, bracing his shoulder against the control console.[ System: Motor torque at 110%. Thermal failure in 5... 4... ]“Shoot the joint, Seraphina! The secondary actuator near the wrist!”“I’m on it! Move your head!” Seraphina’s sidearm barked three times.The hydraulic fluid sprayed out in a neon-green mist. With a final, agonizing groan of twisting metal, the Harvester’s limb buckled. The gate slammed home with the force of a falling skyscraper, severing the black metal arm like a guillotine.“Check the sensors,” Seraphina panted, leaning against the cold wall. “Is it still out there?”“Dead or retreating. I don't care which,” Adrian said, wiping grease off his chin. He turned toward the cluster of shivering refugees huddled in the foyer. “Alright