"Quick, quick, come on," Korso urged his crewmates, his voice laced with a mixture of impatience and urgency. His eyes flicked back and forth down the dimly lit hallway as he pushed forward, his mind calculating every step. The riot created by the inmates had succeeded in drawing the guards' attention, but Korso knew their time was limited. They had to move fast, before the chaos died down and the guards noticed the absence of the crew. The hallway felt too exposed, and the air was thick with tension as they darted toward their escape route.

The group finally reached the vent they had discovered earlier, their only way to slip past unnoticed. Stith, Preed, and Akima were already ahead of him, quickly clambering into the vent one by one. Korso could hear their bodies scraping against the metal walls as they disappeared into the narrow opening, each crewmate vanishing from sight like shadows. The vent was their only hope—if they could make it through without drawing attention, they could escape to the docks where the Valkyrie, their ship, was waiting for them. Gune, who had been overseeing the ship’s preparations, would be there too, ready to help them board and leave the danger behind.

Korso’s heart pounded in his chest as he took a final look around. The sounds of the riot echoed down the halls, muffled but unmistakable. He knew they had to move quickly. As he made his way to the vent, suddenly, he felt something—or someone—collide with him from behind. The impact was rough and unanticipated, sending a jolt through his body. He was thrown slightly off balance, his instincts kicking in as he spun around, ready for a confrontation. The unexpected bump left him momentarily disoriented, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon as he quickly assessed the situation.