The tei dropped to the ground, gasping for air while clutg his neck. His eyes were wide, pupils shaking with raw terror. Never before had he e so close to death.

  Orion, who'd been from the sideliurned his head a uering his chest.

  It was strange- he didn't know how to expin it. People normally wouldn't involve themselves in other people's business, even when violeed.

  But here, nothing happened. Not a whisper of protest, nor a squeal for help. Just eerie sile was as if all passion in the room had left.

  Maybe it was his time in Ionia, the calm temples of empathy and uanding, but a bitter pit twisted in his stomach. It was so cold aless, not even a gnce of iei's dire. The air arently too precious, too valuable to waste on sympathy.

  'Agh...I've ged a little,' Orion thought bitterly as his gaze fell back to the shadowed tei. 'I wouldn't have cared as much before, would I?'

  He exhaled sharply, then broke the silence.

  "Do you need help?" Orion's gentle voice cut through the tension. He was doubtful if he could help, but wao make the offer at least. Zarkon's cold gaze soward him, cold and mog while he sneered before shifting back to the tei.

  "I-I don't know what you could help with," the tei stammered, eyes dartiween them. "Uh- We... don't know what's causing it exactly..."

  'Ah, shit.' Orioed the urge to facepalm.

  "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW?!"

  Zarkon bellow shook the air as his enraged gre focused. His massive cyberic frame hissed as steam vented from his augments, the pressure building as his fists ched.

  The tei recoiled in panid fear. "I don't know! The readings don't indicate surface leaks- it's deeper, lower down in the mines!"

  "That's impossible," Zarkon spat, taking a step closer to the tei. "Those vents are naturally ."

  "Y-yes, but they still be damaged! A partial cave-in, maybe... or- or someone siphoning air! Stealing it!"

  Zarkon froze, his expression tightened. Clearly, the thoughts he was having were not easing his restrained fury.

  "You're suggesting someone dares to steal from the Poire Chembarons?" His voice was low, a dangerous whisper that felt louder than a shout.

  The tei nodded weakly, "I-it's just a theory... but yes... it's p-possible-"

  A violent burst of steam venting from Zarkon's augments occurred before, without warning, he drove his metallic fist into the nearby wall with a deafening bang, leaving a deep imprint.

  The rea was instant. A catalyst that finally sparked a rea. Startled cries rippled through the station, with hushed gasps and sharp shrieks that broke the otherwise eerie silence surrounding them.

  Even the Enforcer, who watched coldly before, shifted. His finger slid closer to the trigger but still, he didn't act.

  Zarkon's breaths came slow and heavy as he tried to calm himself. When his steaming figure rose, the tubes along his augments violently shimmered before settling, his gre resting oei.

  "It seems like you'll be taking a little trip down to the mines, won't you?" Zarkon growled, spittle flying from his mouth and dribbling down his . Then, with a sharp gnce sideways, his lips curled bato a sneer. "And you'll have 'help'."