Chapter 6: Ephraim
Contains spoilersOverview
Ephraim, a cynical ex-Legion thief numbed by zoladone and grief, leads a covert heist inside the Hyperion Museum by hiding in a sarcophagus. When the Conquerors Exhibit’s isolated server blocks hacking, Dano free-climbs and Volga traps drones. They seize Silenius au Lune’s razor and initiate their escape amid alarms and gas.
Summary
Cramped inside a sarcophagus in the Hyperion Museum, Ephraim waits out nine hours of discomfort, dulled by zoladone and haunted by memories of his late fiancé. He reflects on Luna’s dangerous nights, the museum’s fortified nights, and the plan to infiltrate by smuggling in with Earth relics. The objective is a collector’s prize: Silenius au Lune’s razor.
At midnight, Volga silently lifts the sarcophagus lid. Ephraim’s crew assembles: Volga, an Obsidian bodyguard who refuses to kill; Dano, an agile Red thief; and Cyra, a Green hacker running support. Cyra admits she cannot penetrate the Conquerors Exhibit’s isolated server, prompting Ephraim to cut her pay and pivot to a manual approach. The team dons thermals and recyclers, establishes rules, and moves on a timed path through temporarily disabled security grids.
They slip past heavy doors and reach the Conquerors Exhibit without touching pressure-sensitive floors. Under a drone garage, Volga sets a laser web while Dano acrobatically traverses columns to the display. As Ephraim summons an autoflier, Dano cuts the duroglass and lifts the razor. The planned alarm cascade triggers: shutters fall, gas vents open, drones deploy and are sliced by Volga’s lasers while she disables cameras. Ephraim cases the blade, securing the prize.
With Cyra searching for an exit path, Ephraim pours custom acid onto the marble to execute their escape plan. Amid sirens and gas, he signals the team: time to go.
Who Appears
- Ephraim
Jaded ex-Legion thief and narrator; uses zoladone; leads the museum heist to steal Silenius au Lune’s razor.
- Volga
Obsidian partner and bodyguard; immense strength, nonlethal loadout; sets laser traps and neutralizes drones.
- Dano
Young Red cat burglar; agile and mouthy; free-climbs, cuts the case, and retrieves the razor.
- Cyra
Green hacker; manages security and doors but cannot access the isolated exhibit server; runs support under pressure.