Harlaan

 "We'll get them out, don't worry," Harlaan said. "But first, we have to deal with them."

He jabbed his sword at the Cloak pirates, who had taken cover behind some crates. They were still firing their railguns, but their shots were erratic and ineffective. They looked scared, and desperate.

"Give up, you scum!" Harlaan shouted. "You're outnumbered and outmatched! Surrender, and we might spare your lives!"

None of this was actually true, but it sounded good.

The Cloak pirates did not respond. They kept firing, hoping to hit their targets. Uzbecka and Harlaan worked together, spreading out and closing the distance. They reached the crates, and leaped over them. They engaged the Cloak pirates in close combat, using spells and blows. Uzbecka found her center and unleashed a liquid blow against one of the Cloak pirates, while Harlaan parried and then tripped the other. They fought with skill and fury, and soon had the upper hand. pinning the pirates to the ground.

They turned their attention to the flux cores and saw that they were worse than before. They saw the cracks widen, and the sparks intensify. The glow of the gloomer spirits was fading and flickering out. Harlaan heard their voices, weak and faint, as he turned to the Cloak pirates in disgust. They had won the battle, but if the gloomer spirits were extinguished, the Runagate was lost.

"Help us... please..." the gloomers said. "We can't hold on... much longer..."

Where had Uzbecka disappeared to?