The greenish planet lay empty and silent, its desolation softened by streaks of pink dawn. On a worn, faded carpet embroidered with golden lotuses and set with emeralds, an old warrior sat cross-legged. His pose, calm and unmoving, recalled the meditative stillness of a statue. Only the faint rhythm of his breath confirmed the life within his scarred frame, his closed eyes shielding the stories of battles fought and lost.


    Behind him, a cobra stood sentinel, its body coiled in hypnotic readiness. Blue-green scales shimmered like polished gemstones, and its unblinking sapphire eyes swept the barren horizon. To the untrained eye, it seemed frozen, but the faint, fluid swaying of its form betrayed its vigilance. Warrior and serpent communicated in a silent harmony, their bond forged over centuries—a connection so profound it blurred the line between master and guardian.


    The cobra hadn’t always been a serpent. Long ago, she was a vibrant, mortal woman who fell deeply in love with the warrior. He was younger then, battle-worn but not yet weary. Over time—decades or maybe eons—she transformed into the serpent now at his side, an unwavering protector on their endless journey across the cosmos. This desolate planet was merely a pause, a brief interlude in their eternal march.


    Sages often said that to understand one’s journey, one must pause and look back. And so, the warrior and his cobra rested, reflecting on their strange odyssey.


    It had begun on Earth, in chaos and blood. The woman’s family declared a vendetta against the warrior, an outlaw stripped of his rights by the new global government. With his World Identification Card (WIC) revoked, survival meant navigating society’s underbelly. One fateful night, in a shadowy, semi-legal bar owned by an old friend, the couple encountered a recruiter from the Red Planet.


    The recruiter was an old man, polished and meticulous. His age showed in the lines etched deep into his face, but his sharp eyes betrayed no frailty. Around his thin neck hung a gold chain bearing a hexagonal medallion, its electronic sapphire glinting with a cold, calculated light. This gem, like the man himself, was a tool of precision—able to unveil a person’s life story in a single glance. His hands, adorned with platinum rings inset with glowing electronic diamonds, moved with deliberate grace. Beside him, a young, bronzed woman lounged—a contrast so stark she seemed more prop than companion. Before the old recruiter, on a table hovering above a magnetic cushion, stood a half-empty bottle of the most expensive whiskey in the galaxy. The liquid inside glowed faintly, a luminescent hue swirling like liquid stardust, with a glowing imprint instead of a label.


    The old man took a sip from his glass, then began to light his expensive electronic pipe, carved from the bone of some rare creature. After the first draw, he studied the young couple sitting across from him. His slightly bulging eyes, which resembled oversized olives, gleamed in the dim light.


    "My student!" the old man suddenly declared, nodding toward the young woman.


    "You see, young people," he continued, his voice dripping with pretension, "I study the extinct languages of ancient planets."


    "And you, I see, are in some trouble?" the old recruiter added unexpectedly.


    "How do you know that?" the warrior asked, tensing.


    The old recruiter smiled condescendingly.


    "You see, young man," he said, eyeing his electronic medallion, "this little device...," he waved the medallion with a flourish, "allows me to detect such trivial problems."The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "Nevertheless, let us not dwell on the unfortunate!" the recruiter added with a wink. "Won’t you kindly join me for a drink?"


    He motioned to the robot-waiter, who had been shifting nervously in the corner of the bar.


    "Bring us another pair of glasses, would you?" the old man commanded.


    And as if reading the warrior''s thoughts, he added: "Believe me, young man, this fine drink is well worth trying!"


    The old recruiter took another puff from his pipe, and a sweet, heady smoke hung in the air. Soon, the robot returned, placing two more glasses on the table. The old man waved him off dismissively, like swatting an annoying fly, and the robot left quietly.


    "Well then, young people!" the old man said, pouring whiskey into the glasses. "I believe you simply must try this noble drink!"


    "I swear, this is truly the drink of the gods!" he proclaimed, sipping from his own glass.


    The young couple drank in silence. A wave of warmth spread through their bodies, a brief sensation as though they were immersed in a warm, blue ocean, a gentle wave lapping over them.


    "I see you like it," the old recruiter remarked with a sly grin, observing their reaction.


    Suddenly, before the bar''s guests, a holographic image of the most famous news channel on Earth, NNC, appeared.


    "Cyborgs have started a revolution on Mars and have already destroyed nine Martian cities!" the announcer intoned.


    "In most settlements, cyborgs are staging peaceful demonstrations!"


    "Holographic statues of Elon Musk are being destroyed across Mars!"


    "Many people are supporting the cyborgs, saying they feel guilty for centuries of oppression and exploitation!"


    "McDonald''s has launched an initiative to hold educational courses, ''How to Become Less Human and Start Respecting Cyborgs,'' for the remaining human employees!"


    The face of a cyborg, painted in a radical shade of blue, appeared on the screen, its expression one of pain and compassion. Watching this, the old recruiter grimaced in disgust.


    "Well, we''ve really hit rock bottom!" he muttered, switching off the holographic display.


    "Now, let''s return to business," the old man said.


    "I have a little job for you on a desolate planet. Trust me, young people, it''s a paradise there! And the work is easy… By the way, there are many Earthlings there! You’ll solve your financial problems and set yourselves up quite comfortably," he continued.


    "We don’t have money for a trip... besides..." the warrior frowned, "we’re not interested."


    "I understand... I understand..." the old recruiter replied smoothly.


    "Well, I think you needn’t worry! You see, young man, this little planet pays quite well for new settlers, especially young people like you. They’ll cover your travel expenses and help you get settled."


    "Why don’t you move there yourself?" the warrior asked, slightly embarrassed.


    "I''m too old," the recruiter replied, casting a sly glance at the young woman beside him. "And I fear the climate might be a little too hot for me..."


    "Let’s say we agreed to go. What do we do next?" the warrior asked.


    "Absolutely nothing! The welcoming planet will cover all your expenses, and I’ll take a very small commission. Although, my personal interest runs a little deeper... You see, young people, there is a deep archaeological mine on that dusty planet. They’ve found some things there that are quite interesting to me. I hope you remember; I study the ancient languages of our galaxy? I’ll help you get a job at the mine, and in return, you’ll help satisfy my professional curiosity about what they’ve found. See? I’m being absolutely honest with you!"


    "You’ll just need to stick around until you''ve worked off your travel expenses. By the way, I’m sure you’ll love it there! Nearly all Earthlings end up staying permanently."


    "Are you suggesting we spy on you?" the warrior asked.


    "Young man, can we really talk about spying when it''s a matter of science?" the recruiter replied, smiling. "Just keep me updated, and remember—it''s all about excavating ancient languages!"


    The old man turned his gaze toward the young woman sitting beside him.


    "I''m afraid, at my age, the rest just doesn’t interest me anymore..."


    "Well then, what do you say? Deal?" The recruiter’s eyes flickered over the young couple.


    The two exchanged a quick glance, and without a second''s hesitation, both replied:


    "Yes!"


    For a brief moment, it seemed as though the blue planet itself had slowed in its orbit. But surely, it was just an illusion, wasn’t it?