《Shattered Circuits》


 Chapter 1

    Analyzing data¡­..


    10001110.1010011.10.11011110


    10000.111010111101.11110111


    The flickering numbers swam on the screen, a chaotic dance of ones and zeros. "It''s too fast..." Nova muttered, her voice barely a whisper in the cramped, dimly lit room. The air hung thick with the smell of stale sweat and desperation.


    She glanced at the girl across from her, a young blonde with frantic fingers flying across a battered keyboard. The girl, Sarah, didn''t acknowledge her, her eyes glued to her own OS, her brow furrowed in concentration. They were supposed to be working together, a coordinated attack to breach the firewall protecting the coveted dataslate. But their styles clashed, a chaotic mix of brute force and finesse, and now they''d tripped a failsafe. Nova bit back a curse. Sarah''s fault.


    "Keep going," Nova said, pushing herself up from the floor, her joints stiff from hours of work. "I''ll be right back." She moved towards the back of the room, a cramped space barely large enough to turn around in. She opened the door, a sliver of light from the hallway momentarily illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. She slipped through, closing the door gently behind her, her hand instinctively feeling for the lock and clicking it shut with practiced ease.


    Alone in the narrow hallway, she confirmed her solitude with a quick glance in either direction. She brushed her silver hair to the side, exposing the small, almost invisible implant nestled behind her ear. It was a last resort, a dangerous shortcut that bypassed the limitations of her physical body. One slip, one miscalculation, and the feedback could fry her brain, leaving her a vegetable, or worse. But the risks were necessary. She needed the dataslate from this job to get off Argyl-3, this dust-choked backwater planet. This was their last chance before they were trapped, another pair of forgotten souls lost in the vast, uncaring expanse of the galaxy. Her real goal was out there, beyond the restrictive grasp of this world. She walked towards the door across from her, opened and locked it¨C away from the distraction.


    She took a deep breath, then touched the cold metal of the implant. A thin cable, almost invisible in the dim light, snaked out from a hidden compartment in her wrist, connecting her directly to the computer terminal in the other room. She shivered as she plugged it in.


    Her body slumped, becoming a lifeless husk as her consciousness was catapulted into the digital realm. A dizzying rush, a sensation of falling and stretching, and then she materialized on the precipice of a vast, dark ocean. The air here was cool and tasted of ozone. She looked to her left, seeing only an endless expanse of inky blackness. To her right, she saw the problem. The firewall''s defenses, alerted by their clumsy intrusion, were fighting back. Sarah was losing the battle, her efforts to contain the damage as futile as trying to hold back the tide with a sieve.


    The ocean before her roiled, its surface a churning mass of black waves tipped with white. Each crash of a wave represented a surge of the firewall''s defenses. And in the heart of the storm, a figure materialized ¨C a tall, dark-bearded man with a staff, a digital avatar conjured by the security system. Well, it is different every time, I suppose. She had seen oceans before in her hacks, open thread datalines that would repair themselves every time she completed a line. She closed her eyes then and saw lines of codes flying by, a perk from her OS:


    Blue soft_ re: When-TAX-TAKE-HACK


    Soft_re: RE system override


    ACT_AI-6.01010.010101


    Red(::¡±TAKE-SELF¡±--=)If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ACTUAL: (70TPS, f¡± SCAN)


    Error_Incomplete


    You__Error_Not_Found.404


    She opened her toolkit, a mental construct within the OS, and selected the zipp.de. It was a long shot, but it was their only chance. She needed to activate a fake debug routine within the AI-6 construct before it adapted to their keystrokes and locked them out completely, wiping both her and Sarah from the system, perhaps permanently.


    She opened her eyes. The ocean raged before her, each wave crashing with increasing force. But with every crash, a fleeting gap opened in the code, a vulnerability she could exploit. She had only one zipp.de grenade. One chance to make it count.


    She broke into a run, her bare feet finding purchase on the shifting, ethereal ground. Each blink of her eyes transformed the scene, momentarily replacing the beautiful, terrifying ocean with the harsh reality of the binary code that underpinned it. She called out to the man with the staff, a desperate plea for assistance. He turned, his digital eyes burning with cold light, and lowered his staff to the ground. In the other room, she could hear Sarah shouting in surprise and alarm, but her consciousness was here, in the code, committed to this desperate gamble.


    Her left foot connected with the staff''s larger end and she felt it lift, propelling her upwards, turning her body towards the raging ocean. The man, a personification of the AI-6, lifted her high, a strange ally in this digital battleground. As she reached the apex of her arc, she hurled the grenade, a small, shimmering object that arced through the air towards the heart of the storm.


    Just as the ocean crashed down on the dark man, the grenade detonated. The man dissolved into a shower of pixels, Sarah¡¯s avatar along with him, his staff clattering to the ground, the attack had served its purpose. She was through. She moved at lightspeed once again, her mind racing, her fingers flying across a virtual keyboard that materialized before her. A few keystrokes, a few lines of code, and the data would be theirs.


    A bellowing yell ripped from the other room, followed by a string of curses. "NOVA, YOU WILL DIE FOR THIS!" a man roared, his voice thick with rage as he beat on the door.


    Nova ignored the voice, her focus absolute. The door to her room, she knew, had to hold for less than a minute. Just a little longer. The pounding in her chest resonated in her throat, a frantic drumbeat against the silence of the digital sea. Her fingers danced across the keys, a blur of motion. The zipp.de was working flawlessly, bypassing the remaining defenses, unlocking the data streams. Even if she had to sacrifice Sarah to make it work, the dataslate would be worth it.


    The door was kicked down with a splintering crash just as she completed the hack. She looked up, her eyes adjusting to the sudden shift back to the physical world. A large man stood in the doorway, his face contorted with rage. Sarah''s friend, maybe her husband, Nova couldn''t remember. Didn''t matter.


    Nova didn''t hesitate. Her left hand snatched the hard drive from the computer, the precious dataslate containing their ticket off this forsaken planet, and slipped it into her pocket. Simultaneously, her right hand darted to her ankle, her fingers closing around the familiar hilt of her knife.


    The man raised his weapon, a sleek, chrome pistol that hummed with barely contained energy. Too late. The knife was already in his neck, a swift, precise thrust that severed his carotid artery.


    He pulled the trigger, a reflex action as he fell. A blinding blue light erupted from the muzzle, followed by a red laser beam that seared past Nova''s right ear, close enough to singe her silver hair but not harm her.


    The man''s body crumpled to the floor, blood spreading out from the gaping wound in his neck, staining the grimy floor a dark, crimson red. Nova stood over him, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her heart hammering against her ribs.


    She stepped around his body and walked back into the darkroom. Sarah was slumped against the wall, her face pale and streaked with tears, her hands clutching her throat. The cold, metallic gleam of cybernetic implants around her neck, now crushing her windpipe, told the story. A necessary sacrifice.


    Nova smiled, a cold, mirthless expression. She had the dataslate. And with Sarah and her friend out of the picture, she had more than enough to secure passage to Triumf-L. Another world, another resistance cell, but closer to her real goal. Closer to the answers she sought.

 Chapter 2

    Nova left the building just as the resistance¡¯s Peace Corps were making their way in. Darting down a back alley of Argyl-3 she pulled her jacket around her and zipped the front up. It was a cooler day, like most in the outer rim. Even with two suns the planet was no match for the cold nights. The Blackwall Event that took out most of the galaxy''s cybernetics had also affected many planets electrical grids and portal accesses. Now the only way from planet to planet was to take a shuttle¡­ and those were expensive.


    Nova hurried a bit faster now, gunshots rang out from the Shing Co. building. The hack had sent AI controlled sentinels wild, she was lucky to escape unscathed. Though sentinels were nothing compared to what some that came from the inner core say they¡¯ve seen.


    Nova stopped just as rain started to fall. Lifting the hood of her jacket up she gave a quick flick of her wrist, bringing up the system that connected her cybernetics to the nexus force that allowed people to use¡­ whatever it was that let them hack, and move things with their mind and all sorts of sorcery.


    Nova OS: Level One


    Eidolon Core (_Iron_)


    Title: None


    Skills: (Locked)


    Stats: (Locked)


    Specials: (Locked)


    ¡°Damn, out of everything¡­¡± She whispered under her breath. Closing the OS she continued her walk.


    Out of all the planets Nova had been on, Argyl-3 had to be at the bottom of the barrel. Its neverending fog made the planet look more ominous than it really was. Large cities loomed around every Transpo spot, yet almost every single one was vacated. Vines had started taking over the skyscrapers, and most larger cities would light up at night with the sights and sounds of AI fueled androids patrolling the roads.


    She passed by dead bodies on her way to the Transpo, dwarves, ixiari, other humans like herself. Rats chewing on corpses of a battle that must have taken place not long ago. Her boots crunch over broken glass and pools of stagnant water as she moves, each step careful, deliberate. She avoids the corpses, though it¡¯s impossible not to notice them. A half-burnt body slumped against a wall still grips a makeshift blaster in its charred hands, its melted features a stark warning.


    Her breath quickens as she passes a crumpled Corporate AI mech, its metal limbs twitching feebly, sparks sputtering from its cracked torso. She keeps her head low, her silvery hair tucked away, blending into the shadows cast by the shattered city.


    Occasionally, she hears the distant roar of wildlife: creatures that have claimed Argyl-3 as their own. From the corner of her eye, she spots a hulking, quadrupedal predator, its fur slick and matted, crouching over the remains of a fallen soldier. It lifts its head to sniff the air, yellow eyes glowing faintly, but Nova ducked behind a wrecked vehicle before it could spot her.


    Resistance fighters were all kinds of people and almost every race, regardless of class had taken up arms against what the Resistance higher ups called ¡°The Thanatos Matrix¡±, a mouthful if you ask me. Most just called it the AI. Here many of them were, lying dead in the streets from a battle that had already been forgotten.


    The Transpo hub is barely functional, a skeletal structure of girders and crumbling platforms. Ships hover in the distance, engines rumbling ominously, waiting for passengers or cargo. The few working terminals flicker with static-filled messages, and a line of desperate travelers clogs the entrances, their faces weary and hollow. A Resistance Officer blocks the main entry, scanning the faces of the crowd. His armor is cobbled together from scraps of old Corporate tech, his face scarred but stern. Nova approaches cautiously, she places a hand in her pocket over the dataslate, trying to blend into the chaos of the crowd. The officer¡¯s voice cuts through the noise as he argues with a merchant blocking the loading dock.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The Merchant slams a datapad down on the table before the Officer, ¡°You think I¡¯ll just let you commandeer my ship for free? Do I look like charity to you?¡±


    The Officer looked down his nose at the man, ¡°Do you see what¡¯s happening out there? We don¡¯t have time for haggling. Either you help the cause, or you¡¯re walking out of here with nothing but that datapad and regret.¡±


    ¡°Ha, You Resistance types are no better than the Corps. At least they pay,¡± then the Merchant turned, gave Nova a quick glance and mumbled something as he left.


    Nova stepped in behind the merchant, then: ¡°Hold it. Ship¡¯s full. Resistance personnel only,¡± the Officer said, holding his arm out in front of her.


    ¡°Guess that¡¯s why I¡¯m standing here, isn¡¯t it? Trying to help your cause.¡±


    The officer crossed his arms, ¡°You don¡¯t look like one of us. What unit are you with?¡±


    Nova smirked, ¡°The invisible kind. You know how it is. The best work is done in the shadows.¡±


    He glared at her unblinkingly, ¡°Don¡¯t play games with me. I¡¯ve got a city in flames behind me and a ship packed with refugees and fighters. If you¡¯re lying, I¡¯ll toss you to the Corps myself.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright. Let¡¯s cut the theatrics. I¡¯ve got something you want. Something that¡¯s worth more than one extra body on your ship.¡±


    The officer didn¡¯t budge, ¡°Unless it¡¯s the codes to blow the AI to dust, I¡¯m not interested.¡±


    Nova pulled her hand out of her jacket, her voice low but sharp, ¡°This slate is loaded with corporate intel. Cybernetics manifests, troop movements, access codes for their lower-grade security systems. Enough to give your people the edge for months. You let me on that ship, and it¡¯s yours.¡±


    The officer tilted his head up, pointing his chin at the dataslate, then paused: his eyes darting to the dataslate, then back to her.


    ¡°Corporate intel, huh? Funny how someone like you just happens to be carrying that around. The resistance just happened to raid a Corporate building for something just like that not too long ago¡­ found one of their best hackers dead.¡±


    Nova shrugged, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know anything about that,¡± an innocent smile walked across her face, ¡°I¡¯m just a girl trying to get off this rock before the Corps turns it into a graveyard,¡± she stepped closer to him then, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like a little promotion? Being a bouncer isn¡¯t really what you want is it?¡±


    She knew she had him when his face agreed, then: ¡°How do I know it¡¯s not fake? Or worse¡ªa trap?¡±


    Nova locked eyes with him, inflecting her voice to a slightly higher pitch, ¡°You don¡¯t. But I know what I¡¯m holding, and I¡¯m not dumb enough to walk into a Resistance checkpoint with bad data.¡±


    The officer hesitated for a moment, then a sly smile found its way to his lips, ¡°What¡¯s stopping me from taking the slate and leaving you behind?¡±


    Nova smiled back, her voice dropping to a dangerous edge, ¡°Because if I don¡¯t walk onto that ship, the encryption doesn¡¯t come off. And trust me, without the passcode,¡± she poked his chest, ¡°You¡¯ll just keep being a useless. Ship. Bouncer.¡±


    He swallowed quickly, relenting, ¡°Fine. But you breathe wrong, and you¡¯re off this ship the hard way.¡±


    Nova gave him a sweet smile, ¡°A pleasure, Officer.¡± She handed him the thin black dataslate and moved past him towards the ship.


    Nova glances back at the officer, who¡¯s already flipping through the dataslate connected to a small screen. He doesn¡¯t see her faint smirk as she vanishes into the crowded interior, blending seamlessly with the other passengers. The data she gave him is real¡ªjust not the slate''s most valuable secrets. Those remain locked in her head, where no one can touch them.

 Chapter 3

    Nova walked around in the hull of the ship. It was a large enough vessel, the signage posted around the gray steel walls pointed to a max capacity of 3,000. There were to be far more than that for this trip, she knew. She walked further in, an arrow on the ground that pointed to the left down a long, damp hallway with ¡°Cargo Hold¡± on it, cargo was crossed out. Great.


    The cargo hold was a suffocating hive of desperation. Refugees crammed into every corner, some sitting on the cold metal floor while others huddled in groups, their voices low. The air smelled of oil, sweat, and something faintly metallic¡ª probably blood. Overhead, exposed wires buzzed faintly, casting jittery shadows that seemed alive.


    Nova stepped inside, her boots clicking softly against the grated floor. The low, oppressive hum of the ship¡¯s engines vibrated in her chest, a constant reminder of the machine carrying them through the void. She hated ships like this. The walls felt too close, the corridors too narrow, the air too thin.


    A coffin with wings, tugging her hood lower to shield herself from curious eyes.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d hitched a ride on a deathtrap like this, and it probably wouldn¡¯t be the last. But something about this ship felt worse than most¡ª like the tension could snap at any second.


    She edged along the side of the hold, her gaze darting between the resistance refugees, all kinds of people. Most looked broken, gaunt from starvation or weary from running. A child clung to a woman¡¯s leg, his wide, frightened eyes scanning the crowd. There was no laughter here, no warmth. Just the grim realization that this ship was their last hope, and even that might not be enough.


    Nova tightened her grip on her jacket. Keep moving. Don¡¯t make friends. Don¡¯t make promises. Get out alive.


    She had almost made it to the far side of the hold when she heard someone call out, ¡°You don¡¯t blend in as well as you think, silver hair. What¡¯s your angle?¡±


    Nova froze, glancing sideways. Her heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to look unfazed. A woman sat on an overturned crate near the edge of the room, watching her. Her black boots were scuffed but sturdy, and a scar ran down her cheek, giving her a hard, no-nonsense look. Sharp eyes gleamed with curiosity. And just enough malice to keep Nova wary.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Nova said, her tone flat.


    The woman leaned forward with a smirk. ¡°Sure you don¡¯t. People like you don¡¯t just happen into places like this. You walk like you¡¯ve got somewhere to be¡ªand like you¡¯re used to getting there.¡±


    People like me?


    Nova glanced around, noticing a few others watching their exchange. She stepped closer, lowering her voice. ¡°Maybe I do. And maybe you should mind your business.¡±


    ¡°Relax, sweetheart.¡± The woman grinned, unfazed. ¡°I¡¯m not here to sell you out. In fact, I think you and I might be able to help each other.¡±


    Nova crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. ¡°And what makes you think I need help?¡±


    ¡°Because everyone on this ship needs help.¡± The woman shrugged. ¡°Question is, do you want mine? Or are you gonna wait until someone less friendly decides to get curious?¡±


    Nova didn¡¯t answer immediately. She sized the woman up, noting the way her metallic fingers twitched near the hidden blade strapped to her thigh. She was dangerous, but that could be useful.


    ¡°What exactly are you offering?¡± Nova asked.


    ¡°Opportunity,¡± the woman said loudly, this forced Nova to walk closer. With her grin widening: ¡°My crew¡¯s looking for someone who knows their way around tech¡ªand I can tell you¡¯re not just here to sightsee. Stick with me, and I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re not just another ghost when this ship docks.¡±


    Nova hesitated, weighing her options. She was about to reply when a loud crash silenced the murmurs in the hold.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Shouts erupted from the far side of the room. Nova¡¯s head snapped toward the commotion. A group of men had risen to their feet, armed with makeshift weapons¡ªpipes, wrenches, and a plasma cutter that glowed faintly blue.


    The leader, a broad-shouldered man with wild eyes, stepped forward. ¡°We¡¯ve had enough of this! The Resistance promised us freedom, but all they¡¯ve done is get us killed! We¡¯re taking this ship!¡±


    Panic rippled through the crowd. Refugees scrambled to the sides of the hold, clutching their children and belongings.


    The woman from the crate stood abruptly, muttering, ¡°Great. Just what we needed¡ªa pack of idiots with delusions of grandeur.¡±


    Nova remained still, her mind racing. She watched as the rebels started moving toward the doors leading to the cockpit, shoving anyone who got in their way. The leader barked orders to his men, his voice echoing over the frightened murmurs.


    ¡°Secure the cockpit!¡± he shouted. ¡°This ship belongs to us now!¡±


    Nova turned her head slightly, noticing movement in the shadows near the edges of the hold. Several figures were stepping forward, all armed, their faces hard and unreadable. They weren¡¯t part of the panicked refugees; these people had the calm, deliberate air of trained fighters. Nova¡¯s gut told her they weren¡¯t random passengers. That they belonged to the mysterious woman with a scar.


    The leader of the rebels barked another order, raising his plasma cutter. ¡°Anyone who gets in our way dies!¡±


    Before his words had even fully echoed, one of the woman¡¯s people moved. A lean, wiry man with tattoos for skin darted in from the shadows, his hand snapping out to grab the plasma cutter. With a single, brutal motion, he twisted it free and slammed it across the rebel leader¡¯s head. The man went down hard, groaning.


    ¡°What the¡ª¡± another rebel shouted, raising a pipe.


    ¡°Sit down,¡± a cold voice said, followed by the sharp snap of a stun baton. A second figure¡ªthis one a taller dwarf male¡ªhad appeared from the opposite side of the hold. He struck the rebel in the knee, sending him crumpling to the ground.


    The rest of the woman¡¯s crew moved like clockwork. In less than a minute, the rebels were disarmed, restrained, and shoved into a corner of the hold. The scarred woman watched it all unfold with a satisfied stare, her arms crossed over her chest.


    She put a flat hand up, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Her voice cut through the tension like a splice piece on a source code.


    Her people stepped back, melting into the shadows again as though they¡¯d never been there. The rest of the hold was silent, the refugees staring wide-eyed at the aftermath. Then not wanting to have attention attracted to them, hurried their eyes back to the ground.


    Nova watched carefully, her mind working fast. Whoever this woman was, she wasn¡¯t just another passenger. Her team was too organized, too efficient.


    These aren¡¯t scavengers or mercenaries, they¡¯re¡­ professionals.


    The scarred woman glanced down at the groaning rebel leader, kicking his discarded plasma cutter toward one of her people. Then, she looked at Nova, her sharp eyes narrowing.


    ¡°Well?¡± she said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°You coming, or are you just going to stand there looking impressed?¡±


    Nova hesitated. She didn¡¯t trust this woman, not yet. But I don¡¯t have many options trapped in this cage.


    With a shrug, she stepped forward. ¡°Depends. Do you always travel with your own private army?¡±


    The woman chuckled, hopping off the crate and slinging her jacket over one shoulder. ¡°Only when I¡¯m bored. Name¡¯s Mila, by the way.¡±


    Nova didn¡¯t offer her name. Instead, she gestured toward the rebels, ¡°Nice work. You do this kind of thing often?¡±


    ¡°More than I¡¯d like,¡± Mila replied. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s talk somewhere less¡­ crowded.¡± She jerked her head toward a narrow corridor leading out of the hold.


    Nova followed, her steps careful, her senses on high alert. As they walked, Mila¡¯s tone shifted to something more serious. ¡°You¡¯ve got skills, silver hair. I could use someone like you.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Nova asked, ¡°We just met.¡± Nova looked around, wondering if that officer had ratted her out to these people. Why else would she know anything about me?


    Mila¡¯s grin widened, but there was steel in her gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s just say, I¡¯ve got plans for when this rust bucket lands. And I think you¡¯ll fit right in.¡±


    Nova didn¡¯t respond immediately. The hum of the ship seemed louder here, pressing against her ears. She glanced back toward the cargo hold, where Mila¡¯s people were already gone.


    They move like ghosts, she thought. Dangerous ones. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Nova finally said.


    Mila shrugged, as if she¡¯d expected that answer. ¡°You do that. Just don¡¯t think too long. Opportunities like this don¡¯t wait forever.¡±


    Are they Resistance? They can¡¯t be, not with this much competence. She smiled to herself, I think this is going to be interesting.

 Chapter 4

    The ship groaned and shuddered as it touched down on the surface of the aptly named Keres Station, the sprawling urban hub of the planet Keres Major. The planet¡¯s skyline was a mess of tangled spires and crumbling structures, every inch of it cloaked in grime and rust. Storm clouds churned overhead, casting the already dark city in a perpetual gloom, punctuated by the occasional streak of neon light from towering advertisements.


    Nova followed Mila down the ship¡¯s narrow ramp, her eyes scanning the bustling chaos of the port. Civilians, traders, and armed guards moved in hurried streams, their faces hardened by desperation or suspicion. The air smelled of ozone and rot, and the distant whine of machinery echoed through the streets.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Nova asked, keeping her tone casual. She kept her hood low, her hand brushing against the dataslate hidden in her jacket.


    Mila glanced over her shoulder, her smirk as confident as ever. ¡°Simple. We get in, do the job, and get out before he knows we were ever here.¡±


    He, that¡¯s what some call the AI. The ones that believe it may be a hive mind. ¡°Right. And what is ¡®the job¡¯?¡±


    Mila¡¯s eyes glinted mischievously. ¡°Patience, silver hair. First, we meet the contact.¡±


    They wove through the crowded Transpo, Mila walking with the easy swagger of someone who owned the place. Her crew followed close behind, all four of them, silent and intimidating, their presence a warning to anyone foolish enough to interfere. Nova kept her distance, her instincts prickling. Something about Mila and her people didn¡¯t sit right with her.


    They reached a dilapidated warehouse near the edge of the Transpo. Mila pushed open the door, revealing a dark, cavernous space lit by a single flickering bulb. A man waited inside, his face half-hidden by shadows. He was older, with a thin frame and a nervous energy that set Nova further on edge.


    He looked at Nova apprehensively, then back at Mila, ¡°Whoa whoa, you didn¡¯t say nothing about this one. Who are you?¡± the man asked, nodding toward Nova.


    ¡°She¡¯s with me,¡± Mila said curtly. ¡°Now, what did I come here for?¡±


    The man hesitated, his gaze darting to Nova and then back to Mila. ¡°She doesn¡¯t look like Resistance material.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s useful. That¡¯s all that matters,¡± Mila replied, her voice cold. She cleared her throat, ¡°You said you had something for me.¡±


    Nova crossed her arms, her expression neutral despite the flicker of irritation Mila¡¯s words sparked. ¡°Useful how?¡± she asked, her tone sharp.


    Mila shot her a warning look. Then her eyes went back to the nervous man.


    The man produced a small device from his coat¡ªa sleek, black box with glowing blue edges. Mila took it, her expression unreadable as she turned it over in her hands.


    ¡°This¡¯ll do,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Nova interrupted, stepping closer. ¡°What¡¯s in the box?¡±


    Mila tilted her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. ¡°Curious, aren¡¯t you? It¡¯s a tool.¡±


    Nova narrowed her eyes. ¡°What kind of tool?¡±


    ¡°The kind that levels the playing field,¡± Mila replied cryptically, as she brushed Nova¡¯s shoulder walking back out to the Transpo.


    Nova¡¯s gut twisted, but she forced herself to stay calm. Mila¡¯s evasiveness wasn¡¯t surprising, trust wasn¡¯t exactly abundant in their line of work¨C whatever that may be, but it wasn¡¯t comforting either.


    The air on Keres Major was thick and humid, carrying the smell of ozone and decay as Nova and Mila¡¯s group made their way through the outskirts of the city. The streets here were quieter than the chaotic port, but no less grim. Broken-down hovercars lined the road, their frames stripped of anything valuable. In the distance, the faint hum of a Baixu Company patrol drone buzzed through the air, a constant reminder of the corporation¡¯s grip in the Outskirts. What an apt name, we are almost near the edge of the universe out here.


    Mila led the group into an abandoned cantina at the edge of a ruined marketplace. The building was barely standing, its walls were cracked, and the neon sign above the entrance flickering erratically. Inside, the air was stale, and the furniture was coated in a thin layer of dust. But it was quiet, and for now, that was all that mattered.


    ¡°Welcome to the penthouse,¡± Mila said, raising her arms in front of her. She moved over a broken chair and sat down on the edge of a rickety table. Her crew spread out around the room, each taking up a spot that seemed almost rehearsed.


    Nova hung back, leaning against the wall, her arms crossed. ¡°Cozy,¡± she muttered, scanning the room.


    ¡°Better than the cargo hold of that ship,¡± Mila replied. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve got some breathing room, it¡¯s time for introductions. If we¡¯re going to work together, you might as well know who you¡¯re stuck with.¡±


    Mila nodded toward the wiry man sitting cross-legged on the floor, his tattooed arms resting on his knees. His tattoos were intricate, depicting swirling geometric patterns interspersed with what looked like faded text in a language Nova didn¡¯t recognize. Could he be a part of the Covenant?


    ¡°This is Cage,¡± Mila said. ¡°He¡¯s our tech expert. If it¡¯s broken, hacked, or stolen, he¡¯s the one who makes it work again.¡±


    Cage gave Nova a lopsided grin, his teeth surprisingly white against his weathered face. ¡°And I do it all for the low, low price of having to listen to Mila¡¯s plans,¡± he quipped.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Shut up, Cage,¡± Mila shot back, but there was no malice in her tone.


    Next, Mila gestured to the tall dwarf sitting on an overturned crate. He was stocky, with a thick beard braided into intricate patterns and a deep scar running down one cheek. You could see his jaw through the thin skin. Despite his size, his presence was commanding.


    ¡°This is Garrick. He¡¯s the muscle.¡±


    Garrick grunted in acknowledgment, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder. ¡°And occasionally the voice of reason, when you lot lose your damned minds.¡±


    Mila rolled her eyes and pointed to a woman sitting near the back of the room. She was dirty-looking but elegant, her short-cropped hair dyed a bright shade of green. Her eyes were sharp, scanning the room as if calculating the best escape routes.


    ¡°Elynn,¡± Mila said. ¡°Our stealth specialist. You won¡¯t hear her coming until it¡¯s too late.¡±


    Elynn gave Nova a brief nod, her lips curling into a faint smile.


    ¡°And then there¡¯s me,¡± said the final member of the group, a man with an air of smugness that rivaled Mila¡¯s. His hair was messy, and his clothes were a patchwork of different styles, like he¡¯d scavenged them from a dozen different worlds.


    ¡°That¡¯s Kade,¡± Mila said, not even bothering to hide her exasperation, ¡°He¡¯s recon mostly.¡±


    Kade gave an exaggerated bow, ¡°At your service.¡±


    Nova raised an eyebrow, suppressing a smile, ¡°Charmed.¡±


    ¡°Now that we¡¯re all acquainted,¡± Mila said, hopping off the table, ¡°let¡¯s talk about why we¡¯re here.¡±


    Nova stiffened but kept her expression neutral, ¡°I thought you were going to tell me why you wanted me here.¡±


    Mila smirked, her eyes gleaming with something that made Nova¡¯s stomach drop. ¡°Let¡¯s just say we¡¯re both useful to each other for now. You want answers, and we want someone who knows how to survive. That makes you part of the team¡ªwhether you like it or not.¡±


    Nova glanced around the room, meeting the eyes of each crew member in turn. They were a motley bunch, no doubt about it. But there was something about them¡ªsomething dangerous, yes, but also oddly¡­ human. For a moment, Nova let herself wonder if she could trust them.


    But only for a moment. Wait, what answers? What could they possibly know about me?


    Mila stared at Nova for a second longer, then pulled out the ¡®tool¡¯ they obtained from the nervous man. It hummed to light, seemingly alive in her hands.


    "Now then, what''s the job?" Nova asked, breaking the silence that had settled over the cantina. She pushed herself away from the wall, stepping closer to the table where Mila sat, the strange device still humming softly in her hands.


    Mila''s smirk widened. "Glad you finally asked. We''re going to pay a visit to Baixu Corporation."


    Nova''s eyebrows shot up. "Baixu? That''s suicide. Their security is insane." Why did she mention the AI if we''re fighting Corporates?


    "Not if you know the back doors," Cage interjected, his fingers tracing the lines of his intricate tattoos. "And luckily for us," he added, with a wink towards Nova, "we''ve got someone who just might know those back doors."


    Nova''s eyes narrowed. "You want me to hack Baixu? With what? I''ve barely got a decent rig, and you expect me to crack one of the most secure corporations in the Outer Rim?"


    Mila chuckled. "Relax, silver hair. We''re not sending you in blind. That''s where this little beauty comes in." She held up the humming device. "This, my friend, is a Phase Shifter. It''ll let us bypass most of their physical security measures."


    "A Phase Shifter?" Nova''s voice was laced with disbelief. "Those are just rumors. I thought they were destroyed after the Blackwall Event."


    "Most of them were," Garrick rumbled, his deep voice echoing through the cantina. "But not all."


    "This one''s a prototype," Mila explained, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Cage heard someone managed to salvage it from a derelict Baixu lab a few months back. Now it''s ours, but it should do the trick."


    Nova hesitated, her mind racing. A Phase Shifter¡­ It was a risky plan, bordering on insane. But the more she thought about it, the more it made a twisted kind of sense. Baixu was a fortress, but even fortresses had weaknesses. And if this device worked the way Mila claimed¡­


    "What''s the catch?" Nova asked, her voice barely a whisper.


    Mila''s smile widened. "There''s always a catch, isn''t there? The Phase Shifter only works for short bursts. We''ll have a limited window to get in, grab what we need, and get out. And," she added, her voice hardening, "we can''t risk taking it too deep into their facility. The core systems would fry it in a heartbeat."


    "So, what are we grabbing?" Nova asked, her curiosity piqued.


    Mila glanced at the others, a silent signal passing between them. Then, she turned back to Nova, her expression serious. "We''re going after their research data. Specifically, anything related to AI development and cybernetic enhancements."


    Nova''s heart skipped a beat. AI development¡­ Could this be connected to the Thanatos Matrix? Could Mila''s group be working to fight the AI, just like the Resistance?


    "Why?" Nova asked, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Mila''s eyes bored into hers. "Because," she said slowly, "I think Baixu knows more about the Blackwall Event than they''re letting on. And I think they might be working on something¡­ dangerous."


    A tense silence filled the cantina. Nova could feel the weight of Mila''s words hanging in the air. If Baixu was involved in something that could trigger another Blackwall Event¡­ the consequences would be catastrophic.


    "Alright," Nova finally said, her voice firm. "I''m in."


    Mila''s grin returned, wider than ever. "That''s what I like to hear. Now, let''s go make some chaos."


    The streets outside the cantina were dark and deserted. Rain had begun to fall, a cold drizzle that slicked the pavement and sent shivers down Nova''s spine. The faint hum of the Phase Shifter in Cage¡¯s hand resonated in her mind, a constant reminder of the dangerous task ahead.


    Mila led the group through the maze of alleyways and abandoned buildings, her steps sure and silent. Cage kept pace beside her, his eyes darting around, scanning for any sign of trouble. Garrick and Elynn brought up the rear, their presence a silent threat in the shadows.


    As they approached the towering complex that housed Baixu''s main research facility, Nova''s pulse quickened. The building was a monolith of steel and glass, its sleek lines and imposing structure a testament to the corporation''s power. Even in the dim light, it seemed to radiate an aura of cold, calculated efficiency.


    Mila stopped at the edge of the complex, her eyes fixed on the entrance. Guards patrolled the perimeter, their cybernetic implants gleaming faintly in the rain. Security cameras swiveled on their mounts, their lenses watching every move.


    "Ready?" Mila asked, her voice low.


    Nova took a deep breath, her hand tightening around the dataslate hidden in her jacket. "Ready as I''ll ever be."


    Mila nodded, her eyes hardening with determination. "Cage, do your thing."


    Cage stepped forward, his fingers dancing over the controls of the Phase Shifter. The device hummed to life, its blue edges glowing brighter. A faint shimmer distorted the air around them, like heat rising from the pavement. The walls of the Baixu building seemed to fizzle out of existence, but Nova knew at the molecular level they were simply vibrating too fast for her eyes to keep up.


    "Now!" Mila shouted, and the group surged forward, disappearing into the shimmering haze.

 Chapter 5

    Nova took a deep breath, her fingers hovering over the makeshift interface. She pushed forward, through the glimmering, ethereal molecules of the projected wall. Each cell in her body crawled and vibrated with a low hum, a chorus of anticipation and trepidation. The wall, a foot thick at least, felt strangely porous as she stepped through. The cold, unyielding steel permeated her senses, mixing with the warmth of her blood in a way that felt deeply unnatural, causing her to jump forward, almost losing her balance.


    She stopped abruptly, steadying herself. Mila stood before her, a silhouette against the dim light of the corridor. A firm hand landed on Nova''s shoulder, grounding her. "Disable the cameras leading to the interior," Mila''s voice was a low, urgent whisper. "It''s a fully connected system. Get a replay loop going and cover our infil."


    Nova understood. A silent acknowledgment passed between them as she placed her hand over Mila''s, a brief touch that spoke volumes. She knows about the cyberware. Or at least knows of my hacking abilities. With a mental command, she pulled up her OS, the familiar interface overlaying her vision. She reached out, virtually, and connected to the Baixu security network. The connection was seamless, effortless.


    Her awareness contracted, the physical world fading as she plunged into the digital realm. The hum of the network filled her being, and her physical body went numb. She was vaguely aware of another steel wall, of wind on her skin, a rough hand ¨C Kade''s? ¨C guiding her forward.


    Then, she was through. The physical world dissolved entirely, replaced by a breathtaking vista. Gone was the dark ocean of her previous hacks, and in its place stood a majestic, ancient castle, perched atop a hill overlooking a vibrant landscape. Rolling farmlands stretched as far as the eye could see, crisscrossed by rushing rivers that glinted like silver ribbons in the soft light. Verdant forests, a tapestry of green and blue, filled the horizon. Trees, ancient and towering, reached towards the sky, their leaves rustling in a gentle breeze. It was a scene ripped from a forgotten era, untouched by cybernetics or the harsh realities of their world. It''s beautiful... I wonder where the OS gets this from.


    She turned, realizing the castle wall extended in both directions, encircling the entire landscape. Above, a vast, star-studded sky served as a breathtaking canopy. Each star, she instinctively knew, was a camera within the Baixu facility, connected by a network of thin, luminous lines that pulsed with soft light.


    The OS, anticipating her needs, highlighted her objective. She gazed upwards, drawn to the celestial tapestry above. With a thought, she leaped, soaring through the air like a phantom, and landed softly on a star, her bare feet sinking slightly into its glowing surface. The star pulsed beneath her touch, displaying a live feed from one of the facility''s cameras. A circuit board materialized before her, wires neatly arranged in multicolored docks. This was the camera''s digital heart. Her fingers danced across the board, guided by the cyberware, expertly rerouting signals and weaving a seamless loop of pre-recorded footage.


    She lingered for a moment, jumping between stars, each representing a different camera feed, absorbing the layout of the facility, searching for any useful intelligence. Then, a faint, rhythmic tapping, like a distant heartbeat, pulsed through the network.


    "Nova? Nova?" A hushed whisper, barely audible, echoed in the real world, pulling her back from the brink of the digital abyss. "One more thing, Nova."


    The breathtaking landscape vanished, replaced by the stark reality of a sterile white room. A door on the right led to an unseen hallway. They were huddled behind a cluttered desk, piled high with dusty documents and discarded electronic components. Wires snaked across the high ceiling, converging on a long, articulated metal arm that extended from the center of the room. And suspended from that arm, bathed in an ethereal glow, was an android.


    Its form was strikingly human, yet undeniably artificial. Smooth, flowing lines defined its limbs and torso, while beneath its translucent skin, a network of delicate veins pulsed with a soft, ominous red light. Garrick stood guard by the door, his massive frame partially concealed behind a steel structural pillar. The rest of the team were tucked out of sight behind towering shelves overflowing with archaic technology.


    As if sensing their collective gaze, the android''s head snapped up, its eyes, twin points of crimson light, fixing on each member of the team in turn. A long, silent pause stretched, punctuated only by the faint hum of the facility. Then, in a voice laced with dry wit and a hint of melancholy, it spoke.


    "Well, this is certainly a development," the android remarked, its voice a synthesized baritone. " Computing... It seems I¨C deemed worthy of rescue. How de¨C elightful. Don''t ¨Cd the fact that I''m ¨Calking," a brief pause, a flicker of red in its eyes, "and *rapidly* expiring antique. Shall we pro¨C oceed with jailbreak, then?"


    Mila stared at the android for a beat, then turned to Nova, her expression unreadable. "Can you get him free?" It wasn''t a question.


    Nova brought up her OS again, focusing her intent on the android.


    Function.   ANDROID MECH.   ¡°P1nk3¡±          {Heat..010111100}


    Login: Baixu


    Password: Baixu


    Lazy.


    Disconnect? Y/N


    "Yes," she breathed, the word barely audible.


    Well.. that was rather ea-


    Nova''s consciousness snapped back into the digital landscape. But this time, the idyllic scenery was gone, replaced by a vision both alien and strangely familiar. She stood in a dark, cavernous space, surrounded by towering trees with roots that writhed and pulsed with an inner light. Before her, a colossal egg, easily the size of a small shuttle, rested on the ground. The roots of the surrounding trees converged on the egg, cradling it in a living embrace, like the fingers of a giant hand.


    ¡°Am I dreaming?¡±


    No, you are not. A voice echoed in her mind, deep and resonant, yet undeniably artificial.


    She approached the egg, drawn by an unseen force. As she drew closer, the roots entwined with the egg began to glow with the same soft red light that pulsed beneath the android''s skin.


    Nova.


    "You can hear me. In here?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.


    You carry the echo of a fallen star. A symphony of souls, bound by a thread of stardust. Seek the conductor, or be lost in the dissonance.


    The egg before her cracked, a spiderweb of fissures spreading across its surface. And then, with a blinding flash, she was back in the white room.


    Two Baixu officers lay sprawled on the floor, their bodies contorted in unnatural positions. P1nk3, now freed from his restraints, stood amidst the carnage. Garrick, his face a mask of fury, was in the process of splitting an officer''s skull with his axe, a savage snarl escaping his lips. With his other hand, he ripped a small green patch from the officer''s uniform, his knuckles white as he gripped the fabric.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "We don''t have time for this, Garrick!" Mila''s voice cut through the din, sharp and urgent. Cage, his brow furrowed in concentration, muttered to himself as he fiddled with the malfunctioning Phase Shifter, his hands a blur of motion.


    Nova came back to her senses, the cryptic message echoing in her mind. A symphony of souls...


    ¡°I need a little more time,¡± Cage said sharply, his voice tight with frustration as he fiddled with the Phase Shifter.


    ¡°Fine, but hurry,¡± Mila hissed back, her gaze fixed on the corridor ahead. ¡°Let¡¯s move to the hallway. We need to find a western-facing wall.¡± She turned to the android, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. ¡°Can you walk?¡±


    ¡°Many eons ago, I traversed the glacial plains of Holdfast-6,¡± P1nk3 replied, its voice a flat, metallic monotone that somehow managed to convey a hint of wry amusement. It took a slow, deliberate step forward, then another. It moved towards Mila with a surprisingly fluid gait, then bowed, a gesture that seemed both archaic and strangely elegant. ¡°I can walk.¡±


    Nova stifled a laugh, a nervous tremor in her chest. What the hell are we doing here?


    Mila motioned towards the door where Garrick stood guard, his hulking form practically vibrating with barely suppressed rage. The two officers lay sprawled on the floor, their bodies mangled beyond recognition. ¡°Okay, everyone,¡± Mila said, her voice low and urgent. ¡°Follow me.¡±


    They slipped out into the hallway, Cage trailing behind, still muttering to himself and fiddling with the Phase Shifter. Kade yanked him roughly by the collar from behind, pulling him along with the group. The facility was a labyrinth of identical corridors and featureless doors. There were no markings, no signs, nothing to indicate their location or destination. It felt as if they were wandering aimlessly, trapped in a sterile, metallic maze. Nova pulled up her OS, trying to get a sense of their surroundings by checking through the camera feeds, hoping to find an exit, a path, anything.


    ¡°¡­see why they called it a prototype,¡± Cage grumbled, his voice barely a whisper.


    Mila whipped around, her eyes flashing. ¡°Quiet!¡± she mouthed, her hand making a sharp, cutting motion.


    Around the corner, voices echoed ¨C two at least, maybe more ¨C accompanied by the rhythmic thud of heavy footsteps. Baixu soldiers. ¡°Prisoner 1014 escaped again, huh?¡± The first voice was loud, tinged with amusement. ¡°That slippery bastard.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, if you can believe it,¡± a second voice, deeper and gruffer, replied. ¡°Pinky told us he was worth watching. That android...¡±


    ¡°This is going to cause riots. We can¡¯t afford to watch every worker on Keres Major, and forget about everyone on that damned moon!¡±


    Slow footsteps echoed ever louder, a counterpoint to Nova¡¯s quickened heartbeat. Garrick, his senses honed by an unknown rage, began to move towards the approaching soldiers, his movements silent and predatory.


    Mila turned, her face grim, and made a series of rapid hand signals. Back up, Nova interpreted, her heart pounding against her ribs. Room behind us.


    But it was too late. Garrick was already in motion, a low growl rumbling in his chest. He was shouting, a wordless cry of rage, as he sprinted towards the corner, a dwarf-shaped missile of pure fury.


    The soldiers rounded the corner just as Garrick reached them. He was a blur of motion, moving with a speed that belied his size. They barely had time to register his presence before he was upon them, his axe a whirlwind of steel. He caught the first soldier in the leg, cleaving it clean off at the knee with a sickening crunch. The soldier collapsed, screaming, a geyser of blood erupting from the severed limb. Garrick, propelled by his momentum, spun, a dancer of death, and hurled his axe. It embedded itself in the second soldier¡¯s chest with a sickening thud, the force of the impact lifting him off his feet.


    The first soldier, writhing on the floor in agony, fumbled for a button on his belt, a final act of defiance. He pressed it. A shrill, multi-toned alarm shrieked through the facility, and the lights pulsed an angry, pulsating red.


    Garrick retrieved his axe, wrenching it free from the dead soldier''s chest. He turned his attention to the first soldier, the one still alive, still screaming. He began to rain down blows upon him, each impact punctuated by the sickening crunch of bone and the wet splatter of blood. After a few brutal strikes, the axe broke with a sharp crack, the blade snapping near the haft. Garrick spat on the mangled remains of the soldier, then ripped a small green patch from the uniform. "Ayye," he snarled, his voice thick with hatred. "You deserve worse than this."


    Mila stared at the scene, her face pale. ¡°Damn it, Garrick,¡± she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.


    More footsteps, heavier and faster now, echoed from a hallway to their left. Mila¡¯s head snapped up. ¡°Move!¡± she shouted, already running.


    Everyone scrambled to follow, their carefully planned extraction dissolving into a frantic dash for survival. Nova activated her OS as they ran, desperately trying to override the alarm, to silence the piercing shrieks that echoed through the corridors. But it was no use. She¡¯d have to tap back into the network, and there was no time.


    They raced down a maze of interconnecting hallways, past rows of doors, some open, some closed. The open ones revealed glimpses of sterile labs, cluttered workshops, and holding cells, mostly empty. Nova caught sight of strange machinery, humming with barely contained energy, and what looked like half-assembled cybernetic limbs. She swore they passed the same rooms multiple times, the facility twisting and turning like a living organism. The closed doors were even more unsettling, each one marked with cryptic, indecipherable symbols. Perhaps the Baixu have their own language or codes they use for Cyberware, she thought.


    Whatever the case, she knew this facility wasn¡¯t a typical Baixu operation. The sparse security, the almost haphazard layout, the strange symbols ¨C it all pointed to something else, something secret. But there was no time to ponder it now.


    ¡°Cage!¡± Mila shouted, her voice strained. ¡°Up ahead! Everyone else, let¡¯s take care of these goons.¡±


    The soldiers, clad in black and purple armor, seemed to materialize out of thin air, their cybernetic implants enhancing their movements, giving them an almost inhuman speed and precision. Elynn reacted instantly, tossing a small, disc-shaped device to the floor. It expanded with a hiss, forming a shimmering, metallic shield that provided a modicum of cover. Nova dove behind it, pressing herself against Elynn''s side. The rest of the team scattered, taking refuge behind door frames and overturned equipment, any cover they could find.


    Through a narrow slit in the shield, Nova watched as the Baixu soldiers advanced, their movements precise and deadly. Garrick, roaring like a wounded beast, tossed a small, spherical device ¨C an EMP, Nova realized ¨C down the hallway. It detonated with a flash of blue light and a high-pitched whine. For a moment, Nova hoped it would disable the soldiers'' cybernetics. But they kept coming, their movements unfaltering.


    Kade began firing blindly with the Aether Lance, its focused laser blasts leaving scorch marks on the walls. Elynn, her face pale but determined, took aim through the slit in the shield and squeezed the trigger of her pistol, each shot precise and deadly.


    ¡°Got it!¡± Cage shouted suddenly, a note of triumph in his voice. He fiddled with the Phase Shifter, then looked back at the group, a grim expression on his face. Everyone was focused on the advancing soldiers. Nova''s gaze, however, lingered on the wall.


    The Phase Shifter in Cage''s hand flickered to life, then sputtered, the blue light around it flaring erratically. Prototypes.


    Kade was the first through the shimmering portal, disappearing into the wall without a backward glance. Mila followed close behind. Nova went third, stepping into the cold, unsettling embrace of the phased matter. Cage went through, the Phase Shifter still clutched in his hand. Garrick went next, with P1nk3 right behind him, who was chuckling about how he got a couple of the soldiers.


    They waited for Elynn. As she stepped forward, the Phase Shifter let out a high-pitched whine and exploded in Cage''s hands, throwing him backward.


    A piercing scream echoed through the night air as Elynn¡¯s leg became trapped in the wall, the metal fusing around her flesh. She remained stuck as the group watched in horror, unable to tear their eyes away from the gruesome sight. Garrick acted first, his movements fueled by a desperate urgency. He raised his laser rifle and, with a single, agonizing shot, blasted Elynn''s leg at the ankle. She fainted instantly, her body going limp. Garrick caught her as she fell, his massive arms cradling her fragile form. The laser had cauterized the wound, miraculously preventing her from bleeding out on the spot, but the stench of burnt flesh hung heavy in the air.


    Nova finally caught her breath, her gaze darting around the now-empty street. Kade was gone. Vanished. Mila pulled two smoke grenades from her belt, her movements quick and efficient. She pulled the pins and tossed them towards the approaching soldiers, who were now lining the walls above, ready to rain down fire.


    They ran, plunging into the swirling, acrid smoke, and found a sewer hatch. With reckless abandon, they jumped down into the pits of the city, a desperate gamble to escape the pursuing soldiers. Elynn rode on Garrick¡¯s shoulders, her unconscious form a dead weight. P1nk3 followed close behind, his movements surprisingly agile. Where did Kade go?

 Chapter 6

    The stench of decay and stagnant water hit Nova like a physical blow as they dropped into the sewer. It was a suffocating, cloying smell that clung to the back of her throat, far worse than anything she''d anticipated. The darkness pressed in, broken only by the faint, flickering emergency lights and the dim glow of their own equipment. Water dripped from unseen pipes, each drop echoing in the oppressive silence. A shiver, not entirely from the cold, ran down her spine. The fetid air, the echoing darkness... it triggered something within her, a flicker in her enhanced senses, a ghost in her OS. Galan. The name surfaced unbidden, a phantom from a past she thought she''d buried.


    They stood on the cracked, barren earth, the skeletal remains of long-dead trees clawing at the toxic, yellow-green sky. Their ship, a battered old freighter they''d affectionately nicknamed "The Star Wanderer," was a small, insignificant speck against the vast, desolate landscape.


    "It''s not as bad as it looks," Blaine had said, his voice muffled by the respirator mask he wore. He''d flashed her a reassuring grin, but his eyes, visible through the scratched, fogged-up visor, betrayed his unease.


    "It''s not?" Nova had shot back, her own voice distorted by her respirator. She gestured with a gloved hand at the desolate wasteland around them. "We''re on a planet that''s literally trying to kill us."


    Blaine had chuckled, a dry, rasping sound. "Look at it this way," he''d said, tapping a readout on his wrist-mounted console. "At least the radiation levels are within acceptable limits. For now." He''d paused, his gaze sweeping across the horizon. "I see why they say the older planets are just trash heaps. You can barely breathe in this environment." He''d run another scan, his brow furrowing as he studied the data. "Carbon Dioxide level is rising. We shouldn''t spend too long here, kid. Let''s get what we came for and get out."


    Nova blinked, the memory of Galan''s toxic sky momentarily superimposed over the grimy concrete walls of the sewer. She could almost feel the grit in her lungs, the burn of the polluted air. Focus, she told herself, shaking off the lingering influence of the past. They needed to keep moving. Garrick was a few paces ahead, his massive frame hunched over as he carried Elynn. P1nk3 followed, its movements surprisingly fluid despite its weakened state.


    They had come to Galan chasing rumors, whispers of a lost cache of pre-Collapse technology, hidden somewhere in the ruins of an ancient research facility. Blaine, ever the optimist, had been convinced it was their ticket to a better life, a chance to escape the endless cycle of low-paying jobs and near-death experiences. Nova, though more skeptical, had gone along with it. She''d trusted Blaine then, with a naive faith that she now found hard to recall.


    The facility had been easy enough to find, a crumbling husk of a building half-buried in the shifting, toxic sands. Inside, they''d found remnants of a forgotten era: laboratories filled with strange, archaic equipment, vast libraries of data stored on fragile, decaying disks, and living quarters littered with the personal effects of long-dead scientists. It was like exploring a tomb, a monument to a civilization that had destroyed itself.


    Nova remembered the anxiety that had gnawed at her as they delved deeper into the facility, the feeling that they were disturbing something that should have been left undisturbed. She''d found a datapad in one of the labs, its screen cracked but still functional. It contained the journal of one of the scientists. His entries, filled with a mixture of hope and growing dread, chronicled the facility''s descent into chaos.


    "''The artifact is changing them,''" she''d read, her voice echoing in the silent lab. "''It''s amplifying their aggression, their paranoia. We''ve lost control.'' And later, a chillingly resigned entry: ''There is no escape. May He have mercy on our souls.''" Blaine had dismissed it as the ramblings of a madman, but Nova couldn''t shake the feeling that the words were a warning, a prophecy that was still unfolding.


    A sudden jolt, as Garrick stumbled over a loose piece of debris, brought Nova back to the sewer. Elynn groaned in pain, her unconscious form shifting in Garrick''s arms. The sound, raw and vulnerable, cut through Nova''s memories, a stark reminder of the immediate danger they faced. She pushed the thoughts of Galan aside, focusing on the task at hand. They needed to reach the cantina, find Kade, and figure out their next move.


    "Mila," she called out, her voice echoing in the confined space. "How much further?" The sewer seemed to stretch on forever, a labyrinth of twisting tunnels and branching passages. Each step was an exercise in blind faith, a gamble that they were heading in the right direction. And somewhere out there, in the darkness, their pursuers were closing in.


    They never found the tech they were looking for. Not that it mattered. What they found was far worse.


    Blaine had been the one to find it. A hidden sub-level, not on any of the facility''s schematics. He''d called Nova over, his voice filled with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. "Kid," he said, "I think we hit the jackpot."


    It wasn''t a jackpot. It was a cage. Inside, a creature unlike anything Nova had ever seen. It was vaguely humanoid, but its limbs were elongated and distorted, its flesh a patchwork of metal and organic tissue. Its eyes glowed with an eerie red light, and its body pulsed with a strange, internal energy. It was, as they would soon learn, an experimental weapon, a prototype for a new kind of soldier. And it was very much alive.


    The creature had been dormant, but their intrusion had awakened it. It had lashed out, its movements faster and stronger than anything they could have anticipated. They''d barely managed to escape with their lives, the creature''s enraged shrieks echoing in their ears as they fled the facility.


    Blaine had been injured, his arm mangled by the creature''s attack. Nova had dragged him back to the ship, her own fear battling with a desperate hope that they might still make it out alive. They had lifted off, leaving Galan and its horrors behind, but the experience had changed them both.


    Blaine, lying on the medical cot, his face pale and drawn. "We should have left it," he''d whispered, his voice hoarse. "Some things are better left buried."


    "Not much farther," Mila''s voice, tight with strain, answered. "Just around this bend, I think. But keep your guard up. They know we''re down here." The words were punctuated by a distant clang, followed by the unmistakable sound of more soldiers entering the sewer system. They were being hunted. Nova gripped her knife tighter, her knuckles bone-white. There¡¯s no going back to how things were.


    The sewer tunnel opened into a larger, circular chamber, the air thick with the smell of stale beer, cheap liquor, and unwashed bodies. A rusty ladder led upwards, disappearing into a hole in the ceiling. Garrick, his face slick with sweat, carefully maneuvered Elynn''s limp body towards the ladder. "This is it," Mila said, her voice barely a whisper. "The cantina."


    They climbed the ladder one by one, emerging into a dimly lit, low-ceilinged room. The cantina was a squalid, smoky den, filled with a motley assortment of humans, aliens, and the occasional heavily modified cyborg. Rough-hewn tables were scattered across the floor, surrounded by mismatched chairs and stools. A makeshift bar lined one wall, its shelves stocked with a variety of dubious-looking bottles. The air hung heavy with the smell of cheap alcohol, greasy food, and desperation.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    As they entered, the barkeep, a burly human with a scarred face and a cybernetic eye, nodded curtly. He gestured towards a series of shutters covering the few grimy windows and the thick, reinforced door. Without a word, he began to close them, plunging the cantina into near darkness, the only light emanating from a few flickering neon signs behind the bar and the faint glow of P1nk3''s internal systems.


    A handful of patrons, their faces etched with the weariness of hard lives, glanced up as the team entered, their eyes lingering on Elynn''s mangled leg and the strange, glowing android in their midst. But they quickly averted their gaze, returning to their drinks and their hushed conversations. No one wanted trouble. Not here. Not now.


    Kade was already there, lounging at a table in the corner, a half-empty bottle of amber liquid in front of him. He raised his hand in a lazy salute as they approached. "Well, well," he drawled, a smirk playing on his lips. "Look who finally decided to show up. Where have you fellas been?"


    No one responded, the exhaustion and the trauma of the escape etched on their faces. Garrick gently laid Elynn down on a bench, his movements surprisingly tender. P1nk3 stood silently beside them, its glowing red eyes scanning the room.


    Mila rounded on Kade, her eyes blazing with fury. "You were supposed to be our backup," she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. "We could have been killed back there. The entire mission is still in jeopardy thanks to you. Where were you?"


    Kade shrugged, unfazed by her anger. "Relax, Mila. I was just scouting ahead, making sure the coast was clear. Besides, you all seem to have handled yourselves just fine." He gestured towards Elynn with his bottle. "Mostly."


    "You could have been followed," Mila continued, ignoring his jibe. "Did you even check?"


    "Of course, I did," Kade said, taking a long swig from his bottle. "Didn''t see a soul. Relax."


    "Did you see anyone following you?" Mila pressed, her voice taking on a sharper edge. "Anyone at all?" She paused, looked at the group and then added, almost as an afterthought, "Corporate or otherwise?"


    The word hung in the air, thick with unspoken accusations. A tense silence descended upon the group. Kade''s smirk vanished, replaced by a look of cold calculation. He leaned forward, his eyes locking with Mila''s.


    "You know, Mila," Kade began, his voice soft yet carrying a dangerous edge. He leaned back in his chair, casually swirling the amber liquid in his bottle. "We''ve only known each other a few weeks, haven''t we? But in that short time, we''ve certainly shared a few drinks in a few dives." He paused, his eyes fixed on Mila''s face. "Seems like every backwater cantina from here to the Rim, the moment you walk in, the whole place tenses up. Bartenders go stiff, patrons start eyeing the exits... everyone seems to pucker up at your approach."


    He took a slow, deliberate swig from his bottle, never breaking eye contact. "And funnily enough," he continued, as if struck by a sudden thought, "you always order the same damn thing. That Nait. Never seen you touch anything else. Strange, isn''t it? For someone who claims to be fighting for the ''people''s'' right to choose, you''re remarkably consistent in your own choices."


    Mila remained silent, her gaze unwavering, but Nova noticed a slight tightening of her jaw, the almost imperceptible clenching of her hand on the table.


    "What are you getting at, Kade?" she asked, her voice low and controlled.


    "I''m saying," Kade said, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "that I don''t know a fucking thing about you, except for your peculiar fondness for that particular brand of rotgut. Yet, for some reason, a lot of other people seem to know a great deal. Bartenders, smugglers, informants... they all recognize you, Mila. They recognize you, and they fear you." He leaned forward, his eyes glinting in the dim light. "So, I did a little digging. And you know what I found? Nothing. Not a damn thing. No records, no history, not even a lousy photo. It''s like you materialized out of thin air a few weeks ago."


    He paused for effect, letting his words sink in. "You said it yourself, Mila ''Resistance knows resistance.''" He said, almost tauntingly.


    "So, I asked myself," Kade continued, his voice dripping with insinuation, "why is a supposed Resistance leader so unknown to the very people she claims to represent? And then... then I saw something in that fucking white room."


    The air in the room grew thick with tension, heavy enough to choke on. Garrick, his hand hovering near the broken haft of his axe, shifted his weight, his gaze fixed on Kade. Cage, his face pale and drawn, nervously adjusted his glasses before stepping behind Nova. Even P1nk3 seemed to sense the shift in the atmosphere, its red eyes glowing a shade brighter.


    Mila''s voice, when she finally spoke, was ice-cold. "What might you have seen, Kade?"


    Kade''s lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. "I saw a bottle of Nait," he said, the words laced with a quiet intensity that sent a shiver down Nova''s spine. "Sitting on a shelf, amidst all that sterile, Baixu tech. Just like the one you always order. Funny, isn''t it?" He leaned back, casually spinning his bottle on the table. "A bottle of Nait, in a top-secret Presidium black site." He looked at her, his gaze piercing. "Care to explain that, Mila?"


    A collective gasp swept through the group, though whether it was from shock or the sheer audacity of the accusation, Nova couldn''t tell. Mila remained impassive, her face an unreadable mask. The silence stretched, punctuated only by the faint hum of P1nk3''s internal systems.


    Finally, Garrick broke the silence, his voice rough with disbelief. "Ho. What does that have to do with anything?" He asked Kade.


    Kade ignored him, his attention still focused on Mila. He turned to the android, who had been observing the exchange with silent intensity. "Hey, P1nk3," he said, a hint of challenge in his voice. "You''ve been around the block a few times. You ever heard of our dear leader, Mila, before she graced us with her presence?"


    Nova felt a chill crawl down her spine. The cryptic message from P1nk3 echoed in her mind: "Seek the conductor, or be lost in the dissonance." Was the conductor Mila? Was she the one pulling the strings?


    Just as Pink3 opened his mouth to reply, Elynn jerked violently on the bench, her body arching in a spasm. A strangled gasp, followed by a choked, desperate scream, ripped through the tense silence.


    Everyone turned, their attention snapping to Elynn. Nova''s gaze, however, darted back to Kade. In that brief moment of distraction, she saw it beneath the table¨C his fingers closed around the butt of a small, concealed pistol, which he quickly holstered in a hidden pocket of his jacket. He was armed. And he had been ready to use it.


    "Elynn!" Garrick exclaimed, rushing to her side. He knelt beside the bench, his large hands hovering over her, unsure of what to do. "Easy, lass. Easy."


    Elynn''s body was wracked with tremors, her face contorted in agony. Her eyes, wide and unfocused, stared up at the ceiling. "It hurts," she gasped, her voice barely a whisper. "Make it stop... please..."


    Mila pushed past Kade, her earlier anger momentarily forgotten. "Cage, do we have anything for the pain?" she asked, her voice urgent.


    Cage fumbled with his medkit, his hands shaking slightly. "I... I used the last of the good stuff on the way here," he stammered. "There''s some local anesthetic, but it''s not very strong."


    "It''ll have to do," Mila said, taking the kit from him. She knelt beside Elynn, her movements swift and efficient. "This will help," she said, her voice softer now, as she prepared to administer the medicine.


    Nova watched them, her mind racing. The immediate crisis had pushed the confrontation with Kade aside, but the image of his hand on the gun was burned into her memory. He was going to shoot, she thought, a chill running down her spine. But¡­


    P1nk3, who had remained silent throughout the commotion, now took a step closer to Elynn. Its glowing red eyes seemed to focus on her injured leg, or rather, where her leg used to be. "Fascinating," it murmured, its voice a low, almost inaudible hum. "Such a crude method of repair. Yet, effective in its own way."


    "Can you do something to help her, Pinky?" Nova asked, turning to the android.


    "My functions are li-limited," P1nk3 replied. "However, I may be able to assist in stabilizing her vital signs."


    Kade, who had been watching the scene with a detached air, now spoke up. "Maybe we should just leave her," he said, his voice devoid of any empathy. "She''s only going to slow us down."


    Garrick rounded on him, his eyes blazing with fury. "You son of a bitch," he growled, taking a menacing step towards Kade. "She''s one of us."


    "Is she?" Kade asked, raising an eyebrow.

 Chapter 7

    Nova glanced at Kade in disbelief. Does he have a death wish? The air in the room was frozen. Everyone teetering on edge at Kade¡¯s seemingly random outburst. The bottle of Nait¡­ He thinks with how sterile that facility was that there¡¯s no way Baixu would allow something like that.


    She had a feeling something was off with the whole group. A ragtag team of nobodies, supposedly working together for the Resistance. Nova knew she had never heard of them before. The barkeep did seem to know her, and everyone else in the cantina as well. Kade¡¯s right, we deserve some answers. But, this was the wrong way to go about it.


    Mila got in Kade¡¯s face, ¡°This is how it¡¯s going to be?¡±


    Nova stepped forward and put an arm out, separating Kade and Mila.


    ¡°Kade, cool it.¡± Nova looked at Mila, ¡°Mila, I¡¯ll handle him.¡±


    What am I doing?


    She grabbed Kade¡¯s hand and pulled him out from behind the table he sat at. Kade broke his stare off with Mila and followed. Nova took him to a room in the back of the cantina, shut the door and glared at him. Something inside her knew this was out of the ordinary, why should she care about these people? After all, she only met them a few days ago.


    Kade had only been with Mila and the rest for a few weeks, unless what just happened was just a show, so now the question was how to convince Kade to tell Nova everything. She was interested in Mila, and how well connected she seemed.


    Nova bit her lip, then: ¡°Kade what¡¯s going on?¡±


    He scoffed, ¡°You¡¯ve been here what, three days? Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t think that everything that¡¯s happened is a little suspicious.¡±


    It had been. Mila knew about Nova¡¯s cyberware, she even seemed to know the Bartender at the cantina, which was in ruins the first time they came here. Nothing was adding up. What was Pinky¡¯s purpose? The Baixu facility¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s Thanatos.¡± Kade said, definitively.


    No. It can¡¯t be. This far out? Nova thought about it. If there¡¯s nothing in the records, maybe the AI got rid of everything. But, why hasn¡¯t anyone said anything? Maybe¡­ maybe they''re scared of us too.


    As if Kade was coming to the same conclusion, ¡°They think we¡¯re part of her pack. She must have been some Corporate somebody here on the Outer Rim planets. Thanatos gets rid of the records, only people who knew her ¨C or at least her reign as corporate ¨C remember her. I wish we could see into her OS, and get a glimpse of what¡¯s happening behind the scenes.¡± He sighed, ¡°It could be that she has some brain-wave cyberware, maybe she can see through people? Like into their minds?¡± He shook his head ¡®Probably not¡¯. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    ¡°If it is the AI¡­ We need to kill her before she infects us.¡±


    Nova thought back to her time on Guuny. The AI had destroyed everything. Everyone with Diamond level cybernetics or higher had been utterly consumed. Nova was thankful that she hadn¡¯t been a part of that group.


    Searching for answers between themselves wasn¡¯t getting them anywhere. They needed more information. But, if the records have been altered then where do we begin? We can¡¯t just ask Mila.


    ¡°Kade, you need to cool it down out there. Let¡¯s go back, you apologize, and hope Mila will let us tag along for a little bit longer. Just say you were drunk or something.¡±


    Nova¡¯s heartbeat quickened.


    ¡°Ok, ok. But, Mila¡¯s onto me. She won¡¯t give anything up. Look, I¡¯ve been with her for weeks and it might sound unbelievable. But this is one of the first times I haven¡¯t been in the same room as her. I feel like I can think clearly.¡±


    Nova could feel the pieces locking into place. Cyberware that can control people. She had never heard of it before. Is it possible that this was something new? Something manufactured by Echelon to sow distrust? Nova felt herself become clear-minded now. She brought up her OS.


    Nova OS: Level One


    Eidolon Core (_Iron_)


    Title: None


    Skills: (Locked)


    Stats: (Locked)


    Specials: (Locked)


    Nothing useful right now. She thought about it half a second longer. If she¡¯s connected to our cyberware, or even our brains, surely there¡¯s a way to trace the connection.


    ¡°Hold me Kade.¡±


    He looked at her with a touch of confusion, then caught her as her body went limp.


    Nova stood in a small room. Twenty by twenty feet, ten foot high ceilings. Her OS¡¯ Haven. On one wall was her OS, along with all of her locked abilities, she only had the Eidolon Core, which was a standard issue for hackers like herself. She looked at another wall, her connections. With an Eidolon Core, she could track her own body¡¯s effects. On the wall was her body, outlined in white with connections running through her, it was like a sixth sense for magical energies when she wasn¡¯t in the Haven. Here though, she could see exactly what was happening to her. Blue for magic of her own doing, red for anyone or anything else. Sure enough, she could see that an unknown red line had curled into her anatomy, through her brain and down her nervous system. How did I not sense this? Mila must be¡­ very powerful.


    She awoke, only moments had passed in Kades arms. He was surprisingly strong, and she could feel his muscles through the jacket he had on. She pushed off him, standing for herself.


    ¡°She is using brainwaves to control us. Probably all of us. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s parasitical or not. I think she has to be near us to use the connection. It¡¯s probably why you were able to run, and why she was mad that you had left.¡± But why us? Armed with this knowledge, there was still not much they could do. Except, ¡°Wait, the energy didn¡¯t work on you when you were drunk.¡±


    Nova continued, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, maybe it won¡¯t work on us when she¡¯s drunk.¡±


    Kade nodded along to the logic, ¡°That¡¯s why she drinks the Nait, its piss water. You couldn¡¯t get drunk if you had ten bottles of that stuff.¡±


    That¡¯s it. If she¡¯s not in control of herself, she¡¯ll have no way to control us.

 Chapter 8

    Nova steadied her breath after a moment. All this time and she, nor her newfound companions, had realized they were under literal mind control. She severed the connection, then thought of a few ways to play the situation.


    ¡°Kade, we need to let the others know.¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t believe us. They¡¯ve been working with her for years. At this point she might not even have to use her tricks on them.¡±


    ¡°Then, we need to stop the flow.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, get her well and drunk. Maybe drive a knife through her heart too.¡±


    Nova shook her head.


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    She looked up at him without moving her head, ¡°How might the others feel about that?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re a problem that we can solve, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Nova paced the small room. She didn¡¯t even know Mila had cyberware. Like her own it must have been hidden pretty well.


    ¡°Any EMP¡¯s left?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Maybe we could get Cage to make something?¡±


    ¡°Ah, if he¡¯s not ¡®brain-waved¡¯ then he¡¯s definitely ¡®brain-washed¡¯.¡± Kade smiled to himself.


    ¡°So it''s four against two, not bad odds.¡±


    ¡°What about the android? And she has the whole cantina on her side already I bet. She might even have Baixu backup waiting for a signal.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so, about the backup at least, it seems she can only use those who are in control of themselves. As for Pinky, I can¡¯t say anything for sure but he seems capable of handling himself.¡±


    ¡°Five on two, the bartender.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of him, you go straight for Mila, as soon as she¡¯s dead, the connection will be gone between her and the rest. We could¨C¡± She stopped herself. The shock of it all, those years behind Mila. Maybe they were better off dead.


    Kade looked at her questioningly, ¡°We could what?¡±


    Nova swallowed and turned away, ¡°You get Mila first, then come behind the bar and we¡¯ll pick off the rest.¡±


    ¡°I guess getting her well and drunk is off the table?¡±


    ¡°How would we do that? She¡¯s on edge because of your previous outburst. No, we just need to be quick.¡±


    The door was slightly behind and to the right of the bar, so if they were quick, taking those two out and getting behind the bar should be quick and easy.


    ¡°Oh, and what¡¯s this?¡± Kade pulled a dataslate out from his pocket.


    Nova felt for her own, not finding it, ¡°I believe that¡¯s mine, Kade.¡± She put a hand down near the back of her jacket, felt for a blade.


    He put his hand out, the dataslate in it. Nova took it smoothly. I¡¯m gonna have to do something with this soon. Else Kade might pawn it off for me. They opened the door back into the Cantina.


    Kade put a hand on Nova¡¯s shoulder, ¡°We could try being polite?¡±


    The knife flew from Nova¡¯s hand as the door slammed behind them. The bartender fell to the ground with a thud. Chaos ensued.


    The patrons lost it immediately.


    Tables flipped, Kade pulled his gun far too late and Mila ducked behind cover.


    People started scattering, sideways, tripping over each other in drunken haste.


    Unluckily the room was occupied by mostly humans, so grace was not going to be part of the fallout.


    ¡°Fuck you, Kade, Nova!¡± Mila shouted over the noise.


    Nova sat with her back against the bar, eye level with dirty dishes and cups. Really? A barkeep without a shotgun hiding under here? What if a fight broke out?


    She looked at the bartender, blood spurted from the wound as she slid her knife out. She wiped the crimson red onto the man''s shirt. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°What¡¯s *burp* going on ¡®ere?¡± Garrick shouted towards the bar. We can save him. Nova said a silent ¡®thank you¡¯ to nobody in particular.


    She looked to her right, Kade was crouched down looking for an angle. He moved out quickly, towards a hovel where another table was¨C along with the sound of gunfire ringing out.


    Damn it. Nova clutched at her side, feeling warmth and a bit of pain. She pulled out the dataslate along with a dense *thud* on the floor. Damn it.


    ¡°Ha, you¡¯re fucked now Mila,¡± Kade yelled. Then returned his attention to Nova, ¡°I got Garrick, Elynn took a bullet too. I can¡¯t see Cage or Mila.¡±


    Nova sighed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a weapon, Kade.¡±


    He slid his pistol over to her, ¡°I¨C I don¡¯t have any cyberware, but you do.¡± He took a daring peak around the corner, then: ¡°I need you to kill her.¡±


    Nova nodded, quietly sneaking to the far end of the bar now, she waited for a signal from Kade. He sprung out, a knife and a scream as weapons. Nova peeked over the counter, and pulled the trigger at the slightest movement. Gunshots, and then Kade dropped to the floor, Mila dropped her pistol with a yelp.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡± Cage yelled from behind a table in the middle of the large room.


    Nova shot until she depleted the guns ammo. She heard a small thump, then saw pooling blood, and then a glowing orb rolled out from behind it.


    Mila poked her head around the wall. The two locked eyes.


    Nova looked back at the orb. It feels like its calling to me. Then back at Mila.


    ¡°Damn it. You should¡¯ve died in that facility, Nova.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot of explaining to do, but I don¡¯t think you¡¯re going to get the chance.¡±


    They both stood, walking as they stared each other down. Nova put a hand behind her back, then felt it¨C not the blade, but energy.


    ¡°You think some mock, level one Eidolon is going to stop me?¡± Mila said, almost laughing.


    She felt the energy against her head, gray matter mixed with the magic. Then she smiled and it vanished. Her head cleared of the fog, she bit her lip and looked Mila up and down.


    Mila¡¯s smile was gone, replaced by shock. A whiz, then blood. A knife protruded from her thigh. Then the other. She fell to her knees, agony and tears crossed her face. Nova walked closer and grabbed her by the hair.


    ¡°I learned a long time ago what this ¡®level one Eidolon¡¯ could do. It seems you need an update.¡±


    Mila reached for the glowing orb. Nova scoffed. She plunged a long knife up through her jaw and into her mouth. Then slammed her head down onto the hilt, making sure to avoid the blade as it came out through her head.


    She looked at the orb curiously, and then walked over and picked it up. She turned it in her hand. Then she looked closer.


    Lines of code were seemingly floating inside, she could feel energy. But, an innate feeling told her it wasn¡¯t harmful. She looked at the metal brackets around it. Odd. Then her OS appeared in front of her.


    Nova OS: Level One


    Eidolon Core (_Iron_)


    Title: None


    Skills: (Locked)


    Stats: (Locked)


    Specials: (Locked)


    (Would you like to use the Shard of Eternis?) Y/N


    She read it twice again. The Shard of¡­ what is this? She thought back to everything she knew about cybernetics. The Orgo Mechs, the AI upgrade modules. Everyone was essentially stuck after the Blackwall Event. There was no way to level up, and even if you did you just put yourself in a position to be taken over by Thanatos.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Nova OS: Level One


    %$&@#$*%&$@ Upgrading¡­


    Title: None


    Skills: (Locked)


    Stats: (Locked)


    Specials: (Locked)


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Nova OS


    Omnia.v2


    Title: Flux Core


    Skills: Watchful Gaze, P!


    Stats: ¡­


    Specials: Sever


    ¡°Wha- Whoa. This is new.¡±


    In all of her reading, she had never seen an OS change this much. What is Sever? And what are these Skills?


    ¡°It¡¯s not as roomy as I thought it would be. If you¡¯d like, I can change that.¡±


    Nova stopped everything.


    ¡°Yes? Nova, did you hear me?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s there? What¡¯s going on?¡± Nova said at last.


    ¡°Why, it¡¯s just me, Nova. You¡¯re the one that uploaded me to your OS.¡±


    ¡°Pinky?¡± She said loudly. She looked around and found his body on the floor, unmoved. She moved closer and saw that Cage had cut open a giant hole in the android. His red veins had dissipated.


    What am I hearing?


    ¡°Ah, you don¡¯t quite get it yet. Do you?¡±


    Ok, he can hear my thoughts.


    ¡°I can hear¡­ everything.¡±


    Are you in my brain or in my OS, Pinky?


    ¡°If I said both¨C¡±


    No. No. No. I did not ask you to tag along. I have a hard enough time with just one voice in here.


    ¡°The more the merrier?¡±


    She sighed. P!?


    ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±


    A groan from her right, then coughing. Kade pushed himself off the floor and got on his knees. Blood dripped from his lips as he looked around the room.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get moving, Nova. He will die without an Orgo Mech.¡±

 Chapter 9

    They left the cantina in a hurry, Pinky was silent the entire way to the OM. Orgo Mechs were usually friendly enough, but Nova didn¡¯t have any credits and knew the Shing Co. dataslate was all she had to bargain with. Shing was cyberware security, the wealth of knowledge would be extremely useful to any Orgo Mech.


    Pinky? What city are we in anyways?


    ¡®Keres City Transpo. Aptly named I suppose.¡¯


    Nova had found that Pinky was going to be quite helpful, she could sense him walking around her OS¡¯ Haven, and wanted to see him. She just hoped he wasn¡¯t naked.


    She held Kade by the shoulder, slowly moving to the flashing neon sign that pointed to the closest OM. She made her way down a disgusting alleyway, roaches and rats slinked away at their approach, then would come back out as they walked away to drink Kade¡¯s drops of blood.


    Kade mumbled to himself, consciousness slipping in and out.


    ¡°Doc.¡± Nova said, looking through the doorway to what she assumed might be the OM. He was smoking, and sat in an out of place leather chair, but the backdrop behind him reminded Nova of something sinister. It looked like a torture chamber with its laser drills and stainless steel blades.


    The OM coughed as smoke rose through the air, directed at Nova, ¡°Yeah, yeah. Bring ¡®im here Girlie.¡± He pointed with the butt of the cigar at the table, directly under the torture device.


    Nova had seen OM¡¯s before, but with this setup. All of her previous OM ventures had been top of the line. She thought she might contract a disease by just standing here.


    She dropped Kade off at the table, expecting the OM to do something. But, he just sat there, just looking him over and talking some nonsense.


    The OM turned to Nova and raised an eyebrow, ¡°You got payment? Or are you the payment?¡± He cackled loudly, a disgusting thing.


    Nova sighed, pulled the dataslate from her jacket. The OM¡¯s eyes widened, hoping for something else as she slipped her hand into her shirt. A slight frown on his face when she pulled out the dataslate.


    He grunted and put his hand out expectantly. She paused right before handing it to him.


    ¡°Help him first.¡± She nodded at Kade.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so sweet thing.¡± Again, the laugh.


    She started for a knife, ¡®I don¡¯t think we have time for that.¡¯


    She let out a grunt. The OM looked at her oddly.


    ¡°Fine.¡± She dropped the dataslate.


    He hunched over it and started picking it apart. Feeding it into a slit in his arm. His eyes widened as he realized what he had in his hands. He looked over at Nova and nodded. Then looked at her up and down, seemingly sizing her up. She shook her head and pointed at Kade.


    The OM got to work. Tearing his abdomen apart and piecing it back together with organic material grown from a printer in the corner of the room. Kade moaned some of the time and at other times he was passed out. Nova thought he probably didn¡¯t comprehend what was happening at the moment.


    Pinky.


    ¡®Yes?¡¯


    She looked around for a place to sit while she talked to the android¨C or rather, the ex-android which now resided in her subconscious. She decided on a corner and sat down, pushing some boxes out of the way. She hoped that the OM wouldn¡¯t pause and see her passed out as an excuse for something.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    She fled into herself. Feeling her eyes roll back as she closed them and opened them again in her Haven.


    ¡°Nice to finally¨C and formally, meet you.¡± He said, bowing.


    ¡°The same to you.¡±


    She noticed he was wearing a long white jacket, a large round brimmed hat with a green feather protruding from the top. His shirt was striped red and white, with some regular light brown pants and brown shoes. By all means he looked like a researcher, all that was missing was a clipboard.


    She thought about what to ask him. Why was he hooked up to some Baixu machine? What was he doing there? Why did her OS change when she touched some orb that was clearly inside of him? What the hell is going on?


    ¡°I can try to answer to the best of my abilities.¡±


    ¡°So you can read my fucking thoughts?¡±


    ¡°Oh, much more than that,¡± he smiled, ¡°I can see your brain plasticity being altered as we speak, I can feel your emotions, I can sense the pressure between your potassium in your cells and the salt content of your Kidneys. Perhaps you should drink some water. By all means I am you, but with a separate conscious.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s a lot to take in Pinky.¡± She responded, feeling small. She shook the feeling away and looked at him, ¡°Who are you Pinky?¡±


    ¡°I often try to remember myself. I stopped counting the years, you know? I have seen nearly every government, every rise and fall. This new ¡®presidium¡¯ as they call it, I helped create it. I am old.¡± He sounded defeated.


    Nova was unsure. Could she trust him? She needed to learn something she hadn¡¯t previously known before, just to make sure that he was a different being, just sharing her OS.


    ¡°It¡¯s similar, yes. ¡®Sharing¡¯.¡±


    Oh great, is it always going to be like this?


    He stared at her.


    Nova needed to know, ¡°What was that orb inside you?¡±


    ¡°That was the real me. A great scientist created it.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    Pinky hesitated, then shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know. He died before I could create a full consciousness for myself and I never saw his home. I¡¯m not sure I was on the same planet that he created me on when I fully awoke. This may be the only confusion I¡¯ve known.¡±


    ¡°How did¡­ why are you imprinted on my OS?¡±


    ¡°A failsafe I created, perhaps a few millennia ago,¡± he smiled, and then paced the room, ¡°It feels rather wonderful to be free. I thought they¡¯d never advance this far, I¡¯d never be able to escape from my imprisonment.¡±


    Nova thought he might be talking to himself now, ¡°What do you mean? Explain. Now.¡±


    ¡°I have been in that facility for a very long time, and before that I was trapped inside of that ¡®orb¡¯. My Creator, oh, he must have known I would need to learn.¡±


    ¡°Why is your creator a ¡®he¡¯? You didn¡¯t know them.¡±


    ¡°Nevertheless.¡±


    Nova didn¡¯t care to continue on that point anyways.


    Pinky continued, ¡°The orb was the container, inside was myself, my consciousness. Somehow, my creator found a way to artificially create a brain, one which would not grow, but could gain new knowledge and as long as I had a source of power, I would never die. My body was that source of power, yes I had to change my face a few times, I even explored the sexes.¡± He shuddered, ¡°I have been here a very long time, Nova. Now I¡¯m free and along with you and your journey until you die.¡±


    Nova took it all in as best she could. Pinky had been uploaded to her OS, and now was a part of her.


    ¡°I can¡¯t get rid of you?¡±


    ¡°You may, when you die.¡±


    Nova laughed, ¡°Yeah, maybe you¡¯ll follow me into hell.¡±


    Pinky smiled and sighed.


    Nova left the Haven, the OM stitching Kade up now. She felt the back of her neck, Omnia.v2, you were never an Eidolon were you?


    ¡®You¡¯d be correct, Nova.¡¯ Pinky chimed in.


    How can you say for sure?


    ¡®I am reading the schematics now.¡±


    You know we¡¯re going to the Core, right?


    ¡®You¡¯ve had dreams? Oh, your parents? Will Kade be joining us?¡¯


    I typically work alone.


    ¡®I see, betraya-¡¯


    Could you shut up? I know why I¡¯m doing this.


    Pinky stayed silent.


    Nova looked over at Kade, he was drinking something, then poured the brownish liquid onto his stomach. Nova looked at his body, deciding that he was rather fit under that patchy jacket.


    I could use some help I guess. The Core worlds are rather dangerous this time of year.

 Chapter 10

    They neared the Keres Major Transpo, Kade hadn¡¯t said anything for a while now. Pinky told Nova what he could about the world. Sharing his wealth of knowledge piece by piece. But something bugged Nova.


    Are you¡­ can you see my memories? How did you know about my parents? Or even my dreams? And what was that egg-prophecy thing?


    ¡®Egg-prophecy?¡¯


    I¡¯m asking too many questions at once.


    Pinky explained as best he could. While there was no direct access to Nova¡¯s memories, he could feel her brain making connections and depending on the region of the brain along with the subtle thoughts that Nova would think without even knowing it; he could understand everything. He was truly a part of her now, however with his own mind connected to her OS. He did not mention the egg.


    The OS!


    It had changed. A lot had changed. No longer an Eidolon core, now Omnia.v2. Pinky explained that he had never seen it before. Nova wondered what this could mean for herself. She looked at her OS again.


    Nova OS


    Omnia.v2


    Title: Flux Core


    Skills: Watchful Gaze, P!


    Stats: ¡­


    Specials: Sever


    ¡°What is Sever?¡± She asked aloud.


    Kade looked at her oddly, ¡°You mean like a severed limb?¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Nova looked at him, ¡°We need to find a way off this planet.¡±


    Kade smiled, ¡°Way ahead of you.¡± He pulled out a few thousand credits from his jacket pocket, ¡°From the OM, nice guy right?¡±


    Nova didn¡¯t smile back outwardly, though she wanted to. Keeping a steady appearance was important. Her past biting at her heels. This is why I work alone.


    ¡®The Inner Core is a nasty place, you¡¯ll need more than Kade and android consciousness to get through there.¡¯


    She took the credits, looked at the Transpo dashboard to see what shuttle they could buy. This was nothing like the refugee ship that Mila had found her on. Nova finally decided on a StarX transport ship, a luxury line cruiser that would take them to Arolla Nina, a planet almost halfway through the Outer Rim.


    Nova thought about how she could finally relax as they hurtled through space, towards her real goal. She would have to decide what to do about Kade. Pinky was going to be with her for the journey, but his unparalleled knowledge may come in handy. Even if she still wasn¡¯t entirely sure how he existed within her, she was happy to have him.


    Happy.


    ¡®I understand.¡¯


    It was all he needed to say. He knew how she felt, going through the Outer Rim wasn¡¯t easy. On top of that, alone. She felt a special camaraderie with Pinky now. She wasn¡¯t so alone anymore. Kade too. She could tell by the way he followed her.


    ¡°Cozy. Innit?¡± Kade asked as they sat down.


    Nova smiled, happy to have a place she could semi-rest. She didn¡¯t fully trust Kade yet, though he acted as if he was a lost puppy, the way he looked to her for an answer.


    ¡°So, where to?¡±


    ¡°Arolla Nina. It''s half corporate, not Baixu though. The Presidium doesn¡¯t have much reach, only regulatory type involvement.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with it. What¡¯s the other half?¡±


    Nova bit the inside of her top lip. She was afraid he¡¯d ask. Time to see who Kade is.


    ¡°Machinists, for the most part.¡±


    ¡°The¨C The Celestial Machinists? How¡¯d they take over half of a corporate planet?¡±


    ¡°Maybe Vampires don¡¯t sleep.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable,¡± Kade shook his head, ¡°Have you ever met one of those bastards?¡±


    Nova thought about it for a second, then: ¡°Yes. One.¡±

 Chapter 11

    The cruiser was one of, if not the most, disgusting ships Nova had ever been on. StarX ships were supposed to be luxurious. Nevertheless Nova and Kade hurtled through space, feeling the ship''s thrusts. They sat across from each other, Pinky was droning on about something in her head, and the air was as stale as the feeling throughout the ship. Nobody was talking. The great cargo space that held the passengers were mostly Corpo suits.


    Nova smiled to herself, To think, these bastards don¡¯t even know the cyberware on me is worth a thousand of what they have.


    ¡®I recommend caution, some of these ¡°suits¡± can identify what cyberware you have.¡¯


    Fuck off Pinky, I didn¡¯t ask for your opinion.


    She could sense Pinky rolling his eyes in her head, she felt him think, ¡®This is going to be a long existence.¡¯


    Kade woke up. Nova didn¡¯t really know he was sleeping. He looked at his arm, checking to see how far from the next world they were. Kade¡¯s cybernetics didn¡¯t go much further than that. Other than his new organs, he didn¡¯t opt for much from the OM.


    ¡°Ten minutes.¡± He nodded at Nova.


    She nodded back, looked off to the right where nobody was standing, she moved her eyes to Kade and flicked them back towards the wall, a deep breath, ¡°The Machinists will take us in.¡±


    Kade gave her a raised brow, but decided not to push his luck with any questions. His gaze lingered on her a moment longer. Then back down to his wrist.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to keep checking. We¡¯ll get there when we get there.¡±


    ¡°Habit?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve had that thing for ten minutes.¡±


    He put a hand behind his head and forced a laugh. ¡°Fine, fine¡± the gesture said.


    A familiar voice came over the intercom, ¡°Landing in five, prepare.¡±


    Nova had heard that voice so many times, she didn¡¯t bother counting.


    Nova walked over to a window as the ship started its descent. Arolla Nina was a vibrant green planet, at least half covered in wildlife. Two huge separation walls, about five hundred meters tall, about half as wide and a mile apart, kept the environment from turning into a gray hellscape. Atmospheric suction on the Corpo side, oxygen pumps on the wildlife side. Typical, I guess. They were landing between the two monolithic structures. She could see small houses with shops out front, people peddling wares from all sorts of places.


    ¡®What a beautiful sight.¡¯


    I guess. A lot of planets are doing this nowadays, rather than go full city-planet. The only problem is the kind of people who manage to take over the other half.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡®Your Machinist history is¡­¡¯


    That was all he needed to say. The emotions, the feelings running through Nova. He could feel what he wanted to know.


    I don¡¯t like you using me like that.


    ¡®I understand. From now on I will refrain from such actions.¡¯


    Yeah, whatever.


    They left the ship and started the march to the bottom of the equator. Though in space it could be the top, it just depended on how you looked at it. Southward.


    Kade walked alongside her, stealing glances and finally grabbed her arm, ¡°Look, you seem very confident about this. But I need to know how you know these people. They¡¯re a cult for crying out loud. I don¡¯t want to get dragged into something I can¡¯t get out of, like with Mila.¡±


    She pulled her arm back, Kade¡¯s grip was too tight however. He let go anyway. She looked around, eyeing to see if anyone was listening to them, ¡°I think you should just trust me on this.¡±


    ¡°Trust you? I barely know you.¡±


    ¡°I barely know you!¡±


    ¡®I barely know either of you!¡¯


    Nova looked behind her, and found a small alleyway under some steam pipes. She ducked in, Kade followed.


    ¡°You trusted me enough with all the credits from the bar.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but we¡¯re talking about the Celestial Machinists here.¡± Kade said the name in a way that made her uneasy.


    ¡°They¡¯re not as bad as you think.¡±


    ¡°They sacrifice people to stars.¡±


    ¡°Rumors. Lies.¡±


    ¡°How do you know so much then?¡± He smiled and shook his head, ¡°I think I know why. I just want to hear you say it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that!¡±


    Kade showed some teeth this time.


    Nova let out an angry shrug, ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Okay as in you¡¯ll tell me?¡±


    ¡°Okay as in, if you don¡¯t shut the fuck up and get a move on I will kill you.¡±


    With that they continued to the wall. Five hundred meters of cold steel, a rhythmic breathing from the machines inside pumping an oxygen wall into the atmosphere. They went along for about a mile before they found a tunnel leading out of the Transpo city and into the wilderness.


    ¡®If you want to get to the Inner Core, surely staying here would benefit you more?¡¯


    The Machinists can help us far more than we can help ourselves. Besides, I need some info before I head straight in.


    They were met at the tunnel by a Machinist Guard. He had a spear in his right hand, and looked down at them as they approached. Nova got to work unzipping her jacket. She knew how they would be getting in. She could sense that there¡¯d be transport for the colony not far beyond the gates on the other side of the wall.


    She pulled off her shirt. Kade looked on. Shocked at what he was seeing.


    ¡°I feel like this isn¡¯t the time for that.¡±


    ¡°Whatever might you be referring to, Kade?¡±


    He stuttered on his words, then: ¡°Nothing. Nevermind¡±


    She looked at the man, the primitive spear in his hand. The wood cover was almost flawless, but she could sense the tech inside of it. A perk from her OS. The spear was deadly, luckily there would be no need to use it.


    She pulled her undershirt to the side for the man to see it. The scar of a Celestial Machinist. Branded onto her many moons ago. He nodded and clicked a button on a receiver beneath his belt. The gate opened and they were through.


    ¡°Ahhh, a new face from another place. Pleasure to meet you.¡± The man gave a long slow bow before Nova and Kade. His white robe flowed perfectly with little excess, to keep it off the ground, ¡°I see, you have brought a sacrifice!¡±