Chapter 1: Introduction
The silver-and-blue expanse of Skylar Station unfurled before Mikasa as she steered the Stardust into the bustling spaceport. The station was a hive of activity, with ships of all shapes and sizes docking and undocking, their hulls glistening under the harsh glare of floodlights. She loved the energy of the place, the electric hum of anticipation that filled the air like a live wire.
"You know, Mika, I never get tired of this view," Cleo commented, her eyes alight with excitement.
She was perched on the edge of her seat, her fingers dancing over the ship's controls with a practiced ease that always made Mikasa smile. "It's like the galaxy's busiest beehive."
Mikasa chuckled, her cybernetic eye flickering as it scanned their approach. "Just don't get any ideas about 'beekeeping,' Cleo. We're here for the job, not to stir up trouble."
Cleo rolled her eyes, her long, purple hair swaying with the motion. "Since when have I ever 'stirred up trouble'? I just... 'redirect' it.
Sometimes it needs a little... nudge to get things moving."
Mikasa snorted, her gaze sweepign the docks for their contact. "Just keep the nudges to a minimum. I'd prefer not to have to explain another 'accidental' docking bay explosion to the station authorities."
Cleo laughed, a sound like tinkling glass that was infectious and drew a rare smile from Mikasa. "Deal.
Scout's honor," Cleo promised, grinning.
Mikasa guide the Stardust into an open docking bay, the ship's engines whining softly as they powered down. The airlock hissed and clicked, and the bay's doors slid open with a resonant clang.
A tall figure in the uniform of a military officer stood waiting for them, her features sharp and stern beneath a shock of dark hair. She flicked her gaze over Mikasa and Cleo, her eyes lingering on Mikasa's cybernetic enhancements.
"Mika, Cleo, right? I'm Zara. You're late."
Mikasa's eyebrows quirked up at the abrupt greeting. "We got held up by some... enthusiastic customs officials," she said, a faint smirk playing on her lips.
Cleo hopped off the Stardust's ramp, her boots clanging against the metal platform. "Zara, right? Nice to meet you! We're always happy to keep people waiting." She winked, extending a gloved hand towards Zara.
Zara didn't return the smile, but her grip was firm when she shook Cleo's hand. "No time for pleasantries.
Let's see the cargo," Zara said, her voice curt.
Mikasa nodded, understanding the urgency. "Of course. He should be waking up now. He put up a bit of a fight, so we had to sedate. Follow me." She gestured for Zara to board the Stardust, Cleo trailing closely behind. The interior of the ship was a blend of sleek, modern technology and worn, functional comforts, reflecting the personalities of its inhabitants. Mikasa led them to the cargo hold, the metal grating beneath their feet clanging with each step.
"We retrieved this from the Ashan Rebels," Mikasa explained, activating the hold's lights to illuminate the crates stacked within. "They were looking to sell it to the highest bidder. We intercepted the transaction and brought it here."
Zara surveyed the cargo, her eyes narrowing as she approached one of the crates.
It stood tall and thin, vertically oriented among the others, almost as if it were a sentinel guarding its more squat companions.
Cleo's eyebrows shot up as she saw Zara's interest. "That's the one, isn't it? The one you're after."
Mikasa nodded, watching Zara's reactions closely. "What's so special about it?"
Zara reached out a hand to touch the crate, her fingers hovering just above the surface before she seemed to think better of it. She stepped back, her expression inscrutable.
"Before we discuss payments, I need to confirm its authenticity. Can you open it?"
Mikasa exchanged a glance with Cleo, sensing the sudden shift in tension. "Of course," she said, moving towards the crate and pulling a multi-tool from her belt. "Just so we're clear, though, this wasn't part of the initial agreement."
Zara's jaw tightened, her eyes never leaving the crate. "I understand. But this is a high-stakes job, and I need to be certain we're all on the same page."
Mikasa set to work on the crate's locks, her fingers deft and sure. "Fair enough. But if it's not what you're looking for, we'll need to renegotiate the terms."
Cleo leaned against a nearby wall, her arms crossed.
"You know, for a high-stakes job, you sure seem pretty calm, Zara."
Zara ignored her, her attention fully focused on the crate as Mikasa pried it open. The lid creaked and groaned, the metal fastenings protesting until, finally, it slid aside with a clatter.
Inside the crate, hanging naked, upside down, was a man. His wrists and ankles were shackled to the four corners of a metal frame, and a thick rubber ball gag was tightly tied in his mouth.
As Mikasa and Cleo stared, the man stirred, groaning weakly, his eyes fluttering open. They were a deep, piercing blue, and they met Mikasa's gaze with a clarity that seemed to cut through the fog of his captivity.
Zara stepped closer, her hand reaching out to touch the side of his face, her fingers tracing the lines of his jaw as if committing every detail to memory. She spoke into her communicator, her voice low and urgent. "Run a facial recognition scan. See if we have a match in our database." As she issued the command, Zara pulled out a data pad, her movements swift and practiced. She scanned the man's face with the device, the cold blue light casting eerie shadows on his gaunt features.
Zara's eyes flicked up from the data pad, her expression grave. "This isn't Kael Vex.'
Cleo's eyes widened, her gaze darting between Zara and the man in the crate. "Wait, so you're saying he's not a prisoner? He's...
?” Cleo's eyes widened, her gaze darting between Zara and the man in the crate. The man suddenly struggled against his restraints, his body tensing and his eyes blazing with sudden strength. The chains rattled against the frame, and he let out a muffled roar of protest, his chest heaving with effort.
Zara's expression remained stoic, but her grip on her data pad tightened. "You got the wrong guy..." Zara stepped back, her voice taking on an edge of irritation. "There's no bounty listed for this guy. Whoever gave you the job clearly fed you false intel."
Mikasa's eyes narrowed, her jaw set in a firm line as she stared at the man in the crate. She could feel the anger bubbling up inside her, the cold fury that came from being used and deceived. She would have preferred to let the man rot in the crate, but they had been played, and that wasn't acceptable. "That's not our fault," she snapped.
Cleo was quick to intervene, her voice smooth and calm, a stark contrast to Mikasa's sharp words.
"Hold on, Mika. Maybe Zara can help us figure this out. Right, Zara?" She turned to the military officer, her expression hopeful.
Zara, however, seemed more preoccupied with the man in the crate. As Cleo spoke, he thrashed again, his movements more desperate this time. The chains clanked against the metal frame, and he let out another muffled roar, his eyes wild with fear and pain.
"If this isn't Kael, who the hell is this guy?" Mikasa demanded, stepping closer to the crate. She reached out, grasping one of the man's shoulders to steady him. His skin was cold and clammy beneath her touch, and she could feel the rapid pounding of his heart.
Zara's gaze flicked between Mikasa and the man, her expression inscrutable.
"I don't know who he is, but we can find out." She stepped forward, her hand reaching for the gag in the man's mouth.
"Wait," Mikasa said, her grip on the man's shoulder tightening. "Maybe we should... check his story first." She glanced at Cleo, who nodded in agreement.
Zara hesitated, then stepped back, allowing Mikasa to pull the gag free. The man coughed and gasped, his chest heaving as he sucked in air. His voice was hoarse and raw, but his words were clear and urgent.
"I've been telling you, I'm not Kael Vex! I'm not your guy!" He thrashed again, his body straining against the chains. "My name is Drake, and I'm also looking for Kael Vex!"
Mikasa frowned, her eyes searching his face.
Mikasa nodded, her decision made.
"We'll keep him here, for now. But we'll need some answers, and we'll need them soon."
She turned to Cleo, meeting her gaze. "Close and lock up the crate. We'll sort this out on our own terms."
Cleo nodded, moving to do as Mikasa instructed. She closed the lid of the crate, the metal creaking softly as it slid back into place. "Hey, Wait!" The locking mechanism clicked into position, the sound echoing through the cargo hold like a sentence being passed.
Zara watched the proceedings, her expression unreadable. "You do realize that this complicates things, don't you?"
Mikasa's lips curled into a slight smile, a dangerous glint in her eye. "Complications are just opportunities in disguise, Zara.
We'll sort this out." Mikasa's voice was firm, her mind already racing with contingency plans. Cleo, however, suddenly remembered something and, with a quick look at Mika, opened the crate again. The man inside had been quiet, only his ragged breathing filling the silence. As the lid slid open, his eyes widened in surprise, his body tensing once more.
Cleo swiftly moved, retrieving the rubber ball gag that had been discarded on the floor. She approached the man, her purple hair cascading over her shoulder as she leaned in. "Sorry, love. But we can't have you distracting us," she said, her voice sweet and apologetic as she reattached the gag, sealing his mouth once more. The man's eyes flashed with frustration, but he made no further protests, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he struggled to breathe through his nose.
Mikasa's gaze flicked from Cleo to the man, a silent understanding passing between them. They both knew that this complication could either be their downfall or their opportunity, depending on how they handled it. She turned to Zara, her voice steady and firm. "We'll need some time to...
figure out what we're going to do with this unexpected complication," Mikasa said, her voice low as she turned to Cleo, the click of booting steps echoing through the cargo hold. "We can't just let him go, and we can't exactly parade him around Skylar Station."
Cleo nodded in agreement, her brows furrowed in thought as she leaned against the crate, her fingers tapping against her thigh. "Yeah, we need a plan. We can't trust him yet, but we can't ignore what he's saying either. He might have info we need." She paused, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Mikasa.
She prepared to close it once more. The man inside let out a muffled cry, his eyes wide with desperation. "No, wait! Please, you can't just leave me in here! I can help you, I swear!"