The hum of The Rusty Viper's engines faded as Mo Ying set the starship down in a hidden cave—her so-called "den." The space was a jumble of scavenged starship parts, crates of rations, and a makeshift table where a few loyal pirates cleaned their blasters. Xiao Ya lingered by the entrance, her eyes wide as she took in the cluttered space, while Lin Che followed Mo Ying to a corner stacked with holographic maps.
"The black market's in the heart of the Scrapyard Gorge," Mo Ying said, tapping a glowing spot on the map. "Run by a guy named Jax—ex-Arcane Syndicate, now sells info to the highest bidder. He's got a Shadow Shard, or so the rumors say. But be careful—Jax doesn't trust anyone. And the Syndicate's got eyes there, too."
Lin Che nodded, his mind drifting to the memory of Lin Han—the starship mechanic from his third life. He could almost hear Lin Han's voice, warning him about black market rules: Never show weakness. Never reveal more than you have to. And always check the merchandise before you pay.
"I'll go with you," Xiao Ya said suddenly, stepping forward. "My plant sense—if the Shard has that dark energy, I'll feel it. You won't get tricked by a fake."
Mo Ying smirked. "Smart kid. But we need to blend in. The Syndicate's got posters of you two all over the gorge—'Wanted: Star Marrow Bearer and Plant Whisperer.'" She rummaged through a crate and tossed them each a tattered cloak. "Hoods up. Keep your mouths shut. And if anyone asks, you're my new mechanics."
The walk to the Scrapyard Gorge was a lesson in chaos. The ground crunched underfoot with shards of broken metal; above, rusted starship hulls creaked in the wind, casting long shadows over the dirt paths. Pirates and scavengers wandered the streets, their eyes sharp with suspicion, while holographic signs flashed ads for "discount blasters" and "mystery artifacts."
Xiao Ya's hand tightened around Lin Che's wrist as they passed a group of Syndicate enforcers—their black uniforms emblazoned with the Syndicate's blood-red crest. Lin Che pulled his hood lower, his heart racing, but the enforcers paid them no mind, too busy shoving a scavenger against a wall.
Jax's shop was a dilapidated warehouse, its doors guarded by two men with cybernetic arms. Mo Ying nodded at them, and they stepped aside—proof of her reputation here. Inside, the air smelled of machine oil and stale smoke. Jax sat behind a metal desk, his face scarred by a laser burn, a holographic display of goods floating in front of him.
"Mo Ying," he said, his voice low. "I didn't think you'd be back so soon. And you brought… friends." His eyes flicked to Lin Che and Xiao Ya, his gaze lingering on Lin Che's wrist—even hidden under the cloak, the Star Marrow's faint glow didn't escape him.
"Cut the crap, Jax," Mo Ying said, slamming a credit chip on the desk. "We're here for the Shadow Shard. You got it, or not?"
Jax leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "The Shard's valuable. Syndicate's offering a fortune for it. Why should I sell it to you?"
"Because the Syndicate'll kill you once they get it," Lin Che said, speaking up. "You know that. We'll pay you double what they're offering—and we'll let you live."
Jax's eyebrows shot up. "Bold words for a kid in a hood. You got the credits?"
Lin Che pulled out a small pouch—stolen from the mutineers' supplies—and dumped it on the desk. Gold coins clinked against the metal, glinting in the dim light. "Half now. Half when we see the Shard."
Jax stared at the coins, then nodded. He pressed a button on his desk, and a hidden compartment opened, revealing a small, black crystal. It pulsed with a faint, sickly energy—exactly what Lin Che had felt in the mine cave on Scrap Star.
Xiao Ya gasped softly, her hand flying to her chest. "That's it. The darkness—it's eating at the crystal. Like it's hungry."
Jax smirked. "Told you it's the real deal. Now hand over the other half, and it's yours."
Lin Che reached for the pouch—but before he could grab it, the warehouse doors slammed open. Syndicate enforcers poured in, their blasters raised. At their head stood a man in a tailored black suit—his face cold, his eyes fixed on Lin Che.
"Jax, you traitor," the man said, his voice like ice. "The Syndicate doesn't take kindly to those who sell our property."
Jax paled, reaching for his blaster—but an enforcer shot him in the shoulder before he could move. He collapsed to the floor, groaning.
The Syndicate leader stepped forward, his gaze locked on Lin Che's wrist. "Lin Che, isn't it? The Star Marrow Bearer. We've been looking for you." He nodded to his men. "Take him. And the girl—her plant powers might be useful. Jax… leave him for the scrap rats."
Lin Che grabbed Xiao Ya's hand, pulling her behind him. He thought of Lin Han's memory again—this time, of a star communicator he'd fixed in his third life. He fumbled in his pocket, pulling out the old communicator Mo Ying had given him.
"Mo Ying, now!" he shouted into the device.
The warehouse windows shattered. Mo Ying's pirates rappelled in, their blasters firing. The Syndicate enforcers scattered, caught off guard. Mo Ying herself burst through the door, her silver hair flying, a blaster in each hand.
"Run!" she shouted to Lin Che and Xiao Ya. "I'll cover you!"
Lin Che grabbed the Shadow Shard from the desk, then helped Xiao Ya climb through the broken window. Outside, the streets were chaos—pirates and enforcers fighting, scavengers running for cover. Lin Che pulled Xiao Ya into an alley, his heart racing.
They ran until they reached the edge of the gorge, where The Rusty Viper waited. Mo Ying was already there, her pirates loading supplies onto the ship.
"Did you get it?" she asked, breathless.
Lin Che held up the Shadow Shard. It pulsed faintly, its darkness seeming to shrink in the sunlight. "Yeah. But the Syndicate leader—he knows who I am. He'll be back."
Mo Ying nodded, climbing into the pilot's seat. "Then we'd better leave. The next stop—Edge Colony. The Syndicate's got a stronghold there, but it's also where we can find more info on the other Shards."
Xiao Ya sat beside Lin Che, staring at the Shadow Shard in his hand. "It's not just a crystal, is it?" she said softly. "It's alive. Hungry."
Lin Che nodded, wrapping the Shard in a cloth to muffle its energy. "We need to find the others before the Syndicate does. And we need to figure out what they're for. Lin Han's memory—he mentioned something about a 'ritual.' Like the Shards are pieces of something bigger."
The starship lifted off, leaving Scrap Star behind. Lin Che stared at the Shadow Shard, his mind racing. The Syndicate was closing in. The Shards were dangerous. And somewhere, Su Qing was waiting for him.
But for now, they had a lead. And with the Shadow Shard in their hands— and each other—they had a chance.
Lin Che took a deep breath, gripping the Shard tightly. The journey was just beginning.