The gunship cut through the neon haze of the orbital station, engines whining softly. Ember leaned against the railing, surveying the galaxy outside. Somewhere out there, Earth waited. Somewhere out there, answers waited.
Bell was beside her, arms crossed, staring at Ember with that sharp, crimson-eyed grin.
"You're quiet," Bell remarked. "Thinking about how to get yourself killed?"
"Planning how not to," Ember replied, her eyes narrowing at the drifting wreckage of an old mining fleet below. "If we're going to survive out here, I need someone who can fight… and someone I can trust."
Bell tilted her head. "Trust? With you? Hah… good luck."
Ember smiled faintly. "I don't need luck. I need talent."
She tapped a sequence on the console, and a list of mercenary candidates appeared, each with records of combat, hacking, and unusual enhancements. Her fingers hovered over the names until one caught her eye:
> Kael – Fox-kin Mechanic & Combat Specialist
Kael's profile displayed cybernetic implants across his arms, enhanced reflexes, and an unusual aptitude for psionics—a rare trait in this sector. Most importantly, he was loyal to the highest bidder.
"Sounds perfect," Ember muttered.
Bell's grin widened. "Ah… so someone else gets to see me in action. I like him already."
Ember ignored the warning in Bell's tone and set a course for Kael's last known location: an abandoned scrapyard orbiting a shattered moon.
---
Landing at the Scrapyard
The gunship landed with a soft thud amid twisted metal and broken starships. Ember stepped out first, scanning the area. The smell of burnt circuits and oil stung her nose.
Kael appeared from the shadows, his fox ears twitching and a wrench in one hand. His cybernetic tail flicked behind him, betraying both curiosity and caution.
"You Ember Vale?" he asked, voice calm but wary.
"Yes," she replied, holding her hands up. "I'm recruiting. I need someone with your skills. You interested?"
Kael studied her for a moment. Then his lips curved into a sly smile. "Depends. What's in it for me?"
Ember smirked. "Adventure, money, survival… and someone who knows how to cook real ramen."
Bell laughed from behind Ember, loud and possessive. "I heard that! You're trying to steal my spot, newbie?"
Ember's eyes flicked to Bell. "Relax. He's not replacing you. Yet."
Bell's eyes narrowed, but the hint of a smile remained. That tension—the sharp edge of jealousy mixed with care—was already forming a bond she couldn't break.
Kael extended a hand. "Fine. I'm in. But I pick my own pay."
Ember shook it. "Agreed. Welcome aboard."
---
Early Signs of Cyber & Gene Mods
Once aboard the ship, Kael immediately began tinkering with the engine. Ember watched him work, fascinated by the cybernetic precision and strange hum of energy he manipulated.
Bell hovered nearby, arms crossed, muttering under her breath. Ember caught one sentence:
"I'm not letting anyone else touch him…"
A chill ran down Ember's spine, but she smiled. "Noted, Bell. Noted."
Kael finished his first modification in minutes, boosting the ship's speed and shields. Ember could feel the pulse of energy—a mix of cyber upgrades, alien gene implants, and Kael's latent psionic power—integrating with the ship's systems.
This was the start. The first thread of her mercenary company. And already, the bonds were… complicated.
Somewhere deep in her mind, Ember knew one thing: Bell's obsession wasn't a problem yet. It would become one. But for now, it was an asset.
She glanced out the viewport. Stars stretched endlessly before them. Earth, somewhere, waited. And Ember Vale had already begun weaving her web across this forgotten galaxy.