Chapter 5
It's been a few months traveling through space.
HELCE is still insufferable, De'Mar is the only person keeping me sane, and I still regret nothing.
But today is different.
Today, we've arrived at Alme Station, an outpost built by the Almeracians, a warrior species known for their immense power, brutal combat skills, and total lack of patience for outsiders.
Which is precisely why we're here.
If we're going to survive out here, we need supplies, information, and maybe—just maybe—a safe place to hide.
Assuming, of course, that we don't piss off the locals first.
-
But that's just nerves talking—first time in a place like this, after all.
We're here for one reason only: to resupply.
Lucky for us, the previous owner of this ship is dead, and HELCE—as irritating as she is—can still access his accounts.
Which means money isn't a problem for now.
The only real issue? The stupid AI.
After some carefully chosen words (and a few threats to rip her core out and chuck it into deep space), she finally agreed to give us access to the funds.
She even compiled a shopping list of what we need.
Not out of kindness, of course—just so she can complain about how "incompetent biological lifeforms never plan."
Walking around the station, I take in the sheer variety of people—big, small, scaled, furred, armored, and glowing—all crammed into the bustling market. Every corner of the station is packed with stores, flashing signs in a dozen different alien languages, and the constant hum of trade and conversation.
Our first stop? A shop selling power cells for the FTL drive.
HELCE had very strong opinions on what we should get.
Quantum Cell – Cheap, easy to find, but burns out fast. We'd be replacing them every other jump.
Antimatter Cell – Ridiculously powerful, lasts forever, but also insanely expensive, and requires a near-indestructible magnetic containment unit. If it cracks? Boom. Everything in a five-mile radius turns into cosmic dust.
Dark Matter Cell – According to HELCE, these shouldn't even be in a shop like this. If we find one, it's either fake or stolen from someone dangerous.
I turn to De'Mar. "So… do we go cheap and unreliable, or expensive and 'hope we don't explode'?"
I gritted my teeth as I skimmed through HELCE's list, my grip tightening around the bag holding the antimatter cell.
"You know, HELCE, for an AI, you sure have a talent for being insufferable."
{And yet, here you are, still alive thanks to my 'insufferable' wisdom.}
I exhaled sharply through my nose. De'Mar simply chuckled beside me. "Come on, love. Let's just get the supplies before we get another lecture."
Next stop: Matter Blocks for the Synthesizer.
Luckily, these were dirt cheap and came in bulk. 50 credits for a pack that could last months. I grabbed three—just in case—and tossed them into the bag.
Finally, the Medical Tech shop.
The place looked half-clinic, half-armory. Shelves lined with med patches, stim injectors, and cybernetic parts glowed under sterile white lights. A grizzled, four-armed vendor with metal plating on his face glanced up as we approached.
"You buying, or are you bleeding?"
"Buying… for now." I placed the list on the counter. "Give me everything on this."
The vendor whistled. "Stocking up for a war, huh?"
"More like preparing for the inevitable."
He laughed, gathering the supplies. "Smart. Too many spacers think they're invincible 'til they're leaking out their insides."
As he rang up the items, HELCE chimed in my ear.
{I like him. He understands the stupidity of organic overconfidence.}
I rolled my eyes. "How much?"
"4,500 credits."
Pricey—but worth it. I paid, grabbed the supplies, and nodded to De'Mar.
"Alright, we've got everything. Let's get back to the ship before something explodes."
As I made my way toward the ship, I felt a presence behind me. A cold, sharp pressure pressed into my back—something metallic, maybe a gun.
"Don't move," a voice growled from behind.
De'Mar and I froze, but not for long.
In one smooth motion, I spun around, faster than they could react. I seized the man's arm and twisted it, hearing the satisfying snap of bone. Without a second thought, I clamped my hand over his mouth to stifle any sound, then dragged him into a nearby alley, keeping my grip firm.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" I hissed, my voice low and threatening. "Lie to me, and I'll break your legs."
He gasped, his voice muffled beneath my hand. "I... I just wanted your money."
I turned my head to De'Mar. She raised an eyebrow, her voice calm.
"He's a mercenary. Apparently saw a bounty on us and thought he could cash in."
I couldn't help but smirk. "Having you as a mind reader sure does come in handy."
De'Mar chuckled lightly. "You could say it more often."
I turned my attention back to the man, who was still groaning in pain on the ground. Without hesitation, I shattered his legs, the sharp cracks echoing in the alley. His cries were muffled by the hand still pressing against his mouth.
"Get this trash out of here," I said to the AI, my tone cold. "Call the enforcers to his location."
I stood up, brushing my hands off as if the encounter meant nothing. De'Mar and I made our way to the ship, leaving the mercenary behind to deal with the consequences of his poor decision.
As we walked toward the ship, the weight of everything pressing down on me felt heavier with each step. The sound of our boots clanging against the metal floor echoed through the empty dock, but my mind was elsewhere—on that damn bounty.
"A bounty? Already?" I muttered under my breath, glancing sideways at De'Mar.
She raised an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth twitching into a faint smirk. "Not surprising. You did blow up a space station, steal a ship, and, let's not forget, we have a talking AI on board who doesn't know how to shut up."
{Excuse me,} came HELCE's voice, dripping with sarcasm. {But I take great offense to that. I am a beacon of wisdom and necessary sarcasm. Also, your bounty is currently sitting at—oh, wow—250,000 credits. Looks like someone wants you dead.}
I sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of my nose as I resisted the urge to snap back at her. "Great. Just great. As if we didn't have enough problems already."
My thoughts were a chaotic mess. The authorities would be after us soon, and we had no time to waste. Every corner of my brain screamed at me to hurry up.
We reached the docking bay, and I immediately saw the workers eyeing our ship from a distance, probably wondering if we were going to take off soon or if we had been caught. I could feel their eyes on us—like they were sizing us up, trying to gauge if we were trouble or just another set of travelers. My instincts told me we were being watched, and that made my skin crawl.
De'Mar, always the more composed one, kept walking as if she wasn't bothered, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. We boarded the ship quickly, sealing the hatch behind us with a loud thunk that reverberated through the hull.
I grabbed the controls and sat down, giving the dashboard a quick scan. "HELCE, prep for takeoff."
{Oh? No pleasantries? No 'HELCE, how was your day?' Just straight to orders? I see how it is.}
I shot a glare at the blinking light on the console, already dreading the AI's response. "HELCE—"
{Fine, fine. Firing up thrusters. Try not to get shot on the way out.}
I could practically hear the eye roll in her voice. But at least she wasn't arguing too much—she knew as well as we did that we had no time to waste. The engines roared to life, filling the cabin with a deep hum as the ship vibrated under my feet. Slowly, we began to lift off, the space station shrinking beneath us as we gained altitude. The stars outside the viewports slowly began to shift, and I felt the familiar pull of gravity leave me behind as we broke free from the station's gravitational hold.
De'Mar sat beside me, her body relaxed, but her eyes scanned the instruments with practiced precision. She rested her chin in her hand, watching the station get smaller. "So… what's the plan now, captain?" Her tone was casual, but I could hear the underlying tension in her voice. She was as aware of the situation as I was.
I leaned back in my chair, stretching my legs out, a smirk creeping up on my face as I watched the space station disappear into the void. "We keep running."
It wasn't a grand plan, but it was all we had. For now, it was enough. The galaxy was vast, and with HELCE's help—whether I liked it or not—we might just stay ahead of the storm.
The comm system flickered, a low hum accompanying it, and I knew the enforcers would be hunting us soon. But we had a head start, and that was all I needed. The rest? Well, we'd deal with it as it came.
"We'll keep ahead of them," I muttered under my breath, hands steady on the controls as we shot into the depths of space. "For now, we keep running."
And that was the truth. Because in this vast, unforgiving galaxy, that's all we could do.
It had been a few days since we left the space station, and things had been running smoothly—until now.
I sat in the ship's Medbay, staring at the screen in front of me, my stomach twisting into knots. The scan results flickered in glowing red text, and even without a medical degree, I could tell one thing: my genes were seriously messed up.
De'Mar leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her face unreadable. "Well," she finally said, breaking the silence. "That explains a lot."
I shot her a look. "Care to elaborate?"
She nodded toward the screen. "The enhanced reflexes, the rapid healing, the way you move faster than most people can blink—it's all in your DNA."
{To be fair,} HELCE chimed in, {it's also why you might, you know, spontaneously combust one day. Just saying.}
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Can you not?"
{I'm merely pointing out the severity of the situation. Your genetic structure is unstable—heavily modified, might I add. Either you were engineered in a lab, or someone did a really bad job playing god.}
I didn't respond. I didn't want to respond. Because deep down, I already had my suspicions.
De'Mar studied me for a long moment. "You don't look surprised."
I exhaled slowly, the weight of it pressing against my chest. "I'm not. I was human before... but now? I don't even know what I'm supposed to be."
Silence settled between us. The hum of the ship, the rhythmic beeping of medical monitors—background noise to a truth I wasn't ready to face.
Finally, De'Mar pushed off the wall, her voice softer. "So what now?"
I clenched my fists, staring at the screen one last time before turning away.
"We find answers," I said, my voice steady. "Before this gets worse."
Looking at the AI, I asked, "Do you know any species that are good at genetic manipulation?"
{Plenty,} HELCE replied. {The Coluans, the Slyggians, the Psions—}
"No Psions." My voice was sharp, leaving no room for debate.
{Fine.} If an AI could roll its eyes, I was sure HELCE just did. {But if you're looking for the best, that would be the Kryptonians. Their entire species was genetically engineered, and their society was built on it.}
I frowned. "Kryptonians? They're extinct."
{Correct. They blew up approximately 66 sol turns ago, which would be… let's see… 33 Earth years.}
I crossed my arms. "So, unless I've got Kryptonian blood running through my veins, that's a dead end."
HELCE paused for a moment before adding, {Well… not entirely.}
{They weren't just good at manipulating their genetic code,} HELCE continued. {They experimented on many species—before they isolated themselves in their solar system, that is.}
I raised an eyebrow. "Experimented? As in, created other species?"
{Precisely. Ever heard of the Daxamites? They were essentially an offshoot of Kryptonians, a genetic variation adapted for a different planetary environment.}
De'Mar folded her arms. "So, if they were still alive, they could probably fix him?"
{Oh, absolutely,} HELCE said matter-of-factly. {With their level of genetic engineering, stabilizing your DNA would be a simple task.} A pause. {Of course, they'd also probably shoot you on sight. They weren't exactly known for their hospitality.}
I sighed, rubbing my face. "Great. So the best people to fix me are dead, and even if they weren't, they'd have killed me anyway."
{Pretty much,} HELCE confirmed cheerfully. {But hey, at least you know that now.}
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the console, my mind racing. "Could we find some of their tech if we went to their solar system? I mean, just because Krypton itself exploded doesn't mean everything related to them was destroyed. There could still be something—an abandoned facility, a research outpost, maybe even something left on one of their moons."
HELCE hummed as if considering. {Probably.}
De'Mar gave me a skeptical look. "You want to go to a system that's a massive debris field of a dead world, hoping to find tech from a civilization that went extinct decades ago?"
I nodded. "If there's even a chance they left something behind that can help stabilize my genetics, I'm taking it."
{Well, in theory,} HELCE continued, {there could still be remnants of Kryptonian technology scattered throughout the Rao system. But it's not like I can just pull up a handy map of where all their secret labs were. Most of their data was lost when their archives were destroyed.}
I frowned. "What about their offshoots? The Daxamites?"
{Daxamites inherited Kryptonian genetics but rejected their technological advancements. They became extremely xenophobic, isolating themselves from the rest of the galaxy. So unless you want to get vaporized the second you show up in Daxamite airspace, I wouldn't count on their help.}
De'Mar sighed, rubbing her temples. "Fantastic. So we're left with scavenging a system filled with floating death rocks and solar radiation."
I crossed my arms. "Do we have a better plan?"
She didn't answer.
I turned back to HELCE. "How long to reach the Rao system?"
{With our current FTL drive? About three days. But I should warn you—Kryptonian space is considered cursed by some. Ships that venture too close don't always come back.}
I smirked. "Good thing I don't believe in curses."
De'Mar muttered something under her breath but didn't argue further.
{Setting course for the Rao system,} HELCE announced. {I hope you're ready. Because if anything's still alive out there… it won't be friendly.}
The ship's engines roared as we punched into FTL, streaking toward the remnants of a lost world.