The guards said nothing as they delivered Orion to his new quarters.
The door slid open with a quiet hiss, revealing a surprisingly spacious ensuite. It wasn't luxurious, but it wasn't bare either... somewhere between military efficiency and a hotel trying its best.
He gave the guards a polite nod as they left. The moment the door shut, he dropped his backpack onto the bed and let out a slow breath.
"Right. First things first."
First, to keep up professional look in case there was a camera in the room Orion moved around the room, running his fingers along seams, corners, vents, light fixtures... anywhere someone with half a brain would put surveillance gear before finally using his scanning ability.
{Scanning room...}
{Irregular items found}
{Three Audio Signals and One Video Signal found}
Sure enough, he found exactly what he expected: three audio bug, one tiny camera disguised as part of the wall panel.
He crushed both between his fingers.
'Of course she planted them… she wants to see if I'm as sharp as she thinks. Shame they didn't know I've walked this corridor before. Should've hidden them better.' Orion chuckled to himself.
The guards had taken him on a roundabout route in other to lengthen the time it would take for them to reach the room so they could bug it.
He swept the room one last time just to be sure before he allowed himself to relax. He placed his palm on his chest and let the bio-armour withdraw into his skin. The dark plates dissolved into black threads, then into nothing more than faint lines across his torso.
Energy consumption dropped instantly.
He felt lighter.
"Good. Saves me from using the power source of this ship and likely raising alarm."
He stepped into the bathroom next. Bright lights flicked on, and he caught his reflection properly for the first time in days.
He froze.
His eyes, once brown, were now a metallic silver, almost glowing under the light. His hair, normally plain black, looked darker… richer… almost ink-like.
His height had increased by at least an inch, maybe two. His face looked sharper, more symmetrical... cheekbones lifted, jaw cleaner, proportions balanced in a way that felt almost… too perfection.
"I guess that explains why Alara complimented my eyes," he muttered.
He studied himself longer than he cared to admit. It wasn't vanity... more disbelief.
The changes was in fact dramatic enough to make him unrecognisable, but they still right to make him look like the version of himself he'd always suspected he could become.
'The X-Core isn't just repairing me anymore… it's optimising me. Improving everything. If this is what it can do unfinished. I wonder… what can it do when it is complete.'
'I have to complete it.' Orion thought before he pushed the thought aside to focus on the thing at hand.
He pushed the thought aside.
He rummaged through the bathroom cabinet, found a razor, and began shaving. He left a bit of stubble. He could tell that a clean-shaven cut would have made him look far too young... boyish even.
The stubble gave him a slightly older and more grounded look.
Better.
He turned the shower on. When the hot water hit his skin, he closed his eyes and exhaled, almost sinking to his knees. After more than three days running, fighting, bleeding, and barely sleeping, the shower felt like the closest thing to heaven he'd ever experienced.
Steam filled the room.
For once, he felt human again.
When he stepped out, he refused to summon the bio-armour as clothing. Too much energy usage and not worth burning power just to look nice.
He opened the wardrobe and found the standard Helix officer uniforms... greyish blue, sharp edges, a bit too formal for his liking. He picked one out that was his size, grabbed a blade from his pack, and made some quick adjustments: cut the sleeves just slightly shorter, loosened the collar, removed the stiff lining that made it feel like a straitjacket.
When he finished, he looked… official enough to pass, but comfortable enough to fight if needed.
And most importantly... the kind of thing mercenaries wear.
Satisfied, he grabbed his bag and stepped out of the room.
A guard was waiting exactly where Orion expected him... leaning on the wall, trying to look relaxed but failing miserably.
"You ready, sir?" the guard asked.
Sir.
That was new.
"Yeah."
The guard straightened and began leading him down the corridor.
As they walked, Orion slid his hands into his pockets, playing the part of someone calm and harmless. Inside, his mind was already analysing everything.
The guard stopped at a reinforced door.
"Command deck is through here," he said. "Commander Veyrn is waiting."
Orion rolled his shoulders once, making sure his posture looked relaxed.
"Right then. Let's not keep her waiting."
The door slid open, and he stepped into the heart of the ship.