Staring down at the dead pirate's body, my mind turned over itself, questioning, searching. What was it I was feeling?
In my heart, I knew the truth—he had been here to kill me. If I hadn't killed him first, our positions would be reversed. Andromeda's alert was the only reason I dodged his knife in time. Even so, that look in his eyes... all the animals I had killed in Traveler's training rarely had that same look.
Not fear—realization.
[Are you okay, Firefly?] Andromeda's voice, usually mechanical, carried an unusual softness. [Your brainwaves are scattered.]
I exhaled slowly, unsure of how to answer. The feeling gnawed at me, undefined, unshaped. It wasn't guilt, nor sorrow—not in the way I had expected. I needed something, someone, to help make sense of it. "Andromeda... what do people normally feel when they kill a human for the first time?"
The AI buzzed in thought before responding. [Ordinarily, feelings of guilt or sorrow manifest in the mind of the killer. However, based on my analysis, what you are experiencing is more akin to... respect. Honour for the slain opponent.]
My brows furrowed. "Are you sure?"
[I am 97% certain. Hunters of animals display the same neurological patterns and cardiac fluctuations, according to historical records. Given your origins as an AKP unit, it is probable that you were conditioned to feel respect for a fallen enemy, rather than the typical emotions an untrained civilian might experience. If not due to your genetic programming, then likely due to the teachings of your pilot instructor.]
I stayed kneeling, motionless. The cavern around me felt still, silent, save for the low, distant sound of water dripping against rock. The pirate's lifeless form remained where I had left it, and yet... I found myself staring, waiting, as if something might change.
As if he might suddenly breathe again.
[At an estimate,] Andromeda continued, voice calm, unwavering. [It is highly probable that this reaction is a result of Traveler's influence. He may have implemented a mental framework into your training that allows you to remain composed even after your first human kill.]
I let out a slow breath, the respirator in my helmet filtering the salty air. The AI's words settled something in me. "Thank you, Andromeda."
[We will rest tonight, so you may process this further. If you require additional guidance, I will always be here to assist, Pilot.]
Night fell over the planet, blanketing its deep pink atmosphere in a near-black void, broken only by the glimmer of distant stars and the swirling nebula above. I had moved Yarker's unconscious body to a small break room, patching his wound as best I could. The salt seals, ever affectionate, had curled up beside him, their soft bodies huddling for warmth. I left the door open for them.
As for me—I couldn't sleep.
Sitting atop the stripped-down remains of a digging vehicle's cabin, I pulled a thin blanket over my shoulders and stared up at the stars. The asteroid belt ringed the sky in fractured light, stunning in its enormity. But even that beauty couldn't pull my mind away from the images still wading through my thoughts. The pirate's final expression. The weight of the knife in my hands.
Andromeda had fallen silent, giving me space. I appreciated that.
He was right—I didn't feel guilt or sorrow. But I had frozen. That much was undeniable. If that hesitation happened again in the middle of the stronghold... I would die.
I was born to kill. I had accepted that. I still did. But did that mean I had to be an emotionless killer?
My existence was owed to the Empire. So was my purpose. I was created to serve, to protect. But how I did that—that would be my decision. I wouldn't just follow the script written into me. No pre-programmed responses. No mindless obedience. The real experience was different. It was messy. And I intended to face it on my own terms.
There had been cadets I had beaten bloody to pass the training facility's tests. I had even thought about killing before, but I never did until now. The others—Sam, Freya, Zero—had done so without hesitation. For them, it had been a necessity. A part of survival.
But I had never gone that far. Not outside of training. I had always held back. I had given mercy.
Bundling myself tighter in the blanket, I exhaled, watching the mist of my breath vanish into the night. "I suppose I was still innocent compared to the others," I muttered. My gloved fingers tightened around the fabric. "Not anymore, right, Traveler?"
I looked back up at the stars, gaze unwavering.
"If I must kill to see the beauty of this galaxy—so be it. I don't want to die after all."
The next day, I checked in with Mister Yarker, handing him a locator device that would activate once my mission was complete. After ensuring he was stable, I left to find the vehicle of the pirate who had attacked us. It wasn't hard to spot—a rugged motorbike built for harsh, dry terrain—parked just outside the mining area.
Rolling it into the cavern, I navigated toward the cave entrance Yarker had told me about the day before. The passage led directly to the pirates' stronghold.
"Are you sure about this?" Yarker asked as I set up the motorbike just inside the cave's entrance. His voice carried a note of concern. "That cave never had its supports finished. Too much vibration, and it might come crashing down on top of you."
I tightened a strap on my glove and glanced at him. "Appreciate the concern, but my Knight's AI already scanned the structure. Even if the work wasn't finished, it was nearly complete, wasn't it?"
Kicking the pedal, the engine roared to life, the sound echoing through the cavern before dampening into a near-silent hum. I turned to him one last time. "Stay safe until rescue arrives, Mister Yarker."
"Yeah..." The man hesitated, stepping back with a slight limp before waving me off. "Just... make sure those bastards get what's coming to them."
I nodded once, then twisted the handle. The bike surged forward, carrying me into the darkness of the cave.
My HUD adjusted in real-time as Andromeda fine-tuned the system. Soon, a speed reading flickered onto my visor—60 mph—along with an estimated arrival time of six minutes.
[Do not lean too much to one side, Pilot.] Andromeda's voice crackled through my earpiece. [Driving a motorbike is not the same as piloting a Knight.]
"It's still simple enough—it's a straight path." Keeping close to the side of the abandoned train tracks, I sped through the dim tunnel, my helmet's bright headlamps illuminating the way.
Andromeda processed my words before responding. [If you say so. This route will keep us undetected from their energy sensors. However, they are likely aware of this and will have guards stationed at the exit.]
"Roger that." My fingers tightened on the handles, my speed increasing as the countdown on my HUD ticked away.
30 seconds.
A warning beep pulsed through my helmet's earpiece. Three red dots appeared on my visor.
[Prepare for contact.]
Three... two... one...
[Engage.]
I kicked off the bike, drawing my pistol in mid-air. My waist thruster fired, launching me upward as three pirates raised their rifles toward the oncoming vehicle.
Three suppressed shots. Three bodies hit the ground.
I landed smoothly, rolling forward as my gun remained trained on my surroundings. My TDS—Threat Detection System—scanned the area. No remaining hostiles. The motorbike continued its course, crashing into a wall before flipping onto its side.
I exhaled sharply and moved forward with alert finesse.
Holstering my pistol on my hip, I grabbed a rifle from one of the fallen pirates, along with a few spare magazines from their gear, tucking them into my jacket. My next destination was up a flight of rusted metal stairs leading deeper into the compound.
At the top, I pressed my ear against a door and listened. Heavy boots clanked against the floor inside—one person. Knocking against the door, I then immediately climbed up the walls, pressing my body against the ceiling beams.
A gruff voice followed. "What the hell is it now? Your shift's not over yet!" The door swung open. A pirate stepped through, his expression shifting from irritation to confusion as he found nothing on the other side. "What the—"
I dropped. My knife driving deep into his throat, silencing him before his body crumpled to the floor. Without hesitation, I dragged him inside, shutting the door behind me.
"Andy, scan for the emergency sensor and all vehicles."
[Indoor scans are limited. Find a rooftop.]
I moved quickly, making my way through the building. Staying in the shadows, I bypassed as many pirates as I could—killing only those who got too close to spotting me.
Eventually, I reached the top floor. Carefully, I opened a door, revealing what seemed to be an observation deck with a glass wall overlooking the mining site. Empty. Moving to the next door, I found it slightly ajar, the room beyond illuminated by pale pink morning light filtering through an open window. Inside, a bed sat against the far wall, and on it lay a woman—bound, blindfolded, and naked.
I stepped inside, scanning the space.
Then—a creak.
I pressed against the wall just as a door across the room swung open. A woman sauntered out, stretching lazily, oblivious to my presence. "Heh. You were so much fun last night, tits."
Andromeda's voice hummed in my earpiece as the pirate strolled past me without a clue. [Alternative method available. Interrogate the pirate, Pilot Firefly.]
I seized the moment. Grabbing the pirate from behind, pressing my knife to her throat and she froze instantly. "Answer my questions, and you'll only be arrested," I murmured. "Scream, and you die."
"Uh-uh—sure!" The woman trembled against my grip, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Your captain. Name and location?"
"H-he's Decjard Lonk!" She stammered. "I-I don't know where he is this early. I just handle black-market deals for him. You might find him at the vehicle depot."
I waited a beat, letting Andromeda verify.
[Name: Decjard Lonk... confirmed. Current leader of the One-Horn Pirates. Target identified—look for a man with a beard and writing tattooed on his face.]
Satisfied, I pressed on. "Where's the alert system? And the vehicle storage?"
"The sensor's on the main mining machine's cockpit," she blurted out. "The vehicles are near the broken salt refiners—along with the ship." Her breath hitched as the blade bit slightly deeper into her skin. "Th-the Captain has a secret vehicle too! East side! I don't know what it is, but it's locked up!"
I considered this, then asked the final question, my voice turning cold. "The civilians. The ones who worked here before you took over—what happened to them?"
"They're in the salt refinery," she admitted, her breathing turning erratic. "The captain thought about ransoming them off if things went bad, but—"
She hesitated.
"But what?" I demanded.
Her next words came in a nervous rush. "A lot of us took them to have some fun wi—"
My fist cracked against the side of her skull. She crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
Breathing slow and controlled, I turned back to the woman on the bed and cut her restraints, pulling the blindfold free. Her eyes darted wildly before locking onto me, then flickering to her unconscious captor. Her expression crumpled, and she choked back a sob. "T-thank you!"
I took her hands, steadying her. "Stay here. Tie her up. No matter what happens, do not leave this room. Do you understand?"
She clung to me. "You're not just leaving me here, are you?! Aren't you here to save me? My father owns this planet! Surely he sent you!?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I tore myself free from her and turned to the open window and climbed onto the ledge. "You'll be saved soon. Stay silent, and that will still be the case."
Then, I dropped out the window. Landing in a crouch three feet below, I took in the sight before me.
The vast expanse of the mining operation stretched across the landscape, stark and blinding under the pink morning light. White salt flats and limestone pits sprawled in all directions, broken up by towering mining structures.
But at the heart of the quarry stood the behemoth—a massive excavator with a grinding wheel the size of a building, chewing through the rock.
My HUD scanned the area. Markers lit up across my visor:
—Vehicle depot. Just outside a secondary building.
—Hostages. Confirmed inside the refinery.
—Emergency sensor. Mounted atop the mining machine's cockpit.
I crouched lower to avoid being seen, letting my mind run through the possibilities. Several approaches. Several risks. "Andromeda," I muttered. "Would this plan work?"
A soft beep came from the AI's beetle-like drone on my belt. [A sound plan, Pilot. I will follow whatever action you require to complete the mission.]
I exhaled slowly. "Time to end this."