Chapter 9: The Truth
Before long, it was early morning. By the way, the Novarion-X1 star system that Novar belongs to is a binary system. Two stars orbit each other while Novar revolves around them. That's why the days here are brighter than on other planets. Why bring this up?...
"Luca, lower the window transparency a bit."
Two suns shone into my eyes as I lay there. With the heightened senses of my new prosthetic body, it was hard to even open them.
Well, even before, I couldn't have stared straight at the sun.
It was just a complaint. Luca heard me and gave me a look of exasperation.
"Leah. Ever thought about changing your tone?"
"Nope."
"I'm fixing your arm right now, you know? Doesn't that make me your benefactor? Shouldn't you show some respect?"
"Fair point. Smarter than I thought."
"If I weren't smart, no one would be fixing your arm."
I was in Luca's workshop. I'd learned today that he wasn't just some kid mooching off the ship. He was the Errant's hacker and engineer—a core member handling both software and hardware.
"Luca, how old are you?"
"...Going for the age card? We don't look that different."
He said it while inspecting the cross-section of my left arm stump, peering through oversized optical lenses and goggles.
"I'm older than you think. So hurry up and lower the transparency. I can't open my eyes."
"Sigh... At least don't make it a command. Fine, I'll do it."
I'm not the type to talk down to just anyone or treat them like dirt without reading the room. Otherwise, I wouldn't have risen so high in the Imperial Guard. I was tough on Luca because his reactions were fun.
"You remind me of my little sister."
"If that's a compliment, it doesn't feel like one."
He wrinkled his nose.
"It is. Feel good about it. I allow it."
"Hey! Who's messing with who?"
"Now I get it. You really are smart."
"......You should quit while you're ahead."
Luca shook his head. If I was going to tease him a lot from now on, I'd need to learn some restraint. That was a lesson from messing with my sister—if they got sulky, it just got tiring.
I blinked my eyes open wide and said, "Luca. Sorry. I went too far?"
Still wanting to play, I deliberately pitched my voice more femininely to match my looks.
...After saying it, I realized I'd crossed a line. Speaking like a girl on purpose... all for a dumb joke.
Damn, now I'm getting worked up for no reason.
"Wh-what? That's weird."
Even Luca couldn't handle it. He recoiled, lifting his goggles and staring at me with baffled eyes.
"...Just block the window. It's too bright."
I went back to my usual casual tone, though not as gruff as before. Luckily, he let it slide. He adjusted the transparency, and the clear window gradually darkened, turning tinted like sunglasses.
Finally, I can breathe.
I looked at my missing left hand. It'd be hard to get a human-like prosthetic again, so I wanted a high-output combat one. From the elbow down, it wouldn't pack the full punch, but it'd be decent for grip strength or strikes.
"Can you fit me with a combat prosthetic arm?"
"Huh? Hold on, let me check more."
"Like a rocket punch, say."
The enemy I'd killed last had used that kind of ejectable fist. It was a romantic tech from the early days of prosthetic development, but mostly obsolete now.
"...Are you insane? You'd go nuts."
"Krkuk. Kidding."
Literally—it'd drive you mad. The brain has a body schema, and big deviations cause prosthetic overload. If it got too severe, the effects were permanent, so it was taboo these days.
I've adapted faster than most, though.
Chijik— A spark sounded as Luca pressed equipment to the broken stump.
"Ugh."
"Hurts?"
"...Did you do that on purpose?"
"Anyway! Condition's good. With prosthetics, breaks like this usually twist the internal metal frame from the shock, messing up the electrical signals."
"So what do I do?"
"Just sit still."
Luca removed his goggles and set them on the side shelf, clearing away the optical lenses and measuring tools.
"There, repair done!"
"...? My arm's still gone."
"Your prosthetic has nanobots, you know."
"Nanobots?"
"Yeah. Don't you even know your own body? Leave it be, and it'll heal by tonight. Good as new."
I had no idea. How'd he figure that out?
I lifted my left arm to check the stump. It was smoother than before, actually regenerating bit by bit.
"Still, you've got something special going on. This tech's only on Orbis."
Orbis was the Empire's core planet—the capital, center of finance, politics, and tech. My destination.
"I'll explain later."
"So you will tell me."
"Yeah. We're stuck together from now on."
I approached Luca and clapped a hand on his shoulder. He flushed, startled by the sudden gesture.
"Looking forward to working with you, Engineer."
"...Together? Huh? What?"
I left him there and straightened my clothes. They were all trashed. The white hoodie was covered in red stains and dirt—no white left. My jeans were ripped, exposing knees and legs here and there. Luca's leather jacket was the worst, shredded when my left arm broke off.
"Can't be helped."
I shrugged it off and headed out of the workshop.
The Errant's lobby. LED lights glowed from the center. A fixed sofa on the floor and a wall-spanning display caught my eye. The table was littered with half-eaten instant food packets—their signs of life.
I hadn't had time to look around last time, rushing out, so it felt fresh now. The crew minus Luca was chatting.
"No other kids, right, Ian?"
"Yeah. I checked everywhere after dealing with the enemies. There was a holding facility, but no people."
Slaves, huh? Makes sense—a big slave trader like that wouldn't have just me.
Marco had been the odd one out; these guys had good hearts. Drifters living the mercenary life on the fringes, yet they cared for others. They'd probably tried to save more slaves too.
They didn't overlook me.
Thinking back, if I'd been caught by those thugs on day one, who knows what would've happened. Sold to a brothel as a plaything, or become some rich creep's private toy.
Either way, I'd have killed them all.
Lucky, in a way. I stepped into view.
"They probably went to the Sakil Cartel. Bashi said so—their backers."
"Leah! You okay?"
Roena's eyes widened as she asked. Come to think of it, she asked if I was okay a lot. A worrier by nature— a liability for a scavenger, but a plus for me after she'd helped.
"I'm fine. You're such a worrier, Roena. Anyway, about the cartel."
"Good. Yeah, let's talk."
"What's the Sakil Cartel?"
"The biggest back-alley mafia force. All the rest combined couldn't touch them."
"And they're trafficking people? The bigger you are, the more careful you should be."
Seriana picked up my words. She had her eyepatch back on, one eye half-lidded lazily.
"They're so huge, they're tangled in politics and finance everywhere. Means they've got powerful backers."
Roena reacted. "So our client's connections..."
"Yeah, Sakil Cartel."
Seriana and Roena pieced the puzzle together. Probably about their new commission. Ian focused on me instead.
"So, Leah. What're your plans?"
I had a contract with him. To keep things smooth, it was time to talk.
"Everyone, I've got something to say."
"Huh, Leah? What is it?"
"I'm joining the Errant Mercenary Group. Feel free to be proud."
I smirked. With some breathing room, my playful side emerged naturally. No point holding back.
"Huh?"
"Roena, you saw my skills. I'm better than Ian here. With me aboard, it'll make your mercenary gigs easier."
"...Lots to say, but go on."
"Thanks for the courtesy, Ian."
I cleared my throat, pointing to my chest with my one good thumb.
"I'll take Marco's spot. And do even better."
"...Hold on, hold on, hold on!"
Roena halted the sudden turn.
"Leah, didn't you have somewhere to go?"
"Means changed a bit, but my destination's still the core planet Orbis. So I'll join you, fight as a mercenary—and in return, you take me to Orbis."
I turned to Ian. "Contract ends there. I'll tell you then."
Ian flashed sharp eyes through his long hair, then fell into thought. Seriana summed up my pitch.
"So, work for our group, and we'll drop you at Orbis?"
"I can pay if needed. Once we're there."
That's when a clatter came from behind—Luca, fresh from tidying the workshop.
"Captain nuna! Leah's joining us? Since when?"
I answered for him. "Luca, still convincing them."
"...Now? You talked like it was done."
Seriana cut in. "Leah, no idea what the others think~. You and Ian already talked, though."
"Yeah."
Seriana exchanged glances with Roena.
"We'd welcome you. Someone your level would help big on the next job~."
"Huh? Seri unnie! My look didn't mean—!"
Ignoring Roena lightly, she continued. "But if you won't tell us who you are or why Orbis, we can't."
"No! Leah's arm's hurt."
"Healed by tomorrow. Nanobot prosthetics."
Seriana pushed harder at Luca's words. "Exactly the problem~. Latest Orbis tech, that strength, and you need to go there? We're mercs, but risky jobs are iffy. Especially if the Empire's involved."
Her eye gleamed. Unlikely, but even the eyepatch side seemed to flash purple.
She's the one to watch here.
"Of course I'll tell. Gotta earn some trust, right?"
I paused. All eyes on me.
"This body's a prosthetic. A full-body one. Top Empire tech—lifestyle model."
"That body's a prosthetic!?"
"Guessed from the seamless joints, but..."
"Oh my. Newer than I thought."
"......Full-body prosthetic?"
They all reacted differently, but the shock was the same.
Even I panicked at first.
"And actually, I am..."