Outer Rim - First Outing
A scream echoed through the narrow cabin. The last guy's gut finally burst under relentless resistance, splattering red across the bulkhead.
"M-monster…."
His final words from the sole survivor lacked any originality. With a clean shot that blew his head off, the ship fell silent again amid the thud of the body hitting the deck.
Elisia's holy relic changed you. It didn't just shatter human limits and reconfigure your body. That's why you could handle Apex's enhanced humans like kids.
Nahibi's words resurfaced in my ears, as they always did when I'd almost forgotten.
You're becoming a constellation now... incomplete, but still.
Constellations—superhumans who burst onto the scene like comets during the war against the xenoforms, turning the tide. Now hailed as the Federation's true heroes and living legends. "Sword constellation," "Fire constellation," "Healing constellation"—they're classified by specialized powers, but even after decades of Federation scientists' research, the source of their strength remains a mystery.
Not science. Miracles. Or singularities. That's what made constellations so grand.
For a retired soldier like me, who'd betrayed the Federation for Eve, the idea that such a path was opening before me now tangled my thoughts hopelessly.
That's when it hit.
Lowly human. How many times do I have to tell you? Stop scattering those pointless negative thoughts.
Nahibi's irritated telepathy snapped me out of it. I shook my head clear and scanned the surroundings.
Inside a modified tracker ship favored by space pirates. Five pirate corpses littered the floor.
Philosophy I couldn't resolve right now took a backseat. Priority was getting into the Gray Market. And that meant dealing with these bodies first.
I started dragging the corpses into a pile.
To Nahibi, who was wrapped around the hull blocking comms, I asked, "Why do you always get so touchy about negative thoughts? You never say a word when I'm thinking positive stuff."
Nahibi was especially prickly whenever I felt down, conflicted, or harbored negativity.
It's annoying.
"So why is it annoying?"
Because I can't eat it.
"What? Did I hear that wrong? Can't eat what?"
I paused mid-drag.
Nahibi sighed deeply before explaining.
Your human negative emotions—especially fear, despair, rage—are the finest spices to me. Sharp zing with deep flavor.
"……You've got the taste buds of a total freak."
But you keep giving off this scent! Like it'd explode with rich, melty aroma in my mouth! And I can't eat it, so it's infuriating!!
Nahibi's rage was genuine.
"Jeez. The way you get gluttonous… guess you are a girl after all…."
I chuckled dryly and picked the pirate corpse closest to my build. Humming Nahibi's ode to negative emotions as my work song, I began carefully peeling off his skin.
A few hours later.
I docked the captured pirate ship back with the Night Raven at the asteroid belt and showed Eve my handiwork.
"Whoa! So cool!"
Eve poked and prodded my face in awe. A bio-skin crafted from the pirate's genetic info and tissue. Under it, I was no longer Kal. Just a scarred, rough-faced typical Outer Rim outlaw.
Eve's curious fingers fiddled with my cheek.
"Feels real! All squishy!"
Suddenly, she pinched the edge of the unset skin.
Tzzt.
"Kal! It's here!"
Eve pointed at my half-exposed real face, giggling as she ran off with the torn flap.
"Hey! Eve! Don't rip it like that! We're short on nano-gel!"
I chased and caught her, tickling her sides in retaliation.
"Kyahaha~! Tickles! Sowwy!"
Eve's bright laughter rang through the dingy pirate ship. I hoisted the giggling girl onto my shoulders.
"Up high, up high!"
Eve kicked her feet excitedly atop my head. This simple happiness was everything I wanted to protect.
Impressively seamless appearance. Not bad craftsmanship.
So you'll wear the fake skin and enter the market with the captured ship?
"Yeah. Apex's wanted poster has my montage and the Night Raven's ID code in detail. But Eve's just listed as a teenage girl."
I patted the leg of my shoulder-riding Eve.
"Once we pass primary scanning, no further bio-auth. This market's for outlaws anyway—security's not Federation-tight."
"No pwoblem!"
Eve thrust her hand up triumphantly.
And me? I'll disguise as that MeowMeow critter again and tag along?
Nahibi wiggled her tentacles. She'd gotten a kick out of her intruder-baiting MeowMeow act last time.
But I shook my head.
"Nah. This bio-skin has some fatal flaws that show up over time."
Then don't use it.
"Got a workaround. Nahibi, you said you have stealth beyond jamming, right?"
Yeah, but?
"Here's the plan." I explained my idea.
Nahibi's expression twisted in horror.
Ew, no way! Get lost, lowly human!
Nahibi recoiled in disgust, trying to flee. But I was faster. Or rather, our queen was.
I grabbed Eve's waist from my shoulders and thrust her toward Nahibi.
"Grab her! Eve!"
"Huh?"
Eve reflexively reached for the fleeing white blob.
Snatch.
Grahhh! Lady Eve! Let go! Please!
"Good girl." I stroked Eve's head in praise.
Grinning wickedly at the squirming Nahibi trapped in Eve's grip, I declared prep complete.
Nooooooo!!!!
Nahibi's wail echoed, but it was decided.
The Gray Market was massive. A grotesque, majestic artificial structure woven from hundreds of scrapped ships and asteroid chunks with alloy cables and pipelines. A giant garbage island floating in the cosmic sea—and a dazzling den of vice.
> Docking clearance request. ID: E4TGB-91. Vessel: Red Fang.
I activated the stolen pirate ship's comms and hailed the Gray Market control tower in a gruffer voice than usual.
> Tsssh. Confirmed. E4TGB-91. Docking fee prepaid. Proceed to Dock 3.
Control's indifferent reply. Security was as perfunctory as expected. Pay up, and murderers or monsters were welcome.
The pirate ship slid into the dock. The view outside was otherworldly. Ships of every make berthed amid swarms of cargo drones and work bots. Beyond the dock, the station interior blazed with holographic neon signs.
Provocative slogans assaulted the eyes.
"Whoa… so sparkly…."
Eve pressed against the window, mesmerized. Her first glimpse of civilization—even if decayed and rotten, it must've looked like shiny toys to a kid.
Dock pressure equalized, hatch opened.
"Let's go."
I gripped Eve's hand tight and stepped out.
Nahibi? She was thinly spread over me and Eve right now. More precisely, under the bio-skin, serving as a bio-jamming cloak to hide our true forms.
Ugh, this feels gross. You reek.
Her grumbling echoed in my head. But I couldn't chat with thin air, so I kept a straight face and strode to the scanning station.
A horned beastkin and a cyber-armed human lounged there, chewing gum.
The scanner swept me head to toe, cross-checking against wanted profiles.
> Beep. No match.
"Clear."
The cyber-arm guy waved lazily.
His gaze shifted to the little girl beside me—Eve.
"What's with the brat? For sale?"
My eyebrow twitched. I tried ignoring it.
But Nahibi couldn't.
Her Federation accent mangled into a gravelly, creepy pirate growl.
"My daughter. Touch her, lose your arm."
Perfect outlaw menace, against my will. The guard flinched, snorted.
"Feisty. Fine, move along."
The gate opened. We'd breached the Gray Market's heart unscathed.
Sweltering heat. Air thick with oil, spices, and mystery scents. Crowds of Federation races bustling. The Outer Rim's sole info hub.
"Look! That one!"
Eve tugged my arm excitedly.
Lowly human, eyes on us from everywhere.
Nahibi's warning. I met the stares one by one with glares, melting into the throng with Eve.
Our first outing together.