Outer Rim - Exploration Preparations
Meal time was over. A satisfying fullness hung over the table.
"I'll handle the bill here."
Lydia paid with an elegant wave of her hand.
She didn't bat an eye at the amount on the receipt—equivalent to several months' wages for an average citizen. Instead, she added an extra tip.
"Thanks for the great meal, Lydia."
"Don't thank me—thank our muse. For Eve, this is the least I could do."
She flashed Eve a bright smile, then turned to me.
"Kal. Where's the ship we're taking docked?"
"Sector 3, public dock B-12. Hang on."
I sent the location data to her terminal.
In truth, that ship was just a decoy shell for getting to the Gray Market, while the real Night Raven was hidden in the asteroid belt. But I decided not to explain right now.
"Got it. We'll grab our stuff and head there tomorrow morning."
"See you then—don't be late."
Bani stood, waving as he shrugged on his coat, his usual rugged grin in place.
"Get some good rest. Once we hit Wild Space, there won't be time to stretch out and sleep."
After brief goodbyes, we parted ways to our lodgings.
The night streets still flashed with neon signs. I held Eve's small hand tight as we walked.
My face, disguised with bio-skin, looked rough and menacing, but the warmth of her hand was comforting.
"Eve."
"Yeah?"
"How was today?"
I asked casually.
"It was great!"
Eve beamed innocently.
"Yeah? What was the best part? The meat? The clothes?"
I figured I knew the answer.
The cute pink bunny outfit Lydia made? Or the delicious meat at the restaurant?
I wanted to note what Eve liked most, to cheer her up later when she was down.
Eve glanced up at the sky. No stars were visible under the artificial dome ceiling, but her eyes sparkled brighter than any.
"Hmm... nope."
She shook her head and squeezed my hand tighter.
"Making lots of new friends was the best!"
"......Friends?"
"Yeah! Spider sis and the bearded uncle too! They're all super nice!"
It was an unexpected answer.
Not material things like clothes or food, but joy from forging new bonds.
I stared down at her blankly for a moment, then chuckled softly.
Right. That's the kind of kid you are.
A child who offered curiosity and affection first, even to a world that had caged her as a lab rat.
Her purity had spread to my heart, drawing us together.
I stopped and hoisted Eve up high.
"Eek!"
I set her on my shoulders. Her view soared upward like she was riding a horse.
"But Dad's still the best, right?"
I teased. Eve grabbed my hair and burst into giggles.
"Yeah! Kal's the best in the whole universe!"
[Tch. Putting on quite the show, aren't you.]
That's when Nahibi, wrapped around me, sent a telepathic message laced with irritation.
[Making Eve get new friends and then stirring up jealousy to force affection? Worst kind of man, you lowly human. Single males are all the same.]
"Quiet. From what I heard before, you're not all that different, Nahibi."
[What? I transcend mere breeding duties as the great queen's guard...!]
I hummed a tune, ignoring whatever Nahibi was ranting.
Eve's laughter from atop my shoulders, the light weight on them.
That alone made today perfect. Smiling, I headed to the lodging.
The next day, early dawn.
In front of the lodging.
The streets were pitch black, the Gray Market's artificial sun not yet lit.
I stepped out with a sleepy Eve on my back, rubbing her eyes.
[Ugh... I'm so itchy I could die.]
Nahibi's complaints began.
She'd spent all yesterday stuck to my skin to avoid body scans, so it was understandable.
[Lowly human. If this happens again, I'll never do it, even in death. Next time, I'll just revert to my true form and cause chaos.]
"Got it, got it. Just hold out till the Night Raven. It'll be easier after that."
Knowing her ordeal, I soothed her instead of snapping back.
Pretending to adjust my pack, I tapped the thin layer of Nahibi on my nape.
"Good job, Nahibi. Thanks to you, we slipped through undetected."
[......?!]
Nahibi's waves distorted oddly.
[H-Hey! Stop that! Why are you being creepy?!]
"Why? It's a compliment. You like being petted, don't you? You melt when Eve does it."
[That's an honor from Lady Eve! Your grubby male hands just feel gross! Get off!]
Her horrified reaction sparked mischief. Pretending to be hurt, I let my voice droop.
"Ow, that stings. I meant it purely for our Nahibi."
[Shut up! Don't 'our Nahibi' me!]
"Aw, c'mon. Poor Nahibi, you worked so hard~?"
I stroked my nape as gently and lovingly as I would Eve's head.
That was the moment.
[Kyahaaaaah!!]
Nahibi's scream slammed into my brain.
[Don't touch me! Get those filthy hands away! Kyaaaaah!]
She thrashed in panic. The problem? She was currently my skin.
As Nahibi writhed, the bio-skin on my face and neck twisted grotesquely.
Crunch. Rip.
Skin tissue bubbled and deflated randomly.
Like a monster bursting from flesh in a horror flick, something danced wildly under my facial skin.
To make matters worse, part of the skin tore, revealing glimpses of Nahibi's true white slime body and dozens of red eyes flashing through the gaps.
"H-Hey, hold on! Calm down! You'll rip the skin!"
I panicked, grabbing my rogue face.
[Let go! I said let go! Waaah!]
Then—
Click.
Someone approaching from the alley corner halted. A big-eyed lizard alien out for early morning cleaning.
What he saw: A rough man's skin melting and writhing, red eyeballs spinning madly in the tears, white tentacles spewing out—a vision of hell.
"......H-Hiiik...."
The alien's eyes rolled back.
No scream—just foam at the mouth as he collapsed backward.
Thud.
"......"
Silence fell in the alley. Nahibi and I froze simultaneously.
[......Did that guy die?]
"Nah, just passed out."
I sighed.
Fainting over this? Sensitive guy.
But I couldn't leave him in the street. I dragged the unconscious alien to a safe shadowed corner by a building.
"Nahibi, I'm really sorry—so please bear with it a bit."
[Tch. One more time, and I'll swallow you whole.]
Nahibi grumbled but spread thin over my skin again.
I applied the last of the bio-skin cream to the gaps, restoring my rough pirate face.
Fixing my clothes and settling the soundly sleeping Eve on my back, I moved on.
*
At the docking bay, massive ships loomed imposingly. Bani greeted us out front.
He was far more heavily armed than yesterday—plasma rifle on his back, exploration gear dangling from his belt.
"Early birds, eh? Little miss still dreaming?"
Bani grinned at Eve on my back.
"Yeah. She's a heavy sleeper."
"Good time for it. We've got till launch—let's sync coordinates again."
We pulled up a hologram map to confirm the planet where Bani lost his ship.
"Here. Nox-4 Planet."
Bani pointed to a jungle world at the edge of Wild Space.
"Coordinates are solid. The issue's the local wildlife."
"Wildlife?"
"Yeah. Giant reptiles called basilisks—insanely territorial. They swarmed while I was planetside grabbing water. Attacked the ship, so I barely escaped in the shuttle."
Bani added bitterly.
"Better than pirates stealing it. They don't negotiate. Ship shouldn't be wrecked, though."
As we planned, a commotion echoed from the distant dock entrance.
Weeeeng-thud. Weeeeng-thud.
Heavy machinery. We turned—and went silent.
Lydia was approaching.
Elegant dress, sunglasses, heels clicking.
The problem was behind her.
Dozens of cargo drones trailed in line, each hauling a massive container.
"Hi! Everyone's early?"
Lydia waved. I dumbly pointed at the cargo train.
"Lydia... what's all that? Moving?"
"Moving? Just basic travel essentials."
She casually pointed to each container.
"One: Eve's seasonal outfits. Two: shoes and accessories. Three: premium organic snacks and cookware. Four: portable tub and spa gear. Five... oh, medical pod and emergency meds, just in case."
"......"
Bani and I exchanged glances.
Was this woman turning Wild Space into a luxury campsite?
"Uh... our ship's not a freighter. Can't fit all that."
"Oh? Ship that small?"
Lydia eyed the vessel and tsked.
"Gonna be cramped. Oh well—load what fits, trash the rest."
She tapped her terminal coolly.
"Essentials only—dispose of the surplus."
Drones buzzed into action. We crammed cargo till the hold bulged. Eve's clothes bags were our seats now.
"Nothing else? Zero room left."
I asked, exasperated. Lydia smacked her lips regretfully.
"Had more on order, but yeah—trash it."
More incoming? I'd underestimated this golden spider's wealth.
Then Eve stirred on my back.
"Nngh...? Kal... too noisy...."
As Eve rubbed her eyes, Lydia's icy businesswoman vibe melted instantly.
"Kyaaa! Our Eve's awake? Sleep well? Sis brought tons of yummy stuff!"
"Ugh, spider sis... hi?"
Lydia scooped Eve into hugs and bounces.
Bani shook his head, approaching.
"Heh... lively trip ahead."
We cleared departure and slipped from the Gray Market. The pirate ship Red Fang glided into the dark.
Bani sat at the controls, inputting the route.
"From here, follow my coords. Cut through the Arrow Nebula for the shortcut."
He marked the path on the hologram—not a standard Outer Rim route, but he swore it was faster. I set the coordinates and gripped the stick.
"..."
But my hand veered not to his coords, but elsewhere.
Vrrr—
The ship banked.
Not toward Wild Space—toward the massive asteroid belt opposite.
"Whoa? Kal? Wrong way! That's the asteroid belt! Dead end!"
Bani yelled, startled.
"Kal? Where to? Nav glitch?"
Lydia approached, puzzled, Eve in tow.
But I didn't stop.
The ship plunged deeper into the void, the graveyard of dead stars.
Radar blared warnings from thousands of rocks.
"Kal! Stop! Collision course!"
Bani grabbed for my arm.
I released the controls and stood, turning to them.
"Bani. Lydia."
"What the hell?! Grab the stick!"
Instead of answering, I touched my face and peeled from the jaw.
Riiip—
Fiber tore. The rough pirate face sloughed off.
Scarred, wrinkled fake skin fell away, revealing my true face beneath.
"......?!" "......?!"
Bani and Lydia were speechless.
My sudden change hung in stunned silence.
I tossed the mask aside and met their eyes squarely.
"Can you trust me?"