The Long Journey Begins
More than an hour had passed since leaving Scarab Station, but I was still biting my lip, lost in thought. The original plan was to hide near Sector 12 on the fringes of the Outer Rim and monitor the situation. That area still had a faint trace of Federation influence, enough for basic resupply, and it was easy to gauge the lay of the land through information brokers. But the moment I spotted that black ship—the pursuers—every plan turned to scraps of paper.
'They've already reached Scarab. No telling how far they've spread into Sector 12.'
Only one choice left... I had to go deeper. Into the abyss where neither Federation law nor Apex Industries' reach extended. The deep layers of the Outer Rim. It was lawless territory in the truest sense—dominated by pirate warlords, a danger zone the Federation military had abandoned, left unpacified with xenoforms running wild. Even I, who navigated warzones, hesitated to venture there.
'Dodging humans just to stick my head in a monster's maw.'
But there was no time for hesitation. Certain pursuers behind me, uncertain dangers ahead. In my current state, I couldn't afford to be picky about hot or cold water. I roughly tapped the main screen, inputting new coordinates into the navigation computer.
> Path reset complete.
> Destination: Outer Rim Deep Sector.
> Estimated arrival time: Unable to calculate.
The main computer's dry voice echoed through the cockpit. Only then did I loosen my grip on the controls.
"Haa..."
I sank deep into the backrest, staring up at the ceiling. The pursuers' shadow was gone, but that chilling sensation lingered down my spine.
'Things never go as planned. At this rate, resupply's gonna be an issue... Fuel and food are both running low.'
I'd fled in such a hurry that the fuel tanks weren't even half full. Supplies were woefully short. But there was no choice. Staying longer would have led to something far worse.
Farewell to the civilized worlds. Into the galaxy of outlaws, the Outer Rim.
I let out a sigh and buried my head in the pilot's seat, checking on the passenger beside me.
"Eve, you okay? Must've been a rough ride."
No response—just drip, drip. The sound of water dropping from somewhere.
"Huh? What the—did coolant leak when we took off in a rush?"
I jolted up, alarmed. This old ship—probably a burst pipe. But when I traced the source, I swallowed a hollow laugh.
It was Eve.
Eve sat quietly belted in, staring intently at the meat chunk tossed on the floor. Her mouth half-open, eyes burning with hunger, as if she knew exactly what her body craved most. Clear drool trickled from the corner of her mouth, down her chin, soaking her collar and forming a small puddle on the floor. The sheer volume told me she'd endured hellish torment while I was distracted with the course change.
"...Ah."
I realized I'd kept her waiting too long.
"Sorry. Got caught up and forgot to feed you."
Her eyes turned to me, a mix of reproach—like finally noticing me?—but her primal hunger swept away any grudge, silently demanding I hand over the meat pronto.
I hurriedly unbuckled, grabbed the fallen meat, spread out the coated cloth beneath the bloodstained paper, and pulled out the massive grok chunk.
Grok hide and muscle were notoriously tough—even standard knives barely scratched them. I fetched the ultrasonic knife from the onboard toolkit.
Vrrr— Flicking the switch, the blade hummed with fine vibrations, glowing blue. Tens of thousands of high-frequency oscillations per minute, severing molecular bonds with a sharp whine that filled the cockpit.
"Just a sec. I'll slice it up quick."
I pressed the knife to the meat. Shwick— It sliced through like a hot knife through butter, the tough grok muscle parting silently. The cross-section gleamed smooth, fresh red blood seeping out.
I cut it into big chunks—easy for Eve to eat, considering her appetite.
As the meaty aroma spread, Eve's body twitched.
"Sorry for the wait. Eat up."
I placed the slices in front of her, and the moment they hit the floor, she pounced. Without hesitation...
Drrip, crunch. Wet mucosa peeled apart with a sound, her child's upper body splitting open left and right once more. The raw exposure of those inner organs still sent chills down my spine. Munch, slurp. Internal muscles rippled like waves, devouring the meat.
But this time, the reaction was different.
"Hnnng~♪"
Amid the grotesque chewing, a strange hum mixed in.
"...What? You singing right now?"
Eve didn't answer, just swayed side to side. Color flushed her pale skin in an instant, her hollow eyes regaining vitality, sparkling like gems. Like a content cat purring, she hummed in satisfaction with every swallow.
Grotesque feasting juxtaposed with an innocent child's tune. The dissonant scene left me staring, dumbfounded.
'Was worried about grok meat being too tough... but she loves it? Seems satisfied, at least.'
Tough for human teeth, sure—but watching her devour it so eagerly made even grok look appetizing. Seeing her so blissfully happy eased my mind, yet stirred something odd. Was it parental pride over a kid eating well, or satisfaction with a pet? That blurry line.
I dazedly kept tossing sliced chunks. She snapped them up like a baby bird.
Then I grabbed a hunk with a massive joint bone attached. Tossed it thoughtlessly—then realized.
'Wait, that's a grok femur.'
Grok bones were so dense, industrial crushers barely managed them. Even for a monster like Eve, swallowing that whole would shred her esophagus or cause indigestion for sure.
"Hey! Spit it out! That's a bone—!"
I shouted, reaching out—but too late.
Crack—Crunch! A horrific splintering echoed in the cockpit. Ignoring my cry, Eve's chest maw pulverized the grok femur like a biscuit. The dense bone shattered, marrow slurped up with vivid sounds.
"..."
My jaw dropped, then snapped shut. Eve swallowed every crumb, then licked her lips expectantly.
"Hnn~?"
Complete with a satisfied hum.
I awkwardly withdrew my hand, gulping dryly.
'...Definitely a monster.'
Biting force of that maw, digestive power, casual humming while crunching bone. Biologically, Eve transcended humanity by leaps. No clue what Apex intended creating something like this. One specimen couldn't shift a battlefield...
Memories of past xenoform swarms faded into the background as Eve's ravenous eating sounds filled the cockpit. Soon, the sliced meat vanished without trace. Satisfied—or drowsy from digestion—Eve's chest sealed smoothly, and she plopped down, rubbing her belly.
The change was immediate. Skin, once dry and pallid from nutrient fluid, bloomed with vibrant color. Red eyes gleamed like jewels.
"Hehe..."
Eve patted her bulging tummy, grinning idiotically at me. So innocently that it was hard to believe this was the same monster who'd split open and chomped raw meat moments ago.
"...Such a mess."
I tsked at the blood on her mouth and neck, wiping it with tissue. She closed her eyes contentedly, not shying from my touch.
Warm. Her body heat, steady breaths under my fingertips.
'Can't keep dragging around a mute blank slate forever.'
Somehow, I felt she'd learn quickly if taught. I sat, meeting her gaze.
"Eve. Look at me."
Eve opened her eyes. I pointed to her nose with my index finger.
"Eve."
She blinked.
"Eee-ve. That's your name."
I pointed to my chest.
"Kal. That's me."
Eve tilted her head, confused. Patiently, I repeated.
"Eee-ve. Kal. Eee-ve. Kal. Say it after me."
"Ee... uh?"
"No, purse your lips more. Eve."
She babbled, lips flapping, but no precise sound. After ages with no progress even on her own name, frustration hit.
"Haa... Fine. Later."
Plenty of time now with the reroute. As I stood to give up—
Eve's tiny hand grabbed my hem. Turning, her red eyes stared up intently. Lips moved slowly, carefully.
"...Ka, al."
I froze. Rough, clumsy pronunciation. But clear.
"Kal."
She said my name again, patting her chest with a grin.
"E, ve."
My heart thudded down. In vast space, amid countless stars. Me, jaded by humanity, living off corpses; her, a presumed human-warped child monster. These two precarious beings finally named each other.
I stared blankly, then chuckled.
"Yeah. Good job, Eve."
She beamed, mimicking my laugh without understanding.
Somehow, this damn universe felt a tad less lonely. I ruffled her hair, then returned to the controls.
The Night Raven plunged unhesitatingly into endless darkness, toward our new home. This marked the start of me and Eve's long journey.