On Board

Vhorr'Ka.

The dreaded giant sandworms of Zhaaros.

The biggest. The most powerful Clara had ever seen.

And it just exploded.

Bag full of explosives to the stomach?

Her new favorite way to kill giant alien bugs.

The detonation is massive, a firestorm of pure destruction.

Its shockwave expands for hundreds of meters, sending scorching winds and burning debris across the desert.

But Jex reacts fast.

She pulls the Safira out of the danger zone, maneuvering it just in time.

The crane cabin shakes violently, rocked by the aftershock turbulence.

Green-brown slime and massive chunks of sandworm flesh rain down like a grotesque, alien monsoon.

Inside the cabin, Clara and the mysterious man are on the floor.

She's on top of him.

Resting on his broad, bare chest.

The moment would be perfect…

If he weren't completely covered in alien worm mucus.

"Damn! You really need a bath!"

She laughs.

But despite her playful words, she hugs him tighter.

Then—whispers softly.

"You still smell good…"

He exhales.

A deep, relieved sigh.

The battle was brutal. His heart still pounds. Adrenaline surges through his veins.

That confident, cocky grin still lingers on his charming face.

But—his expression softens.

He looks down.

At the beautiful woman in his arms.

"..."

He doesn't speak.

But he's content.

He reaches out.

Slowly. Gently.

Fingertips glide toward her messy blonde hair.

Green slime.

She's covered in it too.

"Oops!"

She blushes.

An awkward, adorable smile curves her lips.

"Looks like I need a bath too."

Then—her eyes gleam.

A bold idea flashes through her mind.

"Maybe we—"

**Shhh- **

Her earpiece buzzes.

"Clara?! You guys okay???"

Jex. Concerned.

"Covered in alien slime."

"Hahaha!"

Jex laughs, then sighs.

"Good. That's better than becoming worm food."

"For sure!"

Jex stabilizes the Safira midair.

Clara pushes herself up and extends a hand to the mysterious man.

Her eyes gleam.

Her lips curve into a soft smile.

"..."

Their eyes meet.

Her crystal-blue gems.

His milky-white diamonds.

He still hasn't spoken a single word since she pulled him out of that metal box.

%

But she trusts him completely.

She nods.

He nods back.

Then—he takes her hand.

They stand together.

"Jex. Get us inside."

"Alright!"

Jex maneuvers the crane, guiding the drill rig back into the Safira.

As soon as the cabin passes through the side hatch, the mysterious man's eyes widen.

He's impressed.

The Safira's interior is unlike anything he's seen.

A blend of cutting-edge human technology and raw, industrial design.

This is the cargo bay.

A vast metallic hangar, towering overhead.

Scattered across the floor—various land and aerial vehicles, large shipping crates, and towering containers.

Elevators and stairways lead to multiple access points.

His gaze takes it all in.

"Pretty badass, huh?" Clara grins, proudly.

Her expression softens slightly as her eyes land on the damaged panels on the floor, torn cables hanging from the ceiling.

"Looks like my home barely survived the fight with that oversized worm…"

"Easy fix! What matters is that we're intact." Jex steps off the main elevator, walking toward Clara with a relieved smile.

Clara nods, returning the smile.

"Thanks, Jex. You really saved us out there."

"Nah!" Jex shakes her head. "You did the heavy lifting. You and your…"

She glances at the mysterious man, surprised, impressed—curious.

"...New friend?"

Clara has no idea where to start explaining.

"Ehhh—" She hesitates.

Jex raises a brow, intrigued. "Long story?"

"Long story." Clara sighs.

"Alright, I'll wait… at least until we're far away from this cursed planet."

Clara nods, but her expression shifts—confused. Concerned.

"No sign of the others?"

"Echo?" Jex calls out to the AI.

"Doctor Nyx's signal is a few hundred miles east."

The AI's robotic voice echoes from the ship's speakers.

"The captain and the rest of the crew are closer—only a few miles away, approaching rapidly."

Clara lets out a relieved sigh. "Good to hear your voice again, Echo."

"Hi, Doctor. I am also happy to have you back on board, safe and intact."

Echo's normally mechanical voice carries a hint of warmth.

Clara smiles. "Well, I'd like to stay that way. Let's go get the others."

As soon as she mentions them, Echo delivers news.

"Receiving transmission from Captain—"

"Accept." Jex responds instantly.

From a small wall-mounted projector, a grayish-blue holographic image flickers to life.

The signal is glitchy, distorted by interference, but a face becomes visible.

A large man with tanned skin.

He's leaning forward, both arms gripping controls—piloting something.

A speeder.

The high-speed airborne vehicle kicks up thick clouds of yellow sand.

Harsh desert winds whip against his protective visor and short, military-style black hair.

"JEX?!" His voice is deep, serious, commanding.

"Status on the Safira!? We saw the explosion!"

"We're good, Captain Diego!" Jex reports quickly, her tone professional.

"The Safira took some heavy scratches, but we're operational and ready."

She grins slightly.

Then glances at Clara and the mysterious man, eyes gleaming with admiration.

"That explosion? That was Clara cleaning the house. Thank the good Lord she got back in time to save us."

"Clara's there!?!"

The deep voice that follows isn't Diego's.

Another man leans into the transmission—riding alongside the captain.

Another speeder.

He's also tanned, short military-cut hair, sharing strong Latin features with Diego.

But his face is rougher.

A long, deep scar runs from his right eye down to his jaw.

When his battle-worn, yet concerned expression appears on the hologram—

Clara's smile vanishes.

Her entire body tenses.

Her eyes narrow.

She takes a step back.

Jex instinctively glances at Clara, sensing the tension radiating from her.

But when she sees the dark, unreadable expression in the archaeologist's eyes, she hesitates.

Yet, Clara nods.

A silent confirmation.

Jex relaxes slightly before turning back to the captain.

"Affirmative."

"Doctor Dravenmoor is on board, and she…"

Jex can't contain her excitement. Admiration fills her voice.

"She did it, Captain!"

"She brought back the relic!!"

Captain Diego's face lights up with a broad grin.

The man beside him does too— but there's something else in his gaze.

A glint of greed.

Behind them, the crew erupts in celebration.

"Hell yeah!!"

"MONEY! MONEY!! MONEY!!"

"We're gonna be fucking rich!!!"

The victory hype spreads like wildfire.

But the scarred man next to Diego doesn't look nearly as pleased.

His expression darkens.

Then—his voice cuts through the noise, sharp and demanding.

"CLARA!"

"Show your pretty face!!"

"We just fought through a hundred Crimson Nebula pirates so you could stroll through your beloved ruins—untouched!"

Clara's jaw clenches.

Then—she jumps in front of the transmission, rage igniting in her veins.

"YOU MOTHERFUCKER!!"

"Untouch—MY ASS!!!"

"There were TWO Crimson Nebula ships!"

"The bastards got there first! They were WATCHING us!"

"They ambushed me inside the pyramid!"

"They were going to take the relic—kill me—probably worse!"

The captain and his second-in-command freeze.

Surprised. Confused.

"You fought off an entire Crimson pirate squad?!" Diego asks, skeptical.

"No."

Clara snaps back, fury still burning in her voice.

"The rats cornered me—like the cowards they are!"

"But—"

Her ferocious expression softens.

Her eyes shift.

Her lips curve— naturally.

She's looking at him.

Her silent protector.

Of course.

The mysterious man stands there, watching Clara with a gentle curiosity.

But he isn't facing the ship's transmission camera.

The captain and his crew can't see him.

They're confused.

Diego curious.

The other man?

Frustrated.

"WHO IS HE!?!"

His already perpetually angry face twists in fury.

Clara loves it.

Her tongue nearly dances inside her mouth, teasingly.

Her eyes sparkle— bold. Defiant.

"My new best friend, for the hell sure," she laughs and curses, but there is a lot of honesty in her words. A lot of good feelings.

"Thanks to my father—who taught me the value of fucking GRATITUDE to those who actually do something GOOD for us."

Jex covers her mouth to stifle a laugh.

Captain Diego remains serious. Confused. Curious.

But the other man?

Absolutely furious.

Disappointed.

And most of all—burning with jealousy.

"You're a fucking ungrateful bitch! That's what you are!!"

He spits the words, full of venom.

But Clara doesn't care.

The mysterious man beside her, however…

His eyes darken.

A cold. Deadly. Stare.

"Javier!"

Diego snaps at the angry man, shoving him out of the transmission frame.

"Both of you!"

"Now is NOT the time to air your dirty laundry."

His tone is commanding. Final.

He turns to Jex.

"Jex! We're arriving. Leave the hatch open."

"Alright." She nods.

Diego gives Clara one last curious glance.

"We'll talk more in person."

"Ending transmission."

The hologram flickers out.

__________________________________________

"..."

Jex looks at Clara, concerned.

"Javier—"

"He's gonna—"

Clara cuts her off with a warm, friendly smile.

"Don't worry about him. It'll be fine."

"Mmm~" Jex nods hesitantly.

Clara nods back. "Just focus on your job. I'll handle the rest."

As Jex moves to the ship's control panels, Clara turns back to the mysterious man.

Every time she looks at him, her eyes shine.

She wants to smile.

And he—he seems to feel something similar.

Because that same cocky, confident grin spreads across his face.

"You!"

"My big guy!"

Clara grabs his arm, tugging him toward the main elevator.

"We need a drink after all the shit we just went through."

"You need something REALLY strong!"

"Hehe~"

His expression brightens.

But there's also confusion. Curiosity.

As Clara pulls him through the corridors of the Safira, he takes everything in.

Every glowing panel on the walls.

Every technological console.

Every piece of wooden furniture that contrasts against the steel.

Every oddity that catches his eye.

Everything seems new. Fascinating.

But—his gaze always returns to Clara.

"You need to stop looking at me like that…"

Her cheeks flush as she says it.

But her tone betrays her.

She doesn't really want him to stop.

She releases his hand, quickening her pace ahead of him.

He watches her.

Her back.

The way her waist moves—playful. Bouncy.

She's excited.

She glances back over her shoulder.

A mischievous smile.

Seductive.

Her voice drops.

Low. Sweet.

Charming.

"Alright… I'll let you look at me like that."

"Only you."

She winks.

Then signals for him to follow.

He follows.

Of course.