Chapter 01

Tila walked down the narrow corridor, illuminated by a soft bluish light that pulsed rhythmically, as if the ship itself were breathing. The air was slightly cold, but she was used to it. Her padded paws, covered in dense and soft fur, made almost no sound on the metallic floor of the Krysalyn, her merchant ship. She stopped in front of one of the cryogenic compartments, checking the monitors that displayed the temperature and preservation levels.

"Kraton fish," Tila thought as she adjusted the panel slightly. Her short, flat snout twitched slightly at the metallic scent of the cryogenics. The planet Kraton, with its vast, deep-blue oceans and exotic creatures, was a goldmine for merchants like her and her crew. The fish stored there were true intergalactic delicacies, sought after in luxury markets on the farthest planets. Hundreds of cryogenic crates filled the cargo compartment, stacked neatly like pieces of a massive puzzle.

Tila's fur bristled slightly when the ship trembled. Likely just a course adjustment. She wasn't worried. Captain Kador, a robust and cunning Tolvanian, always said he knew that ship better than its own manufacturer.

Tila swished her long tail as she stretched, her furry, pointed ears, slightly folded at the tips, twitching at the distant hum of the turbines. The routine was almost therapeutic for her. Every compartment checked was a small reminder of the care and responsibility that came with the life of a space merchant.

As she typed the last notes into her wrist device, Kador's deep, familiar voice echoed through the communicator on the nearby wall.

"Tila, to the bridge. Now." His voice carried the firmness of a leader but also the camaraderie of a bond built over the years.

Tila sighed, her ears flattening slightly before perking back up in attention. "Always something happening," she murmured to herself. With one last glance at the panel, ensuring everything was in order, she turned and left the compartment, her paws landing softly on the floor.

The corridor leading to the bridge was a mosaic of metal panels and cables embedded in the walls. Small lights blinked here and there, indicating the ship's systems running at full capacity. A faint vibration in the floor accompanied the engines' pulse, like the beating of a mechanical heart.

Tila was a Myalyn, a species known for their small stature and agility, but also for the cleverness that seemed to shine from their large, bright eyes. Standing at 1.4 meters tall, her height allowed her to slip through the ship's narrowest corridors effortlessly. Myalyns had fur that ranged from earthy tones to grayish shades; hers was a hazelnut brown with darker stripes along her back. As she walked, her long tail swayed rhythmically, almost as if maintaining balance on a ship in rough seas.

As she approached the entrance to the bridge, Tila felt a slight tingle of curiosity. Kador didn't usually summon her without reason. What could be happening now? With adrenaline beginning to rise, she quickened her pace, ready to find out.

The bridge door slid aside with a soft hiss, revealing the central command room of the Krysalyn. The space was compact but efficient, like everything else on the merchant ship. The walls were lined with panels blinking with lights and displaying readings from the ship's various systems. At the center, Captain Kador sat in his swiveling command chair, his expression focused.

Before Tila could say anything, the ship's melodious and slightly synthesized AI voice greeted her:

"Welcome to the bridge, Tila." The AI, named Nyxis, always maintained a polite, almost warm tone, as if it took pride in creating a welcoming atmosphere.

Tila nodded toward the ceiling-mounted camera, representing Nyxis's "eyes." "Thank you, Nyxis. What's going on here?" Her curiosity was plain to see. Her ears stood erect, picking up every detail in the room.

Kador saw her and briefly raised his hand in a casual greeting. He was always straightforward, the kind of leader who understood the value of time. "Glad you're here, Tila." His tone was serious but carried his usual respect for the crew.

Tila crossed her arms and got straight to the point. "So, why did you call me?" Her long tail swayed lightly, a reflection of her nervous energy. She noticed the other two crew members were also present: Loran and Byra, both of her species, the Myalyn. Loran, with his dark gray fur, stood near the navigation console, while Byra, her golden fur speckled with white spots, was bent over one of the screens, her gaze focused.

Kador leaned forward slightly and gestured to Nyxis. "I'll let her explain. Nyxis, update Tila."

Nyxis's voice filled the bridge again, calm and informative: "While the ship was refueling outside of FTL travel, we detected an unknown object in our path. Initial readings indicate it's some sort of capsule."

Tila blinked, puzzled. "A capsule?" Her ears tilted backward in surprise as her mind began calculating the possibilities.

"Yes," Nyxis replied promptly. "A metallic capsule of unknown design. It's floating in a stationary course within our proximity. Preliminary scans indicate there is a being inside it."

Tila felt the fur on the back of her neck bristle, and her tail stopped swaying for a moment. "A being? What do you mean, 'a being'? Do you know what it is?" Her voice was tinged with unease. Myalyns were known for their innate curiosity, but the idea of an unknown being inside an abandoned capsule in space stirred a mix of fascination and apprehension.

"Unfortunately, no," said Nyxis, its tone unchanged, as if uncertainty were just another data point. "There is no information available about the species, physiology, or origin. The capsule appears to have advanced isolation systems, preventing a more detailed scan."

Tila looked to Kador for some sort of explanation or decision. He kept his gaze steady on her but remained silent, letting the quiet fill the bridge for a few seconds. Loran and Byra were equally silent, but the tension in the air was palpable.

"So… what are we going to do?" Tila asked finally, her voice quieter, almost as if speaking to herself. A capsule lost in space with an unknown being inside? This was not an ordinary day for merchants.

Kador leaned back in his chair, looking directly at Tila with his reptilian eyes, bright and filled with a mix of patience and determination. Despite his height—almost 20 centimeters taller than Tila—and the imposing appearance of his green, scaly skin, his voice was surprisingly gentle.

"Tila," he began, using that tone that indicated he was trying to bring calm to the situation. "We're bound by Federation law. That means if we come across someone or something in need of help, we are obligated to assist. It's not just about the law—it's the right thing to do."

Tila lowered her ears slightly, processing his words. "I understand, but... what if it's dangerous? We don't know what's in that capsule."

Before Kador could respond, Nyxis interjected. "As a precaution, I have already prepared a containment room on level three. If the being inside the capsule poses a threat, you will have enough time to evacuate the ship. As a last resort, I can activate the self-destruct protocol."

Tila's eyes widened, and she stepped forward, almost as if trying to argue directly with the artificial intelligence. "No! You don't need to do that, Nyxis. We won't let it come to that."

There was a brief silence on the bridge before Nyxis replied, its voice soft and almost conciliatory. "My priority is to protect the crew, Tila. If that decision becomes necessary, I will make it without hesitation."

Tila took a deep breath, her tail swishing nervously from side to side. She knew Nyxis was just following its protocols, but the thought of losing the ship—and Nyxis along with it—was something she simply couldn't bear. "Nyxis... trust us. We'll handle this before it comes to something so extreme."

Kador stood, his posture calm but resolute. "Let's take it one step at a time. We're not dealing with a threat yet, Tila. It's just a capsule. We'll bring it into the hangar and figure out what we're dealing with." He walked to the main control panel and began operating the commands.

Tila watched as he adjusted the short-range tractor beam. The panel blinked with green lights as he calibrated the precise range needed to pull the capsule. Outside, through the large bridge window, Tila could see the object floating in the void. It was metallic, rounded in shape, almost like a giant seed.

"The tractor beam is ready," Kador informed. He called out to Nyxis. "Give me the capsule's stability readings as we bring it in."

"Transferring data to the panel now," Nyxis replied efficiently.

With a final touch on the console, Kador activated the tractor beam. A pale blue light shot out from the Krysalyn's base, locking onto the capsule. Slowly, the object began to move toward the ship's hangar, carefully drawn in by the gravitational field it generated.

Tila crossed her arms, watching the capsule approach. Her heart was beating faster than she cared to admit. Something about this situation didn't feel ordinary—and it wasn't just the capsule or the being inside. It was the sense that something much bigger was about to unfold.

"Hangar ready," Nyxis reported after a moment. "The capsule will be safely secured in thirty seconds."

Tila took a deep breath, her mind full of questions, but knowing they'd have some answers soon.