Chapter 10

The streets of Cassur Prime were bustling and vibrant, filled with crowds of various species moving past shops, stalls, and open-air markets. Kador walked with steady strides, his eyes sharp, while Loran followed closely behind, visibly intrigued by the unexplained mission. The air was heavy with a mix of scents—alien spices, the fumes of transport machines, and the fresh saltiness of the nearby ocean, visible in the distance between the buildings.

"What exactly are we looking for?" Loran finally asked, breaking the silence, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Kador stopped in front of a seemingly ordinary store, its simple facade displaying tools and general-use equipment. The worn sign swung gently in the breeze. "An old friend," he replied, gazing at the sign as if confirming something.

Loran frowned at the storefront, skeptical. "And what's in here that could possibly help?"

Kador didn't reply immediately. Instead, he stepped forward and gestured with his hand. "Let's go in."

The soft chime of a bell announced their entrance, and they were greeted by a Cassurian receptionist. Her fur was gray with white patches, and her long ears swayed gently as she spoke, her voice polite and practiced. "Good morning, gentlemen. What are you looking for?"

Kador reached into his pocket and retrieved a small metal badge engraved with his name and the symbol of the Mercantile Trade Federation. He showed it to the receptionist, gesturing briefly toward Loran. "My name is Kador. This is my crew member. I'd like to speak with Adrila."

The receptionist regarded him for a moment, her ears twitching slightly in recognition. Without much comment, she touched a discreet communicator in her ear and spoke quickly, the exchange brief. "Understood," she said finally, turning back to the two. "She's expecting you. Please, go ahead."

They followed her direction, moving through the establishment past narrow aisles and shelves stocked with generic tools that seemed out of place in such a hidden location. At the back of the store, there was a partially open door, where Kador stopped and knocked gently.

"Come in," said a feminine voice from the other side.

Kador pushed the door open, stepping into a room where Adrila awaited—a Tolvanian with golden, scaled skin that shimmered under the ambient light. She sat in a chair, holding a drink in a simple glass. The moment she saw him, she rose to her feet with a confident smile.

"It's been a long time, old friend," Adrila said, walking toward him with ease. Her eyes glinted with humor. "You've grown even more handsome and charming," she teased, her smile playful.

Kador averted his gaze momentarily, uncomfortable but maintaining his composure. "I've got a crew member here. This isn't the time for that."

"If you want, I can step out," Loran quipped sarcastically, raising his hands as if preparing to leave.

"You stay," Kador said quickly.

Adrila chuckled, shaking her head. "You're such a killjoy, you know that?"

"So I've been told," Kador replied, unenthused.

Leaning back against the table, Adrila kept her amused smile. "So, what brings you here?"

Kador crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly. "I need something from you, and I know you have it. After all, this is your line of work. Though I'm still amazed you haven't been discovered with that front-store setup. It's practically empty."

Adrila laughed, flashing sharp teeth. "Well, I have my connections with the local city government."

"Of course, you do," Kador said dryly.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, curious, and asked, "So, what is it you want, exactly?"

Kador leaned slightly forward, arms crossed, as he asked firmly, "Do you have a translation chip?"

Adrila narrowed her eyes, a flicker of curiosity crossing her face. "I do, but it's not cheap, you know."

Kador gave a slight nod. "I can pay."

She raised an eyebrow, a subtle smile forming on her lips. "Not that it's any of my business… but what's it for?"

"I have a new crew member who doesn't speak the common language," Kador said plainly.

Adrila chuckled softly, shaking her head. "It's strange for someone from the Federation not to speak the common tongue. Where's he from?"

Kador frowned, his gaze shifting slightly. "This isn't an interrogation."

She let out an amused laugh. "You're hiding something from me. I know you, Kador. We come from the same world, spent years together, and you think you can keep secrets from me?"

"I told you the truth," he replied defensively. "I have a new crew member."

Adrila sighed, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender. "Alright, I won't press further."

She rose from her chair, walked to a shelf full of boxes, and began rummaging through them. After a moment, she pulled out a small metallic case and handed it to Kador.

"The chip is in here," she said casually.

He took the case, examining it briefly before asking, "Can you send me the payment details?"

"You can transfer the funds by the end of the week," Adrila replied with a sly smile.

He gave her a suspicious look. "This chip is new. Where did you get it?"

"Trader's secret," she said, winking at him.

Kador thanked her, gripping the case firmly. "We're leaving now."

Adrila tilted her head, observing him closely. "Already?" she asked, her tone slightly disappointed. "Why not stay the night? It's getting late."

Kador hesitated, considering her suggestion. He glanced at Loran, who stood beside him, and let out a light sigh. "You're free to enjoy the rest of the day, but meet me back here in the morning."

Loran grinned, clearly pleased. "Great. I'll take the chance to enjoy some good fishing."

Kador nodded, watching Loran leave through the door, leaving him alone with Adrila.

When he turned back to her, momentarily distracted, Adrila took a quick step forward and grabbed him, her hand firm on his shoulder as she pulled him closer. Caught off guard, Kador barely had time to react before she spoke in a provocative tone: "Tonight, you're mine."

She moved closer and began kissing his neck, ignoring any attempt at protest.

"You lost, human," said Nyxis's voice, clear and direct, but with a slight tone of teasing.

The human looked at the holographic board in front of him, the glowing pieces projected in the air marking his defeat in no uncertain terms. He crossed his arms and tilted his head back slightly, letting out an exasperated sigh.

"I'm ready for another round," he said, though there was a hint of humor in his voice.

"I'm impressed," Nyxis replied. "How can you lose at the very game you introduced me to?"

He let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "How was I supposed to know you'd be this good at chess? Sometimes I forget you're a super-advanced artificial intelligence."

"I appreciate the compliment," said Nyxis, her voice carrying a subtle touch of sarcasm that mimicked the human's tone.

He laughed again, this time more relaxed, leaning back in the makeshift chair he was using in the ship's common room. The soft lights illuminated the space, creating an unexpectedly cozy atmosphere, considering recent events.

After a few seconds of comfortable silence, Nyxis spoke again, shifting the subject. "Tell me about your world."

The human stared at the ceiling thoughtfully. "My world?" He smiled faintly, shaking his head. "Alright, where do I start?"

"The biology," Nyxis suggested. "And the geography."

He adjusted his posture, his eyes wandering as though trying to pull memories to the surface. "Alright. Well... my world, Earth, is... diverse. It has vast oceans covering about 70% of its surface, and those oceans—well, they're fascinating. From calm, crystal-clear waters to storms capable of destroying coastal cities. They're full of life: fish, aquatic mammals, underwater plants... You probably know all this already, but living there... that's something else."

He paused, as if revisiting Earth in his mind. "As for the land... there are continents. Huge ones. America, Asia, Africa... places so big it felt impossible to explore them fully. And each one had its own climate, its own culture, its own history."

"Climate?" Nyxis asked.

"Yeah. Cold zones like Antarctica, and hot ones like the Sahara. Places where it rains so much it feels like the sky never dries, and others where every drop of water is precious. Earth is... dynamic, I guess that's the right word. Always changing."

"And what about your civilization?"

He sighed, crossing his arms. "When I disappeared in 2178, the government was unified. We called it the United Earth Republic. Of course, it took centuries to get there. In the past, there were endless wars over territory, religion, resources... the usual. But at some point, we realized if we kept going that way, we'd destroy ourselves. So, we formed the Republic."

He paused, his gaze distant. "That's when we started expanding. Mars was colonized. It even seemed like things were getting better. But... you know how it is. There's always someone who's unhappy. The Martian separatists... they didn't want to be governed by Earth. That's how the war started. And it was during that war that I was created."

He stopped speaking, his expression serious as he looked at the holographic board, as if searching for something that wasn't there. After a few seconds, he yawned, covering his mouth with one hand.

"You are tired," Nyxis said, her voice practical. "I recommend you get some rest. I can guide you to a dormitory."

The human looked up at the ceiling again and gave a faint smile. "I think you just acted as close to a mother as you possibly could..." he said softly, almost to himself.

But, of course, Nyxis heard it.