Whispers In The Neutral Zone

The cantina was alive with a cacophony of voices. Some were hushed, conspiratorial murmurs, while others were loud and boisterous. Among the patrons were an eclectic mix of species:

• Vraskans: Reptilian humanoids with emerald scales and slit-pupiled eyes, known for their cunning and proficiency in trade and espionage.

• Auriths: Lithe, translucent-skinned beings with bioluminescent veins that pulsed faintly in the dim light. Their telepathic abilities made them natural diplomats—or manipulators.

• Galdorians: Massive, four-armed creatures with chitinous armor plating, their voices deep and resonant. Though intimidating, they were often regarded as honorable warriors.

• Myraxi: Avian-like beings with feathers shimmering in metallic hues, their hooked beaks clicking as they spoke in rapid, staccato bursts.

Lucas's drone hovered discreetly above the crowd, its stealth field bending the light around it, rendering it nearly invisible. As the drone captured fragments of conversations, Lucas leaned back in his booth, one hand lazily stirring his drink while his other tapped at the holographic console on his wrist.

[DRONE TRANSMISSIONS]

Vraskan Merchant 1: "…Trade routes are collapsing. Corsairs hit three supply convoys this week. If this keeps up, I'll have to smuggle through the Aurith Nebula."

Human Smuggler: "You'd be a fool to try. The Black Dune Marauders are crawling all over that sector. Word is they've got a warlord now, and he's uniting the smaller factions."

Aurith Noble: "The tension between planets is reaching a boiling point. First it's tariffs, then skirmishes. Mark my words—this system will be at war within months."

Galdorian Guard: "Neutral zones are a joke. Pirates walk in and out as they please. If Outpost Xerxes falls, the rest will follow. It'll be chaos."

Lucas sighed as the drone transmitted the chatter into his earpiece. Some of the information was useful—like the bit about the warlord in the Aurith Nebula—but most of it was just noise.

Glancing around the room, he noticed several pairs of eyes lingering on him. Some were curious, others wary. A few, however, carried a sharper edge—predatory and calculating.

Lucas smirked to himself, raising a hand in a mock salute to those who were staring. Embarrassed, they quickly turned away, muttering among themselves.

"Paranoid bunch," Lucas muttered under his breath, taking another sip of his drink.

As he sat there, Lucas's thoughts drifted to how unnervingly comfortable he felt in this dangerous environment. He'd already killed a handful of pirates out in space—his first real taste of combat—and it hadn't fazed him as much as he expected.

"Shouldn't I be freaking out right now?" he wondered aloud, his voice low.

The realization that he hadn't felt any guilt or hesitation about taking lives sent a chill down his spine. Was this world already getting to him? He shook his head, pushing the thought aside.

"Nope. Not going there," he said firmly. "I'll just stick to being the cocky bastard I've always been. At least that keeps things fun."

He chuckled to himself, imagining how he'd banter with his enemies during online matches. The only difference now was that he'd have to say it to their faces instead of through a headset.

…..

When he finished his drink, Lucas placed a few credits on the table for the waitress and stood up. As he made his way toward the exit, he activated his system interface with a flick of his wrist.

[SCANNING AREA…]

[BOUNTY LIST]

1. Vrax Tonnel

• Race: Human

• Bounty: 45,000 Credits

• Crimes: Smuggling illegal weaponry, assault on planetary officials.

2. Zithra Callan

• Species: Myraxi

• Bounty: 60,000 Credits

• Crimes: Piracy, sabotage of a government facility, multiple homicides.

3. Threx Kaul

• Species: Galdorian

• Bounty: 85,000 Credits

• Crimes: Desertion, conspiracy to incite rebellion, theft of military assets.

4. Neyra Vos

• Species: Aurith

• Bounty: 110,000 Credits

• Crimes: Espionage, assassination of a high-ranking official, classified information theft.

Lucas's eyes scanned the list, his gaze lingering on the last name. Neyra Vos. An Aurith with a bounty that made his eyes gleam.

"Hello, big catch," he murmured, licking his lips unconsciously as a sly grin spread across his face.

According to the system, Neyra Vos was believed to be operating in the vicinity of Outpost Xerxes. Lucas stretched, rolling his shoulders as his silver eyes flickered faintly in the dim light.

"Time to see what I'm really made of," he said, his voice low and filled with anticipation.

As he stepped out into the scorching desert sunlight, the gears in his mind were already turning. Tracking Neyra Vos wouldn't be easy, but the thrill of the hunt—and the chance to test his limits—was too tempting to resist.

With a devious smile, Lucas began making his way toward the outskirts of the outpost, his boots crunching against the sand.