Chapter 3 - Tinos station

I stand at the ramp, stare at the control panel, and feel my palms grow moist. Must be the nerves. Damn nerves.

Stay calm. Just calm. Breathe in. Exhale.

My hand automatically checks my gear. Clothes are in place. Goggles are in place. Stony face? Also, hopefully. In a side holster is a pistol with mass-jet ammunition (literally a small rockets), whose weight inspires a slight confidence.

A short chuckle bursts out of me, as if torn by the tension. Why would I want such a weapon that can only leave a man in shreds? The answer is simple: self-defense. In this world full of people with unpredictable abilities, it is better to be ready for any surprises. Even if the opponent is a so-called "low-level" super. It's unlikely that I'll kill him with a single hit, but damn sure it'll hurt him.

One more inhale. One more exhale.

- Here we go - I say to myself as I press the ladder activation button.

The metal beneath my feet makes a clanking sound as the mechanism begins to lower. Slowly, I see the space in front of me open up. The cool air of the dock blows against my face, making me wince. Taking a step forward, I find myself on the threshold of a new world.

My story begins here. Just as long as it doesn't end too quickly.

I walk a few steps, instinctively looking back at the ship. Even from the outside, it's awe-inspiring. Black as the night sky, the hull is elongated and graceful. Every line, every curve resembles a bird of prey just waiting to descend upon its prey.

Mounted on rails, the Eridian looks ready to launch at any moment. Manipulators keep it above the floor, making it easy to land and take off. It's an interesting technical solution: no need to turn on the engines to leave the dock, which means there's less risk of damaging the station's equipment.

"True predator" - I think, lingering my gaze on the black coating.

This coating isn't just for beauty. According to the specs, it has resonance properties that can jam sensors and scanners. However, the heat of the engines and ion exhaust are still visible. Cloaking only works under certain conditions. In an ambush? Yes. Inertial flight? Absolutely. But during maneuvers or active combat, that advantage disappears.

Another look at the ship. Another breath.

I raise my eyes and look beyond the Eridian. There, beyond its hull, I can see a blue atmospheric field holding back the cosmic void.

I can't help but marvel. This kind of technology. In my old life, it would have been the limit of any scientist's dreams. Here, it's commonplace.

I make my way to the massive doors leading deep into the station. The terminal screen glows with soft white light, informing me that the parking lot has been paid for three days. I mentally note, - "I don't think I'll need that much time."

I press the button, the doors sliding open with a quiet hiss.

The first thing I see behind the doors are three sentients. Two girls and a man. The latter has pointy, long ears, clearly elven features. Their gazes linger briefly on me, then slide to Eridian, and then they turn away as if I had ceased to exist.

"I didn't impress them?" - flashes through my mind, but I immediately dismiss the thought.

Who cares?

Walking past, I head for the turbolift, which, according to the schematic, should take me to the station's main lobby.

The elevator car speeds up, gently taking me inside the giant structure. I stare at the information panel, trying to comprehend the size of Tinos.

The station is certainly impressive. Eight kilometers in diameter isn't much for a galactic hub, but out here in the middle of nowhere, it's a marvel of engineering.

The station has everything: shipyards, shopping malls, offices. And it's all divided into hundreds of levels. One thought keeps me thinking: all these possibilities are great, but I don't have the money. Even looking at the storefronts seems pointless.

As I drive, I try to gather my thoughts.

The first thing I need to do is register with the Mercenary Alliance. Without that, I'm nothing. I also need to open a bank account. Good thing the system here is simple: no checks, minimal forms.

My cover story? A simple man with space marine experience. That's both true and false at the same time. I did wear their armor. Only for a couple minutes, but it's enough to make my words sound convincing.

The elevator slows down and I step out into the central plaza.

What I see literally knocks me off my feet.

A huge space, as if woven from light and architectural chaos, spreads out before me. Hundreds of levels, thousands of stores, bridges, passages - it all resembles an anthill, but with exquisite symmetry.

But most striking of all is the diversity. Minds of all shapes and sizes. Humans, elves, beastmen, slugs, flying crystals. Giants over five meters tall, insect-like creatures with chitinous shells. It's a veritable zoo, and I'm part of it.

I look up, noticing the high-rise levels where the station management offices are probably located.

"No, it's none of my business," I think, heading for the next turbolift.

The elevator again. Acceleration again. This time I'm going to Level 7, Section 18. That's where the Mercenary Alliance branch is located.

"The key is to act calmly," - I tell myself, clenching my hands into fists.

When the doors open, I see a small line in front of the branch entrance. Fighters of all stripes are standing in groups. Some with heavy weapons, some in robes, clearly mages. But no one pays me any attention.

Inside, a silver orb greets me. It floats in front of me, emitting a soft light.

- Identity scan. No data. Would you like to register? - it asks.

- Yes, - I reply.

After a short dialog, the profile is created. I open my communicator and see my mercenary card.

Mercenary Codename: -

Credibility Rating: 10 (Starting Value)

Strength Level: F

Class: -

Certificates and Badges: None

Faction or Group: None

Summary: Mercenary Recruit

I stood in front of the registration drone, watching as its spherical hull floated in front of me, glowing with the cold light of the gravity stabilizers.

- State your alias, - came the machine's smooth but demanding voice.

Name? That's easy. Ellarion Stellaros. It's already written into this new reality as an inevitable part of me. But the pseudonym...

I thought for a moment. My thoughts darted around, clinging to scraps of memories. Old books, stories I'd read in a former life. Stories of heroes who, like me now, were leaving everything behind, plunging into the unknown.

- Aeneas, - I said, trying not to give away the tremor in my voice.

The drone froze, as if analyzing the meaning of the word, and then there was confirmation in its metallic tone:

 - File creation complete. Data has been entered into the system. Aeneas, welcome to the Mercenary Alliance.

I only nodded. The name was another anchor in my new life, a reminder that there was no turning back. Like that hero, all I had to do was move forward, breaking my destiny as I wished. 

Okay, first, I need to build up my reputation.

The words "reputation building" sound so ordinary, but in fact it's a long and exhausting process. Reputation is everything. It determines what missions you can take, how much you get paid, and how many lives you can save... or destroy.

To start, I'm going to have to grab the easiest jobs that no one pays attention to. Difficulty level: almost zero. But the pay will be commensurate.

I run my eyes over the list of available missions on my communicator. This is my future.

The list of missions is varied, but not particularly inspiring. Defense against pirates, escorting cargo, minor operations on the outskirts of civilizations. Most of them sounded either like a waste of time or a way to go to the other side of the world with no chance of reward. And there was one assignment that caught my eye.

The colony of Krasus. Planet Kama-6. Ordinary miners have stumbled upon a deposit of rare minerals, but the problem is that these miners are repeatedly attacked by some local monsters. The colonists are afraid to use heavy weapons: one wrong shot is all it takes to blow up the deposits.

The reward is 5000 enas.

I'm smiling. It's not only good money for a start, but also a chance to practice in real combat. If anything goes wrong, I have armor and weapons that should get me out of any mess.

"Alright Kama-6, looks like I'll be seeing you soon," - I think as I look at the mission.

I continued to stand in front of the terminal, studying my new profile, when a rough, scratchy voice sounded behind me:

- New?

I turned around slowly. Standing in front of me was a massive man whose appearance seemed to embody the image of a veteran mercenary. Scars crisscrossed his face like a map of old battle campaigns. One of his arms was mechanical, clearly crude, and a massive laser rifle hung over his shoulders.

His gaze was burning through me, like he was trying to gauge what I was.

- Trying to impress us? - he said, stepping closer. - You think you, a mere mortal, have a chance here?

His tone was contemptuous, but not malicious. Rather, he wanted to test me, to see if I could handle the pressure. I held his gaze, not allowing my face to show any irritation.

- Are you sure you're impressive? - I answered calmly, with a slight chuckle, but my eyes remained cold.

That seemed to hurt him. He squinted, and then laughed hoarsely.

- Ha! Nerves seem strong. And a sharp tongue. But that's hardly going to save you on the battlefield.

He shook his head and pointed a mechanical finger at my communicator.

- You know what I see? A rookie who doesn't even know what he's getting into. I bet my life savings that you'll die on your first mission.

- Maybe, - I agreed, shrugging my shoulders. - But it's better than sitting around, afraid to take risks.

The veteran was silent, assessing my words. For a second, something like respect flashed in his eyes.

- All right, punk, let's see what you got. If you survive, we'll talk. Maybe I'll even give you some tips.

He turned and walked away to another group of mercenaries, leaving me alone.

When I returned to the terminal to confirm my choice of assignment, another man came up beside me. This time it was a tall man in light armor, with a calm expression and a friendly smile.

- Don't listen to that bully, - he said, looking at me. - Garth likes to scare the newcomers. Tests the nerves, you know?

I nodded, keeping my hand on the terminal panel.

- How long have you been here? - I asked.

- A couple years, - he answered. - I use this station as a base, though I work all over the system. My name is Rickard. And you are?

- Aeneas, - I introduced myself.

Rikard nodded, looking me over carefully.

- You seem to be the kind of man who prefers to go it alone, don't you?

- For now, yes. I need to make sense of the world before I can trust others.

- A wise decision, but careful. You won't last long on your own. Did you sign up for the mission?

- Kama-6. Trouble with the local fauna.

Rickard chuckled.

- A simple case. Good choice for a first time. After this mission, you can join us, there's a lucrative war contract from the Desonian Federation. If you want to.

He winked and headed off to his group.

I followed him with a glance, thinking that in this world there are those who are willing to help and those who are just waiting to see you fail.

As I walked out of the Alliance branch, several mercenaries cast frankly contemptuous glances at me. Perhaps they were mocked by my equipment. Perhaps I look like someone who doesn't belong among professionals.

But it doesn't bother me. Let them look, let them whisper. You don't become a mercenary for the approval of others.

I'd rather be underestimated than overestimated.

Walking around the station, I glimpsed a couple of military stores. The prices gave me mixed feelings.

A good mercenary suit cost at least 5000 ena. That was just the basics - not including repairs, maintenance, and modifications. My armor, which was more like a walking tank, was not just superior in function to this junk - it destroyed it on every level.

It's funny how often real power is hidden behind an inconspicuous shell. Let the others think I'm just another newbie. Let them think I have no chance of surviving. 

Soon I reached a branch of the Limitless Financial Group. As far as I remember, this financial group is run by Sorokin, an S-class super who can control his soul. I'm surprised there's even a branch of such a prestigious organisation here.

Simple, almost boring environment. Customer terminals, a lone employee behind a desk. Nothing trying to impress - these people don't need it. Their reputation speaks for them.

I walked over to the terminal to create an account. The procedure took minutes. Name. Biometric password. And that was it. Now I had a place where the money I earned would come.

The employee didn't even look in my direction.

Using the turbolift, I made my way back to the docks.

The Eridian stood there, proudly towering over the rails like a predator preparing to leap.

- Well, - I muttered, looking at the ship. - It was time to get to work.

I climbed aboard, walked down the familiar corridors, and found myself on the bridge.

Sitting in the pilot's chair, I stared at the panels in front of me. Levers, buttons, screens - it all looked both mesmerizing and frightening at the same time. Although I shouldn't know how to operate it even in theory, but... somehow I know what's responsible for what here. I know what buttons and levers are responsible for maneuvering the ship, where the artificial gravity control button is, and how to turn on the ship's weapons. This is weird. 

- Okay, I won't risk it, - I said, activating the voice interface. - Ship. Leave the dock and head for the planet Kama-6.

For a moment it seemed like nothing had happened. But then I felt a slight jolt, as if the whole world was moving.

The walls of the hangar slowly receded. The rails beneath the ship slid smoothly, without a jerk. When the Eridian disengaged from the manipulators, the ion engines gently engaged, pulling me into open space.

The ship flew a couple hundred meters away from the hangar and turned with pinpoint accuracy, aiming its nose at its destination.

A couple seconds to calculate the FTL jump.

And then the space in front of me distorted. For a brief moment, the stars became blurred lines. The Eridian reached FTL, taking me farther and farther away from the station.

According to the data, Kama-6 was about three hours away.

It was hard to tell whether to be glad or afraid. But one thing I knew for sure, this was my chance. My first step in a new life.

- Well, Ellarion, - I said, leaning back in my chair. - Welcome to your new reality.