Chapter 01: A Meeting Among the Stars
The vastness of space was both a burden and a blessing, depending on who you asked. For Kira Lorne, a scavenger who had spent most of her life drifting between spaceports and forgotten sectors, it was a constant reminder that she was alone in the universe. But she didn’t mind it. The void was where she thrived—flying solo, dodging pirates, and finding treasures no one else dared to seek. It was her survival instinct that kept her alive, not the promises of riches or fame.
Kira’s ship, the Scavenger’s Edge, was as much a part of her as her own skin. The exterior was a patchwork of old freighters, salvaged tech, and bits and pieces from ships long since forgotten. It was small, nimble, and capable of slipping through asteroid fields and dodging patrols without so much as a whisper. But today, it was the ship’s engine that was causing trouble.
The hum of the engine sputtered, and Kira cursed under her breath. She was no mechanic, but she had enough knowledge to know when something wasn’t right. Sitting at the helm, she tried to adjust the power systems manually. The dashboard blinked erratically, and her fingers danced over the console, trying to fix the issue.
“Come on, come on,” she muttered, tapping at the controls. A small alarm blinked on the screen: Critical System Failure: Navigation Disabled.
Kira sighed in frustration, leaning back in her seat. “Of course. Why not today of all days?”
The Scavenger’s Edge had carried her through countless close calls, but now it was giving up on her at the worst possible moment. She was drifting perilously close to the Tholian Asteroid Belt, a cluster of rocks and debris so dense that it could tear ships apart if they weren’t careful.
She flicked on the comms system, hoping for a signal. But the static on the line made her frown. Her only hope of getting out of this mess was to find a nearby station or, more likely, another ship willing to help.
A distant beacon flickered on the radar—an incoming ship. Her heart skipped a beat. Maybe this was her chance. She reached for the comms again.
“This is Kira Lorne of the Scavenger’s Edge, requesting assistance. I’m stranded near the Tholian Belt. Anyone out there?”
The response came after a few moments, crackling through the static. “This is Jaxon Holt. I’m not in the habit of rescuing strangers, but I’m not far. Keep your distance and stay put. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Kira froze. Jaxon Holt. She recognized the name immediately. Jaxon Holt was the most notorious space bounty hunter in the sector—dangerous, ruthless, and with a reputation for getting the job done no matter what it took. She’d heard rumors about him, but meeting him was another thing entirely.
“Great,” she muttered to herself. “Just what I needed.”
Kira’s eyes scanned the screen. The incoming ship was large, menacing even. It was sleek and black, built for combat—definitely not the type of ship you wanted to run into unless you had a death wish. Jaxon Holt was no friend, that was for sure.
She looked out the small viewport as the shadows of the asteroid field loomed closer. There was no turning back now. Kira knew that if she didn’t make the right move, this could be her last adventure.
Minutes later, the dark silhouette of the ship loomed before her, moving with the grace of something that had seen more battles than it could count. The comms buzzed again.
“Don’t get any ideas, scavenger,” came the cold voice of Jaxon Holt. “You’re lucky I’m even offering to help. You’re not the only one who’s been caught in this field.”
Kira’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not looking for charity, bounty hunter. I just need to get my ship back online.”
A short laugh crackled through the comms. “Fine. I’ll get you out of here, but you’re not going anywhere without me. I’ve got a job in the area, and you’re going to help me finish it. Deal?”
The way he said it wasn’t exactly a question. Kira didn’t have the luxury of refusing. She knew when she was outmatched, and right now, she was. She sighed and leaned back in her chair, setting her pride aside.
“Deal,” she said. “But don’t expect me to go easy on you. I’m not your typical damsel in distress.”
She could hear the smirk in his voice. “Wouldn’t dream of it, scavenger.”
Minutes passed, and before she knew it, the massive ship pulled alongside hers. Kira saw the shadows of figures moving on the other ship, and the comms crackled again.
“Hold tight. I’m coming over,” Jaxon’s voice came through, colder now. A sound of metal scraping against metal echoed as a docking port sealed onto the side of her ship. Moments later, a shadow stepped onto the Scavenger’s Edge. Kira stood, her hand instinctively going to the blaster on her hip. She wasn’t unprepared.
The figure in front of her was tall, with broad shoulders and a calm demeanor that matched his reputation. His sharp eyes studied her, sizing her up like she was just another puzzle to solve.
“You the one who’s been causing trouble in the sector?” Kira asked, her voice a little sharper than she intended.
“I’ve caused a lot of trouble, scavenger,” he replied with a shrug. “But right now, you’re the one who needs saving.”
He wasn’t wrong, but Kira didn’t like the idea of anyone coming to her rescue—especially not someone like Jaxon Holt.
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small device. “This should fix your navigation systems, for now. You’re not getting out of here without me, though. Got a job to finish.”
Kira raised an eyebrow. “What kind of job?”
“A treasure hunt,” he said, the glint of something unreadable in his eyes. “And you’re just the person I need to help me find it.”
The words hung in the air, and for a brief moment, Kira considered backing out. But she knew there was no way she could. She was already tangled in a web she couldn’t escape.
She nodded. “Fine. But I get a share of whatever we find.”
Jaxon’s grin was all teeth. “We’ll see about that.”
As he turned to leave, Kira followed him. For better or worse, this was her new reality. And for the first time in a long while, the stars didn’t seem as lonely.
The asteroid field loomed ahead, dangerous and unpredictable, but there was something else—something about the treasure they were after, and the strange connection already beginning to form between them—that made Kira think this might just be the beginning of a new kind of adventure.
And maybe, just maybe, something more.
