Chapter 4: The Junk Dealer’s Tune
Celeste trudged through the violet sand, her boots kicking up tiny clouds of dust with each step. The heat of Velmara-7’s triple suns pressed down on her, and she was already regretting not grabbing a drink before setting off. Ahead, Orion walked at an easy pace, like he was built for this kind of wasteland trekking.
“So, what exactly are we walking into?” Celeste asked, adjusting the strap of her lumitharp across her back.
Orion smirked. “Jex is… let’s just say he’s eccentric. Runs the biggest junkyard on Velmara-7. If there’s a hyperdrive on this planet, he’s got it.”
“And he just hands them out to people who sing for him?”
“Not exactly,” Orion admitted. “But he loves rare things. Unusual tech, stories, and music—especially music. If you can impress him, we might just walk away with what we need.”
Celeste sighed. “Great. No pressure.”
As they crested a hill, the junkyard came into view—a sprawling maze of scrap, towering piles of broken machinery, and makeshift structures cobbled together from old starships. A giant metal archway marked the entrance, rusted letters spelling out JEX’S EMPORIUM OF WONDERS.
Celeste raised an eyebrow. “Wonders, huh?”
“You’d be surprised,” Orion muttered.
They stepped through the archway, and almost immediately, a mechanical bird swooped down from one of the scrap heaps, its metal wings clicking as it hovered in front of them. Its beady red eyes scanned them before letting out a garbled screech:
“STATE YOUR BUSINESS OR FACE IMMEDIATE—oh hey, Orion!”
Celeste blinked. “Did that bird just change its mind halfway through threatening us?”
Orion chuckled. “Yeah, Jex’s security system has… personality.” He gave the bird a casual salute. “We’re here to see Jex. Got something to trade.”
The bird flapped its wings and let out a static-filled beep. “Proceed! And don’t touch anything unless you want to lose a hand.”
Celeste decided she liked this bird.
They weaved through the junkyard, past stacks of rusting ship hulls and bins overflowing with old circuit boards. Finally, they reached a small, dome-shaped shack with an oversized neon sign that read: JEX KNOWS BEST.
The door slid open with a creak, and out stepped a short, wiry man with wild white hair and goggles that magnified his eyes to cartoonish proportions. He wore a patchwork coat covered in various glowing buttons, wires, and trinkets, as if he himself was part of his collection.
“Orion Vance!” Jex cackled, throwing his arms wide. “You finally came to trade that terrible attitude of yours for something useful?”
“Not today, Jex,” Orion said, grinning. “We need a hyperdrive.”
Jex’s magnified eyes flicked to Celeste. “And who’s this? You bring me a musician as payment?”
Celeste stiffened. “I am not for sale.”
Jex burst into laughter. “Relax, starlight! I meant no offense.” His grin widened. “Though if you’re the real deal, maybe I’ll consider a trade.”
Celeste glanced at Orion. “You weren’t kidding about the music thing, huh?”
“Told you.”
Jex clapped his hands together. “Alright, songbird! Impress me. If I like what I hear, maybe—maybe—I’ll let you dig around for that hyperdrive.”
Celeste took a deep breath. Performing in front of crowds was one thing. Singing for a junk dealer in the middle of a scrapyard? That was new.
Still, she adjusted her lumitharp, let her fingers glide over the strings, and began to play.
The song started soft—like a whisper drifting through the stars. A melody she had never played before, something raw and new. As she sang, the junkyard seemed to fade away, the hum of the broken machinery blending into the rhythm of her chords.
Jex’s eyes widened behind his oversized goggles. Orion stood still, arms crossed but focused. Even the mechanical bird perched nearby, head tilted as if listening.
When the last note faded, silence stretched between them. Then, Jex let out a slow, low whistle.
“Well, well, well,” he said, tapping his fingers together. “That was something special.”
Celeste exhaled. “So… does that mean we get a hyperdrive?”
Jex chuckled. “Not so fast, starlight. You’ve piqued my interest, but I never give something for nothing.”
Celeste groaned. “Of course not. What’s the catch?”
Jex grinned. “There’s a wreck on the far side of the junkyard. Came down a few weeks ago, but I haven’t had time to pick through it. If you and Orion can scavenge anything good, then we’ve got a deal.”
Orion sighed. “You really know how to make us work for it, don’t you?”
Jex spread his arms. “That’s business, kid!”
Celeste shook her head but slung her lumitharp back over her shoulder. “Fine. But when we get back, I expect that hyperdrive to be waiting.”
Jex winked. “If you survive the trip, I’ll consider it.”
Celeste shot Orion a look. “Why do I feel like this is about to get way more complicated than it needs to be?”
Orion smirked. “Because you’re finally getting the hang of Velmara-7.”
And with that, they set off toward the unknown wreck—where Celeste would soon learn that fixing a ship was the easy part of this journey.
