Aventus raised the glass to his lips, the cool water soothing his parched throat as he took a deep, deliberate drink. The faint clink of the glass against his teeth was the only sound for a moment, save for the distant hum of the station. He drained the glass in one long gulp, the muscles in his throat working rhythmically, his movements unhurried but efficient. When he finished, he handed the glass back to K'Raal with a nod of quiet appreciation.
"Thanks," he murmured, dipping his head slightly before his dark, almost indigo eyes lifted to meet theirs. His voice, though still low, carried a steadiness now, the rasp softened by the water. "I have a few questions," he said, each word deliberate. "Starting with—where am I, and where's my crew?"
His gaze shifted between Doctor Fenwick and K'Raal, the intensity of his stare tempered by the calmness in his tone. His hands rested lightly at his sides now, his posture casual but still poised, the fingers of his right hand brushing the edge of his holster almost unconsciously. Though his voice lacked any overt demand, there was a weight behind the words, a quiet insistence for clarity that neither the gnome nor the reptilian seemed inclined to ignore.
Doctor Fenwick adjusted his oversized goggles, his diminutive form shifting slightly as he glanced up at K'Raal before turning back to Aventus. "Well," Fenwick began, his voice tinged with a mix of professionalism and genuine concern, "you're aboard the Horizon Drift. We picked up your ship—or what's left of it—floating not far from here. It was… in bad shape. Barely holding together, if I'm being honest."
K'Raal folded his arms across his chest, the smooth scales of his forearms catching the pale light as he added, "As for your crew…" He hesitated for just a moment, his amber eyes narrowing slightly before he continued. "We've recovered… survivors. Some still in cryo-stasis. Others…" His voice trailed off, the unspoken implication hanging heavy in the air.
Fenwick stepped forward, his tone softer now, attempting to ease the weight of the moment. "We're doing everything we can for the ones we brought aboard. I've got my med team monitoring the pods. You're the first to wake, and frankly, it's a miracle you're even on your feet after what that ship's been through."
The silence that followed was thick, the hum of the station suddenly feeling louder in its absence. K'Raal's gaze lingered on Aventus, as though weighing his reaction, while Fenwick fidgeted slightly, his fingers tapping against the datapad he carried. The room felt smaller now, the unanswered questions hovering in the space between them.
Aventus moved toward a nearby chair, his long legs folding awkwardly as he let himself drop into it with a quiet, resigned thud. The metal creaked slightly under his weight, though it held steady. Leaning forward, he buried his head in his hands, his elbows resting heavily on his knees. His fingers curled slightly, pressing against his temples, as if trying to push away the weight of the moment—or the memories threatening to surface.
The room was silent save for the faint hum of machinery and the gentle rise and fall of Aventus's breaths. His hair fell forward in dark strands, partially obscuring his face. For a long moment, he didn't move, his stillness almost palpable, as though he were gathering himself from the inside out.
When he finally lifted his head, his indigo eyes met Doctor Fenwick's. They were darker now, shadowed with the weight of his words. "Thanks, Doc," he said softly, his voice carrying the same steady calm as before, but this time with a deeper note of exhaustion, of acceptance. "Let me know if there's anything I can do to help them. I'm supposed to be disposable, so… if anyone can be saved, just tell me what to do."
The room seemed to pause at his words. Fenwick's expression softened, the gnome gripping his datapad a little tighter as though to steady himself. "Disposable?" the medic repeated, his voice tinged with a mixture of disbelief and concern. He glanced up at K'Raal, whose amber eyes narrowed slightly, their gleam unreadable as he stood silently beside the door, his arms still crossed over his chest.
Fenwick shook his head quickly, clearing his throat. "Look, I don't know what you've been through, kid," he said, his tone a bit firmer now, "but there's no one 'disposable' here. If you want to help, we'll find a way—but don't go throwing yourself to the wolves like you're some kind of scrap part. Got it?"
K'Raal's crest twitched faintly, but he didn't speak, his gaze fixed on Aventus with an intensity that suggested he was silently weighing the boy's resolve.
For a moment, the silence in the room grew thick again, but Fenwick leaned closer, his voice softening once more. "We'll do everything we can for your crew. You have my word. But you're not just some spare piece, Aventus. If you want to help, it's going to be as someone who matters."
Fenwick straightened, looking up at K'Raal as though expecting the reptilian to add something, but K'Raal simply inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment before returning his steady gaze to Aventus.
Aventus shrugged, a subtle lift of his shoulders that barely shifted the fabric of his jumpsuit. His expression was neutral, but there was a faint flicker in his dark indigo eyes, as though weighing his own words before speaking. Pushing himself up from the chair, he stretched slightly, rolling his shoulders as if testing the limits of his body after the stiffness of cryo-stasis."I need to walk," he said, his voice steady, carrying a hint of underlying exhaustion. "Stretch out the rest of this cryo-stasis… maybe feel a bit like myself again." He ran a hand through his unruly hair, brushing it back from his face before letting it fall naturally to his shoulders. "Is there anywhere I should avoid, or somewhere I should go—like a gym or something?"
Doctor Fenwick's face lit up with an expression that was part amusement, part approval. "Good to see you've got some spirit," the gnome said, tucking his datapad under one arm. "Stretching out's not a bad idea, but try not to overdo it. You've just walked out of stasis and into armor—most people wouldn't even be standing right now."
He reached into one of his coat pockets, pulling out a small device no larger than a key fob. With a flick, a holographic map of Horizon Drift projected into the air, its glowing lines sketching out the layout of the station's key areas. Fenwick pointed to a marked section near the outer edge of the station's rotating ring. "Gym's here. Decent size, nothing fancy, but it's got everything you'll need—weights, cardio, sparring mats. Just… keep an eye on the timers. Gravity fluctuates a bit when the system's under strain."
He adjusted the map, tapping another area closer to the station's core. "If you're feeling adventurous, the arboretum's worth a visit. Lower decks, a bit cooler than the rest of the station. Nice place to clear your head. But avoid engineering for now." He glanced at K'Raal, who gave an almost imperceptible nod of agreement. "Things have been... twitchy down there lately."
K'Raal unfolded his arms and stepped closer, his tall, reptilian form casting a long shadow over the hologram. "I'll have someone escort you if you need it," he said, his tone level, though his amber eyes glimmered with something Aventus couldn't quite place—concern, perhaps, or caution. "But this is a station, not a luxury liner. Stay sharp. You've had a rough awakening, and this place isn't as quiet as it looks."
Fenwick gave an awkward laugh. "What he means is, the Drift's not perfect, but you'll get used to it. Just… keep out of the maintenance shafts."
With that, Fenwick pocketed the device, the holographic map vanishing with a faint flicker. K'Raal turned his sharp gaze back to Aventus, waiting for confirmation, his posture still radiating a silent but unmistakable sense of authority.
Aventus nodded once more, a small but deliberate motion that conveyed his appreciation. "Thank you," he said, his voice steady, calm, and carrying just a hint of weariness. "I should be able to find my way there on my own. Plus, I wouldn't mind being alone for a while."
He cast a brief glance around the room, his dark blue eyes lingering on the sparse furnishings and the faintly glowing medical equipment. "I assume this is my room for the foreseeable future," he added, his tone neutral but matter-of-fact. "So, I'll return here in a little while—once I've cleared some of the cobwebs from my brain."
Doctor Fenwick gave a nod, his oversized goggles bobbing slightly with the motion. "Take all the time you need," he said, his voice friendly but professional. "Just don't push yourself too hard. Stasis takes more out of you than most people realize."
K'Raal's amber eyes flickered briefly, the faintest twitch of his crest ridges signaling some unreadable thought. He gave Aventus a single, sharp nod of acknowledgment. "If you need anything, you know where to find us," K'Raal said, his tone measured, neither encouraging nor dismissive. Then, without another word, he stepped aside, his tall frame moving fluidly to clear the doorway.
Doctor Fenwick hesitated for a moment, glancing up at Aventus with a faint, curious expression before turning to follow K'Raal out of the room. The soft hiss of the door closing behind them left Aventus in silence once more, the faint hum of the station his only companion.