Aventus quickly realized one glaring problem as he navigated the bustling corridors of Von Braun V: he had no money. The sights, sounds, and smells of the station were overwhelming—vendors calling out prices, tantalizing aromas wafting from food stalls, and every corner packed with opportunity for those with credits to spend. Unfortunately, Aventus wasn't one of them.
He paused in a quieter corner of the commercial district, his back to a massive holo-advert for a luxury starliner vacation. Crossing his arms, he scanned the crowd with a sharp eye. Two centuries out of step with the galaxy left him at a disadvantage, but he knew one thing hadn't changed: where there was wealth, there were always people willing to pay for protection—or people who wouldn't notice when their pockets became lighter.
Still, Aventus preferred to earn his way. For now.
-----
The Job Hunt
He began moving through the crowd, keeping his stride purposeful but relaxed, his indigo eyes darting between people and signs advertising job boards. He spotted a holographic kiosk glowing faintly at the edge of a market area, offering a scrolling list of available contracts.
"Work Needed: Security for Outbound Caravan"
Details: Seeking capable individuals to guard a shipment to a remote outpost in the Kuvaris Belt. Experience with firearms and melee combat preferred. Risk of minor pirate activity.
Pay: 500 credits plus bonus for safe delivery.
Contact: Captain Relvok, Dock 42.
"Cargo Hauler Muscle Needed"
Details: Assist in unloading and reloading a shipment of rare alloys. Heavy lifting required.
Pay: 75 credits/hour.
Contact: Overseer Malvra, Ring 3.
"Discrete Problem Solver"
Details: Seeking someone to retrieve a lost item. Time-sensitive. Discretion required.
Pay: Negotiable.
Contact: Rilek, Tangle District, Stall 12.
-----
Aventus raised an eyebrow, smirking faintly. Not exactly shining examples of legality, he thought, but none of these jobs seemed particularly burdensome. The security gig sounded like his best shot—a mix of action and decent pay—but the mention of pirates had his instincts sharpening. He could handle himself, but his resources were limited for a full-scale firefight.
His eyes lingered on the "Discrete Problem Solver" listing. That one screamed shady, but the negotiable pay caught his attention. If nothing else, it might give him a better feel for the station's underbelly.
Aventus lingered in front of the job board, his sharp indigo eyes locked on the scrolling text of the listings. The "Discrete Problem Solver" job seemed to leap out at him, its vagueness and promise of negotiable pay holding his attention. He stood there for a long moment, weighing the risks. This job had "trouble" written all over it, but trouble didn't bother him—he'd lived with it long enough to know it could be profitable if handled right.
"Fuck it," he muttered under his breath, the words barely audible over the hum of the station. With a small nod to himself, he turned on his heel and started toward the Tangle District.
The Tangle District was aptly named. A sprawling, chaotic maze of tightly packed stalls, dimly lit alleys, and mismatched architecture, it stood in stark contrast to the polished corridors and towering commercial hubs of Von Braun V. Overhead, neon signs buzzed faintly, their light reflecting off the dull metal walls, and the air was thick with a mix of oil, smoke, and spices.
Aventus kept his movements steady, his long frame weaving through the bustling crowd with practiced ease. Vendors called out their wares, and the chatter of deals, arguments, and quiet exchanges filled the air. This was a place where rules were bent—or outright broken. It wasn't home, but it felt familiar.
It didn't take long to locate Stall 12. The "stall" was more of a metal shack, its front open to reveal an assortment of nondescript crates, holographic displays of contraband, and a stout figure standing behind the counter. The man's appearance matched the listing's name: Rilek. He was a stocky human, his features rough and scarred, with one cybernetic eye that whirred faintly as it locked onto Aventus. A faint grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as Aventus approached.
"You're here for the job," Rilek said, his voice gravelly but steady. It wasn't a question.
Aventus stopped a few feet from the counter, his expression neutral but alert. "I am," he replied simply. "Discrete problem solver, right? What's the problem?"
Rilek leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the counter. "It's a retrieval job," he said, his good eye narrowing. "Simple on paper, but the kind that needs a quiet touch. Someone stole something from me—a data crystal. Valuable, sensitive, and I want it back."
"Details?" Aventus asked, crossing his arms.
Rilek tapped on a datapad, and a small hologram flickered to life, showing a wiry figure in a hooded coat. "This is who you're looking for. Goes by Karn. Slippery bastard, but not invincible. Last seen near the lower levels of the district. You find him, get the crystal, and bring it back to me. No questions, no complications."
"And the pay?" Aventus pressed, his indigo eyes narrowing slightly.
"1,000 credits," Rilek said, his grin widening. "If you get it done quick and clean, I'll even throw in a bonus."
Aventus scratched at the stubble growing along his jaw, his indigo eyes fixed on Rilek as he weighed the job. The promise of credits—more than enough to get him started—was too good to pass up. He tilted his head slightly, smirking faintly as he added a mental note to find a razor after this was done.
"You got yourself a deal," Aventus said, his voice calm but carrying an edge of confidence. "He won't even know I was there."
Rilek's cybernetic eye whirred softly, its faint red glow flickering as he gave a satisfied nod. "That's what I like to hear," he said, tapping the counter with his knuckles. "You move quick, you move quiet, and we'll get along just fine."
Aventus didn't linger. He turned on his heel, adjusting his gear as he stepped back into the chaos of the Tangle District. The narrow alleys and crowded corridors seemed even more suffocating now, but he moved through them with purpose. Karn wouldn't stay in one place for long—if he was as slippery as Rilek claimed, then time was already working against him.
But Aventus was no stranger to pressure. As he disappeared into the shadows of the district, his mind was already working through the plan: find Karn, get the data crystal, and disappear before anyone realized what had happened. Simple, clean, and just what he needed to fill his empty pockets.
Aventus moved swiftly through the bustling crowd, his long strides purposeful as he navigated the maze-like alleys of the Tangle District. The deeper he ventured, the seedier the surroundings became. The neon lights overhead dimmed, replaced by flickering signs advertising questionable services, while the air grew heavier with smoke, oil, and desperation.
He kept his gaze sharp, scanning the faces and signs around him. He wasn't looking for an upstanding establishment; he needed a place where thieves and bandits felt at home. Somewhere people like Karn might hide—or be careless enough to show their faces.
After weaving through a few more tight corridors, he found what he was looking for: a rundown bar tucked into the corner of a dimly lit plaza. The holo-sign above the entrance flickered erratically, spelling out the name "The Rusted Fang." Its exterior was grimy, with scorch marks near the door and a faint metallic tang in the air that reeked of old fights and spilled drinks.
Aventus smirked faintly, scratching his chin again. Perfect.
He stepped inside, the door sliding open with a hiss that barely masked the din within. The interior was dimly lit, the air thick with smoke and the low hum of hushed conversations. Patrons sat in clusters around mismatched tables, some nursing drinks, others engaged in quiet, heated debates. A few heads turned his way as he entered, but most quickly returned to their own business.
The bartender, a wiry woman with cybernetic arms, glanced at Aventus briefly before going back to polishing a glass with an oily rag. A holo-screen behind the bar displayed the local drink menu, but Aventus wasn't here for the alcohol.
He moved to an empty stool at the bar, his sharp indigo eyes scanning the room as he sat. Conversations overlapped around him, snippets of words catching his attention. Deals being made. Bets being placed. A knife drawn somewhere in the back.
This was exactly the kind of place someone like Karn might frequent—or where someone might know how to find him.
Aventus leaned back slightly on his stool, his posture casual but his sharp indigo eyes sweeping the dimly lit bar. He kept his movements minimal, his gaze flicking between the patrons as he let the overlapping conversations wash over him. If Karn wasn't here, someone might still know where to find him. Or better yet, Karn could be sitting just a few feet away.
The noise was a jumble of half-heard phrases and rough voices:
"…bet on that match last night? Damn shame…"
"…shipment's late. Boss won't be happy…"
"…easy creds if you're willing to look the other way…"
"…Karn's not gonna be happy if he finds out…"
That last snippet caught Aventus's attention, though the voice was faint and muddled. He shifted slightly in his seat, his indigo eyes narrowing as he tried to pinpoint the source. His focus landed on a pair of patrons seated at a small, wobbly table near the back. One was a scruffy man with a patchy beard, the other a shorter figure in a hooded cloak, their face partially obscured.
Aventus couldn't tell if the hooded figure was Karn, but the tension in their body language suggested they were discussing something important. The patchy-bearded man leaned in close, his voice dropping to a whisper. Unfortunately, the low murmur was drowned out by the surrounding din, and Aventus's position at the bar made it hard to catch more than a word or two.
Aventus stood and began weaving through the bar, his steps deliberate but meant to appear unsteady, playing the part of a drunkard. As he passed the table with the cloaked figure and their companion, he intentionally bumped into the hooded figure's shoulder. "Oh—'scuse me," he mumbled, slurring his words slightly, doing his best to sell the act.
Unfortunately, it was a terrible attempt.
The cloaked figure stiffened immediately, turning sharply toward Aventus. "Watch it," they snapped, their voice low but edged with suspicion. Their companion, the scruffy man, narrowed his eyes as he looked Aventus up and down, taking in his lean, muscular frame and the sharpness in his eyes—completely at odds with the clumsy facade he was trying to pull off.
"You're no drunk," the man said, his tone flat but accusatory. "What are you doing here?"
The cloaked figure shifted slightly, their posture tense, one hand slipping under their cloak in a movement that Aventus recognized all too well—someone reaching for a weapon. The hum of the bar seemed to grow quieter, as if the surrounding patrons had caught wind of the sudden tension.