Aventus moved swiftly through the Tangle District, his steps silent but purposeful. The data crystal was secure in his pocket, and the datapad was powered down and hidden in his coat, ensuring no one could trace it or trigger any unpleasant surprises. The chaotic noise of the underbelly faded slightly as he approached Stall 12, the makeshift shop where Rilek waited.
The stout man's cybernetic eye whirred faintly as Aventus stepped into view, a smirk spreading across Rilek's scarred face. "Well, look who made it back," Rilek said, crossing his arms. "Didn't think you'd manage it."
Aventus didn't reply immediately. He reached into his coat, pulling out the glowing data crystal. The faint light reflected in Rilek's artificial eye as Aventus handed it over.
"Crystal's yours," Aventus said, his tone calm and even. "And the datapad Karn was carrying is stashed near the old plasma recycler. It's shut down—no signals coming in or out."
Rilek raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "You're thorough. I like that." He examined the crystal for a moment before tucking it into a secure compartment behind the counter. "Didn't think you'd go the extra mile. Figured you'd just take the crystal and leave the rest."
Rilek chuckled, pulling a pouch of credits from under the counter and tossing it toward Aventus. "A deal's a deal. One thousand credits, like we agreed. And I might have another job lined up, if you're interested."
Aventus shrugged, catching the pouch of credits with practiced ease. He weighed it briefly in his hand, then tucked it into his coat. His indigo eyes narrowed slightly as he fixed Rilek with a calculating gaze. "Depends on the pay," he said, his tone calm but direct. "I need something that brings in lots of creds."
Rilek smirked, his cybernetic eye whirring faintly as he leaned back against the counter. "Straight to the point, huh? I like that." He glanced around briefly, ensuring no one was lingering too close, then leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Alright, listen up. There's a shipment coming through—high-value tech, the kind people kill for. It's passing through a secure route tomorrow night, but the security detail's… not exactly airtight."
Aventus raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Smuggling, then?"
Rilek chuckled, shaking his head. "Not exactly. Think of it as… 'reacquisition.' The shipment's already been paid for, but the buyer? They're not getting what they paid for. A little crew intercepts it, and you get a fat cut for making sure the job goes smooth."
"How fat?" Aventus asked, his voice sharp.
Rilek's grin widened. "Two thousand creds upfront, another eight on delivery. That's ten grand for a night's work, assuming you don't screw it up."
Aventus considered it, his fingers brushing the pouch of credits hidden in his coat. The risk was obvious—anything worth that much would be heavily guarded, and Rilek's "not airtight" assessment could mean anything. But the payout was tempting, more than enough to cover his immediate needs and fund his next move.
Aventus's indigo eyes narrowed further, his expression thoughtful yet guarded. He leaned slightly against the counter, his tone steady but firm. "You said a little crew, meaning there are others on this job. Can I meet them before we go in?"
Rilek smirked, his cybernetic eye glinting faintly in the dim light. "Figured you'd want to size them up," he said, crossing his arms. "Can't say I blame you. Yeah, I'll arrange a meet. They're stationed at a safehouse in the Tangle. You'll get a chance to chat, get a feel for the group, and decide if you're in."
Aventus nodded slowly, his mind already running scenarios. "When?"
"Tonight," Rilek replied. "No point in waiting. You'll find them in an old maintenance bay near the edge of the district—just look for a broken neon sign shaped like a spanner. They're expecting you."
Aventus didn't immediately reply, instead letting the weight of the job settle. "And if I don't like what I see?" he asked, his voice low.
Rilek shrugged, his smirk unfazed. "Then you walk. But something tells me you're not the walking-away type."
Aventus gave him a faint, humorless smile. "We'll see."
Rilek stepped back, pulling out a small holopad. "I'll send you the coordinates. Just don't keep them waiting—they're not the patient kind."
Aventus nodded, pushing off the counter and slipping back into the flow of the market. He felt the slight buzz of his datapad as the coordinates came through, and his sharp indigo eyes flicked toward the message. The maintenance bay wasn't far, and if this crew was going to be worth his time, he'd find out soon enough.
Aventus approached the old maintenance bay, his long strides purposeful yet measured. The neon spanner sign above the entrance flickered weakly, casting erratic flashes of light onto the grimy walls. The air here was stale, heavy with the metallic tang of oil and rust. Aventus paused briefly before the door, taking a steadying breath and adjusting his coat. His face remained unreadable, his indigo eyes calm but sharp, giving nothing away.
With a soft hiss, the bay's automated door slid open, revealing a dimly lit space cluttered with crates, tools, and scraps of machinery. The hum of a nearby generator filled the air, punctuated by the occasional murmur of voices. The team was already there.
Aventus stepped inside, pulling back his hood and letting the light catch his sharp features and dark, shoulder-length hair. He moved with practiced ease, his indigo eyes scanning the room as he took in the team before him.
A burly, heavily scarred man with a cybernetic arm that hummed faintly as he flexed his fingers. He leaned against a stack of crates, his piercing gaze sizing up Aventus the moment he entered. His rough voice cut through the room.
"You're the new guy, huh? You look like you can handle yourself. Let's hope that's true."
A wiry woman perched atop a crate, her sharp green eyes glinting with curiosity. Her dark hair was tied back, and a series of small, intricate knives were strapped to her belt. She smirked as she swung her legs casually.
"Well, well. They didn't tell us you'd be this pretty. Hope you're more than just a face."
A quiet figure sitting at the far end of the room, cloaked in shadow. His armor was sleek and polished, with faint glowing lines tracing along the edges—a tech specialist, by the look of the equipment sprawled out in front of him. He didn't speak, his dark eyes merely observing Aventus as if calculating his every move.
The apparent leader, standing near the center of the room, a rifle slung casually across his back. He was lean and sharp-featured, with a confident posture that radiated authority. His tone was calm but commanding.
"Aventus, I take it. Rilek said you'd be joining us. We're on a tight schedule, so let's make this quick."
Aventus nodded once, his expression cool and composed as his indigo eyes flicked between the team members. "Right," he said, his tone steady and direct. "You all seem capable enough. That only leaves me two questions: what's my job, and when do we leave?"
The leader, Jax, smirked faintly, crossing his arms as he regarded Aventus with a mix of approval and caution. "Straight to the point. I like it," he said, his voice calm but authoritative. He gestured to the group behind him, his movements sharp and deliberate. "Your job's simple: you're backup. We've got roles covered, but if anything goes sideways, you're the one who keeps it from blowing up in our faces. Think of yourself as our insurance policy."
The burly man with the cybernetic arm—Ryker—snorted, his gaze still sizing up Aventus. "Hope you're good at more than looking pretty," he muttered, flexing his mechanical fingers. "We don't need dead weight."
Aventus locked eyes with Ryker, his indigo gaze cold and unflinching. "Hope your bite's worse than your bark," he said, his tone calm but carrying a sharp edge. "Otherwise, I'm gonna have to do a lot more than advertised."
The room fell silent for a beat, the tension between the two palpable. Ryker's mechanical fingers flexed again, the faint hum of his cybernetic arm breaking the quiet. Then, with a rough chuckle, he leaned back against the crates, a smirk tugging at the corner of his scarred face.
"Fair enough," Ryker said, his tone gruff but begrudgingly respectful. "Guess we'll see who's pulling their weight soon enough."
Lira let out a low whistle, her green eyes darting between the two. "Oh, this is going to be fun," she said with a grin, clearly enjoying the friction. "Nothing like a little tension to keep things interesting."
Jax sighed, his sharp gaze cutting through the group as he stepped forward, reclaiming control of the conversation. "Alright, enough," he said, his voice firm. "We don't have time for pissing contests. Everyone knows their role, and we all pull our weight. That includes you," he added, nodding at Aventus.
Aventus gave a small nod, his expression unreadable as he leaned back slightly. "Just making sure the message is clear," he said, his voice cool.
Jax smirked faintly, then turned back to the group. "Gear up and get ready," he said, his tone returning to its commanding cadence. "We're moving in three hours, and I want everything airtight before we hit the ground."
The team dispersed, each moving to their respective tasks. Aventus lingered for a moment, his indigo eyes following Ryker before shifting to Jax. It was clear this wasn't going to be a smooth ride, but he wasn't here to make friends—he was here to get paid.
Aventus parted ways with the group temporarily, using the time to secure a lesser healing potion from a discreet vendor in the Tangle District. The transaction was quick and uneventful, though the 2,000-credit price tag left a sour taste in his mouth. Tucking the potion securely into his gear, Aventus reminded himself it was better to have it and not need it than the other way around.
When the time came, Aventus regrouped with the team at the edge of an environmental zone, a section of Von Braun V designed to mimic a planetary surface. This particular zone was modeled after a rugged, arid landscape, complete with rocky outcroppings, patches of scraggly vegetation, and a simulated sun casting a harsh, golden light over the terrain. The heat was palpable, and the faint hum of the environmental systems blended seamlessly with the simulated sounds of wind and distant wildlife.
Jax stepped forward, his rifle slung across his back as he surveyed the area. "This is where the shipment's route passes through," he said, gesturing toward a narrow path flanked by jagged cliffs and sparse cover. "Choke point. We intercept here."
Ryker adjusted his cybernetic arm, the faint hum of its servos audible as he flexed his fingers. "Perfect spot for an ambush," he muttered, his tone carrying both approval and caution.
Lira hopped down from a nearby rock, her knives glinting faintly in the simulated sunlight. "Perfect spot for us or them," she quipped, her sharp green eyes scanning the area. "Let's hope it's the former."
Valek, the tech specialist, stood slightly apart, his attention focused on a handheld device that projected a faintly glowing map of the zone. "I'll set up interference to block their comms once they're in range," he said, his voice calm and clipped. "We'll have a short window to act."
Jax turned to Aventus, his sharp gaze appraising. "You're on overwatch," he said. "Position yourself up there." He pointed to a rocky ledge overlooking the choke point. "Keep an eye out for anything we don't see coming. If they've got surprises, I want to know before they get the drop on us."
Aventus nodded, his expression unreadable as he moved toward the indicated position. He scaled the rocks with ease, finding a vantage point that offered a clear view of the path and the surrounding terrain. From here, he could see the team setting up below, each member moving with practiced efficiency.
Settling into position, Aventus adjusted his gear and scanned the horizon, his indigo eyes sharp and focused. The simulated wind tugged at his hair as he mentally prepared for what was to come.