Kal's ship cruised toward Astari Prime, one of the Federation's core planets on the western edge of the galaxy, gleaming under the artificial lights of its vast space stations. Known as the heart of the bounty network, Astari Prime was the place where hunters and mercenaries came to turn in marks, meet with clients, and stock up on supplies. The Federation, stretching across dozens of planets and star systems, held a grip on peace and order—at least, that's what they wanted people to believe. For bounty hunters like Kal, it was also the source of new targets, where the latest bounties were posted for those daring enough to chase them.
Kal docked his ship and headed into the bustling station, its corridors echoing with the chatter of fellow hunters, droids, and Federation officers. He approached the front table, where he was greeted by a familiar face—a worker named Rykel, who scanned his bounty tokens and transferred his latest earnings. "Another job well done, Kal," she said with an approving nod. "Heard you had a couple of tough ones this time."
"Just another day's work," he replied, shrugging off the praise.
Just as he pocketed his payment, Major Venn approached, smirking in that self-satisfied way Kal had come to expect. Venn was a high-ranking officer in the Federation's security branch, and he'd taken a particular interest in Kal, seeing his successes as a way to bolster his own status.
The Major went straight to the bounty board, pinning up a new set of wanted posters with exaggerated ceremony. "I've got a special one today," he said, turning back to Kal with a sly grin. Kal stepped closer and glanced at the board, where a haunting sketch of a family—a mother, father, and young child—was posted with an unusually high bounty.
"Why them?" Kal muttered under his breath.
"Consider it, Kal," Venn said, stepping into his personal space. "This is no small reward. Imagine what you could do with it."
Kal's jaw tightened. "I'm not going after a family, especially not with a kid involved," he replied, shrugging Venn's hand off his shoulder. The Major gave a slight sneer, clearly irked but unwilling to push it. As Kal turned to leave, Venn called after him, "One day, you'll see that ideals don't pay the bills."
Kal brushed it off, heading back to his ship, where his service bots were already busy at work. Droids scuttled around the hull, polishing the exterior and checking the engine functions, while inside, others tidied up the cabin and ran diagnostics on his systems. These bots were indispensable, keeping the ship functioning and making Kal's life in space a little more manageable.
Back on board, he was greeted by Sara, who looked at him with worry in her eyes. "You're pushing yourself too hard, Kal," she said, noticing the fresh cuts and bruises from his recent hunt.
"It's part of the job," he replied, attempting a reassuring smile. But Sara wasn't convinced; she ushered him to the medbay, where the automated healing systems treated his injuries while she stepped out, leaving him to rest.
Later that night, Kal awoke and, careful not to wake Sara, checked the latest bounties on the Federation network. As he scrolled, the family's wanted poster reappeared on the screen, their desperate faces haunting him. He understood the need for money—maintenance, upgrades, supplies, and all the repairs required to keep him and Sara secure. But there were limits.
Pushing those thoughts aside, he scrolled past the family's bounty until he found a smaller target: a man wanted for the theft of a valuable artifact, last seen on Telorian, a quiet, agrarian planet in the northeast. Close enough to be convenient and far enough from Federation scrutiny, Telorian sounded like a perfect way to avoid Federation politics. With the new bounty accepted, he finally drifted back to sleep.
---
The next morning, Kal's ship touched down on Telorian. Through the cockpit window, he took in the sight of the green, vibrant planet, famous for its peaceful inhabitants, the Maelar. Telorian was a world of vast meadows, forests, and clear rivers, known for its tranquility and fertile land. Kal had heard rumors about ancient Maelar secrets hidden deep within Telorian's forests, but for him, it was just another place, another job.
Stepping off his ship, he activated his bioscanner, a handheld device designed to detect life forms. The screen showed clusters of green dots marking the nearby villages—likely Maelar settlements. He ignored them, heading in the opposite direction, guided by the lone signal that matched his target's coordinates.
The path led him up a grassy hillside, where he found the remains of a recent crash—a scattered field of debris half-buried in Telorian's soil. As he approached, a crack startled him, but it was only a local creature—a deer-like animal with curious, bright eyes that watched him for a moment before disappearing back into the trees. He let out a sigh and moved closer to the wreckage, searching for any sign of the man he was after.
Suddenly, a faint pulse rippled through the air. His bioscanner flickered and died, likely from an EMP trap hidden nearby. "Fantastic," he muttered, giving the device a shake before putting it back in his pack.
He didn't have time to dwell on it, though, as a shadow moved on the edge of his vision. Kal immediately crouched, drawing his weapon as he advanced into the forest, all his senses on high alert. Following the trail, he came upon a small cave, partially hidden by foliage and rock, with fresh blood splattered on the ground outside.
Just as he was about to step forward, a shot rang out. The bullet grazed his shoulder, and he threw himself back behind a tree. He peered around, spotting a figure at the cave's entrance—a woman cloaked in dark gray, her face obscured by shadows.
"Not a great move, taking a shot at a bounty hunter," he called, keeping his gun aimed in her direction.
She didn't respond but shifted her stance, gun still trained on him. Whoever she was, Kal could tell she was no amateur. He weighed his options, gripping his weapon tighter as he prepared for what he knew would be a tough standoff.