Kal prepared for his journey in silence, his mind still grappling with the encounter he'd had with the scientist, a figure from his past that had rattled memories he'd rather leave buried. He packed a larger bag than usual, filling it with everything he might need: blasters, med kits, and tools, as well as items he hoped he'd never have to use. His eyes hardened as he shouldered the bag, knowing this mission would be different from the standard bounties he'd grown accustomed to. Yet, as he moved to exit his ship, he was startled to see Sara waiting for him by the entrance, her expression concerned.
"Kal," Sara said, her voice soft but probing, "you've been different the past few days. Gloomier. What happened out there?"
Kal hesitated. He hadn't mentioned the scientist or the memories the encounter had dredged up. "Just... a tough job," he replied, shrugging, his voice evasive. But Sara's gaze sharpened, catching his attempt to dodge her question.
"Tough how?" she pressed, crossing her arms. "You never look this rattled after a job."
He avoided her gaze. "Look, I just need to go. I'll be back soon, okay?" Kal shifted the bag higher on his shoulder, brushing past her as she watched him leave, her concern unmistakable. She could tell he was hiding something, but the urgency in his movements told her not to push further. Not yet.
Once onboard, Kal charted his course and engaged his ship's engines, watching as the stars elongated into streaks of light as he blasted through hyperspace. The mystery planet, unnamed in his charts, was located on the fringes of a sector not regularly patrolled by the Federation. No known civilization, no reputable records, just empty space.
When he arrived, he slowed his ship and scanned the terrain, spotting a thick forest sprawling out across the planet's landscape. He parked a good distance from his destination, cautious. Whoever had sent the job had somehow bypassed the usual bounty channels and contacted him directly—a risky move that warranted suspicion.
As Kal disembarked, the silence of the alien landscape enveloped him. He kept to the shadows, taking careful steps toward the coordinates displayed on his wrist device. Suddenly, he heard a strange whistling sound overhead. Instinctively, he looked up to see a ship descending rapidly, its engines trailing smoke and fire as it hurtled toward the ground in a violent spiral. With a thundering crash, the ship collided with the earth in the distance, metal and debris scattering in all directions.
Just as Kal began running toward the crash site, he heard another engine roar above him. A second ship cut through the clouds, hot on the heels of the first. He braced himself, knowing it wouldn't be long before more figures converged on the scene. As he reached a clearing, a figure stepped out from behind a large tree and, without warning, struck Kal with a powerful kick that sent him sprawling back. He looked up, dazed, only to find himself face-to-face with an all-too-familiar adversary: Kade.
"Long time, no see," Kade sneered, his lips twisting into a grin. "Did you miss me, Kal?"
Kal smirked and wiped the dirt from his face, glaring at Kade. "Can't say I have. But here you are, still as irritating as ever."
Kade laughed, clearly enjoying the confrontation. "Oh, come on, old friend. Don't play hard to get. I'm just here to remind you that I'm still breathing and still after what's mine." He glanced pointedly at Kal's wrist, where the job coordinates flickered on his device.
"Not now, Kade," Kal muttered, his tone cold and dismissive. He sidestepped Kade, trying to get past him, but Kade moved to block his path.
"Going somewhere, Kal? Maybe I should help you remember where you owe me by crushing you first!" Kade cracked his knuckles, his eyes glinting with malice as he planted himself firmly in Kal's way.
Kal gritted his teeth, torn between dealing with Kade and getting to the crash site. There was no time for a prolonged fight, especially with the survivors of the crash potentially in danger. He darted to the side, hoping to slip past, but Kade was relentless, pressing forward with relentless energy, his movements sharp and aggressive.
---
Meanwhile, at the crash site, smoke billowed from the remnants of the first ship as survivors struggled to regain their bearings. Among them was a family of three—a father, mother, and a young daughter who clung tightly to her mother's side. The father was scanning the surroundings when a shadow emerged through the smoke, tall and menacing.
Before he could react, the figure stepped forward and grabbed his arm with a crushing force, twisting until the sound of bones snapping echoed through the smoky air. The man screamed in pain, clutching his shattered hand, as his wife pulled their daughter close, eyes wide with terror.
The attacker's voice was cold, lacking any trace of humanity. "Tell me where she is," he demanded, his grip tightening on the father's shoulder. The father spat in defiance, refusing to yield despite the agony.
The assailant's gaze shifted to the mother, and without hesitation, he reached out, driving his hand through the father's chest, then stepping over his body to face the mother. She trembled, her tear-streaked face frozen in horror, but before she could react, she too fell victim to his ruthless cruelty. Their daughter watched, paralyzed by shock, as her mother's life slipped away before her eyes.
Without a word, the figure wiped his hands clean and continued his search, stepping over the bodies with a detached calm. The only trace of empathy he showed was a faint flicker of curiosity as he glanced over his shoulder, as if making a mental note of the child before disappearing into the shadows, intent on finding his prize.
---
Back near the edge of the forest, Kal and Kade were locked in a brutal hand-to-hand struggle. Kal managed to break free, delivering a sharp elbow strike to Kade's side before sprinting toward the crash site. Kade, recovering quickly, shouted after him, "This isn't over, Kal! You can't outrun me!"
Ignoring the taunt, Kal pushed forward, his breath heavy as he reached the scene of the crash. The smell of smoke and burning metal was thick in the air, and he scanned the area, spotting a trail of footprints leading away from the wreckage.
Among the debris, he found the lifeless bodies of the parents, their expressions frozen in terror. He clenched his fists, anger welling up inside him. The footprints nearby suggested a scuffle, and in the distance, he could make out the faint outline of a figure leading a young girl deeper into the forest.
Determined to put an end to the trail of devastation, Kal followed the tracks, moving swiftly through the dense undergrowth.