The space seemed to warp and distort as a vibrant display of multiple colors of light tore into the surrounding area briefly before retreating, revealing a silver, streamlined silhouette of an arrowhead space jumper. Its hull curves seamlessly, minimizing drag during interstellar travel.
The crystalized base is accented with intricate cosmic blue patterns that shimmer like distant constellations. These patterns shift and pulse, creating an otherworldly effect.
The loud sound of the space jumper disrupted the silence, as the hissing noise slowly subsided, spilling massive golden smoke. The space jumper finally came to a halt, and the door opened with a thud, crashing onto the ground. Revealed was a handsome blonde teenager in a fancy golden-red smart coat with a broad smile.
The smart coat was a new model; apart from that, he looked worn out wearing a badly stained overgarment. It was obvious that he could not even afford a turbo or an aircraft, let alone a space jumper. The truth was that he had stolen it after desecrating its owner before taking her both eyes and fingers so as to operate the space jumper. He had pretended to be a technician at the space station and, when the unlucky fellow requested his services, he quickly overpowered her with a sneak attack.
"Adrian, why are you parking on an abandoned planet? Get yourself here; I have an anonymous buyer for the space jumper," a crude voice buzzed out of his communicator.
An abandoned planet is one that keeps losing oxygen and has a strange surrounding that also devours artificial oxygen. Most people who visit such planets carry a compact inhaler along and have to use it from time to time to avoid suffocating.
"Hey now, Duke, I just want to hunt and eat something," Adrian replied leisurely.
"Okay, do that all within the time frame or you will soon be tracked down with the space jumper signal,"
"Duke?"
"What is it this time?"
"Can you send me a set of clothes? This bitch has only a female boutique in her jumper,"
"Okay," after some time his communicator buzzed, "you have received two sets overall."
Adrian was not expecting Duke to send him clothes and was astonished. He quickly put them on with a smile.
"So how much is it for us, Duke?"
"After the middleman commission is taken out, we are left with 1.5 million Turin"
Adrian whistled in delight. " That's 1.5 billion credits just what model is she driving? Oh, I mean was."
Adrian carefully placed his communicator into his pocket after listening to Duke admonition to not waste more time than necessary and then activated the camouflage system of the space jumper, planning to remain hidden for a while before returning to his mission. In a good mood, he proceeded to hunt some Rothsoths, carving out their eyes and fingers and placing them in his trouser leg pocket. It would have been wasteful to discard them after defeating the creatures, and he had a habit of keeping such mementos of his kills.
However, just as Adrian finished extracting the Rothsoths' eyes, a clanging sound echoed from behind. He swiftly turned around to investigate and was surprised to find a fully grown adult man emerging from behind one of the broken buildings.
"I come in peace," the man declared, raising his arms. But he quickly lowered them and began to clutch his ribs.
Adrian could tell at a glance that the man was a Traveller, skilled in his craft. The advanced-tier beast-level equipment he wore, along with armor covering his body and two short swords on his back, indicated his expertise. The silver emblem on his left chest—a dragon coiled around a glowing white orb—was unmistakably the insignia of Starie group, the 8th House of Nobles.
The man sat down on the ground, leaning against a broken wood for support.
Adrian approached the Traveller cautiously. Encounters with Travellers were rare in such desolate places, and one could never be certain of their intentions. Only those with considerable skill were typically sent to Red Planets—another name for abandoned planets.
"Don't worry; I won't harm you," the man assured Adrian as he looked him over. "What brings you to a place like this? I didn't know the military was so desperate that they'd send a single person to such a forsaken location."
"I got stranded here; it was an accident," Adrian explained. "I need to find a way out."
As Adrian drew closer, he took in more details about the man. With short purple spiky hair and several facial marks, it was clear he had golden skin—a result of superimposing Saihran DNA.
"It seems we share a common goal,"The name's Venok, I arrived through another portal while hunting a beast in the wild. I sustained severe injuries and was too far from the original portal to return. In desperation, I sought refuge in this abandoned shelter, hoping to find medical supplies or perhaps another portal back"
Venok glanced at the two dead Rothsoths on the ground.
"You're quite skilled to have taken down two of them alone," Venok observed. "I assumed you were a lone researcher since I didn't expect anyone else here. I didn't want to risk being reported for breach of protocol."
"You're welcome," Adrian replied. "Well, since we're both looking for an exit, do you have any idea where we might find it?"
"Sure," Venok said. "I noticed several buildings on my way here that might have what we're looking for."
Adrian extended his hand for a handshake.
"I'm Adrian."
Venok shook Adrian's hand firmly.
"I look forward to working with you."
As their hands met, Adrian felt a familiar surge within him—the sensation that accompanied his resolve to kill. Of course, he didn't need a portal when he had access to a space jumper.