Ray finally sat down on the edge of the bed, his chest heaving as he forced himself to take deep breaths. "Okay, okay…" he muttered, his voice trembling. "Calm down, Ray. Or Tanner… or whatever I'm calling myself now. Just… breathe."
He inhaled deeply, holding the breath for a moment before exhaling slowly. "In… out… in… out…" His hands steadied, and the panic in his chest began to fade. After a few moments, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Alright. I can do this. Just… figure things out. One step at a time."
Ray glanced around the room again, trying to piece together his new reality. "So I'm in the Starblade Vanguard," he said aloud, the words feeling both familiar and strange. "The space mercenary company from my favorite game. Damn, this is surreal."
He rubbed his temples as more memories surfaced, details of the company filling his mind. "Starblade Vanguard," he repeated, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Led by Captain Leon Voss… the golden boy everyone loves. Charismatic, brilliant, and somehow able to charm every woman in the company. Figures that he's the protagonist."
Ray shook his head with a wry smile. "Leon Voss. The guy's got the looks, the brains, the leadership skills, and the perfect setup for a harem. He's the reason every mission turns into a soap opera."
Then, another name came to him. "And his second-in-command… Vice Captain Aria Steele," Ray muttered. "The real backbone of the company. She's the tactical genius who actually keeps things running. Cool under pressure and someone everyone looks up to, including Leon. She's… kind of amazing."
Ray leaned back, letting more names and faces flood his thoughts. "Then there's Jade Hart. She's the sniper, the quiet one who always stays calm and collected. Loves her tea almost as much as her precision shooting." He shook his head. "I remember spending hours upgrading her weapon in the game."
His grin widened as he continued. "Let's see… Lyra Cross. The hot-headed pilot. She's all about speed and agility, both in the air and in a fight. Always arguing with people but somehow the heart of the team." He laughed. "Man, I loved her banter."
"Next up… Zara Quinn," he said, his tone softening. "The engineer. Smart, nerdy, but surprisingly clumsy. Spent half her time building things and the other half tripping over them." He shook his head fondly. "She was adorable."
He closed his eyes, letting the memories guide him. "Mira Vale, the medic. Sweet, kind, but tough as nails when it counts. Always putting herself in danger to save others. I remember thinking she was too pure for this world… or any world."
His fingers tapped the edge of the bed as he recalled more. "Selene Drake. The assassin. Mysterious, deadly, and… well, a little intimidating, if I'm honest. She always had this 'don't mess with me' vibe, but she had a soft spot for the team."
Finally, his voice dropped to a near whisper. "And Astrid Vance. The diplomat and negotiator. The glue that kept everyone together. Charming, elegant, and the most dangerous person in the room when things got tense. She'd talk circles around anyone."
Ray let out a long sigh, running a hand through his silver hair. "That's all of them," he said softly. "The seven heroines. My favorite characters from the game. And now… they're real."
He looked down at his hands, his thoughts racing. "I'm just a mob character in all this. Ray Fox, the background guy. But… if they're here, then that means the story is starting. And I… I have no idea what I'm supposed to do."
Ray stared at the floor for a long moment before more details of his role in the Starblade Vanguard came flooding back to him. "Okay, so… what do I even do here?" he muttered, trying to sort through the memories.
He rubbed his temples, recalling the specifics. "Ray Fox. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but… I'm the guy who keeps things running behind the scenes. I'm a combat specialist, backup for missions, and I handle equipment maintenance."
His voice grew steadier as he spoke. "I'm the one who double-checks the gear, fixes what's broken, and makes sure everyone's ready to roll out. When the team needs support in the field, I'm there to cover their blind spots."
He leaned back against the bedframe, a faint smirk on his lips. "I'm the guy they don't notice until something goes wrong. Then it's 'Hey, Ray, can you fix this? Hey, Ray, cover me!' Not glamorous, but… it's important."
Ray—or Tanner—nodded to himself. "Alright. So I'm not a hero. I'm not the captain, or the vice captain, or one of the heroines. But I'm useful. And maybe, just maybe, I can make more of a difference than this world expects me to."
Ray stood in front of the mirror, taking a deep breath as he reached for the clothes neatly folded on the table. "Alright, let's see what we've got here," he muttered, picking up the sleek black and red mercenary uniform. The material felt surprisingly comfortable, despite its tough, battle-ready design.
"Black and red," he said to himself with a smirk. "Not bad. I'm definitely getting the edgy space mercenary vibe."
As he slid on the pants and fastened the jacket, he chuckled softly. "Man, this is insane. Yesterday I was sitting on my couch, grinding levels in a mobile game, and now I'm…" He paused, staring at his reflection. "Now I'm Ray Fox. Space mercenary extraordinaire."
He pulled on the long black jacket with red accents and adjusted the collar. The fabric flowed behind him as he turned. "Looking good," he said, giving himself a small nod of approval. "At least I've got style."
Taking another deep breath, he stepped toward the door. It slid open with a soft whoosh, revealing a brightly lit hallway. Ray stepped out, glancing around. "I'm on a spaceship," he murmured, a mix of awe and nostalgia filling his voice. Memories from both his past life and Ray's blended together as he took in the metallic walls and faint hum of the ship's engines.
Then, it hit him. "The Starfire Ascendant," he whispered. "That's the name of the ship. Damn, I can't believe I'm actually here."
He walked down the hallway, his boots making soft echoes against the metal floor. His mind raced with thoughts of where he was and what he should do next. Then, he froze. Just ahead of him stood someone he immediately recognized—Vice Captain Aria Steele.
"No way," Ray muttered, his heart racing. "This fast? I was just getting used to being here!"
Aria turned her head slightly, her piercing gaze locking onto him. "Ray Fox," she said, her tone brisk. "Good, you're here. We've got repairs that need handling. The mission is already behind schedule, and the weapons systems need immediate attention."
Ray blinked, caught off guard by her no-nonsense demeanor. "Uh… yeah. Sure," he stammered. He tried to calm himself, taking a deep breath. "What's the issue exactly?"
Aria crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "The plasma rifles in the armory are malfunctioning. It's likely an issue with the energy conduits. I need them fixed before we hit the next combat zone. Can you handle it?"
Ray nodded, his hands fidgeting slightly. "Y-Yeah, of course. I'll get right on it."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by his hesitation. "You seem distracted, Fox. Focus. This isn't the time to space out."
Ray swallowed hard, forcing a confident smile. "Got it, Vice Captain. I'll make sure everything's operational."
Her sharp gaze lingered on him for a moment before she gave a curt nod. "Good. Let me know when it's done. I'll be on the bridge."
As she walked away, Ray exhaled deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. "That was intense," he muttered. "She's just as intimidating in person as she is in the game."
He shook his head, steeling his nerves. "Alright, Ray. Time to prove you're not just some background character. Let's fix those weapons and make a good impression." With that, he turned and headed toward the armory, his steps growing more confident with each passing moment.
Ray made his way to the armory shop, mentally preparing himself for the task ahead. As the door slid open with a soft hiss, his jaw dropped. The room was packed with rows of sleek, futuristic weapons and gadgets. Plasma sabers, laser rifles, energy shields, and other high-tech gear lined the walls and workbenches, glowing faintly under the fluorescent lights.
"Whoa," Ray whispered, his eyes lighting up like a kid in a candy store. "This is… amazing."
He stepped inside, marveling at the craftsmanship. "Look at this stuff," he muttered to himself, picking up a small energy emitter and turning it over in his hands. "Plasma cores… energy stabilizers… Is this a multi-phased pulse generator? Man, I've only seen this in the game menus!"
He moved from station to station, running his fingers over the various gadgets, unable to hide his excitement. "Laser-guided targeting systems, adaptive scopes… this is insane."
"Ray? What are you doing here?"
The voice snapped him out of his awe. He turned around quickly, nearly dropping the gadget in his hand. Standing near one of the workbenches was Zara Quinn, the ship's engineer. She had her dark hair pulled back into a messy ponytail, her glasses slightly askew. Despite her smudged work uniform and a few grease stains on her cheek, she was undeniably beautiful.
"Uh…" Ray stammered, trying to gather his thoughts. "I… Vice Captain Steele asked me to fix one of the weapons before the next mission."
Zara raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "You? Fixing weapons?" She tilted her head, scrutinizing him. "I didn't think you were the hands-on type."
Ray chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, I… uh… I have some experience."
Zara's expression softened, and she smiled. "Alright, Mr. Fix-It. Let's see what you've got." She gestured to the weapon on the nearby bench, a sleek plasma rifle with several exposed components. "This one's been acting up. Energy output keeps fluctuating, and it overheats after a few shots. Can you handle it?"
Ray nodded, stepping up to the workbench. "Yeah. Let me take a look."
Zara leaned against the bench, watching him closely. "So, Ray, what's with the sudden interest in tech? Usually, you're more… lowkey."
Ray picked up a tool and began unscrewing one of the rifle's panels. "Well, I guess I'm full of surprises," he said, flashing her a nervous grin. "Besides, someone's got to step up, right?"
Zara adjusted her glasses, her tone teasing. "Sure, stepping up. Or maybe you just don't want to get yelled at by Aria again."
Ray laughed, shaking his head. "You're not wrong there."
As he worked, his hands moved with precision, guided by the memories of his body's previous host. He quickly identified the issue—a misaligned energy conduit—and began making adjustments. Zara leaned closer, genuinely impressed.
"Hey, you actually know what you're doing," she said, her voice laced with surprise. "Where'd you learn to do that?"
Ray hesitated for a moment before replying, "I… had a good teacher."
"Well, whoever they were, they knew their stuff," Zara said, tilting her head to get a better view. "Most people would've just replaced the whole thing, but you're actually fixing it."
Ray tightened the last screw and reassembled the rifle, holding it up for inspection. "There. Should be good as new."
Zara took the rifle from him, looking it over carefully. "Not bad," she admitted. "You might just put me out of a job."
Ray chuckled. "I doubt that. You're the brains of this operation. I'm just… winging it."
Zara laughed, a light, airy sound that caught Ray off guard. "Well, winging it seems to be working for you. Thanks for the help, Ray."
He smiled, feeling a mix of pride and relief. "Anytime."
As Zara turned back to her workbench, Ray couldn't help but feel a little more confident. For the first time since waking up in this world, he felt like he might actually belong here. And maybe… just maybe, he could make a real difference.
Ray finished his repairs and was just about to leave the armory when a loud crash echoed behind him. He spun around to see Zara sprawled on the floor, tools scattered everywhere, and her glasses slightly crooked on her face.
"Ouch," Zara groaned, rubbing her elbow.
Ray hurried over, kneeling beside her. "Are you okay? What happened?"
Zara gave an embarrassed laugh, adjusting her glasses. "I tripped over my own feet. Again. Happens more often than I'd like to admit."
Ray offered her a hand, smiling softly. "Here, let me help you up."
She grabbed his hand, and as Ray pulled, he lost his balance. They both toppled forward, landing awkwardly on the floor. Before either of them could react, their lips accidentally touched. Time seemed to freeze for a moment as Ray's mind went into overdrive.
"What is happening?!" he screamed internally. "This can't be real. My first day here, and this?!"
Zara, equally shocked, stared wide-eyed as the accidental kiss lingered for a second too long. "No!" she muttered under her breath, her voice panicked. "Not my first kiss! I wanted it to be with the captain, not him!"
Ray snapped back to reality, pulling away abruptly. His face was bright red as he scrambled to his feet. "I… I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to… I…" His words tumbled over each other as he backed toward the door.
Zara, still on the floor, touched her lips lightly, her cheeks flushing a soft pink. "My… first kiss…" she whispered to herself, her expression a mix of shock and confusion.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Ray yelled dramatically as he bolted out the door, his voice echoing down the hallway.
He sprinted through the corridors of the Starfire Ascendant, his mind racing. "Why?!" he shouted to himself. "Why did I have to make such a mess on my first day reincarnating here?! What is wrong with me?!"
Ray was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice someone walking in his path. He collided head-on, both of them tumbling to the floor with a loud thud.
"Ouch!" a sharp voice snapped. "Watch where you're going, Ray!"
Ray looked up and froze. Standing before him, rubbing her head, was Lyra Cross. Her fiery red hair framed her sharp, beautiful features, and her piercing gaze locked onto him like a laser. Ray's heart nearly stopped. Lyra, the hot-headed pilot, was infamous for her temper.
"L-Lyra?!" he stammered, his face pale. "I… I didn't mean to… I wasn't looking…"
Lyra narrowed her eyes, standing up and brushing herself off. "What's with you? Running around like a headless chicken! You're going to hurt someone!"
Ray scrambled to his feet, bowing repeatedly. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! It won't happen again, I swear!"
Lyra crossed her arms, glaring at him. "It better not. Seriously, what's gotten into you?"
Ray didn't wait for her to finish. "I'm sorry! I'll be more careful!" he shouted before taking off down the hall again, leaving Lyra standing there, bewildered.
Back in his room, Ray slammed the door shut and leaned against it, breathing heavily. "What is happening today?!" he exclaimed. "First Zara, now Lyra… I'm going to get myself killed before I even figure out what I'm supposed to do here!"
He paced back and forth, running his hands through his hair. "Why, why, why?!" he groaned. Finally, he collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. "I just need to survive this day. One day. That's all I'm asking for."
Ray finished his dramatic rant in his room, still pacing when the ship's sound system crackled to life. A commanding, yet warm voice filled the air: "All members, report to the deck immediately. We will be having a meeting about the next mission."
Ray froze, recognizing the voice instantly. "That's the captain's voice," he muttered. His heart sank as realization dawned. "Great. Just great."
He threw his head back dramatically, groaning. "I'm going to die. I have to meet Zara and Lyra right now. Damn it!"
He ran his hands through his hair, pacing again. "I kissed one of the protagonist's harem… on accident! And now I have to see them both!" He slumped against the door, hanging his head low. "I'm dead. I'm so, so dead."
With a resigned sigh, Ray straightened up, grabbed his jacket, and muttered, "Alright, let's get this over with. If this is how I go, at least I'll face it head-on." He stepped out into the hallway, his feet dragging slightly as he made his way toward the deck.
"I'm dead," he whispered to himself one more time, his voice filled with despair.
To be continued.