Sol wandered through the city-ship's winding streets, the artificial sky above shifting in its programmed twilight cycle. The hum of distant engines reverberated through the air, blending seamlessly with the faint chatter of the people around him. The past few days had been… interesting, to say the least. He'd made an unexpected friend, shaken the underworld yet again, and probably made himself even more of a target. But what else was new?
Peach clung lazily to his shoulder, letting out a small, sleepy chirp. Sol absentmindedly rubbed the little bear's head, his thoughts drifting. For the first time in a while, he had no immediate agenda, no pressing concern. He was just… moving.
The streets were alive but subdued, a late-evening calm settling over the city. Holographic signs flickered against the towering structures, offering everything from rare trinkets to less-than-legal services. Sol passed by a food vendor, the scent of spiced meats and sizzling oils hitting him. His stomach growled.
"Alright, alright," he muttered to himself, stepping toward the stall. The vendor, an older man with cybernetic arms, gave him a brief once-over before grunting.
"What'll it be?"
Sol scanned the menu, eyes settling on something simple. "Whatever's good. Surprise me."
The vendor smirked, setting to work as Sol leaned against the counter. He wasn't thinking about anything in particular—just taking in the moment. It was rare he got to enjoy such stillness. But, of course, peace never lasted long.
A presence tickled at the edges of his senses, someone approaching from behind. Not hostile, but deliberate. Sol didn't react immediately, letting them make the first move.
"Didn't expect to see you just… casually getting street food."
Sol glanced to the side, recognizing the voice before his eyes even settled on the speaker. Lloyd. The man looked amused, but there was a wary curiosity in his stance. Sol smirked.
"What, you think I don't eat?"
Lloyd chuckled, shaking his head. "Honestly? Wasn't sure. After what I saw, I half expected you to survive off the existential fear of your enemies."
Sol snorted. "Tempting. But no, turns out I'm just a guy who likes a good meal."
The vendor placed a steaming plate in front of Sol, who handed over a few credits before taking a bite. It was good—flavorful, greasy, exactly what he needed. He gestured toward Lloyd. "You trying to recruit me again, or just here for the company?"
Lloyd leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. "Nah. No business today. Just… had to see it for myself."
"See what?"
"You. Existing like a normal person."
Sol chuckled, shaking his head. "I do that sometimes. When I'm not breaking reality or terrorizing people, apparently."
Lloyd watched him for a moment before sighing. "You really don't care, do you? About what people are saying. About how much noise you're making."
Sol swallowed his bite, giving a lazy shrug. "People talk. They always will. Doesn't change much."
Lloyd exhaled through his nose, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You're an enigma, Sol. I don't know if that's a good thing or a terrifying thing."
"Why not both?" Sol said, flashing him a grin before taking another bite.
Lloyd laughed, shaking his head. "Fair enough."
They stood there for a while, sharing a quiet moment amidst the ever-moving city. No power plays, no hidden motives—just two people in the middle of a chaotic universe, eating street food and pretending, for a little while, that things were simple.
After a beat, Sol gave Lloyd a sideways glance. "So, really—what are you doing here? Something tells me you didn't just drop by to watch me eat."
Lloyd sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Figured you'd see through that. Yeah, I got something. Information."
Sol arched an eyebrow, finishing his bite. "I'm listening."
Lloyd's tone lowered slightly, his usual relaxed demeanor shifting into something more serious. "The ship's making its first stop in a few days. Scheduled to stay in orbit for a week—restocking supplies, rotating passengers, all the usual maintenance work. That's nothing special. What is special is the word floating around about DreamCorp."
Sol leaned on the counter, taking another casual bite, but his eyes gleamed with interest. "What kind of word?"
"Whispers. Something big is moving behind the scenes. High-level operatives, corporate security forces—there's talk they might have a presence on the next stop. Maybe they're just keeping tabs, maybe they're looking for something—or someone." Lloyd gave Sol a pointed look.
Sol exhaled, setting his plate down. "Figures. Can't say I'm surprised. They probably already know I'm here."
Lloyd hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah… but it's not just about you. There's something off about all this. DreamCorp doesn't move this much muscle just for one person. Whatever they're up to, it's bigger than just hunting you down."
Sol drummed his fingers against the counter, mulling it over. "And you're telling me this because…?"
Lloyd smirked. "Because you're interesting. And because I like knowing which way the storm's blowing before I get caught in it."
Sol chuckled. "Smart man."
Lloyd exhaled. "Look, just… keep your eyes open when we reach port. If DreamCorp's serious about making moves, we might not have much time before things get messy."
Sol stretched lazily, rolling his shoulders. "Messy, huh? Well, that's my specialty."
Then, as if brushing the entire conversation aside, he waved a hand dismissively. "DreamCorp always has something going on. They can keep playing their little games, doesn't mean I have to care."
Lloyd blinked, caught off guard by the sheer nonchalance. "You're really not worried about them at all?"
Sol took another bite of his food, chewing leisurely before answering. "Not particularly. If they want to make a move, they will. And when they do, I'll deal with it."
Lloyd shook his head, a small chuckle escaping him. "You're either fearless or reckless. Still trying to figure out which."
"Both," Sol said with a smirk. "But since you're here—tell me about the stop instead. Where exactly are we headed?"
Lloyd exhaled, switching gears. "Alright. The ship's first major stop is Zenith-5, a massive waystation and trade hub floating near the Gas Giant Onyxia. It's an artificial city of sorts, built into the skeletal remains of an abandoned megastructure. Old mining colonies, forgotten corporate ruins—half of it's still operational, the other half's a lawless wasteland. If you need something, you can find it there. If you don't want to be found, you can disappear there."
Sol arched an eyebrow. "Sounds like my kind of place."
Lloyd smirked. "Figured you'd say that. It's a hotspot for smugglers, mercenaries, and information brokers. Everyone's looking for something, selling something, or hiding from something. You'll fit right in."
Sol took another bite, nodding thoughtfully. "And DreamCorp?"
Lloyd's expression darkened slightly. "That's where it gets tricky. Zenith-5 isn't under corporate control, but DreamCorp has influence. Unofficially, they run a lot of the supply lines. And with their security forces rumored to be showing up, it's safe to assume they're interested in something—or someone."
Sol leaned back in his chair, tapping a finger on the table. "So what you're saying is… if I wanted to poke around, cause a little chaos, and see what they're up to, Zenith-5 is the perfect playground."
Lloyd groaned. "That is not what I was saying."
Sol grinned. "Too late. That's what I heard."
Lloyd sighed, rubbing his temples. "Just… don't get yourself killed before we even land."
"No promises," Sol said, finishing his meal with a satisfied sigh. "Zenith-5, huh? Sounds like fun."
Lloyd huffed a laugh. "Yeah. I figured as much."
Sol thought for a moment, then casually tilted his head. "Think you can get me some explosives?"
Lloyd choked on his own breath, coughing before staring at Sol incredulously. "Explosives? Seriously? I just warned you about DreamCorp's movements and your first thought is blowing something up?"
Sol grinned, finishing the last of his meal. "Hey, I never said I was gonna use them right away. But it never hurts to be prepared."
Lloyd rubbed his temples. "God, I should've seen this coming. What kind of explosives are we talking about here? Something subtle, or are you looking to make headlines?"
Sol leaned forward, his green eyes gleaming with amusement. "Let's say somewhere in between. Enough to make a statement if necessary, but not enough to collapse a space station."
Lloyd let out a long sigh, muttering, "Thank the stars for small mercies."
Sol chuckled. "So, can you get them?"
Lloyd hesitated before nodding. "I know some people. Black market suppliers on Zenith-5 deal in all kinds of firepower. I can put out some feelers, but it won't be cheap."
Sol shrugged. "I'm good for it. Besides, consider it an investment in future entertainment."
Lloyd groaned, shaking his head. "You are going to give me a heart attack, I swear. Alright, I'll see what I can do. But I am not delivering them directly to you."
Sol smirked. "Fair enough. Just let me know when you've got something."
Lloyd sighed again, muttering under his breath, "I should start charging extra for dealing with lunatics."
Sol smirked but then hesitated, his expression shifting ever so slightly. He glanced around, ensuring no one was eavesdropping, then leaned in slightly. His usual carefree tone gave way to something sharper, something serious.
"Lloyd." he said, voice low. "When we land at Zenith-5, don't leave the ship."
Lloyd frowned, immediately picking up on the shift in atmosphere. "What? Why?"
Sol sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Just trust me on this. DreamCorp being there is one thing, but something about this whole setup stinks. If they're really putting this many resources into a backwater hub, they're either hunting something big, or they're preparing for something worse. Either way, you don't want to get caught in the middle of everything."
Lloyd studied him carefully, weighing the words. "You're not one to give warnings like that lightly. If it's that bad, why are you going?"
Sol grinned, though it lacked his usual mischief. "Since they're taking this so seriously, I should at least make a bit of a mess for them before the ship departs again."
Lloyd exhaled slowly, rubbing his chin in thought. "Damn it, Sol. You really know how to make a guy uneasy."
"That's my charm," Sol quipped, standing up from his seat. He gave Lloyd one last look. "Stay on the ship. Don't make me come looking for you."
Lloyd clicked his tongue in irritation but eventually sighed in defeat. "Fine, fine. I'll lay low. But you better not get yourself killed out there."
Sol flashed him a wink. "No promises." With that, he turned and disappeared into the night, his silhouette fading into the neon glow of the city-ship.