The bridge of the Krysalyn was in a moment of relative calm. Kador, Zarn, and the human were present, though the atmosphere was far from relaxed. Kador, seated in his command chair, looked at Zarn with a neutral expression, though there was a faint note of fatigue in his voice as he spoke:
"Where exactly do you want to go, Zarn?"
The red-furred Cossarian, maintaining his calm and professional demeanor, clasped his hands in front of him before replying. "I'm an investigative journalist, Captain. I'm investigating the disappearance of a Federation parliamentarian. He vanished two weeks ago, and no one has heard from him since. The authorities have already given up looking for him."
Kador raised an eyebrow but responded with a firm and disinterested tone. "Well, I don't want anything to do with political conspiracies. So, where do you need me to take you?"
Zarn tilted his head slightly before saying, "To the Priuu system."
Kador frowned at the mention of it, leaning forward in his chair. "Wow, that's far... Near the Outer Rim. Why there?"
"I can't say," Zarn replied diplomatically.
Kador huffed and leaned back again, shaking his head. "Not that I'm particularly interested anyway."
From the corner of the room, the human stood silently, observing the interaction. He removed his helmet with a slight motion and let out an audible sigh, unintentionally drawing Zarn's attention.
The Cossarian had been casting discreet glances at the human since entering the bridge, but now he couldn't hold back anymore. He turned completely, his eyes widening in curiosity. "Well," he began, his expression fascinated. "You're quite a peculiar being... No fur, no scales. What are you?"
The human slowly lifted his head, staring at Zarn. "I'm a human."
Zarn tilted his head slightly, studying him from head to toe. "Is your species always this big?"
"I'm an exception," the human replied directly, crossing his arms.
"Forgive the question," Zarn continued, hesitant but still curious. "But are you one of the barbaric species? I've never seen your kind cataloged... And the Federation has nearly every barbaric species cataloged, even if they aren't part of the Federation. You're so peculiar you'd surely stand out."
The human smirked slightly, though there was something cold in his tone as he replied, "Maybe I am a barbarian."
Before Zarn could respond, Nyxis's voice cut through the moment. "He is not a barbarian," the AI said firmly.
The human let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "I was just trying to be sarcastic."
Even so, Zarn seemed intrigued. He stepped closer and asked, "But you are... some kind of warrior?"
"I am," the human replied simply, offering no further details. He then uncrossed his arms and began walking toward the exit. "But enough questions. I'm going to grab something to eat."
Before leaving entirely, he turned back to Kador, who had been watching him. "Captain," the human called, his voice firm but polite. "We need to talk about finding the black box later, if it's not too much trouble."
Kador gave a brief nod. "Sure."
The human then left the bridge, his heavy boots echoing down the corridor.
As soon as he was gone, Zarn looked at Kador and stepped closer, speaking in a low tone filled with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "He's a bit... intimidating, don't you think?"
The human was in his quarters, focused on his exercise. He moved with military precision, his robust arms pushing the weight of his body up and down in a rhythmic sequence. Sweat dripped down his pale skin, pooling on the metallic floor beneath him.
"How many have I done?" he asked without stopping.
"Two hundred," Nyxis responded immediately. "One push-up every two seconds. An impressive number."
"Thanks," the human replied, slowly standing up. He was breathing deeply, the muscles in his chest and arms visibly tense. He grabbed a nearby towel and wiped his face without much haste.
Suddenly, a knock on the door broke the silence of the room. He frowned, staring at the wall in front of him. "Who is it?" he asked, directing his question to the AI.
"Tila and Byra," Nyxis answered. "Byra is being assisted by Tila."
He was silent for a moment, then said, "Let them in."
The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing Tila and Byra. Tila was helping her friend, who was still visibly weak but at least able to walk with support. They entered slowly, but their expressions changed the moment their eyes landed on the human.
He was shirtless, his imposing and muscular figure even more prominent under the room's lighting. The scars on his torso immediately drew their attention marks of past battles, explosions, cuts, and deep wounds, now only traces on his skin. To Tila, it was hard not to notice how he appeared both powerful and strangely alien. The absence of fur made the sight unsettling, but she quickly pushed those thoughts aside.
"So," the human said, his voice firm but not aggressive. He picked up a bottle of water, took a sip, and then turned his gaze to the two visitors. "What brings you here?"
Byra began to speak, her voice weak but still firm enough to be clearly heard. "Thank you so much for saving my life... and the ship. Without you, we wouldn't be here right now."
Tila, standing beside her, tilted her head slightly and added, "Byra insisted on coming here to thank you in person."
"That's appreciable," said Nyxis, her calm voice echoing through the room.
"I agree," the human replied, crossing his arms. He looked at both of them, his expression serious but not unfriendly. "I only did what was necessary to save myself. But I know my actions saved you too. I'm glad for that."
Tila and Byra gave faint smiles, their gratitude evident on their faces. Byra still seemed weak, but there was a determination in her eyes that couldn't be ignored. They started to turn to leave the room when the sound of the ship's communicator echoed through the air.
"Tila, I need you on the bridge," came the captain's voice. "And tell the human he's being summoned as well."
Tila and Byra exchanged a glance before leaving, while the human watched the door slide shut behind them. He remained still for a moment before asking Nyxis, "What do you think he wants?"
"The probability that it's about your ship is high," the AI responded with her usual precision.
The human let out a small smile and shook his head slightly. "You're probably right. You're a good friend, you know that?"
"Thank you," said Nyxis, adding with a faint note of curiosity in her tone, "Your species is quite fascinating."
The human chuckled softly, grabbed his towel again, and began preparing to answer the summons.
The bridge door slid open with a faint hiss, and the human entered, his imposing figure filling the space. He was wearing only his jumpsuit, yet his presence was commanding.
"Captain," he greeted with a brief nod.
Kador returned the gesture and stepped closer. "I wanted to talk to you about... your ship."
"I'm all ears," the human replied, crossing his arms, his posture relaxed.
Loran and Tila were on the bridge, both paying close attention to the conversation. Zarn stood a bit further away, silently listening, though his curiosity was evident. The human cast a scrutinizing glance toward the Cossarian before turning back to Kador.
"Is it safe for him to hear this conversation?" the human asked bluntly.
Kador looked at Zarn for a moment before addressing the human again. "Yes. He won't say a word to anyone, will you, Zarn?"
Zarn raised his hands casually and responded with a slight smile. "I have no interest in barbarians, with all due respect."
Kador nodded, satisfied, and then turned to Nyxis. "Update us on the situation."
The AI's voice immediately filled the room, clear and efficient. "Once we jump to the system where the human was found, I will be able to locate the wreckage of the ship. I'll need to conduct a scan to confirm the exact position, but it is feasible."
The captain interjected, addressing the human. "I understand we're looking for this black box, but... what exactly does it look like?"
The human thought for a moment before responding. "I'm no flight expert, but during spacecraft rescue training, we learned that the black box is the priority in situations like this." He paused before continuing, "It's a reinforced rectangular structure, about fifty centimeters long, shielded to withstand explosions and radiation. It's typically housed in a fortified vault on the ship's bridge."
Kador crossed his arms, processing the information. "And you can show us how to find it once we locate the wreckage?"
"Absolutely," the human replied, his confidence evident.
"Perfect," Kador said, satisfied. He then turned to the console and addressed Nyxis again. "Is the ship ready for the jump?"
"Yes, Captain. We are ready to jump," the AI confirmed.
Kador nodded and, after adjusting his stance, turned to Tila. "Once we locate the wreckage, you'll accompany the human to board it."
Tila looked slightly uneasy at the idea but didn't hesitate to respond. "Understood, Captain."
The human noticed her concerned expression and gave her an encouraging nod, trying to convey reassurance. Without another word, he turned and left the bridge, his boots echoing softly down the corridor as the door closed behind him.