A few days later, the crew sat in the Chief's new office a spartan room that still smelled of dust and reclaimed metal.
KIRO: (Arms crossed, leaning back in his chair) "So. Why are we really staying here?"
VEYRA: (Spreading a rough map on the desk) "We need a home base, Kiro. We can still go out and explore, but we need a place to come back to. A place to defend." She glanced at the Chief. "We're in charge now, right, Chief?"
Raiji, having already voiced his opinion through action, was busy finishing a bowl of stew before heading out for his routine of push-ups against the sun-baked wall outside.
Kiro remained unconvinced, his expression clouded.
CHIEF: (Nodding eagerly) "That's correct. We look forward to your leadership. And… the army might come back."
VEYRA: "That's the second reason. They're not strong enough to stop them alone. Yet. We train them." She turned a pointed look to Kiro. "And you? You can be the mayor."
KIRO: (Sitting bolt upright) "Wait, me? Mayor? No. I refuse to lead. And look at this place!" He gestured vaguely at the crumbling outpost beyond the window.
VEYRA: "I refuse your refusal. Now, let's get to work." She tapped the map. "First up: sustainable farming and a better water system. We need to find a way to build proper water pipes. But where?"
CHIEF: (Leaning over the map) "There is a place. Briarwood Junction. We used to trade with them. They have builders who can help with foundations and might know about water systems. But pipes… we'd need to go to the next town over, Verdure Stream. They have a forge. We need a new water source first, though."
KIRO: (Sighing, but engaging) "Alright. We go to Briarwood first. How long to get there?"
CHIEF: "With your airship at speed? Maybe ten minutes. On foot… two hours, if the ravines are clear." if its the ship 10 minutes
VEYRA: "It's settled. Kiro and I will take the Reaper to Briarwood Junction." She looked toward the doorway where Raiji was now methodically beginning his exercises. "Raiji, you're staying. Train the villagers. Set up extra patrols and defenses."
RAIJI: (Without breaking rhythm in his push-ups, his voice steady) "Nice. A break."
They prepared to leave. Raiji watched from the edge of the village as the Reaper's engines hummed to life. The ship lifted in a cloud of dust, banked westward, and became a shrinking silhouette against the vast sky.
CHIEF: (Watching alongside Raiji, a note of apprehension in his voice) "So… what training do you have in mind, sir?"
RAIJI: (His eyes still on the horizon where the ship vanished) "Let me think." He turned, his gaze sweeping over the gathered, hopeful faces of the villagers. "The weaklings the villagers they eat and sleep. Don't think it's time for a break. They will run from here to the army base and back. Every day. Ten push-ups. Every day."
He then looked at the handful of former conscripts, the men who had turned their rifles on the Junior Officer. His expression was one of mild disappointment. "The army men. I expected them to be stronger. Sword training. Each will have one-on-one with me." A pause that felt heavy with impending soreness. "But before that, they train with each other. Fifty push-ups. Every day."
CHIEF: (Wincing, but nodding in grim understanding) "That's… harsh. But they need it."
Meanwhile, aboard the Reaper...
The journey was swift. Seven minutes of flying over cracked canyons and wind-sculpted dunes.
They arrived. landing on landing pad
Briarwood Junction was not a desperate outpost, but a well-built city. Structures of sturdy timber and corrugated metal roofs formed orderly rows. The air hummed not with despair, but with industry the distant whir of advanced water purifiers and the rhythmic thunk of wood being chopped.
They landed in a designated clearing on the city's outskirts.
Kiro stepped out first. He breathed in deeply. The air was clean, carrying the scent of sawdust, damp soil, and growing things a startling oasis in the desert. In the distance, he could see a curious, small dome structure shimmering slightly in the heat haze.
KIRO: (A smile touching his lips) "Finally. A peaceful place in the desert. It even smells like wood and trees."
They headed into the city proper, weaving through bustling streets lined with shops of all kinds. The air was thick with the smells of baking, forged metal, and traded goods. Kiro's eyes lingered on a particularly busy building to the side: the Bounty Hunter's Guild, its emblem a stylized crosshair over a cracked skull clearly displayed.
KIRO: (A wistful, ironic smirk on his face) "Only if I was still one, right?"
VEYRA: (Not looking at him, scanning the crowd) "Yeah. Someone went and stole a very important cube. Real shame."
KIRO: "It was an accident…"
They kept walking, the guild hall fading behind them, until they found the place they needed: a storefront with a sign that read WOODS & LABOUR.
They stepped inside. It wasn't large, but decently sized the shop of an established, mid-tier contractor. The air smelled of sawdust and varnish. Behind a polished counter stood a clerk in a neat, functional suit.
VEYRA: "Hi. We need someone to create housing. And, if you can, a full water catchment and distribution system."
STORE CLERK: (A professional smile) "Oh, yes, ma'am, we do both. How many homes? The water system is pricey state-of-the-art purifiers and piping. Let's say… 45,000 for that alone. We use the best treated lumber for the frames."
VEYRA: "Don't know the exact count. Let's say… over twenty. And we'll need an inn, a central gathering place."
CLERK: (Eyes lighting up at the scale; he tapped on a data-slate) "You're in luck. We have a special for developments over twenty units includes a standard inn design for a flat 25,000. So, for the housing… that's 125,000. With the water system…" He tapped again. "Total comes to 170,000 credits."
VEYRA: (She turned to Kiro, eyebrows raised) "You've got some money saved up. Throw in that way."
KIRO: (Sighing, but pulling out a sleek credit chit from his jacket) "Come on, why is it always me? Fine."
He slid the chit across the counter. The clerk plugged it into his terminal.
KIRO'S ACCOUNT: 1,131,000 Credits.
TRANSACTION: -170,000 Credits.
NEW BALANCE: 961,000 Credits.
A soft beep confirmed the transfer.
CLERK: "Pleasure doing business. Just sign this work order project location and a contact number."
Veyra took the stylus and began to write: her name, under the line for CLIENT AUTHORITY: KIRO, and her comm frequency.
CLERK: "Oh, a small village nearby? No problem for delivery, but we'll need one of you to stay behind to guide the convoy. Terrain maps can be… unreliable."
VEYRA: "Sure. No problem."
CLERK: (Handing her a receipt chip) "Excellent. While you're here, you should go meet the foreman and the crew. They're based at the worksite the Great Dome on the east edge of town. They handle all our major projects. Ask for Foreman Holt."
The duo stepped out of Woods & Labour and began making their way toward the looming silhouette of the Great Dome. They hadn't gone more than a block when the sound of a scuffle echoed from a nearby alley a gruff voice, then a sharp cry.
BANDIT 1: "You know who we are. Make this easy."
BANDIT 2: "Just come with us, lady. We'll have some fun."
Kiro and Veyra shared a look and moved swiftly toward the noise. Peering into the shaded alley, they saw five rough-looking men surrounding a single figure: a woman with long, flowing black hair, dressed in elegant but practical traveler's robes, holding a polished staff.
Kiro glanced at Veyra. She gave a single, sharp nod.
He stepped forward, opening his mouth to intervene and froze.
The woman moved.
It was a blur of controlled fury. A vicious kick planted itself in the first bandit's groin. The butt of her staff cracked upward into a second's chin. In the same fluid motion, she spun, driving the staff's other end into the ribs of the first bandit again, sending him stumbling back.
The bandit leader, a hulking man with a scar, stepped forward. "You're gonna regret—"
He didn't finish. She dropped into a low spin, sweeping his legs out from under him. As he fell, her foot snapped up, connecting with his jaw and sending him sprawling. She completed her spin, the staff whirling like a propeller, and slammed it into the remaining two bandits with twin thwacks, sending them flying into opposite walls.
And in that final, devastating spin her momentum a perfect, unstoppable arc the end of her staff clipped Kiro squarely on the temple. Her follow-through kick, meant for a downed opponent, connected solidly with his groin. Using the staff for leverage, she planted a foot on his chest and, with a swift, practiced shove, sent him flying backwards into a stack of empty crates.
CRASH.
Silence, except for the groans of the five unconscious bandits.
Veyra stared, one hand half-raised, her mouth slightly open. "...We're not with them."
The woman straightened her robes, her breath barely quickened. She looked from Veyra to the crater in the crates where Kiro lay.
THE WOMAN: (Eyes wide with dawning horror) "Oops. Oh, fudge. Sorry!"
She rushed over, dropping to her knees beside Kiro. "I am so, so sorry! I thought you were a sixth one! Are you okay? Please be okay!"
Kiro groaned, one hand on his throbbing head, the other held protectively lower. He looked up at the concerned, beautiful face of the woman who had just single-handedly dismantled a gang and then him.
KIRO: (Voice a pained wheeze) "...Why is it always me?"
Veyra walked over, offering a hand to haul Kiro to his feet. He took it, groaning as he straightened.
VEYRA: "Poor guy. Could've aimed for the gut, I guess. Would've saved me some trouble, but... still funny." She dusted off her jacket, her eyes sharp and analytical as they settled on the newcomer. "Anyway. Who are you?"
The woman's expression shifted from apologetic to guarded. She glanced around the alley at the unconscious bandits, then back to the duo.
THE WOMAN: "That's... a secret. I must first trust you." She paused, her gaze lingering on Kiro's face, a flicker of recognition in her eyes. "The reason I thought you were with them... you look a lot like the man on this."
She reached into a fold of her robes and pulled out a slightly crumpled flimsy a bounty poster. She held it up.
The likeness was crude but unmistakable. It was Kiro.
WANTED: KIRO
CRIMES: Assault on Imperial Officers, Destruction of Military Property, Acts of Terrorism, Theft of Classified Artefact.
BOUNTY: 110,000 Credits
STATUS: DEAD OR ALIVE
ISSUED BY: IMPERIAL ARMY JUDICIARY
The silence in the alley thickened. The distant sounds of the city faded away.
Kiro stared at his own face, the throbbing in his head suddenly feeling much more dangerous.
thats me