CHAPTER EIGHT

"Ten minutes to destination." Chimed a synthetic voice from the cockpit. Soran recognized the voice as a T series navigation system, a staple of most standard cargo and scouting vessels that operated in the quadrant.

"Well, will you look at that," Ranna said, pointing through the glass plate shielding. No matter how many times he saw it, the stellar landscape never failed to humble him with its majesty.

Countless eminent pillars of brilliant crystal reached into the heavens, illuminating the nothingness with an enthralling glow, breathtaking to behold. Valaterra is believed to have been an asteroid belt that, due to a gravitational anomaly, had formed a helix structure larger than most planets. Over time the spiral had accumulated giant crystals on its surface that were formed from a concoction of rare, life-granting minerals. This invaluable resource had attracted the attention of various races in the midst of fleeing their depleted home-worlds.

Soran spotted a faint light leaking from the crevices of the natural cosmic wonder. The structure was hollow and as they passed between a fissure in the crystal casing, a hidden world came into view. Soran leaned forward and pressed his face flat against the glass, watching as an entire city emerged. Looking for a new home, the innumerable alien drifters had taken advantage of Valaterra's cocoon-like nature, establishing an incredible civilization under the protection of its luminous walls. The layers of construction extended out for miles, coiling the circumference, haphazard architecture clung to the walls with immense scaffolds. Some structures were so gigantic they seemed to climb to the highest reaches of the spiral, disappearing into the hazy pinkish fog of pollutants that gathered at its peak.

"First time in Valaterra?" El asked, partaking in Soran's amazement with vicarious glee. He almost told the truth. That it was his first time away from the Hyacinth. But, maintaining his bounty hunter facade was paramount. He replied with a simple nod, continuing to admire the feats of elevation and ingenuity the builders had poured into the project. It was eye-opening to see what the races of the galaxy could do when they worked together. Despite the loss of their planets, they had forged somewhere in this murky abyss to call home.

With an abrupt jolt, the Horizon's autopilot course corrected. The ship's nose dipped down and plunged the crew deeper into the belly of the grand spiral. The bright lights of the city above began to fade, replaced with a dingier, neon aesthetic that left Soran in a haze of apprehension. He could hear the rhythmic thud of music leaking from overcrowded bars and saw the glow of suspicious eyes glaring out from shadowed alleys. Precise construction had been abandoned in these lower reaches. Dens of vice crammed together in an unorganized jumble constituted the majority of Valaterra's aptly named 'sink'. Coherent routes became unnecessary after ten drinks, as a blurred stumble to the next depraved hovel required no map.

They descended onto a large circular platform and the rear doors burst open with a flicker of sparks. Soran panicked, clasping his hands over his face with a suddenness that confused the hunters.

"What... are you doing?" Asked Ranna with an almost disappointed look. Soran examined the crew's puzzled expressions, lowering his hands and taking a breath. "Oxygen?" he muttered. His surprise was met by a chorus of ridicule from the crew. Even Tugg croaked along in guttural mockery of laughter. Ranna shook his head and the Horizon crew exited the ship. Soran crept behind them with caution in his steps, still not convinced of his safety.

As he stepped onto the platform, a horde of repair bots rushed by his feet. They made an eager dive under the Horizon and got to work with swift efficiency. Soran chuckled, remembering that Lanic would often scold the machines whenever they would tamper with his flawless repairs. He saw them as a nuisance, only fit for menial tasks such as minor repairs and refueling.

The Horizon had docked beside a fragment of crystal, its teal glow reflected on the boy's pale skin. Upon closer examination, there appeared to be something growing on its surface. Something alive.

"Strange, isn't it?" Asked El, sneaking up on him. "They say it's a fungus that only grows here. It's what produces the atmosphere and allows us to walk around without suits."

Soran had never heard of plants growing in space but figured it would be here if anywhere. El tugged at his undershirt and the two jogged to catch up with Tugg and Ranna who were waiting outside of an imposing set of steel doors.

Two sentry units emerged from the door frame and began a scan of Ranna's face. Green lines combed over his entire body, evaluating the danger he represented. A small hatch sprung open and Ranna and Tugg begrudgingly gave up their cache of weapons. Ranna was carrying six pistols of various designs, unsheathing them from the countless hidden compartments of his jacket. Tugg had an extensive collection of blades strapped to his person, giving Soran yet another reason to keep his distance.

"Carrying?" asked Ranna. Soran knew that a hunter without weapons would be unusual but the Captain didn't seem surprised when met with the boys shaking head.

With the scan complete and weapons confiscated, the door groaned open. Soran squinted as light poured through the crack, illuminating their dingy surroundings. Inside, the layout of the room was affected, warm golden hues permeating the floor and ceiling. Furniture and papering were meticulously curtailed to the aristocratic tastes of the property's owner. A large staircase ascended either side of the room, arriving at a set of beautifully decorated wooden doors that accented the room tastefully. It had the atmosphere of a royal palace but Soran had a feeling the occupants were far from nobility.

As soon as their feet touched the marble of the palatial abode they were confronted by the largest alien Soran had ever seen. Even Tugg was smothered by its shadow as it leered over them, bulging arms crossed aggressively over its chest. Soran was shocked by its lack of features. No eyes, nose, or ears. Gelatinous saliva laminated the corners of its menacing frown, coating its protuberant lips in an unpleasant, oily film. A series of guttural grunts showered down on them, the frequency stabbing at their ears. Soran began to shake where he stood, pressing his fingers on his temples in an attempt to cope with the pain. Blood collected in his nose and mouth, his eyes fierce with crimson webs. He gasped and tried to wipe the blood away, coloring his hands a dark crimson in the process. El leaped to his aid, pulling a series of vials from a case lodged in her back pocket. Tearing off one of the lids, she revealed a barb-tipped pen which she promptly jabbed into Soran in the neck, injecting him with murky green fluid.

"Should fix you right up," Ranna said jokingly, his words tinged with nervous relief. Soran — who was in a slight state of shock — wiped the remaining blood onto his undershirt which was now decorated with unflattering ruby smears. The imposing alien again opened its mouth. "What's your business? I won't ask a third time." Its words coming through clearly in a seriously aggravated tone.

"Come on Crux, let us through to see the boss. We have an appointment this time, honestly." Ranna said, trying to peer around the sides of Crux's huge legs.

"You're on thin ice Ranna, next time you won't be able to talk yourself out of here alive," Crux said looking like he was ready to carry out Ranna's punishment prematurely. The oversized ornate doors on the upper floor swung open and out walked the most peculiarly ornamented man Soran had ever seen.

Jewel encrusted hands slapped the banister that coiled the stairways, the overweight man's labored breathing was audible even from the fair distance the crew was stood. He had a long mane of slick sapphire hair, the silken strands rested upon a pelted robe that hung from his shoulders. Soran squinted his eyes, trying to make out what the man had attached to his face. It looked almost like a mask but clung tightly like a second skin. Peering more closely he noticed that it was no mask, but, the man's skull. The skin and muscle from both his forehead and right eye had been removed leaving the open socket on display. An optic orb had been grafted to the bone and was maneuvering rapidly as it scanned the faces of the crew.

The man let out a yelp, similar to that of a hound, his breathing grew heavier as he was overtaken with furious excitement.

"Wasn't sure if you'd come back, Ranna." The man spoke so quickly his words churned together into an incomprehensible mess. He plunged his hand into a pocket to retrieve a handful of effervescent black powder that trickled through the gaps in his fingers. He pulled out a small torch lighter from his breast pocket and ignited the powder, inhaling the sulfurous, crackling vapor it produced. Soran watched in awe, the man visibly unfazed by the substance currently burning the palm of his hand. His eye whitened and he let out a howl of euphoria. He threw the remnants of the smoldering powder to the wall and made a beeline towards Ranna. Leering as close as he could get without their faces touching, he clawed the top row of silver-plated teeth over his bottom lip. Soran had met his fair share of unusual characters on the Hyacinth but had never encountered a human this unhinged. He needed to remain vigilant, prepared to react at a moment's notice.

The man ran his powdery fingers across the scarred surface of Ranna's face, mopping up the droplets of nervous sweat to taste the fear from his fingertips.

"Do you know why Crux hasn't pulled off ya jaw?" The man asked Ranna, an amused look tinting his snarl.

Ranna stayed silent for a second and slowly gave a hesitant nod. "Yes, Veng" he replied compliantly.

"Good, wouldn't want there to be any confusion." He said, this time more calmly, the inhaled substance seeming to be taking effect. He brushed nervously through his hair as he walked over to a desk, pulling out a small device and throwing it over to Ranna.

"Kaligan" Veng said as he smashed his hand down, leaving the imprint of his rings embedded into the metal surface. "That device will lead ya to him and you'll bring him back to me, alive Ranna." Rubbing his fingers over his palms furiously as he spoke. "He will pay for what he did to me, it is my justice to serve. Understand?" Veng pointed to his exposed skull, shaking with an anger that had long since boiled over into rage.

"Back to you alive Veng, I've got it. Were square after this, right?" Ranna again spoke cautiously as not to agitate the unpredictable man. Veng stepped slowly over to Crux, placing his hand on the brutish alien's leg. He let out a loud belch of laughter and began slapping his lofty bodyguard who produced a chitinous croak, gargled through the gill-like slits of its mouth.

"Square's a little beyond ya grasp Ranna. I won't have Crux here turn you and ya friends inside out. How does that work for ya?" He said, safe in the knowledge that he would have Ranna in his pocket for as long as he wanted. Soran could only assume the worst when imagining how Ranna had fumbled his way into the predicament but, with any luck, he wouldn't be sticking around long enough to find out.

Ranna crossed his right arm over his chest and bowed before Veng, followed swiftly by the other three. Veng had ample opportunity to dispose of Ranna and instead, had chosen mercy. Despite the selfish nature of his decision, Ranna knew he would not have been granted this second chance by other, more unforgiving members of the Valaterra elite.

Soran had only ever encountered one man claiming to hail from Valaterra during his time on the Hyacinth. Going by the alias Sheng-Vei, he captained the Cornucopia, one of the more glamorous vessels that sailed their quadrant. He was a well-known hunter and for good reason. Having cashed in on a sizable portion of the top bounties, he had cemented his reputation amongst peers and foes alike. Beyond his wealth and prowess as a hunter he was feared throughout Valaterra, apparently owning a sizable chunk of the city. Nothing went on without him knowing about it and even the likes of Veng would know that he wasn't to be crossed. Soran wondered if he would encounter him again during their brief stay, but had a feeling that Ranna's questionable reputation didn't stop with Veng.

The crew stepped backward following Ranna's lead, all hoping that Veng was finished with his mind games.

"If you don't make it back Ranna..." Veng spoke leisurely, smiling, and taking a deep breath.

"Your crew will pay the debt, and you know it's not slates I'll be collecting." He scraped his fingers over the exposed portion of his skull and left a visible etching on the bone. Observing him caused a collective wince. The sound of grinding bone coupled with the haunting visual brought on a grim sense of unease. Veng whipped his hand to one side dismissing the hunters, keen for them to start their mission. They collected their weapons and took a slow, reflective stroll toward the ship. Everyone was visibly shaken by what had just taken place. Soran noticed a distinct lack of response from the Captain, his proud shoulders sagged with the weight of humiliation.

Soran glanced back at El, her signature spring absent from each step. Her skin had turned a muddy green shade and the undulation of her kelp-like hair had slowed almost to a stop. Soran had noticed her color shift a few times now, wondering what biological mechanism causes her appearance to fluctuate with her emotions. He spent the remainder of their brief walk indulging the idea of what life would be like with no one able to mask how they truly felt. Unable to conceal their emotions, their innermost feelings radiating from their very being.

Ranna and Tugg pressed on into the Horizon, still not a peep from either. The Horde of repair bots fled the platform and scurried into their charging hub. Soran was about to follow them in when a poster plastered on the side of another docked ship caught his eye. The image depicted an attractive woman drinking from a flute, advertising some kind of expensive liquor. He had seen that exact poster before. It was back on the Hyacinth, displayed haphazardly above Lanic's workbench. He paused for a second and a well of guilt started to form inside of him. It had already been a full day and he had yet to take the first step in recovering his mentor. By now the trail from Malig's ship would have run cold and he would have to rely on what few leads — if any — Ranna could retrieve. Having had little control in the unfolding of events thus far, he couldn't help but feel responsible. Had the tables been turned, Lanic would not have hesitated to come after him, never mind fallen asleep and missed what might have been his only chance. El approached from behind and touched Soran on the nape of his neck.

"I can feel you," She said brandishing a look of genuine concern.

"Feel me?" asked Soran.

"The truth, inside. The things you don't share with others. I feel them." She motioned her hand toward his forehead but he pulled away. His life currently depended on the truth he kept hidden. Until he could pinpoint the extent of El's abilities, he couldn't risk disclosing anything that could jeopardize his position.

"Thanks, El, but really, I'm fine." He said trying to sound convincing, aware she knew he was anything but.

The two of them made their way onboard and headed to the cockpit where Ranna and Tugg were examining the contents of Veng's device. The ship's Holo-Projector whirred into action. Suspended in mid-air, millions of light-rays instantly constructed a detailed image of the galaxy. Soran was amazed to see the distance they had already traveled, the Hyacinth seeming insignificant amongst the grand tapestry of the cosmos. The star chart plotted a course from their current position to a moon in a neighboring solar system, located in an area known as the graveyard belt. A winding stretch of space spanning more than half of the galaxy in which every planet had been left uninhabitable. Whether due to war, pollution, or overpopulation, each world had been fully diminished of its sustenance and its inhabitants had long since fled.

After the fall of Earth more than a century and a half ago, much of humanity considered itself a disdainful scourge. It's telos to destroy all that it was gifted, leaving rot in its wake. Unfortunately, as what remained of humanity pressed farther into the stars on their quest for a new home, they were greeted with nothing but the remnants of what once was. We discovered we were not the only ones that lacked appreciation for the miracle of creation. Only seven habitable planets remained in the galaxy, all fiercely guarded by their host species and under the protection of the galactic government. But even the blind could see the seeds of corruption being sown in these final Edens.

"When we pull this off, not only will we be rich but finally out from under the thumb of that lunatic," Ranna said, punching in the launch codes while the rest of the crew buckled in for take-off. El and Tugg were both energized by their Captain's renewed optimism. Even Soran felt a sense of camaraderie and returned a grin to the Captain. The Horizon rose gracefully for a ship of her age. Ascending from the depths of Valaterra and out into open space. Soran peered from the side window, once again marveling at the splendor of the crystalline fortress as they slowly from its mesmeric glow.