While Crux and the team were waiting for back-up, Phillip decided to talk to Gray regarding the transfer.

“Gray, can you cancel your transfer to the scouting ship?”

[System transfer already canceled due to system corruption threat.]

“Good, but you were listening right?”

[Yes, foreign system transfer may be possible, but my precepts do not allow me to abandon the research segment vault.]

“I guess… That thing’s very useful after all. Moreover, we haven’t finished researching on this prototype Augment Suit. Only you can help me if something happens.”

[Gray importance has been ranked. I will now prioritize my safety second to captain.]

“I don’t really get it, but good luck.”

While standing on the Gondola’s armor, Phillip looks at the sky and felt some slight disturbance. Then as to confirm that feeling, he saw Ezra running towards him.

“Sir Gregory! HQ has sent back up but we have bad news!”

“What is it?”

“Empire ships have been detected entering the atmosphere! They’ll be here in an hour. And back-up will be later than that!”

Phillip looks at the sky and sees trails created by the ships entering the atmosphere of the planet.

“Do you think we can hold them off?”

While walking side by side, Crux and Trucker and his lackeys comes out of the woods with the sliced rifles.

“Oh right, I did that.”

[Gondola’s weapon storage has prototype versions of those weapons.]

“Prototype versions…?”

[From captain’s visual data given, the weapons they are using are refined versions of the weapons we have and even modified to load both energy ammo and regular ammo.]

“What are these guns?”

[Barcode data registers DM-455. Prototype weapons Code DM-425.]

Since Phillip had his hand near his ear indicating he was talking to someone, everyone was quiet and confused.

Trucker got annoyed by the silence and tossed the broken guns on the ground.

“Who the hell is this freak talking to?”

“There might be other people than him inside the ship. Otherwise, it wouldn’t explain how he was able to use the ship’s weapon system.”

Ezra approached them with his device and showed it to Crux and Trucker.

“I don’t think he’s talking to someone, actually.”

“What do you mean?”

After pressing a button on his device, their intercoms got connected to the frequency Phillip was on.

[As Captain’s assistant and advisor, I cannot allow authorization to unlock armory to provide weapons to untrusted individuals.]

[Don’t be unreasonable. We need those weapons to protect you and the ship against Empire soldiers.]

[With my personal assessment, Captain alone can protect me and the ship.]

[That might be true, but I want to at least give these people a chance. Rather, we might be able to get off this planet with their help.]

[…reconsidering]

[I’ll tell them that.]

[There is no need. They have been listening by tapping in our frequency.]

When the female voice said so, Ezra felt a chill run down his spine when his eyes met with Phillip’s. Rather, he could see the glass eyes of his helmet glint as if it was staring into his soul.

[Profile Data of Ezra downloaded from Alpha Star Network.]

[Ezra, 17, formerly Gideon, a former Orion Academy student and orphan, left with his twin sister Rye. Both are citizens of Aurora Penta-Star Cluster. Records indicate that both are deceased. Records have been tampered.]

When Ezra heard all his profile information through his intercoms, he couldn’t help but felt threatened by this unknown female voice. Rather, he could feel like he was already being watched and grabbed by the neck by this unknown voice.

Phillip goes down and grabs the broken guns. After absorbing the weapons, he looks at Ezra who was sweating buckets with his knees shaking.

“You may be a talented hacker, but my second-in-command is literally a system smarter than a human mind. Her name is Gray.”

Phillip switches his attention to Trucker and Crux. He then signals them to follow him to a hatch that opened on the ship’s armor.

In the ship, Crux and Trucker notice that some parts of the walls are covered in blood. Some are fresh while some have just dried up.

“Hey freak, what the hell did you do to us?”

Despite being quiet just a while ago, Trucker couldn’t hold in his frustration and grabbed Phillip by the shoulder.

“What do you mean?”

“‘What do you mean?’ my ass! Didn’t you stab us in the chest? Aren’t we supposed to be dead?”

Crux pulls the frustrated Trucker away from Phillip. On the other hand, Phillip doesn’t seem angry about it. Rather, he understands why.

“It’s a bit too complicated to explain, but in a nutshell, you guys are just barely living right now.”

When he said so, Crux and Trucker froze as if they couldn’t believe what they just heard.

Just when Trucker was about to something, Crux pushes him back and steps forward.

“Before anything, I’d like to say thank you for not really killing us. But I’d like an explanation and possibly a solution for it.”

Phillip didn’t immediately answer and proceeded to continue walking while the two of them follow suit.

“What I’m going to say is something I’d like you two to keep as a secret. If you agree, then I’ll tell you.”

After what he said, Crux and Trucker looked at each other.

Trucker’s eyes were filled with frustration as he was gritting his teeth while clenching his teeth. He knew fully well that he is in no place to say anything. He couldn’t even do anything even if he tried to attack.

So out of anger, he hits the iron wall to vent his anger out. After that, he presses a button on his earphone and the sign of disconnection was visible. He left the communications channel.

Following suit, Crux also left the communications channel.

Immediately, a logo pops out of their visor and the name Gray under it came out.

[My name is Gray. I am an AI that mainly research genealogy and the second-in-command. I have created a private channel and took liberty in linking your power suit’s systems to mine.]

[There is no need for you to introduce yourselves. I have downloaded all your data from the Alpha Star Network through your transport ship’s network connection.]

[To answer your question, yes, you are barely alive. That is all because your hearts have been destroyed. What currently is beating inside your chest is a heart emulated by Captain’s own cells and Nanites. You have become the cells’ hosts and it is keeping you both alive to sustain its own.]

After that explanation, Trucker instinctively grabbed his chest and tried to feel his own heartbeat. The fact that the thing beating inside of him is not is own heart made him feel scared.

“W-what the hell…”

[This can be solved by either letting the cells consume Placenta or a direct heart transplant. Placenta is a slow process since the Nanites themselves will reconstruct your heart with it. The Heart Transplant is a faster process. However, it is dangerous as it may end up being consumed by the cells when the heart is incompatible and rejected.]

“What about the ribs that broke?”

[Currently, the broken bones have been replaced with bio-steel that is adjusted to match your weight. It is the same with your muscle fibers, veins, and other organs.]

Though Trucker was having an existential crisis, Crux on the other hand lets out a thankful sigh while still following Phillip.

“We’re here.”

When they came to a halt, they stood in front of a rusty door that is closed shut.

[Door Hydraulics is nonresponsive.]

“Well, I was hoping you’d say that.”

While Phillip’s hands become claws, another two set of arms grew on his back and he inserted all of these hands in the tiny gap. After taking a deep breath, with a roar, he forces the door open with inhumane strength.

When it finally opened, he retracts his arms and turns to Crux and Trucker.

“Unlike your power suit, my suit literally is part of my body. And it’s the only weapon I need.”

-End of Chapter-