Thiefs in stars

The General’s Shadow

The Starbreaker tore a ragged, burning line through the black like some pissed-off comet that’d had a really bad day.

Kael’s knuckles went white on the controls. Dominion interceptors were right on their tail, flying so tight you’d think they practiced daily just to ruin his life. The hull kept shrieking with every hit, and the whole cockpit was a disco of angry red lights. Jessa miracle worker, adrenaline junkie, masochist hammered away at the console, coaxing life out of systems that honestly should’ve died ten minutes ago.

We can’t outrun them! She snapped, voice barely masking the panic.

Kael bared his teeth. Don’t need to outrun them. Just gotta out-dumb ’em.

The Core, warm and weird against his chest, seemed to throb every time the ship took a hit. Not just a chunk of tech there was something alive in there. Or hungry. Or both. Whatever, Kael shoved the thought away and wrenched the Starbreaker to port, betting that the Dominion pilots were as predictable as tax season.

Vent the plasma, he barked.

Jessa shot him a look like he’d suggested they eat the wiring. That’ll cook us from the inside out, genius!

He just grinned. Trust me.

She trusted him dammit, she always did. One flick, and the ship vomited a beautiful, deadly stream of plasma into the void. The first interceptor didn’t stand a chance, barreling blind into the fire and popping like a firework. The rest scattered.

Kael let out a wild whoop. Still got it!

Right then, the engines gave up. The ship lurched, lights snuffed out, systems croaking one by one. That grin slid off Kael’s face real quick. Suddenly, the only thing louder than his heartbeat was the silence heavy, final, like a grave closing.

Gravity well, Jessa whispered. We’re caught.

He stared out the viewport as the planet below got way too close, way too fast. Scarred land, busted cities, rivers of molten glass twisting through bones of the old world. Nobody sane lived down there.

Strap in, Kael muttered. This is gonna suck.

The Starbreaker fell.

Aria Dax watched from the shattered ramparts of Veyra Fortress, gazing up at the night as it got ripped open by that falling fire.

The war was over, sure, but you wouldn’t know it by the way ruins still cluttered the skyline. Burned-out towers, dead mechs rusting in the street, and a hush over everything, thick as mourning. Her command these days? Just keeping the barely-civilized from eating each other alive.

People whispered Aria liked it better this way. A general who thrived in the ashes.

They weren’t wrong.

Wind tugged at the silver in her hair as she tracked the burning wreck. Not random. Not some lost hunk of space junk. That was a landing well, a crash by someone who knew how to pick a fight.

Lieutenant Coren hovered behind her, fidgety. Another scav-runner?

She didn’t even blink. No. Scavs don’t get chased by Dominion interceptors.

He stiffened. So who?

Call in the patrols, Aria said. We’re going hunting

The landing was a less controlled descent and a more violent introduction to geology.

Kael came to, half-buried in what used to be the Starbreaker, lungs full of smoke and regret. Felt like he’d swallowed razors. Somewhere nearby, Jessa was cursing a streak, dragging herself out of the twisted mess.

Alive, he managed, blinking through the haze. Everything ached, but the Core was hot against his ribs, steady. Weirdly reassuring. Or maybe he was just concussed.

Figures moved in the smoke armor, discipline, weapons up. Not scavengers. Real soldiers.

Kael tried to get up, hand reaching for his pistol. Didn’t make it. A boot slammed him flat.

Stay down, thief, someone barked.

Kael looked up and for once, completely lost his legendary smart mouth. General Aria Dax. In the flesh. The woman from a hundred wanted posters and even more rumors. She looked like she owned the ruins, hell, maybe the whole planet.

You’re a long way from your usual hunting grounds, she said. Dead calm.

Kael spat out blood and grinned. What can I say? I like to make an entrance.

Her soldiers looked ready to shoot him for breathing. Aria just stared, eyes narrowing at the faint glow under his jacket.

What are you carrying?

His hand twitched over the Core. Didn’t answer. Not sure he could. The damn thing was humming now louder, like it recognized her.

Aria stepped closer, her shadow cutting deep across her face. For a second, her mask slipped a tiny, sharp breath. The Core pulsed hard, syncing up with her heartbeat. Kael saw the shock, just for a flicker, in her eyes.

Well, he rasped, forcing a cocky smile. Guess it likes you better than me.

Her jaw set. Take them to the Fortress, she ordered, cold as ever.

As they dragged Kael and Jessa away, he caught Aria’s gaze. For one crazy instant, he just knew didn’t even question it

Whatever the Core was? It hadn’t picked just him. It’d picked her, too.

And that, honestly, was probably the worst luck of all.