The Starborn

Chapter 9

Quinn stepped out of the shower room, the soft hum of the shuttle the only sound accompanying him as he walked toward the main cabin. Nova lay on the bench, her eyes closed, her breathing steady. The tension she carried while awake seemed to melt away in her sleep, leaving her features soft and vulnerable.

Quinn paused, his eyes lingering on her. The way her lashes rested against her cheeks, the faint rise and fall of her chest—it was a quiet, fragile moment that felt almost intrusive to witness.

“She’s beautiful,” VERA spoke softly, her voice tinged with an unusual warmth.

Quinn didn’t respond, but he couldn’t deny the truth in her words. There was something about Nova that pulled him in, something that made him want to understand her—protect her.

His hand hovered over her face, hesitating. He could feel the hum of the neural chip in the base of his neck warning him, a faint buzz that he ignored.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” VERA asked cautiously.

Quinn didn’t answer. Slowly, carefully, he placed his hand on her face, his fingers brushing against her cheek.

The connection was instant.

Flash.

A vibrant, breathtaking planet unfolded before his eyes. Colors so vivid they seemed otherworldly—deep emerald forests, crystalline blue rivers, and skies painted in hues of gold and lavender. Laughter echoed through the memory, soft and carefree.

Nova was younger, her vibrant pink hair slightly lighter, her laughter ringing like a melody. She was playing with a boy, a little older than her, with striking blue hair. His face was lit with mischief as they darted through a garden filled with glowing flowers.

The memory was pure happiness, untouched by the horrors of the galaxy.

Flash.

The scene shifted violently. The vibrant skies were filled with smoke, and the peaceful sounds of the planet were replaced with screams and the thunder of boots marching through the streets. Fires raged, consuming the once-beautiful city.

Aegis soldiers stormed through the streets, their helmets cold and unfeeling. Among them were two Astral Berserkers—Victor-05 and Echo-04. Their armor was pristine, their movements precise and ruthless. They weren’t soldiers in this moment—they were executioners.

Nova was there, frozen in terror, clutching the hand of the blue-haired boy. She was screaming, tears streaming down her face as Victor-05 raised his weapon.

The boy fell.

Nova’s scream tore through Quinn like a physical blow as she fell to her knees, her small hands reaching out to the lifeless body. Echo-04 barked an order, his voice cold and commanding. Victor-05 didn’t flinch, his helmet tilted toward Nova for a moment readying his weapon before Nova ran.

Flash.

The city was gone. Nova was running, her face streaked with tears, her clothes torn and dirtied. She was alone now, her sobs the only sound against the eerie silence of her destroyed home.

“Quinn,” VERA’s voice broke through the storm of memories, sharp and urgent. “Your chip—it’s in critical. Let go!”

Quinn jerked his hand back, his chest heaving as he stumbled away from Nova. His mind reeled, his neural chip sparking with pain as it struggled to regulate the overload of emotions surging through him.

Nova stirred, her eyes fluttering open, confusion crossing her face as she saw Quinn staring at her.

“Quinn?” she asked softly, sitting up, her voice laced with worry.

But Quinn couldn’t respond. His hands clenched into fists as he tried to process what he had just seen. He felt anger, sadness, and guilt all at once—a whirlwind of emotions he wasn’t supposed to feel.

VERA’s voice was quieter now, but firm. “You’ve seen enough, Quinn. She’s been through more than you realize.”

Quinn swallowed hard, forcing himself to breathe. Nova’s memories were burned into his mind now, and with them, a new understanding of who she was and why she was running.

And why he could never let her go back.

The neural chip in Quinn’s spine hummed to life, swiftly suppressing the storm of emotions raging through him. His breathing evened out, and the tension in his body eased as the system reset, returning him to the calm, calculated state that Aegis had designed him for.

But Nova was already on her feet, her movements sharp and full of purpose.

“What did you do?” she demanded, her voice firm and cutting through the quiet hum of the shuttle.

Quinn turned to face her, his stoic expression betraying none of the turmoil he’d felt just moments ago.

Nova marched up to him, stopping only when she was right in front of him. Despite the fact that she barely reached his shoulders, she tilted her head back to meet his gaze, her eyes blazing with unbridled anger.

“What did you do?” she repeated, her tone lower but no less fierce.

VERA spoke softly into Quinn’s helmet, the tone tinged with humor. “She’s feisty. Careful—she’s angry.”

Quinn ignored VERA, his focus entirely on Nova. Her presence, so small yet commanding, was striking. She didn’t flinch, even knowing what he was—an Astral Berserker capable of ending her life in an instant.

“I…” Quinn hesitated, something he wasn’t used to doing. He quickly recomposed himself, his voice calm and measured. “I touched your face. I saw… fragments. Your memories.”

Nova’s eyes widened slightly before narrowing again. “You what?”

Quinn felt VERA’s subtle warning in the back of his mind—his chip spiked slightly again at the tension. He took a step back, creating space between them, his voice even. “It wasn’t intentional. I wanted to understand why the Ravagers—want you so badly.”

“You had no right to see that!” Nova’s voice cracked slightly, but the strength in it didn’t waver. She stepped closer, her fists clenched at her sides. “You don’t know what it’s like! To live through that—then have someone take it from you without asking!”

Quinn looked at her, his usual unreadable mask faltering for a split second. “I didn’t mean to…”

Nova cut him off. “You didn’t mean to? Is that supposed to make it better?!”

VERA chimed in, her tone less playful now. “Quinn, she’s not wrong. You crossed a line.”

Quinn exhaled slowly, his voice quiet but steady. “I’m sorry. But now I know what you’ve been through. What they did to you.”

Nova froze for a moment, her breathing heavy as she processed his words. Her fists loosened slightly, but her eyes remained guarded. “You don’t know anything.”

Quinn took a step forward, his voice softening just enough to slip through her walls. “I know your home was destroyed. I know you lost someone—someone you cared about deeply.”

Nova’s eyes flickered, a brief glimmer of vulnerability breaking through before she steeled herself again. “You don’t know the half of it,” she whispered, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion.

VERA spoke again, this time with surprising gentleness. “Quinn, back off. Let her come to you when she’s ready.”

Quinn nodded subtly, taking a step back and lowering his gaze. “I’m not your enemy, Nova. I’m just trying to help.”

Nova didn’t respond immediately. She stood there, staring at him with a mixture of anger, confusion, and something else—something she didn’t fully understand herself. Finally, she turned away, her voice tight. “Don’t touch me again.”

Quinn didn’t argue. He simply watched as she returned to her seat, her back to him now, her body language screaming with tension.

“Understood,” he said quietly.

VERA’s voice filled the silence. “Well, that could’ve gone better. But hey, at least she didn’t punch you.”

Quinn sighed. “She doesn’t need to. Her words do enough damage.”