The Starborn

Chapter 7

Quinn removed his helmet, setting it on the table as his sharp features caught Nova’s full attention. She tilted her head slightly, studying him with curiosity and a trace of confusion.

“You’re not like the other ABs, are you?” she asked, her tone more observation than question.

Quinn tightened his jaw, not responding immediately.

Nova leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms. “Even though you’ve got that nerve-blocking chip in your neck… some emotions sneak by. Interesting.”

VERA’s voice chimed in through Quinn’s earpiece. “She’s very attentive. I like her.”

Quinn ignored VERA’s comment and leaned forward slightly, his piercing gaze steady on Nova. “So, where are you from? Where are your parents?”

The moment the words left his mouth, he noticed her demeanor shift. Nova’s casual, guarded confidence hardened into something colder. Her striking eyes darkened as if a wall had slammed into place.

“Doesn’t matter,” she said flatly. “Both no longer exist.”

VERA’s voice came again, softer this time. “Her guard is back up. You hit a nerve. And not a good one.”

Quinn mentally noted VERA’s observation and decided to shift tactics. He gave her space for a moment before trying another question. “Why were you on Draxis?”

Nova finished the last bite of her food ration, tossing the wrapper onto the table. “I was trying to find a ride to the Outer-Rim.”

Quinn’s brow furrowed. The Outer-Rim was infamous.

The Outer-Rim—a chaotic cluster of planets on the fringes of known space—was a haven for those who wanted to live free of the control of mega-corporations like Aegis or the relentless expansion of the Ravagers. It was lawless, and untamed. Smugglers, outlaws, and exiled scientists called it home, thriving in the absence of authority. Trade operated on black markets, and currencies ranged from rare minerals to life-threatening favors.

But the Outer-Rim’s freedom came with a steep price: survival. Travelers rarely ventured there unless they had no other choice, as the journey itself was perilous. Navigating through gravitational anomalies, pirate-infested sectors, and unexplored territory meant most ships never made it back.

Quinn studied Nova closely. “The Outer-Rim?” he repeated, skeptical. “You do realize getting there is almost a death sentence, right?”

Nova shrugged, her tone dismissive. “Better than staying anywhere near Aegis or the Ravagers.”

VERA’s voice chimed in again, slightly bemused. “She’s bold. I’ll give her that.”

Quinn’s gaze lingered on Nova as he tried to understand her motives. “Why risk it?”

She met his eyes, her voice low and calm. “Because anywhere else is better than being someone’s pawn or prisoner.”

Her words hung in the air, cutting through the quiet hum of the ship. Quinn recognized the pain hidden beneath her stoic expression. He could see the fight in her, the desperation to survive.

“The Ravagers won’t stop chasing you. They want you badly,” Quinn said, his tone softer now. “If they’re willing to destroy an entire base for you.”

Nova didn’t speak immediately. Instead, she looked down at her gloved hands, flexing her fingers absentmindedly. When she finally spoke, her voice was distant.

“They always want what they don’t understand.”

Quinn leaned back, her evasiveness striking a chord of suspicion. But he also couldn’t shake the feeling that Nova wasn’t just running—she was hiding something deeper.

On Primea, the vibrant, lush heart of the Aegis Corporation’s galactic empire, Dr. Elias Morven strode through the expansive halls of the headquarters. The building, a towering masterpiece of shimmering steel and glass, was a testament to Aegis’ power and reach. His boots clicked rhythmically against the polished floors as he approached the council room, where the High Commanders had summoned him.

The doors slid open with a hiss, revealing a circular chamber bathed in muted light. Five figures sat around a large, sleek table. The two women and three men wore the pristine white uniforms of their rank, embroidered with gold insignias. At the head of the table sat the leader of everything—the iron-fisted architect of the Aegis Corporation’s dominance, High Commander Lenara Kael.

Lenara was a striking figure, her presence commanding and unyielding. Her sharp features were framed by silvery-white hair pulled into a severe knot at the nape of her neck. Piercing gray eyes locked onto Dr. Morven as he entered.

“Dr. Morven,” she began, her gravelly voice cutting through the room like steel, “have you heard from your… Astral Berserker, Alpha-01?”

Dr. Morven tightened his jaw but maintained his calm demeanor. “It seems all communications have gone dark,” he admitted. “However, I have a tracker embedded in Alpha-01’s nerve blocker chip. I’ll have his location within the hour.”

Lenara’s gray eyes narrowed, her expression cold and unrelenting. “You better hope he has a good explanation,” she said icily. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s a traitor.”

The tension in the room was palpable, but Dr. Morven’s composure remained unshaken. “Impossible,” he stated firmly. “The Astral Berserkers are engineered for absolute loyalty. Their nerve-blocking chips suppress any impulses that might lead to defiance. They cannot disobey a direct order. Alpha-01 is no exception.”

Lenara studied him for a long moment, her eyes sharp and calculating. “Let’s hope, for your sake, that’s true,” she said, her tone laced with warning. With a dismissive wave of her hand, she added, “You’re dismissed.”

Dr. Morven inclined his head respectfully before turning and walking out of the chamber. The heavy doors slid shut behind him, sealing the High Commanders inside.

The moment he was out of sight, Dr. Morven’s carefully maintained composure cracked. His jaw clenched, and his steps quickened. His demeanor was no longer calm but tense, bordering on urgent. He muttered under his breath, “VERA, get me Alpha-01’s location faster.”

The synthetic voice of his VERA AI responded immediately. “Confirmed. Scanning for the tracker’s signal now.”

Dr. Morven’s eyes darkened as he continued down the corridor, his mind racing. Something wasn’t adding up. Alpha-01 going rogue? Impossible. And yet, the silence from Quinn was unsettling.

He whispered to himself, “You better not fail me, Alpha-01.”

Quinn sat in the cockpit, his hands loosely gripping the controls as streaks of light from hyperspace stretched endlessly around them. The shuttle hummed softly, a steady rhythm that contrasted the storm in his mind. His destination was Elaris, a lush refugee planet on the fringes of Aegis-controlled space. Elaris was a sanctuary for those seeking to escape the control of corporations or the chaos of the Ravagers. It was also home to someone he trusted: Dr. Miranda Kessler, an ex-Aegis scientist who had defected years ago. If anyone could help them figure out what to do next, it was her.

VERA’s voice broke through the silence, her tone laced with concern. “Quinn, do you think this is a good idea? Going against orders? They could… kill you for treason.”

Quinn took a deep breath, his jaw tightening. “I’m just taking the girl to Miranda. She’ll know what to do. Then we can go back to Primea and… face the consequences.”

VERA hesitated for a moment, her usual sharpness softening. “This girl… you seem to have some sort of connection to her.”

Quinn didn’t answer immediately. His eyes shifted to the back of the shuttle, where Nova was stretched out on a bench, fast asleep. Her gloves were still on, but her arms rested loosely over her torso, her breathing even. Despite her guarded and defiant demeanor, there was something strikingly vulnerable about her as she slept. Her vibrant pink hair caught the faint glow of the emergency lighting, and her features—soft yet strong—were etched into his mind.

Quinn’s curiosity burned. There was something about her, something that spiked his interest in a way he couldn’t fully understand.

VERA’s voice pulled him back. “Your chip is overloading again.”

Quinn flinched slightly, realizing the dull throbbing at the base of his neck. The nerve-blocking chip embedded there, which suppressed physical sensations and emotions, was struggling—just as it had since he’d met Nova. He clenched his fists, trying to focus.

“It’s fine,” he muttered. “I’ll handle it.”

“You say that every time,” VERA replied, her tone unamused. “But this isn’t ‘fine.’ It’s never been fine. I’ve monitored your vitals since day one, Quinn. Whatever is happening right now isn’t normal.”

Quinn turned his gaze back to the hyperspace view, ignoring the pressure mounting in his head. The girl was the priority now. If Miranda couldn’t help, then no one could.

“Settle down, VERA,” he said, keeping his voice calm. “I’ll deal with the chip later.”

VERA let out an exasperated hum but didn’t press further.

Behind him, Nova stirred slightly, shifting her position. She mumbled something incoherent in her sleep, her expression softening as she relaxed once more.

Quinn watched her for another moment before turning back to the controls, determined to reach Elaris before anything else went wrong.