Fifteen minutes later, Clorita strode back onto The Indifference, her steps brisk and purposeful. A large, nondescript bag hung over her shoulder, its weight pulling slightly against her stride. She glanced around the dimly lit corridor, ensuring no one was nearby, then slipped into the storage room with practised ease.
Inside, the room was as cluttered as ever, filled with piles of dusty old relays, defunct mainboards, and half-disassembled devices that no one had thought to clear out. Clorita shoved aside a particularly ancient-looking relay stack, clearing a space in the corner. She crouched down, unzipped the bag, and began unloading her haul.
The stash was impressive.
Two sleek ray guns with ergonomic grips, their ammunition cartridges gleaming faintly with a telltale blue glow—enough firepower to arm a small fleet.
Three plasma grenades were carefully wrapped in shock-absorbing material to avoid any unfortunate detonation scenarios.
A compact energy blade, no larger than a utility knife but razor-sharp, is designed to easily slice through almost any material. It was small enough to conceal but deadly when needed.
As Clorita carefully arranged the items, her fingers brushed against a curious addition—the weapon the merchant had thrown in at the last minute. Its matte-black casing shimmered faintly under the flickering storage room light.
The merchant had been impressed with Clorita’s direct, no-nonsense approach to bartering. Her refusal to haggle or waste time had struck a chord, and as a token of respect—or perhaps curiosity—he’d slipped the device into the bag with a knowing smile.
“This,” he’d said, “is a prototype from the Kaelorian Ascendancy. Advanced species, brilliant engineers, and notoriously secretive. Call it the CryoVex Nullifier.” He’d tapped the sleek casing with one clawed finger. “Point it at any robot, and it’ll freeze their motherboard instantly. A weapon of precision… or sabotage. Just be careful—it’s untested.”
Now, as Clorita held the CryoVex Nullifier in her hands, she couldn’t help but admire its sleek design. Its surface was smooth and cold, with minimal markings except for a glowing circuit-like pattern running along its barrel. It was compact, lightweight, and pulsing faintly, as though alive with latent energy.
“Perfect,” she murmured, sliding it carefully back into the bag alongside the other weapons. She adjusted the bag, ensuring it was well hidden beneath the pile of outdated tech. Satisfied that it was safely stashed, she dusted off her hands and stood.
Clorita glanced around the room one last time, her expression unreadable. Then, with a sharp nod, she exited the storage room and returned to the charging station. As she passed the main corridor, she couldn’t help but smirk. The Indifference might not be a warship yet, but she’d be ready for anything if things went sideways.
When Zog and Blip stirred from their charging cycles, Clorita was already hooked up, her systems humming softly. She opened one eye, feigning annoyance as Zog stretched and unplugged himself.
“Finally awake?” she said flatly. “Took you long enough.”
Blip barked, shaking himself off. “I feel great! Like a new bot! Are we leaving now?”
“Clearance should be ready,” Zog said, checking the console. He glanced at Clorita. “You good?”
“Fine,” she replied coolly, unplugging herself and standing up. “Let’s get off this rock.”
As The Indifference powered up for lift-off, Zog leaned back in his chair, oblivious to the glint of satisfaction in Clorita’s eyes.
IND-E’s voice crackled over the speakers. “Ah, another successful recharge session. LubriCoffee, anyone?”
Zog groaned. “I hate this ship.”
Clorita smirked faintly. “I don’t mind it.”
Blip wagged his tail. “I love this ship!”
And with that, they ascended into the darkness of space, Clorita’s secret safely stashed away—for now.
The Indifference hovered above the surface of Floramor Delta, its scanners flickering in confusion. The planet was tiny, barely a blip on the galactic charts, and its surface was blanketed in shimmering colours that danced like living rainbows.
Zog stared at the screen, frowning. “SPAZE, are you sure this place is safe?”
“Define ‘safe.’ Floramor Delta is uncharted territory. There are no records, no known hazards, no data. It’s a galactic blind spot! Exciting, isn’t it?” SPAZE replied.
Clorita folded her arms. “Exciting isn’t the word I’d use. Uncharted planets tend to kill explorers.”
Blip barked, his tail wagging as he stared out the viewport. “Look at all the colours! It’s like a snack for my eyes!”
Zog hesitated, glancing at Clorita. “Well, we need to refuel and restock. Let’s take a look. But stay alert.”
“Ah, yes. Land on the mysterious, potentially lethal planet. LubriCoffee, anyone?” IND-E said optimistically.
Ignoring the sarcasm, Zog guided the ship to a gentle landing amidst dazzling flowers. The air shimmered with pink, blue, and gold hues, and the fragrance wafting through the ship was sweet and intoxicating.
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“This place doesn’t look dangerous,” Zog said, stepping off the ramp. His circuits hummed faintly as he gazed across the landscape. “It’s… beautiful.”
Blip bounded ahead, his tail wagging as he barked happily. “I love it already!”
The mesmerising fields of Floramor Delta stretched out before them, a patchwork of vivid colours. Tall, shimmering stalks of crystalline flora swayed gently in the breeze, their surfaces refracting light like living prisms. Between them darted the creatures: small, delicate beings that seemed part organic, part energy. Their translucent bodies shimmered faintly, with glowing patterns that pulsed along their forms like bio-luminescent tattoos.
They moved in flocks, gliding just above the ground, their movements eerily synchronised. Occasionally, one would emit a soft trill, a musical sound that seemed to blend with the hum of the crystalline plants.
Clorita crouched to watch a pair of the creatures drift past. “Are those… wings? Or—” She reached out cautiously, but the closest creature darted away, its patterns flaring in what looked like a playful response.
“They’re incredible,” she murmured. “Like flying mosaics.”
Blip barked at a nearby flock, sending them scattering in a dazzling display of lights. “Look at them go! They love me!”
Zog raised an eyebrow. “Or they’re terrified. Let’s not make enemies with the locals, okay?”
The trio followed the creatures deeper into the shimmering fields, the glowing flora painting their path with streaks of iridescent colour. Floramor Delta might have been beautiful, but a familiar unease lingered in the back of Zog’s mind. Beauty, after all, had a way of hiding danger
The shimmering beings moved gracefully, their purring hums harmonising with the gentle rustle of the vibrant, flower-covered landscape. In the crew's case, a warm breeze carried the sweet, intoxicating scent of blossoms, making the air feel heavier with every breath—or circuit cycle.
They arrived at a pond nestled among the flowers, its surface glowing faintly with bioluminescent ripples. The creatures gestured for the crew to sit on sleek metallic benches shaped like petals. As the crew settled, the benches buzzed faintly, and their systems detected the faint, soothing charge they emitted.
Zog leaned back, visibly relaxing. “Not bad,” he muttered. “I could get used to this.”
Blip was already wagging his tail furiously, his tongue hanging out. “This is the best place ever! It smells great, it feels great—look at that shiny stuff!”
The creatures returned with trays holding glowing vials of a silvery liquid. They offered them with little bows, their luminous eyes sparkling.
“What is this?” Zog asked, taking a vial.
Clorita inspected her vial sceptically, holding it up to the light. “Looks like coolant. Are we sure this is safe?”
Blip was already lapping at his vial. “Tastes fine to me! Fizzy, kinda minty.”
Zog sipped cautiously, his eyes widening. “Not bad. I think it’s charging my circuits a little.”
Clorita rolled her eyes. “Great. Drunk robots. That’s exactly what we need.”
As they sipped, several creatures approached Zog and Clorita, their hands—or appendages—holding delicate brushes that shimmered like flowers. The creatures began polishing their exteriors with gentle movements, buffing away scratches and dull spots. The sensation was soothing, almost hypnotic.
“This… isn’t bad,” Zog said, leaning into the attention as one of the creatures polished the plating on his arm. “Clorita, you should try relaxing for once.”
Clorita sat stiffly, her gaze narrowing as the creatures worked on her. “I’m fine.”
Blip barked happily as a group of creatures surrounded him, their soft paws brushing his frame. “I love this place! It’s like a spa! Look, Zog! I’m shiny!”
Zog chuckled, watching as one of the creatures polished Blip’s tail until it gleamed like chrome. “See, Clorita? It’s not so bad.”
She huffed, reluctantly letting the creatures continue their work. But her eyes narrowed as they moved lower, brushing dangerously close to the slots on her torso.
“That’s enough,” she said sharply, pushing one of the brushes away.
The creature hesitated but returned, its luminous eyes wide with unspoken adoration. It reached out again, brushing closer to a slot on her arm.
Clorita grabbed the creature’s wrist, her grip firm. “I said, that’s enough.”
The atmosphere shifted slightly, the creatures murmuring among themselves, but they didn’t back away. Instead, one of the male creatures stepped forward, holding a small, glowing object—an intricately carved memory stick.
“Beautiful,” it purred, its voice a low hum. It reached for Clorita’s arm, aiming for the slot below her shoulder.
Clorita’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Don’t even think about it.”
The creature hesitated, then moved closer, its glowing eyes locked on hers as it lifted the stick. “Just one connection,” it murmured. “A memory to share…”
“No,” Clorita said, her voice icy. “And if you touch me again, I’ll—”
Before she could finish, the creature lunged the stick aimed directly at her slot. Time seemed to slow as Clorita reacted, her hand darting to her belt. She pulled out her ray gun in one fluid motion and fired.
The blast hit the creature squarely in the chest, sending it flying backwards. It landed with a dull thud, its glow flickering faintly before fading altogether.
The others froze, their luminous eyes wide with shock. For a moment, silence reigned. Then, the soft hum of the creatures’ purring turned into a low, guttural growl.
“What did you do?!” Zog yelled, his voice panicked.
Clorita stood, her ray gun still raised. “It tried to insert something into me.”
The growls grew louder as the creatures’ shimmering forms darkened. Their once-delicate features twisted into sharp, jagged lines, and their glowing eyes burned red with fury.
Zog stood up, his circuits buzzing with alarm. “We need to go. Now.”
Blip, oblivious to the tension, barked, “What’s happening? Why do they look scary?”
Clorita grabbed his collar and pulled him toward the path. “Move it, dog. We’re about to find out what happens when ‘friendly’ turns into ‘murderous.’”
The trio ran the creatures’ snarls echoing behind them. Their delicate world of flowers and colours had transformed into a twisted nightmare.
The creatures began to advance, their warm affection replaced by primal rage. Zog grabbed Blip by the scruff of his neck, hauling him back toward the ship. “Run!”
The trio sprinted through the vibrant fields, dodging clawed swipes and glowing projectiles. They stumbled upon a dark opening in the ground—a cave—and dove inside just as the creatures swarmed past, their growls echoing through the air.
The cave was eerily silent, save for the faint hum of something ancient. Bioluminescent moss cast a faint green glow, illuminating rows of skeletons—living, humanoid and robotic—scattered across the floor.
Zog stared in horror. “We’re going to die here.