Moaning sounds and cries of ecstasy echoed throughout the metallic confines of their quarters, reverberating off the steel walls and creating an unsettling ambiance. The source of the commotion was Hark, a lanky crew member deeply immersed in his Augmented Reality Neuro-Affective Kinetics (ARNAK) system. The device, a sleek helmet with pulsating lights, was designed to simulate incredibly realistic experiences, and Hark was currently indulging in a virtual orgy with multiple women, his body convulsing in sync with the sensations provided by the ARNAK.

His roommates, lounging on their bunks and attempting to ignore the cacophony, exchanged glances of irritation and embarrassment. It was one thing for Hark to lose himself in virtual pleasures, but they soon noticed a disturbing detail—he had modeled the women after the female crew members of their ship. The realization dawned as they caught glimpses of familiar faces and forms through the flickering images projected by the ARNAK system. They had a mix of shock, and disgust as they saw their painstakingly recreated female colleagues in Hark's digital harem.

"Seriously, Hark? You had to use our crewmates?" Leon asked with a mocking grin. “I knew that Eris rejected you but man… that’s just pitiful.”

"That's messed up, man." Another roommate, a young pilot named Jin, nodded in agreement, a look of disgust etched on his face.

Hark, barely registering their complaints in his virtual bliss, was jolted back to reality by a rough shove from Kane. He scrambled to pause the simulation, his face flushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment. With a quick flick of his wrist, he ejected his roommates from his VR space, the holographic display fading into darkness.

"You guys are just jealous," Hark muttered defensively, reaching for the metallic curtain attached to his bunk. "Mind your own business."

As he yanked the curtain shut with a sharp metallic clink, he isolated himself from the rest of the room, creating a thin barrier of privacy. The fabric, though meager, was enough to muffle the sounds of his resumed escapades, leaving Kane and Riley to share an exasperated silence.

"Unbelievable," Daearko grumbled, shaking his head. "Why do we even put up with this guy?"

Leon shrugged, lying back on his bunk and staring at the ceiling.

"We all have our vices, I guess. Just wish he'd keep his to himself."

The quarters fell into a tense, uneasy silence, the muffled noises from Hark's bunk serving as a constant reminder of the uncomfortable reality they shared. In the confined space of their ship, privacy was a luxury, and personal boundaries were often tested. But tonight, as the ambient hum of the ship's engines blended with Hark's muted moans, the crew members grappled with their limits of tolerance and the thin line between camaraderie and intrusion.

“Damn, I can’t sleep. Let’s get some shots.” Leon then remembered that he already used his stocks. “Fuck, I forgot.”

“Yeah. With you there.”

“Well, I don’t want to smell Hark’s odor of having digital sex here so I’ll go with you.”

Leaving their degenerate roommate to his fantasies, Leon, Daearko, and Jin decided to seek their form of escape. The lure of a stimulant injection, a much-needed boost to dull the dreariness and fatigue of their daily grind, was too strong to resist. However, they had already exhausted their supplies and had only one option left, but it was from their only supplier on this ship.

The trio made their way through the dimly lit corridors, the ambient hum of the ship's engines a constant reminder of their isolation in the void. Then after a few twists and turns, they arrived at their destination. The ship's medical bay was a dim, cluttered space, filled with the hum of outdated machinery and the pungent smell of antiseptic. The doctor, a bulky man with a permanent scowl etched into his face, greeted them with a skeptical mechanical eye. His cybernetic enhancements were exposed thanks to his ragged lab coat that was full of ripped and torn parts. His mechanical eye whirred as it focused on the three boys standing before him.

"Back again, I see," he muttered, crossing his arms over his ripped lab coat, Though the weary resignation in his voice suggested he already knew. "What can I do for you boys today?"

"We need more stimulant injections, Doctor Cardo," Leon said, trying to sound casual.

"And how do you plan to pay for them? You're already five months late on your last four purchases." Dr. Cardo leaned back in his chair, his cybernetic fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk. "You know my new rules boys. Payment upfront."

Leon, the unofficial spokesperson of the trio, stepped forward with a sheepish grin.

"Doc, you know we’re good for it. We’ll pay you later, just like last time."

The doctor’s eyes narrowed.

"If you can't pay this month for your past lapses, I'll have to take payment another way. Maybe by cutting out some of those fancy implants or harvesting some organs. Your choice."

"We’ll get you your money, Doc. We promise." Daearko shot the doctor a smile.

Doctor Cardo regarded them with a hard stare, his mechanical eye glowing ominously. After a long moment of silence, he reached into a drawer and pulled out three small, metal boxes. He tossed one for each of the three over, but his expression remained one of deep distrust.

"I still don’t believe you," he said, shaking his head. "Your last attempt to get a good catch from Munda failed, and I know that the whole fleet’s flat broke. Unless your new commander catches a profitable prey, you’ll never be able to pay me."

"We understand, Doc. We’ll figure something out. We always do." Leon took the box with a nod of gratitude, though the weight of the doctor’s words lingered heavily.

“Really? Do you know what kind of person your new master is?”

“Ahh… no actually.”

“Pfft. Nevermind, I’ll get to have your implants later on as payment anyway. Now scram! I have other jobs here!” The doctor yelled.

The trio left the medical bay, the tension between them palpable. The promise of a stimulant high was a fleeting comfort against the harsh reality of their situation. As they walked through the ship’s narrow, dimly lit corridors, their thoughts drifted to Ubel and their new commander.

Back in their quarters, the metallic clang of the curtain separating them from Hark's degenerate escapades seemed almost distant. Leon, Daearko, and Jin shared a silent understanding as they prepared their injections.

The rush hit them almost instantly, a wave of euphoria and heightened senses that dulled the edge of their desperation. For a brief moment, the bleakness of their existence faded, replaced by the exhilarating surge of synthetic pleasure. Making them forget that they were trapped in a cycle of debt and dependency, their fates intertwined with the fortunes of their fleet.

Daearko and Jin sat in silence on top of their bunk beds, their minds racing with thoughts and questions. Playing with their fingers the injections filled with stimulants that they were about to add to their body again. The usual banter and noise that would usually echo in the narrow metal corridors of the ship were now replaced with a pervasive silence, broken only by the occasional creak and groan of the aging ship. No one can blame each other, as they just barely survived another catastrophic defeat with no gains. The hum of the ship's engines, once a comforting background noise, now felt oppressive and unyielding.

The promise of a temporary escape from their exhaustion and fear was tempting, but the weight of their mounting debts and the doctor's ominous threats loomed large in their minds.

"I still can't believe this is happening," Daearko muttered, his voice filled with disbelief. "One minute we're slaves, the next we're pirates, and now we're under the command of someone else entirely."

Jin nodded in agreement; his expression troubled.

"It all happened so fast," he said. "I never imagined our lives would take such a sudden turn."

“And add more insult, our new commander looks much younger than all of us.” Leon sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"We can't keep going like this," Jin muttered, breaking the silence. His voice was laced with a mix of frustration and despair.

"We have to be careful," Daearko warned adding some joking tone. "We don't know anything about this Ubel character. For all we know, he could turn on us at any moment. Like sell us to slavery or harvest our organs."

Daearko frowned, his brow furrowed in thought.

"He could have done that already when he captured all of us when he hijacked our droids." he pointed out. "I think he is up to something that we still couldn’t understand for now."

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Leon shook his head, his expression grim.

"We can't afford to make assumptions," he said while gripping his arms that still bore the mark of his former slave life. "We need to remain cautious until we can confirm."

“Not to mention when the new commander seems to be interested in the conflicts between Terrans and the Colonials, something… the former commander Munda would never get himself involved with,” Jin added after hearing about the rumors from the survivors of the boarding team in the mining ship that Ubel and Munda discussed something about UGTR.

Leon agreed with this statement. Seeing how Ubel had inquired about the events between UGTR and the Alliance made them suspect more about his goals. Including how he also didn’t even hesitate to face the UGTR fleet.

“Shit. Just when I was hoping for our group to get rich off their war without getting into the conflict.”

Ubel interrogated all of them after he somehow forced them to join his crew. He used his droids to gather information about their knowledge and details about the current status of the Sol System. Which was very strange for them as Ubel could just ask the system for a report.

“Wait, shouldn’t it be the other way around? Like him replacing our commander instead of demanding us to join him?” Leon noticed something strange.

“What’s the difference? We’re under new management now.” Daerko shrugged off the peculiar declaration of their new commander.

As Leon listened to his fellow crew discuss the current state of affairs in the Sol System, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss when he spotted the strange wordings of Ubel.

Then a voice interrupted their talks.

“UGTR and the Alliance aren’t the only assholes in this corner of the galaxy.” They turned towards the door of their room and saw one of the pirates, Kugal, a grizzled veteran with a scar running down his cheek.

“I’ve heard about you louts talking politics so I might as well join in to inform you.” He added as he leaned in closer, his voice lowered to a whisper. “While the Union of Great Terran Republics and the Colonial Alliance were busy preparing for potential conflict, another player was lurking in the shadows—a third party that neither faction had noticed to be more dangerous than their known enemy.”

"What do you mean, a third party?" Leon asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"There are whispers among the traders and smugglers we had passed," he explained. "Talk of a mysterious organization operating between the two sovereign powers. They've been making deals with various factions, quietly amassing power and influence while the UGTR and the Alliance are distracted by their ambitions and conflicts."

“What are they called?” Leon asked.

“No one knows yet, for now, they just exist, flying around with the rumors,” Kugal answered.

"And you think this organization poses a threat to both the UGTR and the Alliance?" Leon asked, his mind racing with possibilities.

The veteran pirate nodded with a grin.

"It's possible," he replied. "They've probably been operating in the shadows for years, biding their time and waiting for the right moment to make their move. And… one of the rumors and conspiracy that we have among those who knew about them… is that our new commander is related to them."

“What?!”

Three of them were shocked at the sudden revelation even if it was still not confirmed yet.

“There’s no other possibility. And it's too much of a coincidence to see a strange miner alone in the asteroid that is known to be a pirate’s hunting ground, with a fucking supercapital ship. So our commander, Ubel must have connections or was given help by this unknown third faction to cause chaos or rile up the UGTR and the Alliance.”

Kugal shrugged.

“Where do you think he got such a supercapital ship and the capability to control our droids in massive numbers that were never done before by the Alliance or UGTR? Think about it.”

As the gravity of the situation sank in, Leon realized that they were facing an even greater threat than he had imagined. While the UGTR and the Alliance were focused on each other, this mysterious organization was quietly maneuvering behind the scenes, poised to tip the balance of power in their favor. And they may find themselves in the middle of it.

“T-then are we-”

“Yes, more or less. Anyways if this Ubel is what we think he is, then I’ll rather die fucking a prostitute as the poison that he injected on us took effect, instead of dying like a bitch who refused to die a dog’s death.” Kugal laughed and then tapped their metallic door.

“Aren’t we just overthinking things?”

“Haha! You may be right!” Kugal laughed loudly again. “Okay, that’s enough lessons for today, you lout! Get back to sleep, you have 4 hours till your next shift so get into it!”

Their senior disappeared behind the closing door of their room and three of them went back to their beds to start sleeping. But Leon could tell that he wasn't the only one who was disturbed by what they heard. But for now, Leon knew that they had more immediate concerns to worry about. As a pirate, his priorities lay with his crew and their survival in the cutthroat world of the Sol System.

The room fell into silence once more, as the three companions who contemplated their uncertain future became tired from overthinking and unknowingly went to dreamland. They had escaped the bonds of slavery only to find themselves thrust into a world of uncertainty and danger. But as they slept in the dimly lit quarters, they knew that they would need to rely on each other if they were to survive the trials that lay ahead.

Leon then woke up as he heard the loud announcement calling for the assigned crews on their duties.

“Times up, let's get back to work or else we’ll get beaten again…” Leon yawned and went first to his assigned area without waiting for his colleagues to fully wake up. Harkon was nowhere to be found. Leon thought that he probably went to take a bath.

He then started to work diligently to repair the damage inflicted upon their ship during the recent skirmish with the droids. Every clang of metal against metal echoed through the hull, a constant reminder of the perilous situation they found themselves in.

As he worked and with each passing moment, Leon found himself flinching at the sight of the droids that moved about the ship, assisting with the repairs. Such a walking weapon was a stark reminder of how quickly a situation could shift unpredictably in the unforgiving expanse of space.

Despite their new commander claiming that the droids wouldn’t attack them unless provoked, he still couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered on his mind and body.

Previously, he would trust them to work alongside them as they were more efficient and accurate in fixing things inside and on the hull of their ships. Now, it seems that he was traumatized by the sight of them. Especially when the events recently had been nothing short of chaotic, and he still struggled to make sense of it all.

Despite his reservations, Leon knew that he had no choice but to focus on the task at hand. The ship needed to be repaired and it was his job right now to finish it. As he worked, Leon also couldn't help but reflect on the events that had brought them to this point.

He and his three friends were former orphans in Orctus Station near Mars. And was forcibly enlisted into a defense militia force to defend the station against an Alliance attack, then captured and sold into slavery, forced to serve on a freighter ship for several years until they were liberated by the pirates. Now, they found themselves under the command of a new leader, uncertain of what the future held.

His friends finally arrived to help in sealing countless holes in the bulkheads. Leon found solace in the familiarity of his companions. Daearko and Jin worked alongside him, their presence a source of comfort in the face of the unpredictability of their lives. As the repairs neared completion, Leon allowed himself a moment of respite.

“Hey, I’ll take my breakfast first,” Leon said.

“Yeah yeah…”

“Tell me if there’s something good later…”

Both of his friends were still sleepy and groggily replied to him. He set down his tools and made his way to the mess hall, eager to replenish his strength with a meal.

Leon entered the canteen, the aroma of freshly cooked food wafting through the air. He made his way to the serving line, where the cook greeted him with a nod.

"Good to see you, Leon," the cook said, a friendly smile on his face. "What can I get for you today?"

Leon glanced at the menu board, his stomach grumbling in anticipation.

"I'll have the roasted cherko with a mashed trip, please," he replied, his mouth watering at the thought of a hot meal. Cherko was an animal poultry that was modified genetically to adapt and live in deep space. And thankfully, it tasted better than the chickens he had tasted before. Although the trip was just a bunch of edible but unsavory ration that acted as the filler for their stomachs.

As the cook plated up his meal, Leon couldn't help but let his mind wander.

He found himself thinking about their new commander, Ubel. And the circumstances that had led them to this point. He recalled the simulated game that Ubel had put them through, a test of their skills and abilities. While some of his fellow pirate crews had passed with flying colors, Leon had struggled, failing the test several times before being sent back to Godright ship.

As he sat down to eat, surrounded by his fellow pirates, Leon couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie. Despite the brutal training that they set upon Leon and other former recruits, they helped give their recruits skills to survive in this cruel universe.

And as he looked around at the faces of his comrades, he found faces of doubt and tinge of worry. He took a bite of his meal, pushing aside his thoughts. Instead, he focused on savoring the delicious food before him and appreciating the delicious serving of food he was provided today.

Leon finished his meal in the canteen and he noticed a group of people entering the room. They were the people whom he heard to be candidates for the new ship captains, returning from their trials aboard the mining ship. Curious, Leon approached them, eager to hear about their experiences.

"Hey, how did it go?" Leon asked, his curiosity evident in his voice.

One of the candidates, a burly man with a grizzled beard, turned to him with a tired smile.

"It was intense," he replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "Ubel… the new boss put us through a series of tests, pushing us to our limits."

Leon nodded, listening intently as the candidates shared their stories. They explained how Ubel had weeded out their numbers, selecting only the top 17 candidates to serve as new ship captains.

As he listened, Leon couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Here were his former fellow pirates, being promoted to positions of leadership and responsibility, while he remained behind. He started to think and wonder if he should have tried harder. Perhaps if he had performed better in the simulation, he would have been chosen as one of the candidates for captaincy aboard other ships.

But as the candidates spoke of the grueling trials they had endured; Leon couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. He had faced Ubel once before in the simulated game, and the experience had been harrowing. The thought of having to face him again, this time in person, filled Leon with a sense of dread.

As the conversation continued, Leon found himself torn between conflicting emotions. Part of him yearned for the opportunity to prove himself and rise through the ranks, while another part of him was content to remain where he was, away from the scrutiny of their new commander.

In the end, Leon knew that he would have to accept whatever path fate had in store for him.

He was determined to make the most of his circumstances and continue to serve the ship that he always considered to be his second home to the best of his abilities.