Ethan woke up a little disoriented, an alarm was sounding somewhere... sitting in his bed looking around, he didnt see any alarm, yet the sound was still ringing. A few moments later, when his brain shifted into higher gear he finally realized that it was only in his head.

--Thalia?

--Yes Ethan?

--What is that strange alarm im hearing inside of my head?

--Oh, I was trying to wake you up.

--I'm awake, wouldnt it be time to stop it? It's getting on my nerves.

The alarm stopped, but he was sure he heard a giggling coming from somewhere.

--So, whats the emergency?

--A local merchant has contacted us, he has a contract for a delivery he wished to offer us.

--Okay, so whats the problem? Just take it and we will deliver it.

--Well, the goods are not prepared yet, the man mentioned they had some kind of a small accident and all the goods had to be repacked, so their previously hired contractor decided not to deliver it anymore because of the delay. We ourselves would have to wait half a day for cargo to be prepared. I decided to wake you up, to ask for your opinion on this matter.

--Well, how nice of you to do that at least once. Ask if this merchant is willing to pay for our waiting, lets say a small fee including our breakfast and lunch and we will deliver his cargo.

--I will, any other instructions?

--Find an buy one multi-function shower for my room while we wait. Hmmm, also install a few countermeasures against those Nova's plants in case any of them escape. Oh, and set up a remote market connections in every station if possible, with as many shops as we can. In this station im specifically interested in this shop called “BlueTech”.

--I will do that. Good night Ethan.

--Good night Thalia.

Just as Thalia said, the cargo was delivered later a little after the midday, but what she didnt say - was that the cargo itself was a special tank full of some bacteria, that released quite a smell...

Apparently they were used in some stations for waste disposal and making bio-fuel – that was used for some old style lamps and such.

Ethan wasnt pleased hawing to smell that... well that... there are no words to describe this smell that the bacteria produce. What he found to be a life saver – was his suit that he bought just the other day, oh yes – inbuilt air recycling systems with additional air supply, was what sawed his nose. You could say he hit two birds with that also, since he needed some practice with his suit to adjust to it and get comfortable with it. Also all these nifty gadgets...

Though, there were some good news too – Thalia got a remote access to most of the shop's of the station, thus removing the need for them to buy everything trough the administration, so saving them some chits – shops themselves charged a small one time only fee for the access codes to them, but other than that they would save a lot. With a quick calculation administrators added ten percent to the price as their own fee and that was quite a big sum.

When they finally were prepared to leave for their new journey Ethan was a bit nervous – how will the ship do after these repairs? Will everything be alright? Did this crazy AI mess with the ship more than shes telling him, are there any nasty surprises?

There were a lot of questions... But he could get answers to them only in one way – by flying the ship and testing its systems.

The flight wasnt too long, so they delivered that smelly cargo quickly – Nova looked on cloud nine after that, as Thalia explained to Ethan, Nova's air filter was nearly finished and neded to be replaced, so she smelled most of that bacteria smell.

On the other hand, when they delivered a cargo they found to have a small problem... This station even if not far from any others, was a little away from most of the trade routes, some small communication and research hub. Though, with luck they managed to get a cargo – not the best one, as it will be something with scarps and other waste, but they got it. The problem again was that it will be prepared only after a few days, the contractor's even paid for them waiting, since their ship was currently the only one here... and the cheapest also, that even including all the money for waiting they still would be the cheapest ship for this delivery.

Having a few spare days and not wanting to waste the lazing around, Ethan decided to head out into a few nearby systems, to do some exploration. Thalia agreed with him quickly, while Nova wanted to stay in the station for these few lazy days.. motivating, that they had the best relaxation centers in the five jumps range. But as she was voted down quickly and retreated to her room/garden defeated, the preparation's to leave began.

Not knowing what they might find Ethan went all out with the preparation's – all systems triple checked, full fuel bays, all supplies and ammunition filled to the brim. He even got a spare long range communicator in case of an emergency. Just to be safe, he even bought a jump core stabilizer, the thing doesnt take much space, but is damn effective when you need to run from someone or something.

Everyone was busy – Ethan doing the system checks, Nova installing all the upgrades with the help of Thalias maintenance bots. Thalia herself was multitasking, controlling the bots and also assisting Ethan, while also managing their finance, to produce as much income as they can until they return a few days later.

(got a mug of coffee maybe 550ml... mwahahahaaha...)

With everything done they left that station, for their little exploration trip.

The first day they found nothing, just an empty system with some minerals, that they mined to be on the safe side and not return empty handed. Ice was a good resource for this and this system seemed to have it quite a bit of it. It took them half a day to mine their ore hold full. Having nothing better to do than to laze around while mining, Ethan decided to talk with Nova, and try to clear that negativity. Like they say – team with friction causes a fire, while a well lubricated one might carry you far, far beyond your original destination.

Ethan tried everything he knew, from jokes, to complex themes – but nothing worked. Nova had blocked him with one word answers. It wast then, that Thalia found something.

--I have detected a signal, weak enough, to be unnoticed in my initial scans. It appears to be a distress signal.

--What? Shit. Scan it again and bring us closer to it, but out of the locking range.

--doing it.

All mining opereation were stopped, Ethan was a little surprised by these sudden news, but more than that worried.. could it be a trap? A pirate ambush? He was here in space nearly half a year owning his own ship... he got a taste of freedom, he always dreamed about and he liked it. He didnt want to lose it so easily, he even began to get used with Thalia being in his head.

On the other hand – Nova looked excited, running around from console to console checking all the data and readings she could get, she looked at what it might be.

Her first guess was that it was an old explorer ship or a new one just heavily damaged, next she decided that it had to be a new alien race... with more time passing her speculations grew more and more wild with imagination.

--Ah, Nova please stop jumping around, we will be entering warp in a second!

--Shut up Ethan, I know that. It's just... just that I'm finally having a real adventure! Not that boring routine of your to make chits.. Pick up that, deliver there... Repeat...

--I think, that the most I have heard from you... Hope you wont be disappointed if it's just some old lost transmitter. Haha.

--Asshole. But, no... it cant be...

--What is it? What did you find?

--Hehe, not telling, wait and see.

Now Nova quickly sat in her seat and buckled up, just in time for the jump. Ethan now, on the other hand was quite annoyed, that she really found something, or could it be she was playing him... but one thing was for sure – he will need some rest after this.

Momentarily all the stars seem to stretch our and blur as they jump to that signal – a second later Ethan and Nova gasp...

In front of them is a station, not like any other – ancient by its design, with many marks of wear and tear received over its long life. It's hull full of holes, some from asteroids, others clearly from weapon fire – as Thalia guessed by the shape of them, from exploding projectiles. Some debris is flying around it, quickly identified to be parts of this space station, as Thalia's scans indicated some biomatter is also present in them... meaning bodies.

Just as she says that one of them float past their ship just a few hundred meters ahead... its humanoid – bulky and muscular, from a quick scan it doesnt appear to be a human, but some other species, not yet discovered in the empire.

--Thalia warm up the weapons, approach a docking point if you can locate one or any other point that we could use as an entrance. I want to check its inside. Send the drones to scan also, the more detailed the scan the better.

--Already on it.

Ethan could see as his scanner robots approached this huge structure, that looked like three large spheres connected with a stick and having a barely connected ring spinning around them. Moments later they entered inside the structure tough a hole in the structure. Immediately video feed was seen on the screens inside the ship. Many marks of battle inside could be seen, there were a few bodies flying around in suits sleek and deadly looking. There also were other thing floating around, strange ball shaped structures, that were identified as some kind of robots – deactivated, from the lack of energy.

--Im going inside, Nova you coming?

--Do you even have to ask? You wouldn't keep me here even if you tried!

As Thalia approached that same hole, the drones used both Ethan and Nova entered this derelict station.

Inside was different, just different from what they were used to see. It seemed as if only the outside of this station was made from metal – all of the inside was built with some ceramic compound, not known to them. There were metal in the walls yes, it seemed to be wires or cables of the energy system.

Thalia managed to find two locations with very dense network of these wires surrounding them, probably the power cores. Ethan decided to go and examine one, maybe finding some alien tech could make them rich. Now, knowing this was a derelict station of some undiscovered race, he was sure he would get rich. There was bound to be something good inside this structure, only if it itself as a proof of this discovery.

The two of them walked together trough these abandoned corridors, looking at all the destruction that was caused around by someone. The walked silent, as if not wanting, to disturb the rest of these long dead people. The deeper they went, the more damaged the structures were, as if the defense of the station was getting only stronger with time.

Finally reaching, their destination they were surprised... there were pods, like cryo-pods that humans used, but a little different. Drones were already scanning them, looking if there maybe was someone left.

While they searched, Nova began to fiddle with a nearby console, looking to access it. With some help from Thalia she managed to get one working – connecting it to her own suits power source.

--Look at this Ethan!

Nova shouted over the comms. And it didnt take long, for Ethan to come.

It was disturbing... this structure was actually a ship, a massive ship. Its crew was attacked while traveling, by creatures never seen to them. Those creatures ate the ship, to multiply they killed its crew and they only managed to hold of so long, while waking up more and more of its crew...

This colony ship of unknown race, or so to say the wreckage of it was all that was left.

--Download it to our separate data drives and quarantine it, we dont know what this can contain besides the video.

--Ethan, those balls we saw.. they are that enemy... what do we do?

--Thalia quickly scan for any energy sources, look if anything has activated itself!

A long few seconds passed as both Ethan and Nova were waiting for Thalias reply.

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--No energy signatures detected.

They both sighed in relief at such news. But not for long, as Thalia continued to speak.

--But I have detected a life form... it is near you in one of the pods, scanning shows it is still in cryo-sleep. I'm highlighting a path for you right now Ethan.

--Yes, do it... We will have a look.

Cautiously they both followed the path to where that single life form was in cryo. Once, they were at the paths end – they found nothing.

--There is nothing here Thalia. You joking with us right now?

--I'm not. This life form is below you currently, probably hidden inside the floor or some other hidden room. You will have to cut your way there, I can't locate any entrance.

--I see. Nova, scan the surroundings, look for any hidden doors or something I will try to cu trough.

--If Thalia couldn't find it, the I wont either, I will better try to find any information in that terminal of theirs. Okay?

--Knock yourself out...

Ethan was stressed, this new finding, could very well be his road to riches and nobility, still dreaming he began his work, to cut trough this ceramic floor. The floor itself was hard, extremely hard and very heat resistant to break trough it many hours were needed, that left Ethan exhausted and his suits power core on its maximum load, to replenish the energy used.

While he was cutting, Nova found some data about this race – they were nomads, this station was one of their scout parties, sent to search for minerals and other resources, they could use in their war against these enemies they fought. Unfortunately for them they were intercepted by the enemy in this system and killed. Looks like it all began, when two sentient races evolved on a single planet and while one tried to be peaceful the other one found it easier to steal its neighbors resources, than to gather its own. After some time of this repeated abuse, the people revolted and a war broke out... for centuries it continued, after the planet was lost only for a century there was peace, till both sides have rebuilt. Previously kind and patient people, that were robbed again and again decided to finish this war and its enemy once and for all. They built machines, to fight for them, while controling them at safe distances. The other side too wasnt sitting still and was making its own weapons to once again raid the other race, but because of their own laziness they lost, since they forces were much weaker technologically and in manpower, since one of their enemies controlled a few drones, and their own people had to pilot the ships themselves.

Nova was surprised, to find all this – searching more she found out, that these people who died here were the previously aggressive ones, now running with their tails between their legs, to hide – to survive. Their race had split up into three nations, the first one – the Warriors, wanted to stay and fight with all they had – basically a group of military idiots, who know nothing else than how to wage war.

The second nation – the Spaceborn, as they called themselves, were the people, who decided to stay in the space – flying around in their mobile fortresses, collecting resources and basically living a nomadic lifestyle.

The third one, smallest one too – the nation of Mist were the people, who havent mixed with the other nations, but have always kept away from them – coming together only in wars or religious ceremonies. Their goal after the separation, was to find a suitable planet far away from the war zone and settle on it, living a quiet and peaceful life. This very station, that was destroyed by their enemy was their only station.

Finally Ethan was able to cut trough the thick metal plates, using a ton of his suits resources... and they werent exactly cheap to replenish. Nova was also finishing to download their database, while Thalia had already finished scanning the ship, but as her scans showed – the ship was stripped bare of any weapons or other usable technology, what was left were a few consoles, useless mostly to the enemy and other small stuff like damaged generators and such.

Trough that hole, they lowered themselves, to look at the cryo-pod. Inside a creature could be seen – wearing the same suit all the other dead bodies were wearing. It was a female humanoid, with a muscular build – you could easily think it was a man, but those big breasts made it clear, that it was a female. Her face wasnt covered with a mask like the others, so they saw it clearly.

Three eyes, could be seen there was no nose but two holes on the side of her face, that looked like could close if needed. Her mouth was big and wide, with an angular jaw – probably containing sharp teethe. With her eyes closed they couldnt see what kind of eyes she had.

Close to the cryo-pod was a single console, Nova connected to it and looked around it – maybe she will be able to find something of use or a way to wake this woman.

--Thalia, demount as much equipment as possible – broken or not. Also gather some samples of the ships ceramic alloy and get a few bodies of those dead soldiers inside the ship. We will have to deliver them.

--Yes, I was about to suggest it.. we will have quite some paperwork with the authorities later. Im having the data Nova downloaded already being decoded. Its slow bu we will have some bits of it about the time of our return.

--Good. Nova how is it? Found anything?

--Indeed I did, not as much as I would like, but enough for now. I have found the pods schematics and some others... for now I think I know, how to disconnect this pod so we can bring it back with us.

--What about its power? How long will it last if we disconnect it from the ship? I dont want an alien rampaging around the ship.

--The schematics show it has an inbuilt power source – some kind of a micro generator. It should last a few more centuries from the looks of it.

She said it as she was looking at some kind of diagram in the console.

--Good, then lets pick her up quickly and leave this tomb... authorities can have their fun here, once they will come.

--Thalia I will need some of your maintenance bots, to carry this pod.

--Sending them over right now.

The next few hours, they were carefully disconnecting the pod from the ships systems. It was a long and precise work – maneuvering trough the unknown systems had to be done carefully. But when it was done it was easy. With maintenance bots carrying it they were quickly leaving the ship.

We placed that pod inside the cargo hold and sealed it there – just in case. All the data gathered was placed in an external data drive, that was shut down afterwards to prevent any unknown virus or hacking attempt it might contain, the officials can deal with this, we will only get our chits and go to some paradise world to relax and enjoy ourselves for a few hundred years... damn how much my sister will be happy... But until then we had to be careful.

Thalia was strangely silent this last few hours, but finally she spoke again.

--Ethan, one of out maintenance bots is stuck somewhere near the entrance to the ship, could you take a look at it? I have already begun recharging other bots.

--Heh, sure. Will be there in a few moments, begin to warm the engines, we are leaving as soon as I return.

--Very well Ethan.

I made my way to the derelict station, to get that maintenance bot – he wasnt far and he wasnt stuck....

--The bot isn't stuck, a malfunction maybe? Thalia can you check hi systems?

As the words left my mouth... the bot came to life and shocked me with his electric welding tool. My systems flashed red and went offline. Only my air reservoirs were now keeping me alive.

That god damn bot moved in front of me and a small hologram was projected in front of me – it was Nova.

--I am sorry Ethan, but I believe you wont be coming back with me. I know you are still alive, your suit should be out and you will run out of oxygen probably before you will find a way to reactivate it. Now, why I am betraying you? It is simple really... money... and well you are an ass, who wouldnt like to kill you? Goodbye Ethan.

As the projectionist flickered out of existence I frozen there, bound by my own suit stood and watched my ship leaving without me. Nova had probably disabled Thalia somehow.. or they might have planned this together.

I stood there for hours like a statue cursing, crying asking, why me.. My oxygen had probably began to run out as I began to feel sleepy. In time my vision began to blur, my thought became slow and sluggish like snails... there was only one thought present in my slowly dying mind – regret...

I should have stayed with father... I could have worked with him... I sacrificed my body, to gain something. Finally when everything was becoming good I was betrayed... there is no one you can trust, you can trust only yourself..

===Nova POW===

Disabling Thalia was a piece of cake, she had no protective software against hacking attempts with crew permissions, she didnt check the code the crew wrote into the console. With her out of the way and bent to my will I had to devise a plan to get rid of Ethan. His suit was an old assault model I searched its weakness – electricity. Betting on it, but still keeping a back up plan I executed it.

After disabling Thalia I lured Ethan to a previously set up bot, one that I had reprogrammed, to listen to my commands. He fell so easily! Just in case I used maximum output of the bot to shock him and it worked like a charm. I couldnt resist and taunted him there bound by his suit. Ah, this was fun!

As I was finished I jumped the ship out of that system, he was planning to sell the coordinates and this new species to the empire... but black marked pays better. But first, I think its time to visit mother – she should be pleased with the haul this time.

Setting everything on autopilot I left for my room, some good old wine I had there, to savor and enjoy my victory!

Uff! To think that I could have become this Ethan's plaything in the future... damn those old customs of our race. If mother had found out about him seeing me naked I would have to marry him. Hmm, Thalia has all the records.

Drinking my wine I erased all of Thalias code, I actually changed all the used data drives with new ones – no one has to know about this especially mother. Yes I will have my happy and rich life!

As all the data drives containing even the slightest chance to be restored flew out the airlock I relaxed. Now only enjoying the flight.

===Back in the derelict station.===

That traitorous maintenance bot was standing there before Ethan. With the custom commands executed it resumed it's normal operations. It just kept scanning the ship and waiting for any other commands. But none came so it stayed there. Hours passed and this bot began to detect that a life form – it's master is having problems. His masters life was beginning to rapidly weaken. Emergency protocols kicked in and the bot came back to life. First it connected its emergency life support systems to his masters suit, then it began to scan for the problem with its master, as it found that its master was dying of lack of oxygen it began to look why he didnt get the oxygen in the first place. His masters suit was the one to blame – small fuses have melted in the suit cutting power out. It wasnt hard to fix. Yet with it fixed its master still didnt move or issue any commands. So they kept standing there – that bot keeping Ethan alive yet unconscious, waiting for him to wake up.

Ethan himself now, saved still not knowing that was dreaming... dreaming of this betrayal, all the stress and regrets consuming his mind, that was now being reshaped...  

///Note/// 

Got a shit load of thing going in life... so it took me a while to deal with them. Enjoy the chapter, comments, suggestions and ideas are welcome. 

Since im writing this im also working on one another story, that one will be a medieval styled fantasy setting story. i shall post it some time later.

p.s. next chapter might take some time too, but i hope not more than a week.