The Black Swan had suffered a hull breach. The drones had managed to cut a small portion of the ship’s top, exposing it to the void of space. Teresa worked quickly, sealing off the affected section and isolating it to prevent further depressurization.
Though the breach wasn’t critical, it rendered the top deck inaccessible until repairs were complete. Cutting into a ship’s hull was a common tactic pirates used, especially against smaller vessels with inferior life support and damage control systems. For those ships, a hull breach often meant death for the crew, leaving the pirates free to loot at their leisure.
However, ships like the Black Swan, equipped with advanced force field generators, could temporarily form an energy barrier over the breach. This stabilized the pressure and minimized damage but at the cost of significant power draw, reducing the ship's overall performance.
The good news was that no one was hurt. At the time of the breach, Isaac had been in his room, Lily in the cargo bay, and everyone else on the bridge.
Flying at two-thirds of its usual cruising speed—roughly 2 kilometers per second—the Black Swan was still remarkably fast compared to most ships. Through the bridge's viewport, Kai could see the Maelstrom Forge coming into view: a circular arrangement of 16 floating platforms. Each platform served as a dock, equipped to customize and refit ships of all kinds and sizes.
At the center of the formation was the Forge's main space station. The station was a towering, cylindrical structure with layers of docking rings stacked vertically. Blue and white lights outlined its sleek, industrial design, while numerous spires extended outward like arms, each buzzing with activity. From afar, it looked like a glowing mechanical flower blooming in the vastness of space.
As they approached, the platforms grew larger in Kai’s view. Each was massive, capable of housing two ships on either side. The Black Swan aligned itself toward one of the open docks.
"This is the Black Swan, flagship of Draco Mining," Ivan said into his headset. "Requesting permission to dock."
After a brief exchange, Ivan adjusted their course and guided the ship toward the assigned platform. Just then, a smaller ship shot past them, startling Kai. The vessel was sleek and painted entirely in a vibrant red, its hull gleaming even against the faint starlight.
Kai scanned the ship, but nothing returned except the make and model. That struck him as odd.
It wasn’t uncommon for ships to mask their identity—after all, the Black Swan had the same capability. Typically, though, this feature was reserved for high-profile corporate vessels or security ships protecting sensitive cargo. A small personal racer like the one they’d just seen had little reason to be masked unless the owner had something they want to hide.
The Black Swan slowed as it approached the platform, aligning itself carefully along the designated docking area. Ivan made fine adjustments to the ship’s position until the last moment, then switched to auto-docking. The system took over, seamlessly guiding the ship so its docking hatch aligned perfectly with the platform’s airlock.
On the opposite side of the platform, Kai spotted the sleek red ship that had zipped past them earlier. It was now docking as well, its polished hull gleaming under the platform’s lights.
Once the Black Swan was secured, the crew began disembarking through the docking port. Kai and Eliana lingered behind, walking slower than the rest as Kai's attention was drawn to the sight outside.
Stopping in the middle of the docking tube, which extended from the platform to their ship, Kai gazed at the Black Swan from this new perspective. Large scaffolds extended from the platform, securing the ship in place like a giant mechanical cradle.
Small, nimble crafts darted around the Black Swan, their lights scanning the hull.
"What are they doing?" Eliana asked, stopping beside him.
"Those are the scanners," Kai said confidently. "They scan the ship and create accurate measurements. They will also do the initial damage assessment in case the ship was damaged upon arrival."
"You sound like you know a lot about this place," Eliana teased, a smile playing on her lips.
Kai grinned. "Well, I read a detailed report about the Maelstrom Forge in Ship Head magazine. The uniqueness of this place stuck with me. Imagine a massive, chaotic storm, with the only safe spot being the eye. And someone decides to build a high-tech shipyard right in the middle of it. It's like opening a fine-dining restaurant inside a tornado. Crazy, right?"
Eliana chuckled, glancing at the scene before her. "I guess that's one way to put it."
When the two caught up with the rest of the group, they were already waiting in the designated area for the shuttle to arrive.
Noticing their arrival, Lily turned and gave them an apologetic look. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the shuttle can only take eight people at a time. So, you two will have to wait for the next one."
"That's no problem at all," Kai said with a smile. "We’ll just have to spend a little more time checking this place out."
"Yeah... I don’t think that’s bad news for you at all," Eliana chuckled. She enjoyed seeing Kai’s childlike fascination. Sometimes, she caught glimpses of the pain in his eyes, the lingering shadows of his past. But lately, he seemed brighter, more alive. She liked to think she had something to do with that.
They stayed behind as the shuttle carried the rest of the crew to the center. Kai examined a poster on the wall, captivated by its detailed explanation of how the Maelstrom worked. He was fascinated, impressed by humanity's ingenuity in turning danger into opportunity.
As he read, he heard the distinct sound of heels clicking against the metal floor, each step growing louder. At first, he thought it was Eliana, but quickly realized it couldn’t be. He had come to recognize the rhythm of her footsteps during their time together. This was someone else.
He turned toward the sound. Eliana, standing a few steps away, glanced up from her own poster, her eyes following Kai’s gaze.
Then, faintly, Kai heard singing. It was soft at first, but the melody was unmistakable—a song he knew but couldn’t quite place. The voice, pure and angelic, echoed through the waiting room, unaccompanied by any instruments. It grew louder, the hauntingly beautiful notes filling the space.
A figure stepped around the corner.
"Far~~~"
It was, as Kai had suspected, a woman. She had short hair styled neatly, framing her delicate features. Her attire was striking—an elegant dress that shimmered subtly as if designed for a grand stage. Her light makeup highlighted her glowing skin, giving her an almost ethereal presence.
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The woman noticed them and stopped singing, a polite smile gracing her lips. "Oh, I apologize. I didn’t realize anyone was here."
"That’s alright," Kai said, smiling warmly. "If anything, we should be paying to listen to anything this beautiful. You have an incredible voice."
Kai turned to Elian, she looked at him as if she was looking at a cave-man. She turned towards the woman, her expression softening into a smile. "Sorry. My boyfriend probably hasn’t realized who you are.."
Then Eliana’s expression shifted into admiration. "I am, however, your biggest fan, Ms. Aria. I’ve listened to every song you’ve put out, multiple times."
"Wait..." Kai said, a sudden realization dawning on him. "Ms. Aria? As in the famous singer Aria Celeste?"
How could he not have recognized her earlier? She wasn’t just any singer; she was the most popular performer in all of Federation space. Her songs were played everywhere, and her beauty had been the dream of many of his friends back on Velmorra. Now Kai felt foolish for his earlier comments. How ignorant did he have to be not to recognize the woman standing before him?
Aria simply smiled. "That’s alright. You don’t need to know me to enjoy my music. I sing to make people’s lives a little bit more entertaining... that’s all."
Kai nodded, appreciating her humble statement. Eliana, on the other hand, looked as though she was about to faint. The tips of her ears turned red, her face blushing deeply as she gazed at Aria. Kai noticed her chest wasn’t rising and falling as it normally did, and he began to worry she might actually pass out.
Luckily, the shuttle arrived just in time. Aria motioned for Kai and Eliana to board first. Kai nodded and gently helped Eliana, who had difficulty moving by then, step onto the shuttle. They sat just one row behind Aria as the shuttle left the platform and headed toward the main station.
Kai could tell Eliana was nervous—he could feel it in the way her fingernails dug into his hand. Her eyes were fixed on the seat in front of them, her body trembling slightly from the excitement. Watching her, Kai couldn’t tell if Eliana wanted to laugh, cry, or maybe both.
Kai wasn’t as starstruck as Eliana, but he understood why she felt that way. He knew Aria was famous, but he was not the type to admire someone solely for their fame. After all, celebrities were still just people.
However, he couldn’t help but respect her. Aria had arrived at the station in a single-seat racer, which meant she had flown herself through the storm. A feat that no doubt would have deterred many others.
The shuttle arrived, and Eliana had finally recovered from her excitement. She composed herself, holding Kai’s hand as they disembarked. In the distance, Kai spotted Lily waving at them.
"If you don’t mind, could I get your names, please?" Aria asked as they stepped off.
"Eliana!" Eliana said eagerly.
"And I’m Kai," Kai added. "Nice job flying through the storm, Aria."
"Oh, I’ll have to thank you and your crewmates for that," Aria replied with a warm smile. "Without you taking care of those pirates, I’m sure I would’ve been in a lot of trouble. So, thank you, Kai."
Her words felt sincere, and her soothing voice made Kai blush a little. For a second, he didn’t know how to respond.
"Looks like your friends are waiting," Aria said, gesturing toward Lily. "It was nice meeting you both. I’m glad you enjoyed my singing, and I hope we’ll meet again someday."
Kai and Eliana waved goodbye as Aria joined two guards dressed in black suits. The guards glanced briefly at Kai and Eliana before escorting her away.
Eliana couldn’t contain her excitement. As soon as they rejoined the group, she immediately began sharing the story of who they had just met. The crew of the Black Swan listened with wide-eyed curiosity, chattering about the unexpected encounter with the famous singer.
While the rest of the group was caught up in conversation, Kai found his attention drawn to their surroundings. To him, the Maelstrom Forge was his version of Aria Celeste—a dream turned into reality.
The lobby wasn’t luxurious, but it was practical and comfortable. Ship parts and mechanical designs adorned the walls, giving the space an industrial yet welcoming atmosphere. The soft hum of machinery blended with the faint murmurs of activity, creating a distinct ambiance. Large screens displayed detailed schematics of various ships, and sleek seating areas provided a place for visitors to wait.
Kai couldn’t help but marvel. He had read countless articles and guides about this place, always assuming it would only ever exist in his imagination. But now, here he stood, taking it all in.
He understood the process of ship modifications here well. After the initial assessment, which typically took only a few hours, the ship’s blueprints would be sent to the design team for revisions. Fortunately, since they already had a clear idea of the desired upgrades, this step would be expedited. The longest and most crucial phase was installation, a meticulous process that could take anywhere from days to weeks.
For Kai, being here felt surreal, like standing inside the pages of his favorite magazine.
A man approached them, rolling toward the group in a wheelchair. Kai immediately noticed the missing leg and recognized him from a feature in Ship Head Magazine. Though a few years older than in the picture, the man’s distinctive mustache and thick glasses were unmistakable.
"Commander Grayson. Nice to see you again," the man said, extending a hand that Commander Grayson firmly shook. "And the crew of the Black Swan. Let’s see what challenge you’ve brought me this time."
Commander Grayson handed over the blueprint Isaac had meticulously designed, detailing all the upgrades necessary for their journey to Earth.
The man adjusted his glasses, scanning the blueprint briefly. "Ah, preparing for a long trip, I see. Quite the list of modifications you’ve got here."
Commander Grayson leaned in slightly. "Is it possible?"
The man smiled confidently. "Of course it is. The redesign is solid—well-made and well-thought-out. Visually, though, there’s some room for improvement. Let me take this to the team and see what they can come up with."
"Thank you," Commander Grayson said with a nod of appreciation.
"You’re welcome," the man replied, turning his wheelchair around. "Enjoy your stay in the meantime. Feel free to make use of the station’s facilities."
Once he was gone, Commander Grayson turned to the crew. "Well, there’s not much we can do until the redesign is ready but wait. So, how about everyone enjoys their stay here and finds something fun to do?"
The crew cheered at the suggestion, immediately scattering to explore. Kai and Eliana exchanged a look, their thoughts perfectly aligned. Kai was eager to explore more of the station, while Eliana had a different plan: finding Aria Celeste again.
The station’s interior was a mix of both history and innovation. The walls were lined with displays featuring ship parts from vessels that had played pivotal roles in history. A sleek, curved engine nacelle from the first federation ship to successfully break the light-speed barrier was suspended above the main hall, while the heavily scarred hull plating from a warship that had turned the tide of the Independent War stood proudly nearby. Kai’s eyes lit up as he recognized most of the relics, but there were some so unique and obscure that even he had no clue of their origins.
Eliana, walking beside him, scanned the displays half-heartedly, her eyes darting through the crowd, searching for her idol. Kai caught the subtle shift in her expression.
"Maybe she’s in her room already," Kai said gently, noticing the flicker of disappointment on Eliana’s face.
"Yeah… maybe," Eliana replied with a sigh. She quickly forced a smile. "Let’s go find something to eat then."
The two wandered into one of the station’s eateries: a bar themed like the interior of a starship. Its walls were adorned with control panels and glowing buttons, mimicking the feel of a ship’s bridge. The ceiling was a projection of a rotating galaxy, with stars twinkling and nebulae swirling in vivid detail. Tables were built to resemble engine cores, with faint lights glowing underneath the transparent surfaces. The bartender stood behind a counter shaped like the nose of a star fighter, the polished chrome gleaming under dim, atmospheric lights.
Eliana stopped suddenly, her hand flying to her mouth. "No way…" she whispered.
Sitting on a tall stool at the bar, her back to them, was Aria Celeste. The singer cradled a glass of amber liquor, her slim fingers wrapped delicately around it. Her long legs were crossed elegantly, and her signature short hair shimmered faintly under the bar’s soft lighting.
Kai noticed something else. Aria's shoulders were slightly slumped, her normally radiant face was dimmed, and her brows furrowed ever so slightly in a rare frown. She took a small sip from her glass, her expression distant and thoughtful.
The star wasn’t surrounded by adoring fans or her entourage. She was sitting alone.