Kai remained cautious, his rifle hanging by its sling, barrel pointed downward as he descended the ramp of the Black Swan into the hangar bay of the Stealth Carrier, ISS-Nightfall.

The two failed assassination attempts on his life had left him wary. Even if their self-proclaimed leader had assured them he wasn’t their enemy, that didn’t mean the rest of the True Kin aboard this ship felt the same way.

Dealing with the True Kin was never a simple matter of black and white. They were a fractured faction, splintered by centuries of isolation, evolving into something alien from the rest of humanity. Some longed to reunite with the wider human race, seeking a place within once more. The others feared the conflicts and suffering that action might bring.

A group of men waited at the bottom of the ramp. Each carried a weapon, though none were aimed at him or his friends. Their presence wasn’t outright hostile, but it wasn’t welcoming either.

Everything about them screamed smugglers. They wore no uniforms, only the clothing they had chosen for themselves. The vibrant colors, mismatched fabrics, and layered accessories that reminded Kai of their captain’s. There was a charm that Kai couldn't place in their style.

Kai met their gazes. He saw hostility lingered beneath the surface and reminded himself, Just because their captain had allowed them aboard didn’t mean everyone on this ship welcomed the intrusion.

But more than hostility, Kai sensed confusion. A ship this size had a long chain of command and he doubted these men even knew the full story. They were likely just following orders, unsure why strangers had been invited onto their supposedly hidden vessel.

Commander Grayson and Eliana flanked Kai on either side. He noticed Eliana’s finger resting near the trigger of her rifle.

They led them away from the landing bay and into a lift, keeping them boxed in from both sides. Kai saw the ramp of the Black Swan raising and sealing shut as their lift begain to move.

The lift was short, only taking them away from the hangar bay before it stopped. A corridor lay in front of them, stretching to both sides.

Kai's eyes swept across the ship’s interior as they moved. Long past its prime, the ship had aged beyond its original design. The walls bore cracks, and faded markings stretched across rusting panels. Even the controls were analog, relying on old mechanical switches rather than digital interfaces.

As they passed through a dimly lit corridor, a young girl appeared on the other side. She carried a large woven basket atop her head, filled with fresh produce. When she saw them, the guards barked something at her, and she quickly pressed herself against the wall, careful not to tip her basket.

Kai met her eyes. Fear lingered there, whether from the weapons they carried or simply their differences in appearance. He offered her a small smile, hoping to ease her nerves.

The corner of her lips twitched into a hesitant, nervous smile in return just before one of the men stepped between them, cutting her from view.

They moved quickly, their pace shifting between a brisk walk and a near jog. The long corridor ended, and Kai found himself truly inside the heart of the ship.

The air was thick, warm, and humid.

It didn’t take long for Kai to distinguish the original ship from the parts that had been added over time.

The corridors opened into sprawling, makeshift streets, where stacked shanty-like structures clung to the metal framework of the ship. Music pulsed from speakers, its deep bass thrumming beneath his feet.

Bright, chaotic painting sprawled across walls, depicting scenes of people dancing, of spirits swirling through smoke.

There was a celebration happening. Vibrant lights swung overhead, casting shifting shades of red, green, and gold across the market-like alleys. Stalls lined the pathways, overflowing with exotic fruits, roasted meats sizzling over open flames, and woven fabrics draped in bright patterns.

People here danced with joy, their movements fluid and free, laughter rising above the rhythmic beat of drums. The scent of spice and slow-burning incense curled through the air.

As they passed, curious faces turned toward them, watching as they passed though the crowd.

A woman approached them with a playful smirk. In her hands, she held a fruit Kai had never seen before—a rich orange color with deep ridges along its skin. She held it out to him as an offering.

Before Kai could react, one of their escorts stepped forward, muttering something in a sharp tone. The woman scoffed, rolling her eyes before pulling the fruit back and biting into it herself, juice dripping down her fingers.

Kai wanted to linger, to see more of this unexpected world hidden inside the ship, but the men pressed forward, pushing them through the crowd. Putting the music, the celebration, and the life of the place behind them as they moved into another corridor, back into the ship’s original steel-clad passageways.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

The bridge doors were wide open. People moved in and out freely, their movements relaxed, man were drunk and talked free, women giggled like children.

Smoke hung thick in the air, curling in slow, lazy tendrils, illuminated by the dim glow of flickering monitors. Loud music pulsed through the space, bass heavy, and the rhythmic beat resonating deep in Kai’s chest.

He coughed as a strong, unfamiliar pungent scent hit him. It was unlike anything he had smelled before, thick and almost sweet, yet sharp enough to make his eyes sting.

A deep voice boomed from across the room.

At the far end of the bridge, a tall, broad-shouldered man stood, his stance firm as he spoke in heated tones with someone seated in the large captain’s chair. His words carried an edge, the natural rhythm of his language weaving through the smoky air, but even without understanding the meaning, Kai could sense the tension in his voice.

The men escorting them pressed closer, nudging Kai and Commander Grayson forward. As they moved in, the man’s voice became clearer.

“Capt’n, mi tell yuh dis a bad idea! Yuh cyaan bring dem people in ya pon di carnival day! Yuh ah ask fi di beast outta deh to come fi we! Dis disrespectful to di spirits, capt’n, an’ yuh know it!”

The seated figure remained still, his back turned to them, the chair slightly reclined. He exhaled a slow breath of smoke before responding in the same tongue, his voice calm, unwavering.

“Cool yuhself, mi bredda. Yuh too quick fi fear. Di spirit still watch ova we, still shine strong. So long as it stand, di monsters naw touch we.”

The big man’s fists clenched at his sides, frustration evident in the way his chest heaved with each breath.

“Yuh playin’ wid fire, Ife. Yuh too cocky. Not like yuh fada… him did tink before him move. Him neva put we in danger dis way.” His voice dropped lower, a warning laced in his tone. “Yuh ago regret dis, mi tell yuh. Yuh ago pay fi yuh mistake.”

With that, the man turned sharply and stormed out, shoving past the others as he disappeared down the corridor.

The room fell into an odd silence, the thick smoke were mostly gone now. Then, at last, the captain turned.

Kai recognized him immediately as the masked man from before.

Ife leaned forward, elbows resting on the armrests of his chair as he studied Kai with a curious glint in his eye. Then, in a smoother, more measured tone, he spoke.

“Di blessed one finally reach mi station.” His head tilted slightly, as if amused. “Mi been hearin’ stories ‘bout yuh, yuh know.”

Kai spoke calmly. “I got a name. It’s Kai.”

The captain grinned beneath his mask. “An’ mi got a name too. Ife.” He gestured with a slow wave of his hand. “So, now wi talk proper.”

Ife leaned back in his chair, taking a slow drag from the smoldering bundle in his hand. Smoke curled through the air as he exhaled, watching Kai with an expression that hovered between amusement and scrutiny.

"Mi nah believe in legends," he said. "But yuh name spread ‘mongst di True Kin like fire. Dey seh yuh di one from di old tales. Tell mi, yuh really plan fi bring di True Kin back to di rest of humanity?"

Kai exhaled, shaking his head. "That’s not something I have control over. I just want to know what happened to Earth and what’s out there that is dimming the stars."

Ife chuckled, shaking his head. "Yuh sell yuhself short, mi bredda. Yuh tink yuh just one man, but di True Kin already know yuh name. Already watchin’ yuh moves."

Kai let out a dry laugh. "Yeah, I can feel it. The Inquisitor’s been hunting me down, trying to kill me."

Ife nodded knowingly, taking another slow pull before offering the bundle to Kai. "Expected, dat. Yuh causin’ waves. Here—take a hit, ease yuh nerves."

Kai didn’t hesitate. "I don't smoke, and I'm not afraid of him." His gaze sharpened. "What’s this ‘monster’ that man was talking about?"

Ife’s lips curled into a small grin, eyes gleaming through the mask. "Don’ mind him, mi bredda. He always paranoid. Di monsters ain't trouble since wi get di Spirit."

Commander Grayson, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke. "And what exactly are these monsters?"

Ife waved a dismissive hand. "Mi only talk wit di Blessed One."

Kai frowned. "Commander Grayson is a good man. He’s not with the authorities. He just wants the truth like I do."

Ife studied him for a long moment before sighing. "Alright, since yuh insist." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Di monsters, dey machines. Old ones, livin’ out in dis place yuh call di No Man’s Land. But di truth is, dem here long time. Since before any o’ we."

Kai’s stomach tightened. "What do they do?"

"Make sure nobody leave this patch of space." Ife’s tone darkened. "Sometime, dey attack ship inside di bubble, collect data, but rare. Before, dey come fi wi too. Kill, destroy. But we learn a trick. Dey no attack if we give dem Spirit."

Kai narrowed his eyes. "Spirit? What do you mean?"

Ife grinned again, tapping his temple. "Data. A constant stream. Never stop, never pause. A flood o’ noise, so dey nuh see us. Jus’ hear di Spirit an’ move on."

Kai’s mind raced with the implications. "Why don’t you just leave No Man’s Land altogether?"

Ife chuckled. "Mi bredda, yuh tink wi can jus’ walk out an’ wave hello? Wi True Kin—wi not meant to be found. No Man’s Land give wi shelter, keep di authorities off wi back. An’ let’s be real—wi business thrive here."

Kai nodded slowly, letting the weight of Ife’s words settle in. "I understand. I visited Chinatown and met Mama Mo. I know what it's like for the True Kin."

Ife’s eyes lit up with recognition. "Mama Mo? Mi know har from way back. Wi used to send each odda supplies, but not much lately. Yuh see har? She alright?"

Kai nodded. "Yeah, she’s still running things. Helped us when we were in Chinatown."

Ife grinned, leaning back. "Good, good. She one o’ di real ones." His expression shifted, turning serious. "Tell mi, yuh run into di monsters yet?"

Kai shook his head. "No. We haven’t seen anything like that."

Ife frowned. "Strange. If yuh out here, dey shoulda come already. Dey always drawn to data streams. Somethin’ gotta be sendin’ out data from yuh ship."

Kai’s brows furrowed. "No way. We’ve been cut off since we became wanted by the Empire. We’re running completely dark."

Ife rubbed his chin, thinking. "Dat mean yuh still sendin’ data somewhere private. Otherwise, dey woulda been on yuh already."

The overhead lights flickered , casting erratic shadows across the bridge. A deep, resonating alarm blared through the ship, shaking the walls with its urgency.

Ife shot up from his chair, his grip tightening on the armrests before he moved. His relaxed demeanor was gone in an instant, replaced by sharp gazes. One of his crew members ran in, speaking rapidly in their dialect, their voice strained with urgency.

Eliana instinctively reached for her rifle, her body tensed. "Kai, is this another attack? Like the one on Aurelia Prime?" Her eyes darted between him and the flashing lights, her fingers hover over the trigger.

Ife slammed his fist against the console, cursing under his breath. "Rassclaat… di bastards turn off di Spirit! Now dem come fe we!"