Reuben turned around to see one of the woman's bodyguards staring him down. The guard was tall and muscular, with a scowl that could send shivers down anyone's spine.

"Nothing, sorry," Reuben stammered, backing away. He had never been good at confrontation, and the guard's glare was making him feel more uneasy by the second.

"Good. Keep it that way," the guard growled, before turning back to the argument with Damien.

Reuben sighed in relief as he walked back to his workbench. He couldn't afford to get involved with someone like that, especially when they had powerful connections.

Around two hours later ...

A ping on reuben's computer screen, it was Damien.

'Get to work on the scary woman's ship NOW and BE CAREFUL'

Slightly confused at his boss' change in attitude but not one to question orders he got to work. Reuben was tasked with fixing the ship's propulsion system, a job that required him to crawl into tight spaces and work with complex machinery. As he worked, he couldn't help but marvel at the ship's advanced technology. It was a far cry from the rusted-out spaceships he was used to working on.

Reuben finished tightening the last bolt on the engine, his muscles aching from the exertion. He stood back and wiped the sweat from his forehead, taking a deep breath of the cool air of the ship's bay. As he caught a glimpse of himself in the reflection of the immaculately polished engine, he paused for a moment, taking in his likeness.

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It had been a while since he had really looked at himself; Reuben was tall and lean, his skin appeared almost translucent with his veins and arteries visible below the surface. This was a stark contrast to his dark messy hair, which lay at an awkward length resting just above his shoulders. His face was rugged, with a strong jawline and a hint of stubble on his chin. His most striking quality, however, was his grey eyes which resembled the steel ship parts he was so used to working on.

Despite the grime and sweat that covered his face, Reuben was undeniably attractive. His unkempt appearance gave him a rough and tough look that many found alluring.

As he put away his tools, he noticed the woman standing a few feet away, silently observing him. He hadn't even heard her approach. Her piercing blue eyes were fixed on him, and he could feel her gaze penetrating his soul. He stood up, a bit self-conscious under her scrutiny.

"Is it fixed?" she asked, her voice icy and detached.

Reuben nodded, "Yes, it's all done. I tested the engines and everything is running smoothly. You're good to go."

She gave a curt nod, "Good. I'll be sure to remember your work. Unfortunately we'll be back on this godforsaken planet in the future and may require your services once again."

With that, she turned and walked away, her bodyguards trailing closely behind. As reuben watched his pupils widened, noticing the top of a silver tattoo on her shoulder as she turned away. He hadn't noticed it before now, it was a simple design, a crescent moon surrounded by intricate patterns. As if feeling reubens stare the woman adjusted her top to cover it and disappeared round a corner of the ship.

The rest of the day went quickly, the departure of the the unusual ship leaving reuben with nothing but the standard monotony of life on tethys.