Night fell silently over the starbase, its eight o'clock hour cloaked in viscous darkness. Karl guided his mining skiff to a smooth landing on the tarmac. After filing maintenance requests for energy replenishment and equipment servicing, he stood alone before the floor-to-ceiling viewport, gazing calmly at the corporate towers blazing with artificial daylight below.
Earning 8,900 credits in a single day might seem substantial to others, but to Karl, it was mundane. He'd handled real wealth during his security detail days—3,000 credits per mission was routine, while capturing low-tierInsectoid race orStar beastspecimens could net over 100,000. He recalled that fateful operation: retrieving the mutilated remains of an F3-classInsectoid race soldier, its bioluminescent carapace shattered by plasma fire. The kill had been valued at over ten million, earning him a two-million credit share.
Tossing an empty nutrient tube into the recycler, Karl stepped into the sanitization shower. Hot water sluiced over fatigued muscles as he studied his reflection—a body with proportional contours but lacking defined abs or the V-cut adonis lines. His relaxed back muscles betrayed long-term neglect.
"Time to train," he muttered. "Citizenship grants weapon access, but without physical prowess, you're just another grunt relying on dumb-fire ordnance. Can't pilot mechs or combat skiffs. Can't even utilize combat suits properly." His fingers traced invisible metrics in the condensation. "Muscle density needs to hit 12. Neuroflex response too."
The adult baseline stood at 10 for both metrics. True warriors required 12. Bioenergy—calculated by multiplying muscle density and neuroflex scores—currently languished at 100 units for Karl (9.7 × 9.3). Compared to elite soldiers boasting quadruple-digit bioenergy and 30+ ratings, he might as well be civilian-grade. Even base security outclassed him.
Enhancement options glowed in his mental catalog:
1. **Standard Training** - Six months of brutal conditioning for warrior benchmarks
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2. **Gene Mods** - Million-credit injections like *Genetic Enhancers* or *Activation Serums* (playthings for the wealthy)
3. **Xenobiotic Regimen** - An Earth United Forces black project: fusingStar beast pancreatic glands withSaliva enzymes, consumed post-refinement to boost training efficacy tenfold for 24 hours. Not yet mainstream.
Karl's lips curled. Option three it was—a method he'd exploited relentlessly in his previous life.
Miners rarely encounteredStar beast, but they lurked on most colony worlds. Base security often hunted them for sport and profit during downtime. Having served that role, Karl knew where to acquire specimens. Certain officers even collected taxidermied kills as trophies.
Exiting the residential spire, Karl collided with a familiar entourage: Logistics Team Leader Li Ying, his ex-flame Emma, Lisa from the earlier video call, four male and three female hangers-on, and Gao Chong—the tower liaison with gold-rimmed glasses.
Karl's jaw tightened. Gao's reputation preceded him: a wolf in scholar's clothing who drugged women via neural interface exploits. Though fired by Aex Corporation for multiple assaults, he'd resurfaced as a mercenary before reportedly meeting violent ends.
The predator now circled Lisa, oozing false charm.
"Karl?!" Lisa's startled cry drew all eyes—including Li Ying's calculating stare and Gao's venomous glance. The two men exchanged loaded looks, Gao adjusting his glasses with a serpent's poise.
Li Ying oozed forward. "The day's golden boy! Didn't realize you moved in Em's circles. Join us at Stellar Echo Lounge? Karaoke's on me."
Emma's friends erupted:
"You're the rookie who scored 27k today?"
"No wonder you skipped birthday prep!"
"Still, ghosting your friend's party? Cold."
The birthday girl forced a pitiful expression. "Karl... we're classmates. Can't you spare an hour for old times?"
"Prior engagements." Karl strode past the group without breaking pace.
Silence gripped the crowd. Emma flushed crimson while Li Ying's smile turned glacial.
Gao whispered in Lisa's ear: "Such disrespect. What sort of 'friend' is this?"
Lisa said nothing. As Karl vanished into the night, she realized their paths had irrevocably diverged. What seismic shift had altered him?
Gao tracked Karl's exit with predator's eyes. Li Ying had promised him Lisa—a prize now fixated on another man. Rage simmered beneath his scholar's guise. How dare this greenhorn upstage him?