The transport ship hummed as it cut through the void, its engines burning toward Saturn at full speed. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of weapons oil and steel. Rust’s men checked their gear, reloaded power cells, and exchanged quiet words, preparing for the slaughter to come.

Rust stood near the bridge, arms crossed as he stared out the viewport. Outpost Helix lay ahead, buried within the swirling debris of Saturn’s rings—a perfect place to hide. Halric wouldn’t be hiding for much longer.

But before that…

Rust tapped a command into the ship’s console. The comms flickered, encrypting the transmission before opening a direct line to Jupiter. A moment later, the screen filled with the smirking face of Lord Vext.

The Duke lounged in a high-backed chair, his crimson robe draped over his frame like the hide of a predator at rest. His silver eyes gleamed with amusement.

“Rust,” Vext drawled. “I was beginning to wonder when you’d call.”

Rust didn’t waste time. “The merchant. Edric Varn.”

Vext’s smirk widened. “Ah. So he survived.”

Rust’s eyes narrowed. “Why did you send two enforcers with him? You knew I wouldn’t back down.”

Vext chuckled. “That was the point.” He leaned forward, fingers steepling. “You see, I already knew that Varn was working for another Duke. He’s been selling information, moving shipments under false pretenses—spying.”

Rust tilted his head. “Then why let him walk around?”

Vext’s expression darkened with amusement. “Because it’s entertaining.” He waved a hand lazily. “I wanted to see what you would do if he stood in your way. I also wanted to see what he would do when faced with real power. Would he stand his ground? Would he fold? Would he beg?”

Rust exhaled through his nose. A test. A game. Vext had thrown the merchant into his path just to see what would happen.

“And now?” Rust asked.

Vext’s smirk returned. “Now? He’s still useful. I’ll let him keep playing his little game… for now.” He tapped his temple. “But I’m watching. And so are you.”

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Rust nodded. He understood. Varn wasn’t his concern—not yet. The next time they crossed paths, though… it wouldn’t end with a warning.

Vext tilted his head. “And what of you, Rust? Have you found Halric?”

Rust’s grin was sharp. “I’m about to.”

Vext laughed, rich and pleased. “Then enjoy yourself. Make it messy.”

The screen flickered off.

Rust turned from the console, rolling his shoulders. The hunt was on.

Outpost Helix awaited.

The air inside Outpost Helix was heavy with the scent of ozone and coolant, the lingering traces of past skirmishes and hurried repairs. Rust and his men moved like wraiths through the steel corridors, their weapons primed, their footfalls silent.

Halric’s hideout was deep within the station’s core, tucked behind layers of automated defenses and reinforced bulkheads. It didn’t matter. Rust had come prepared to burn it all down.

The first charge went off with a thunderous roar, sending a shockwave through the station. Alarm klaxons blared, red lights flashing as doors sealed and defensive turrets powered up. Rust grinned as chaos erupted.

“Move,” he ordered.

His men surged forward, taking positions as plasma fire lanced through the corridors. Enemy soldiers—mercenaries, criminals, deserters—rushed to defend their doomed leader. Rust didn’t slow. He cut through them like a blade through flesh, moving with inhuman speed, nanoblood amplifying his every motion. He snapped a man’s neck, ripped the arm off another, and crushed a third’s skull with a single stomp.

The deeper they pushed, the more desperate the resistance became. Rust could smell the fear thick in the air.

Then the doors to the central chamber blew open.

Inside, Halric stood waiting.

The old warlord was a giant of a man, his body enhanced with cybernetics and years of battlefield experience. His armor gleamed under the dim emergency lights, and in his grip, a massive war axe pulsed with energy.

“You took your time,” Halric growled, rolling his shoulders.

Rust smirked. “Had to make it interesting.”

Halric wasted no more words. He charged, swinging the axe in a deadly arc. Rust barely sidestepped in time, the weapon carving deep into the steel floor where he had stood. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the chamber.

Rust lunged, fists coated in nanoblood, striking like a beast unleashed. Halric took the blows head-on, absorbing the punishment before slamming his fist into Rust’s gut, sending him flying across the room.

Pain flared, but Rust reveled in it. He surged forward again.

The fight was brutal. Halric was stronger than expected, his enhancements pushing him beyond normal limits. But Rust was faster. Each exchange left the chamber in ruins—walls dented, floors cracked, bodies of fallen mercs trampled underfoot.

Halric landed a strike that sent Rust crashing through a wall. But Rust only laughed, his wounds sealing almost instantly.

"You're good," Rust admitted, wiping blood from his mouth. "But not good enough."

He blurred forward. Halric tried to bring the axe down again, but Rust was inside his guard. He caught the warlord’s wrist, twisting until metal and bone snapped. Halric roared in pain, but Rust silenced him with a brutal strike to the throat, crushing his windpipe.

The old warlord staggered, struggling for breath. Rust watched him for a moment, then drove his fist into Halric’s chest, shattering ribs, rupturing organs, and finally tearing the heart free.

Halric dropped to his knees, eyes glazing over. Rust let the corpse collapse to the floor.

It was done.

Behind him, his men finished off the last of the defenders. The station was theirs.

Rust exhaled, stretching his shoulders.

Then the comm crackled to life.

Vext’s face appeared once more, amusement gleaming in his silver eyes. "I see you've been busy."

Rust wiped blood from his knuckles. "It's done."

"Good," Vext murmured. "Return home. I have something for you."

Rust narrowed his eyes. "A reward?"

"A lesson," Vext corrected, his smirk widening. "And a gift."

The screen flickered off.

Rust turned to his men. "Load what we need. Burn the rest. We leave in an hour."

The fires of Outpost Helix burned bright as Rust’s ship departed, heading home to Jupiter.

To whatever Vext had waiting.