MORNING ON HELIOS-3: THE INFIRMARY

The morning sunlight on Helios-3 filtered weakly through the dome of the colony. Casting a pale glow over the metallic walls of the infirmary. The air inside was sterile and quiet, the hum of medical equipment the only noise as Tessa and Quinn walked briskly down the corridor toward Finn’s room.

Quinn rubbed his neck, his voice carrying a mix of frustration and concern. “You think he’s alright? That fall didn’t look good. The guy’s been off lately.”

“I hope so.” Tessa replied, adjusting the toolbelt strapped to her hip. “Honestly, Finn’s been acting weird for days. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s stressed out like the rest of us.”

Quinn snorted. “We’re all stressed, but you don’t see me face-planting into an alien artifact.”

Tessa shot him a glare. “Don’t be a jerk. He’s your friend, remember?”

Quinn raised his hands defensively. “Just saying. It’s not like the guy’s been sleeping either. Did you see his face yesterday?”

Tessa frowned but didn’t respond. They reached the infirmary doors and stepped inside, the sterile smell hitting them immediately. Across the room, Finn sat upright on his bed, staring blankly at the floor. His complexion was pale, his eyes shadowed by dark circles. He looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks.

“Finn?” Tessa called gently, walking over to him with Quinn in tow.

Finn glanced up, startled from his thoughts. “Tessa. Quinn. Morning.”

Tessa’s brow furrowed as she approached. “Morning? More like... bad night. Finn you look awful. Did you even sleep?”

Finn rubbed his face, forcing a weak smile. “Yeah, kind of. The med officer gave me something. Said it might mess with my sleep a little. Nothing to worry about.”

Tessa crossed her arms, unconvinced. “You sure? Because you look like you’ve been dragged through hell.”

Quinn gave Finn a once-over and shrugged. “If that’s the price for getting a pill from the doc, I’ll stick to my bad dreams.”

Finn chuckled faintly, but his mind was elsewhere. His thoughts drifted back to the previous night back to his conversation with the Flesh God.

Flashback: Last Night

The infirmary had been silent, save for the faint hum of machines. Finn, half-asleep, had stared into the spectral presence of the Flesh God, its hollow eyes watching him intently.

“How long have you been here?” Finn had asked, his voice hesitant, a mix of curiosity and fear.

The Flesh God’s rasping voice filled the room, soothing and patient. “Eons. Far longer than your kind can comprehend. My prison has endured while stars have burned to ash.”

“Why... why are you here? Who trapped you?”

“Fools.” the Flesh God replied smoothly, its tone laced with sadness. “Those who feared what they did not understand. They sought to bind me, to silence me. And in their ignorance, they succeeded.”

Finn swallowed hard, the enormity of the being’s words weighing on him. “You must want out.” he said. “You must want to be free.”

The Flesh God tilted its head, a hollow smile playing across its mummified face. “Of course, I remember the stars, the endless void, the beauty of creation. But freedom is not always the answer. For now, I find... solace in this prison. After all, it has brought me you.”

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“Me?” Finn asked, confused.

“Yes, you.” the Flesh God murmured. “Your presence has given me a glimpse of the world I once knew. Through you, I am connected once more.”

The words echoed in Finn’s mind as he tried to process their meaning. He felt... flattered, even important, though he couldn’t quite understand why.

Present Day

“Finn?” Tessa’s voice pulled him from his reverie. She and Quinn were staring at him, concern etched into their expressions.

“Sorry..” Finn muttered, shaking his head. “I’m fine, really. Just thinking about... the accident.”

“You sure you’re okay?” Quinn asked skeptically.

Before Finn could answer, the medical officer approached, holding a data pad. “Good news.” the officer said. “You’re in top condition. No signs of lasting damage. You can leave the infirmary whenever you’re ready. And you can take off the bandage. Its not necessary anymore.”

“Thanks.” Finn said, reaching up to unwrap the bandage himself.

As he pulled it away, Tessa and Quinn leaned in to inspect the wound. A thin scar ran across his forehead, faint but visible.

Tessa winced. “That looks... permanent. I’m sorry, Finn.”

“Permanent?” Quinn interjected with a grin. “Nah, that’s awesome. Scars give you character. Chicks dig scars, right?”

Finn let out a small laugh, appreciating the attempt to lighten the mood. “Guess I’ll wear it with pride.”

The three of them shared a moment of levity, but it was short-lived. The comm system in the infirmary crackled to life and Calder’s sharp, commanding voice cut through the air.

“All workers report outside the ship immediately. The shipment has arrived. Move it!”

The message ended abruptly, leaving a tense silence in its wake.

“Great..” Quinn muttered. “More orders from his majesty.”

“Come on.” Tessa said, grabbing her toolbelt. “Let’s get this over with.”

Meanwhile Somewhere in Space

Somewhere in the depths of space, a sleek mercenary vessel streaked through the void, its engines humming with efficiency. Seren Veyra stood at the helm, her arms folded as she watched the stars blur past the viewport.

Behind her, her crew was busy at their stations. Jax the heavy weapons specialist, a towering man with a mechanical arm was lounging in his seat, sharpening a combat knife. Lena, their tech expert, was hunched over a console, her sharp eyes scanning data streams. Kade, the ship’s pilot, was at the controls, his cocky grin never far from his face.

“So...” Kade said, breaking the silence. “Why the rush? Colony ships are slow as hell compared to us. We could’ve taken our time.”

“The job requires us to be there within twenty-four hours.” Seren replied without looking back. “And they use hyperspace jump systems. Their jumps are longer-range than ours. They'll be gone before we get there. We have to make up time.”

“Hyperspace..” Lena muttered, her tone dripping with disdain. “Makes the ride smooth, but the tech’s a nightmare to fix when it breaks.”

Kade smirked. “Good thing you’re a genius then.”

Lena rolled her eyes.

Nearby, Jax leaned forward, his deep voice rumbling. “You sure about this, Seren? Last time we took a corp job it nearly got us killed. And that was with less heat than this.”

Seren’s gaze remained steady. “This isn’t just about money. It’s about building a reputation. If we pull this off, we’re untouchable. Besides, it’s not like we have a choice. A deal’s a deal.”

Jax grunted, unconvinced but unwilling to argue further.

Back on Helios-3, the colony workers gathered outside. Forming a loose crowd near the landing site. The air buzzed with tension as muttered conversations rippled through the group.

Finn, Tessa, and Quinn stood together, watching as a massive ship descended from the sky, its engines kicking up clouds of dust.

“Here we go.” Tessa said, shading her eyes against the light.

Elias Crane and Clare Voss stood a short distance away, speaking in low tones.

“I’ve had enough of Calder.” Elias said, his voice tight. “His constant orders are driving everyone to the edge. I’m spending more time calming people down than running this colony.”

Clare nodded sympathetically. “Sounds like my father’s handiwork. This whole operation reeks of his influence.”

Elias raised an eyebrow. “Your father?”

“Alaric Voss.” Clare admitted. “Head of Research and Development. He’s good at what he does, but he doesn’t care about the people his decisions affect. That’s why I stayed out of the corporate mess. I’d rather be here, dealing with honest problems.”

Elias gave her a thoughtful look, but before he could respond, the ship’s engines powered down and the ramp extended with a mechanical hiss.

The shipment had arrived, carrying the advanced machinery that would finally unearth the artifact.