Astha

"Now let see if this works or not," I said as I pulled Sethis's badge from my knapsack.

I know I said that this was the only way to find Sethis without resorting to complicated ways, but the ship's far older than me, so it wasn't that reliable most of the time. I did say that I was planning to buy a new ship, which I did. But then, the whole shitshow with the Felinians started and all ships were conscripted for war, with Saukauri shipyards working overtime to supply the troops with capable, but shoddily made, ships.

The badge and its tracker were linked to our ships. Seth also hid his ship somewhere out there. He was smart enough to hide his ship away from Saukari while keeping his trophy in his own permanent home. I did not really like having a permanent home. I preferred a personal spaceship, so I did not need to settle in one place at the same time. We were twins, but we were so different in many things only our appearances were identical.

Before we were conscripted, I was saving on buying a brand new Saukauri ship capable of keeping my trophy and be my mobile base of operations. While things went to shit since we got deployed (and subsequently discharged), at least I still got my ship. It was far older than me and broke down several times, but it could still go warp speed...only not at maximum. I never tried it, but I did not want to. If the structure failed mid-warp, then that's it. Even a Felinian's nine lives could not save them in space.

I sighed in relief when the badge, combined with the ship's tracking interface, managed to faintly catch the signal traveling away from Arkari. However, the tracking interface also told me that this was the last signal transmitted, which ended on a planet ten light years away from Arkari. The trick to find the next signal, if there were any, was to get to the last position of the tracker and start from there. It's a hassle, but the tracker was not a high-tech one. We modified an existing tracker they used for hunting for our purposes. We got a little knowledge in Saukauri engineering, and I...knew a couple hunters who's more tech-savvy than we would ever be. I might get myself in trouble for saying this, but I...slept with a some of them. Not many, but still.

Another point that made us so different was our sexual orientation. I was undoubtedly gay, and still am. Sethis was straight, but he did experiment in his youth, only to find that it wasn't his thing and stick to girls. The only same thing between us regarding romance was that we only preferred Saukaurs. Still, being the fun-loving Saukaur, I liked to tease other races whether they found me attractive or not, especially since I was, as commented by many others, did not wear pants and dress like a stripper. I could just wear it over my clothes, but it felt easy to move around without heavy leather pants. Besides, it's breezy down there.

The planet we set our course to was unnamed, but it was normal. Most of the planets within the Frontier Region was not named because only pre-space and criminals lived there. It was a remote area with most of it still uncharted and thus would not show on the galaxy map unless you updated it yourself. However, an official one would not be done since no one wanted to go into a dangerous area full of criminals and pirates, right?

The moment we got into the uncharted region, Sel, who noticed our position on the map, said, "I really wished it was this easy, but we really have to get our hands dirty, huh?"

"We don't even know the planet we're going to," I said.

"Good thing I have a good memory and access to the Frontier's map," she said. "Every space pirate operating within the Frontier Area knew about this. Well, my reptilian friend, you're in luck. Is the ship connected to the Net?"

I gave her a yes as she walked to the console and started accessing the Net while clicking on the keyboard of my ship's console. Before long, the map I had on the screen nearby was replaced by something that's rather crude, but still effective as a map. However, instead of a galaxy map, it only encompassed the Frontier area. It also showed a lot of points of interest and planets, each with their own descriptions.

"What's the space coordinate of the signal?" said Sel. I gave her what I got, and she simply inputted it into the computer. It showed the same planet found on the normal map, but now it also had a name and its description. A brief glimpse of the description made me uncomfortable.

The planet could be easily described as a den of thieves. Why? Well, the only colony on that planet, barring smaller outposts, was where many of the smugglers, pirates, and other unsavory elements gathered. It wasn't the only one around, of course, and it was not as remarkable. We were only there to get to the source of the signal. If Sethis was here, then our job was done, but if he wasn't, then we still needed to get to the point so the next one could appear on the ship's map.

However, we still needed to find the point where the signal stopped first, and that's the hard part. We had no idea where it would end up in. It could be somewhere inaccessible. I did say we looked shady enough to blend in, but we were not criminals. One false move and we're fucked.

While Sel had experienced the life as a criminal, I had none of it and Kilkaja was a victim of it. I could pass with a little sweet talk and witty comebacks, but Kilkaja's status as a former slave and his lack of tail would make it hard for him to blend in. In fact, going to the planet would be a great risk for him. We could just tell him to stay on the ship for safety, but I knew that would be even more dangerous if the ship ended up getting hijacked, as Sel warned.

So, in the end, we decided to just risk it and get everyone out. While Sel admitted having never been to this place before, she knew it was tame compared to other places she had visited. She, however, told us to look like we've been hardened by it all.

"We'll act as if we're smugglers from Dantaris, here to make a deal," said Sel. "Don't act like tourists or visitors. Act like you want to find someone to have business with. It's best we split up. Take Kilkaja with you, Astha."

Both Kilkaja and I nodded. She seemed rather confident with her role, which was something that I knew she would pull off perfectly.

The one that was clearly not capable of acting like a smuggler was Kilkaja. In fact, he looked more like an asset than a smuggler. The Nuoevan looked meek and vulnerable. He tried to hide from people staring at him. I did not know what he could sense in their hearts or their feelings, but I knew something told me he felt so naked. I knew it had something to do with him being a former slave. Sel told Kilkaja that he could not rely on her in this planet's colony because that weakness would make him a prime target of abduction.

While it made more sense for Kilkaja to just be disguised as a slave, I thought Sel had no heart to do so. She could just simply try and disguise him as one, but it was much easier said than done.

As I was curious for this choice, I approached Kilkaja to both ask him about this and tried to ease his worry.

"So, Kilkaja," I said as we reached a pub. I looked around to see if anyone's listening in and said, "Why aren't you disguised as a slave?"

Since I was known to be rather forward about stuffs to the point of being insensitive, Kilkaja reacted as if I said something wrong. Well, I guess it was wrong, so I said, "Sorry. Hurtful much?"

"N-no," said Kilkaja, shaking his head. "Nuoevan slaves are usually naked except their restraints and collars. It is to show their...subjugation to their masters."

"All the time? Even in the cold?"

"Nuoevans hate cold. We tend to not stay in cold places."

"Well, given you're only skin and bones, that make sense," I said. "I guess it won't work. Sorry for asking."

"No, it's fine," said Kilkaja. "It helps distract me from everyone. I never thought I sensed a lot of malice in their hearts. I sensed some who's just there for the money, but never malice. Others are just as scared as I am."

"Some people act strong to make others think twice before they strike," I said. "They cannot sense emotions like you, Kilkaja. Well, maybe other Nuoevans, but it's a different case."

"I...guess so," said Kilkaja, gripping the mug served to him. He was shivering and agitated. I knew it from his increasing temperature. Having infra-red vision helped me understand what he was feeling, too, at least to a degree. Poor thing. If only he could control who to feel and who not to feel....

Still, my focus was not Kilkaja. It was the signal point left by Sethis's. It was rather hard to pinpoint it due to the low-tech tracker and low level of specificity. I knew where the planet was and the general area it was left, but not the specific point needed to show the next saved position. Knowing that I had no other way to find this without asking anyone, I walked to the bartender, who happened to be a Nuoevan. I hoped she was not going to read my emotions. I needed only one empath, and that's the empath I knew.

Sitting on the bar, I ordered a Saukauri ale to call the bartender. The ale was strong, even for a Saukaur, but it was enough to give me the nerves needed to ask her. I usually worked best when slightly drunk, especially if I was trying to convince a Nuoevan girl.

"Hey," I said, beckoning the bartender. "Got a minute?"

She finished serving one of the patrons before she walked to me. The clopping sound of her hooves was quite apparent.

"The answer's no."

"I haven't asked anything."

"You just want to ask me out, right? Let me tell you something, scalie. There's a bordello across the street. I'm not on call."

"Is everyone really asking you about it all the time?"

"Most of the time," she sighed. "Some of them just flirt, but others are more forward about it. Some, like you...look like a stripper."

"Wow. That hurts."

"Then wear some pants. Unless leather hotpants are your idea of hooking up."

"I might consider that. But, I'm here for information. I need to find someone who went to this bar. That someone looks just like me."

"Hmmm." She looked at me rather intently. "Nope."

"I'm sure I can convince you." I simply touched the nearby pad and gave her at least 200 credits, ten times more than someone would usually tip her. She looked at her screen and let out a smile.

"You sure paying me will give you the info you want?" she said. I felt that she was going to just rip me off by falsifying the information. Good thing I knew someone who could read her.

"Hey, Kaj!" I shouted. "Come here!"

Kilkaja heard me and slowly walked towards the bar. The Nuoevan looked at him and said, "He's your friend?"

"With benefit," said Astha. "He's a little shy, so don't bother him too much."

"He's either a first-timer or a slave," she said with a scoff. "I'm betting on the latter, but eh, it's not my business. Anyway, you gotta be more specific. There are so many Saukaurs in this bar I can't see any different in each. To me, you all look the same."

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"Not even one with green scales and hood piercings?"

"Be a little bit more specific, scalie. Stop wasting my time."

I wanted to bribe her more, but I knew that'd be a waste of credits. So, I turned to Kilkaja and said, "Is it true?"

"What?"

"Her heart or something. Is she telling the truth?"

I could see the female Nuoevan looking at Kilkaja and me in confusion, before Kilkaja said, "She tried to hide it, but she recognized you the moment you call her."

I made a smug smile on my face, with the Nuoevan bartender surprised by it.

"Got caught with your hands wet, eh?" I said.

"More like almost got myself conned," she said, still composed. "Nice try, but Nuoevans can't read minds."

"But I know you're afraid," said Kilkaja. "Afraid that your little secret's not going to stay secret for long."

This time, I could hear her gasp rather audibly. Kilkaja seemed to read something in her emotions more than I thought. Maybe he could not help it and just point it to her.

"L-look," she said, clearly losing her cool. "Don't be silly! I've caught you trying to con me. I won't hesitate to kick you out if you keep going."

"What are you so afraid of?" I said. "We're just asking for a Saukaur who look a lot like me. Are you being paid to shut your mouth or something?"

"N-no." The bartender gulped, before she sighed and said, "Yes. I saw the Saukaur you're looking for."

"See? It isn't that hard," I said. "To congratulate you, I'll give you another tip. Easy credit, eh?"

After adding more credits, she said, "That Saukaur you're talking about...was part of a procession of slaves captured by pirates in a recent raid."

"Slave? You mean, he's..."

"I only saw him when these pirates made an impromptu slave trade to lighten the load. He did not get the cut and got returned to the ship. I knew you looked like him because we looked each other in the face."

"And you tried to swindle me over by withholding that information," I said with a sigh. "I'm not really mad. I know he's not here, but still. You could've told me sooner."

"I am not trying to swindle you over, scalie," she said with a huff. "You act like you're trying to con me."

"More like trying to offer my service, considering you thought I'm a stripper," I said, feeling cheeky. "Still, thanks."

"Wait," she said. "Meet me outside in 15 minutes. I still need to talk to you."

"Anything more about Sethis?"

"No, not him." She then pointed to Kilkaja. "Him."

Kilkaja pointed to himself in confusion," Me?" he said. "What's gotta do to me?"

"Hush! Not now!" she said.

"Before you go," I said. "Where did you see Sethis?"

"In the town's square, where they usually set up a trade," she said. "I'll show you where after I'm off."

I wasn't sure whether she wanted to lead us into a trap or something, but I had a feeling she was being truthful. In fact, Kilkaja knew we could trust her, because she seemed to have something to tell us, based on what he could read. Just as we finished paying the tabs did, I realize why it could end with disaster: She was Nuoevan, and she should've known Kilkaja could read her emotions. I told Kilkaja about this, but somehow, he was not concerned.

"Don't worry," said Kilkaja. "Sel told me that she'll be around to protect us. In fact, I think you're the kind of person who will not hesitate to shoot someone."

"You really sure about that?" I said. "I'm not some killing machine despite of being a seasoned hunter. Besides, you can protect yourself, too."

"I'm...still wondering about it myself," he said. "I took a life. Why must there be another wasted?"

"Because it's either you or them," I said. "Look, Kaj, don't focus on why you kill them. Focus on what you're trying to protect. Sometimes, it's not as easy as multiple choices. Sometimes, you already got the choice forced on you and you just...go on with it. I sure you understand what I mean, given your past."

Kilkaja wondered about it and sighed. "Yeah, you're right," he said. "I can't be the vulnerable slave forever."

"Now that's more like it," I said, patting his shoulder. "But do it only as a last resort, okay? Knowing your kind, I think you're prone to just keep them barely alive anyway."

Kilkaja simply nudged me with an annoyed look. Guess he knew what his kind was notorious for. Well, I hoped his first kill did not become a gateway for something dark. I'd really hate seeing this innocent empath be corrupted. He's cuter without that sadistic look other Nuoevans had.

15 minutes later, the female Nuoevan did came out of the tavern, this time accompanied by another, older Nuoevan. They approached Kilkaja and said, "Is he it? Is he the one?"

"Yes, elder," said the female. "We will walk and talk to the square. His friend needs me to show him something."

"That would be a good idea," he said with a chuckle. "More of us makes it a rather peaceful walk, don't you think?"

Still unsure if they were trying to walk us to a trap, I kept my wrist gun powered in case it was as I feared. We slowly walked towards the square.

"Long ago," said the old Nuoevan as we started walking. "There were those we called Sages. They were the Nuoevans that maintained the peace and prosperity of the Nuoevans, keeping us from the dangers of this galaxy and let our people thrive. However, some Nuoevans, knowing the use of suffering and pain to power their psychic powers, became power-hungry. Using their abilities, took over from the Sages and created a Nuoevan civilization as you all knew, characterized by slavery of our own people, both to maintain their status quo and to stop anyone from ever finding a Sage among our people. Young Kilkaja here has known that kind of life."

"That's a good story," I said. "But what does a Nuoevan legend have anything to do with Kilkaja?"

"Simple," said the old Nuoevan. "He's one of those Sages, or one of the descendants."

"What?" I said in disbelief. I knew that story sounded like it came out of a fairy-tale or something, but now I started to think this old Nuoevan was delusional. Kilkaja was this powerful Nuoevan guardian or some shit?

"Nuoevans have empathic powers. That's common knowledge. But our empathic abilities are so limited we can only detect a particularly strong emotion. That also needs effort and training to do. Sages, on the other hand, had a strong enough empathic powers that they can influence people by simply touching their 'hearts'. Also, Sages were known to be natural empaths instead of natural psychics, and Kilkaja just proved Nimeth that his ability was that of the Sage's."

"I mean, I gave her a good amount of credits," I said. "Isn't it obvious?"

"To be honest with you, I was trying to swindle you out of your credits," said Nimeth, rubbing her head. "I'd ask you to pay even more by withholding the information and give you something random, but no. Kilkaja convinced me that it's wrong."

"How? He didn't say anything about spilling the beans back then. I did. Also, you had me there."

"No, he did not," said Nimeth. "But he did convince me...because he knew I was hiding something."

I turned to Kilkaja, who said, "I only sense her hiding something, but I saw it from among her shawl. You're...a slave, aren't you?"

Nimeth looked away as the old Nuoevan said, "She's the latest of the runaways. I made them tend the bar as a cover. I was one of many who does not condone slavery, but it has been our history for years, long before we knew the sky's not the limit. It's getting harder to find Nuoevan allies these days. Likeminded Nuoevans chose seclusion and stayed neutral, mostly because the slaves they saved became corrupted themselves."

"So, she still wears her dampening collar?" said Kilkaja. "How...long has it been?"

"Three months or so," said Nimeth. "It's not hard to pretend I'm Akjati's slave if someone see the collar. My problem would be if one of my...masters found me here. My escape wasn't really flawless, you see."

"Sorry to interrupt," I said, after realizing that they started to talk among themselves while ignoring me. "But we are still going to get to the square, right?"

"Oh, yes," said Akjati, the old Nuoevan. "Sorry. We were so engrossed with our own story."

Before long, we reached the square. I heard the beeping of the tracker on Sethis's badge and pulled it out. It was the right place. It would only sound like that if it was close to the tracker point, as I tested it before.

Just as the tracker clicked and updated the next part of Sethis's current position, I turned to see the Nuoevans being approached by several Nuoevans. It quickly became clear that they were not there for a friendly chat. One of them seemed to notice Nimeth and forcefully pulled her shawl.

"I knew it," he said. "How can I forget the same, clumsy servant girl who spilled her drink? Tell me, girl. Does it still hurt? Does your little hole hurt?"

Well, that was rather vulgar and unprecedented, and Nimeth was agitated by it. She simply slapped him. The male Nuoevan was clearly angry because of that and slapped back.

"How dare you!" he said with a seething rage. "You're nothing but a slave and you lay your dirty hand on my face?!"

"Your face is full of shit!" said Nimeth, taunting the male. "All I did is dirty my hand on your face!"

"You dare?!" Before he could assault her again, both Kilkaja and Akjati stopped him. Kilkaja pointed his gun while Akjati pointed the tip of his cane on the Nuoevan's side.

"Stay away from her," said Akjati with an aggressive tone. "I know you're supposed to capture Nimeth alive. It won't matter if you die here, right?"

The male scoffed. "Stupid abolisher. Do you think I did not suspect anything about you and your little operation? I've known one of you has been operating on this planet for a while, but I have no proof. Now that you've pulled your weapon, it's enough proof."

He whistled, and more of them approached the three. Without warning, they attacked the three with psychic attack that quickly incapacitate Nimeth. Kilkaja tried his best to fight back while Akjati had all the effort. He started to lose due to the number of psychics attacking him.

As the male gloated of his victory, I sighed. I had anticipated this for a while, and I got it. I expected an ambush, one form or another. It did not have to be Akjati. I still needed to save Kilkaja from them, so I slowly approached the psychic closest to me and stabbed him from the back while closing his muzzle. At the same time, there was an energy shot that went through another. I looked up and saw Sel running away.

The attack clearly put the group in disarray. I had no idea on how to tackle them, but I knew a Nuoevan's photosensitivity. It would not be that easy since they wore goggles to walk outside the shades. Good thing the old Nuoevan used this chance to telekinetically push one of them away and another thrown to a beam, breaking his spine. It was eerily similar to how the Saukaur was killed back on Saukari.

I winced seeing how he died. That's kinda brutal, I thought. I was not someone who'd kill others with that level of brutality, especially if you knew this was not done by accident, unlike Kilkaja's case. One shot in the head was all I needed, and I was a good shot. Some of them realized what I did and tried to attack me using psychic ability, but I was one step faster. My anti-psychic training only protect me for several seconds, but it was enough to rush the two attackers, pull my sword, cut one of their hands while stabbing another with my wrist blade through the throat, then finish it with a simple shot in the head. I knew their suffering would fuel the other Nuoevans.

Without skipping a beat, I walked closer to Kilkaja and Akjati were. The psychic battle was too great for even an energy shot to get through, as the male Nuoevan was clearly a trained psychic. I felt it wasn't fair someone as rotten as he was turned out to be a fearless and experienced psychic who seemed to actually fight back by himself as I killed his subordinates. It felt like that usual story of a fearless warrior being the good guy turned out to be a twist, after all.

Good thing I was not trying to act like a good guy, I thought as I slowly approached him, wrist blade ready to slit his throat.

"Hah!" he gloated. "Do you think I'd just ask them to do my job? I am far better than them and all they did was to be a burden. I know they are all killed by a Saukaur creeping behind me as I speak."

"Oh shit," I said as he turned and grabbed me telekinetically by the throat. He was choking me! His toothy smile clearly signified that he thought he had won.

"Suffer for me, scalie," he said as I was slowly choked out of consciousness.

Before I could black out, however, Kilkaja snuck behind him and said, "Not if I end you first." He looked so different from his meek character before. In fact, he was angry. His expression said it all.

The male Nuoevan was still choking me when he turned to face Kilkaja. However, Kilkaja was faster. I knew Nuoevans needed to concentrate to use psychic energy, and at the moment he was choking me with telekinesis. That's when Kilkaja focused on doing something to the Nuoevan, which was when he pulled out a knife on the male Nuoevan's leg pocket and telekinetically move it with his fingers.

"I guess it's easy if you want to," said Kilkaja as he moved the knife to stab the Nuoevan in the back. He yelped in pain, trying to grab the knife, but Kilkaja was faster. He pulled the knife, then with a flick of a finger, the knife moved on the Nuoevan's throat. He then moved his fingers horizontally, and the knife did the same.

All I remember was that something sprayed onto me as I was freed from the psychic choke. Then I heard someone gurgling nearby. I looked to my side and saw the Nuoevan, holding his throat as black-colored blood sprayed out of his throat. He turned and glared towards Kilkaja, who glared back as he helped Akjati up. The Nuoevan seemed to be cursing, but his slit throat would not let him. All he did was gurgle as he fell to his knees. A moment later his body slumped on the dirt path, twitching as his life slowly leaving him. After an agonizing minute, he died.

Kilkaja turned towards me, then towards the other Nuoevans. He looked rather troubled and scared. Not surprising. The way he killed the Nuoevan confirmed what I said before: Nuoevans tended to be sadistic enough to let their victims lose their blood instead of outright killing them. Even if Kilkaja was different, he was still a Nuoevan.

Nimeth approached the dead Nuoevan and spitted on him. Guess she finally got her vengeance. I was more concerned with Kilkaja, who was still not able to accept that he killed yet another one, this time of his own race. Sel also jumped down from her vantage point and approached us.

"You alright, Kaj?" I asked. I touched his body and he was shaking. "Look, if you need some time...."

"I-it's fine, Ash," he replied. "I'm...alright."

Sel noticed that Kilkaja was not alright, so she hugged him and said, "Whatever you did, you did it to help others. You helped them."

"Is it inevitable?" he said. "Is it what defined our journey?"

"It always is," said Sel. "You're just...part of it now."

Kilkaja shed some tears, but he steeled up and wipe it off his face. "I suppose I cannot be the compassionate Nuoevan as you want me to be."

Kilkaja seemed to have accepted that this trip would change him, but the question remained.

Would he keep being the one who helped others, or would this journey changed him into something worse?