"Hail the Corsair," Commander Grayson ordered, his voice steady. "And engage if they open fire on us."
Kai waited in anticipation as Teresa initiated the two-way connection. What would happen when the line connected? Would it be met with hostility, hatred, or desperate pleas for mercy?
After a few tense seconds, the connection was accepted. A man’s face appeared on the screen in front of Kai. The first thing he noticed was the scar running down the man’s face, from brow to jaw. Dark hair framed the man’s stern features, and his brown eyes glared coldly into the screen. Behind him, faint chatter could be heard—voices speaking in hurried, clipped tones.
“This is Commander Grayson of the Black Swan. Do you require assistance?” Grayson’s voice was calm and diplomatic, but Kai could hardly believe what he was hearing. Why would Grayson offer help to them?
“Why did you save us?” the man asked, his tone sharp and suspicious.
“Because it’s the rule of space to offer aid to ships under attack by pirates,” Grayson replied smoothly. “Do you need assistance?”
The man hesitated. Kai could see his eyes shift slightly, as if he were listening to others speaking off-screen. More chatter followed, rapid and coded. It was a toon Kai couldn’t decipher, but the urgency was clear.
Finally, the man relented. “Yes. Our jump drive coil is damaged.”
Commander Grayson nodded once, his expression unreadable. “Teresa, grab a spare,” he ordered. Then, turning back to the screen, he addressed the scarred man again. “Commander of the Corsair drop ship, we are going to dock with your ship. Tell your men to stand down, or your vessel will be destroyed. Do you understand?”
The man’s jaw tightened as he gave a curt nod. “Yes, I understand.” The defiance in his eyes was unmistakable, a silent challenge.
Grayson cut the connection and stood. “Ivan and Robert, you’re staying on the ship. Teresa, Eliana, and Kai—you’re with me.”
Kai unstrapped himself from his seat and hurried after the commander, still unable to suppress his confusion. “Commander, why are we helping them? They attacked our mine.”
“Because they are our only lead to the True Kin,” Grayson replied firmly, not breaking stride. “Our mission is to uncover what they represent, not to seek revenge.”
Teresa chimed in as she checked her rifle. “Trust me. If they turn out to be something evil, the commander will deal with them.”
Kai carried the jump drive coil as they reached the airlock. The door opened slowly with a hiss, the heavy mechanisms grinding into motion. The atmosphere was tense, no one speaking a word.
Eliana and Teresa flanked him, their rifles pointing downward but ready. Commander Grayson led the way, his pistol holstered but unmistakably within reach.
As the opposite airlock door slid open, the man from the screen stood waiting. Two guards flanked him, each holding rifles in a similar resting position, barrels pointed away.
Kai’s gaze lingered on the man’s face, trying to process what he was seeing. The man’s features were unlike any Kai had encountered before—his face was angular, with high cheekbones and a sharp, narrow jawline. His eyes were almond-shaped, set slightly at an upward slant, and his nose was smaller and more defined than most people Kai had known. It wasn’t unattractive, just... unfamiliar, strange even. Which planet was he from? Kai wondered. The deep scar running from the top of his forehead, down over his brow, and slicing through his cheek to his jaw made the man’s appearance more striking. Kai found himself staring for a moment too long, unable to not feel alien about this man, even when he was speaking the same language as him.
The man reached out a hand. “I’m Commander Yang of the Tian Fa. And you must be Commander Grayson.”
Commander Grayson nodded but didn’t take Yang’s hand.
“I see,” Yang said softly, withdrawing his hand. “You still hold grudges against us…” He bowed deeply, a sign of genuine humility. “I’m sorry for killing your people, but you need to know—we are also looking for the buried ship. We are seeking answers, just like you.”
Commander Grayson remained silent, his gaze hard and unreadable. He simply nodded, an unspoken acceptance of Yang’s words.
Yang straightened, his posture composed but weary. “And thank you for saving us from the pirates.”
Every word Yang spoke felt sincere to Kai. There was no malice, no arrogance—just a man burdened by circumstance. Kai couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness for him. Yang didn’t seem like someone who wanted bloodshed; he was simply caught up in something far bigger than himself.
"Kai, give them the coil," Commander Grayson said.
Kai nodded and handed the coil to the strange man. Yang bowed as he took it from Kai’s hands. For a moment, their eyes met, and Yang froze.
“Your eyes…” Yang murmured, staring intently. The faint glow in Kai’s irises had captured his full attention. “What’s your name?”
“Kai,” Kai answered simply.
“Kai…” Yang smiled faintly, a hint of reverence in his tone. “Perhaps it is heaven’s will for our paths to cross.”
“Is there something wrong with my name?” Kai asked, raising an eyebrow.
“No, not at all. Your name holds meaning in my language—although it’s impossible for your parents to have known that.” Yang handed the coil to one of his crew before turning back to Grayson. “Commander Grayson, I assume you seek answers about who we are. You wish to understand the True Kin. Am I correct?”
“Yes,” Commander Grayson replied evenly. “The buried ship was supposed to be a myth, yet you knew of its existence. That alone raises questions about who you truly are.”
“Very well.” Yang’s gaze lingered on Kai before he turned and retrieved something. It was a sword, the entire surface etched with intricate carvings. The sword was straight and narrow, unlike any sword Kai had seen before.
Yang looked directly at Kai and extended the weapon toward him. “Please understand that the identity of our people is a secret meant to remain hidden. The only reason I’m breaking that tradition now is because of the young man before me. If I’m not mistaken, he is the one our people have sought for a very long time.”
Kai exchanged a bewildered glance with Eliana, who looked equally confused.
“If you seek answers,” Yang continued, his voice steady and serious, “find Mama Mo's at an asteroid belt in the Veyra system. Bring the sword with you and you will be granted entry. However, for reasons of secrecy, only Kai will be allowed to meet with the leader.”
Yang and his crew bowed again, ready to leave.
“Wait,” Kai called out, “You said my name means something in your language. What does it mean?”
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Yang’s smile was soft but knowing. “Kai is the music a warrior plays after victory. It means triumphant.”
---
Kai sat on his bed, the sword from Yang resting across his lap. He examined it carefully. The weapon was undoubtedly ancient—its colors faded, yet the carvings remained sharp and intricate. They depicted some kind of flying breasts locked in combat amidst swirling clouds.
Gripping the hilt, Kai marveled at its surprising lightness. Slowly, he pulled the blade from its scabbard. The steel gleamed brilliantly, its surface polished like a mirror. Kai stared at his own reflection, catching the faint glow in his eyes.
What had Yang meant? The one they were looking for. How could he, a refugee with no past to speak of, be so significant to the True Kin?
Kai raised his head and saw Eliana standing in the doorway. She was in her nightgown, her hair loose, ready for sleep.
“Sorry… you didn’t close the door, so…” Eliana said softly.
“It’s fine. Come in,” Kai replied, placing the sword back in its scabbard and setting it aside.
Eliana walked over and sat beside him on the bed, the tips of her fingers brushing against Kai’s hand. “So… are you going?” she asked, her voice quiet.
“Yes,” Kai said without hesitation. “We came to find answers about who the True Kin really are. Now we’re so close and there’s no reason to stop.”
“But sometimes the truth is dangerous,” Eliana said, her brows furrowing in concern. “And I’m worried about you going alone.”
Kai took her hand gently in his. “Don’t worry, Eliana. I’ll be fine, I promise. I’m only going to talk to them.”
“Okay, but you have to be careful. These people attacked the mine without any remorse. It’s hard to say what they’ll do to you,” Eliana said, her voice trembling slightly.
“I’ll be careful,” Kai reassured her, his gaze steady. “I’ll come back to you.”
Eliana looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Kai pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her, and she melted into his embrace.
In truth, Kai was also afraid of what will happen when he meet with the True Kin. His fate will be on their hand the moment he leaves the protection of the Black Swan. He kept it to himself, he didn't want Eliana to worry.
---
Veyra System, the place they needed to go, was still a few jumps away. The Black Swan could manage a maximum of two jumps per day, which meant a lot of downtime waiting for the jump drive to recharge. Kai spent most of that time between the training room and the bridge.
By now, Kai had grown accustomed to the feeling of jumping. He hadn’t even taken the anti-nausea pill during the last one. Space travel—and being part of a crew—was starting to feel natural to him.
He also learned how the Black Swan operated. Most of the time, the ship was run by just one or two members of the three-person crew, plus Commander Grayson. They rotated shifts, ensuring someone was always on the bridge. The system had its benefits: it allowed the off-shift crew members to take breaks, clear their minds, and avoid burnout.
One afternoon, Kai was in the training room, practicing his aim when Robert approached him, holding a small data pad.
“How about I teach you how to operate the Black Swan’s weapon systems?” Robert offered, a grin on his face.
Kai’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Sure, I’m eager to learn,” he replied without hesitation.
“All right, sit down here and put the goggles on,” Robert instructed, pointing to the simulator seat.
Kai’s eyes lit up. He had always wanted to try the device but, without proper training, he hadn’t even known how to turn it on. Now, he finally had the chance.
He sat down and did as Robert told him, lowering the goggles over his eyes. At first, all he saw was black.
“Okay, you’re probably not seeing anything at the moment. I need to run a quick calibration. You should see a red dot in the center of your vision soon.”
Sure enough, a red dot appeared. Kai noticed it wasn’t just a flat dot—it seemed to have depth, like it was floating in front of him. He stared at it until it suddenly popped like a bubble.
“Good. Now look at the other dots as they appear, and keep doing that until they vanish,” Robert instructed.
Kai followed Robert’s instructions. Dots began appearing one by one, and he fixed his gaze on each until they disappeared. After a few moments, the calibration was complete.
“Ready for the real magic?” Robert asked, a grin evident in his voice.
Before Kai could reply, his entire vision shifted. For a moment, confusion washed over him—he didn’t understand what he was seeing. Then it clicked. He wasn’t looking at a screen or a flat display. Instead, he was surrounded by a fully immersive, three-dimensional view of space, projected as though he were floating outside the Black Swan.
The stars, the asteroids, and the endless blackness stretched all around him. It felt real, like he could reach out and touch it.
“Wow,” Kai gasped, completely stunned. “This… this is incredible.”
“Yes, it is. Now put your hands on the sticks,” Robert said.
Kai reached out and found the control sticks on both sides of his chair, wrapping his fingers firmly around them.
“Good. The left stick controls your secondary weapon, and the right stick controls your primary weapon. For now, you’ll be controlling the top turret with your right hand. The Black Swan has missiles too, but that’s training for another time. Today, I just want you to have some fun. Let me send some targets your way.”
In the distance, glowing shapes appeared, flying steadily toward him. These must be the targets, Kai thought. He aimed carefully and fired, surprised at how easy it was. With the targeting computer’s help and his sharp sense of depth perception, taking down the targets felt as simple as pointing at them with his arm.
Robert nodded approvingly as he watched Kai shoot down each target with ease. “All right, you’ve got some talent. Let’s see if you can handle this,” he said with a mischievous smile.
The underside turret unlocked for Kai, granting him control over both turrets. More glowing targets appeared, but this time they moved erratically—zigzagging, weaving, and diving like real enemy ships. Kai struggled to keep up, missing several shots. Controlling two turrets at once while tracking unpredictable targets was far more challenging than before.
“Relax,” Robert advised. “Try not to focus on just one target. Remember, you’re in a three-dimensional space. Calm down and imagine the turrets are your arms. You’re just reaching out to touch the targets.”
Kai nodded, trying to steady himself. It was difficult to align what his brain envisioned with the actual controls. He felt his hands warming up, a familiar tingling spreading across his skin. The area around his eyes felt warm too, as if the liquid inside him was awakening.
Inhale... Exhale... He took a few deep breaths. Kai focused on the top turret first, letting his brain instinctively track the target. Without forcing it, he shifted attention to the bottom turret, allowing his instincts to take over completely. He stopped thinking and started feeling—as though the turrets were an extension of his body.
Shots rang out in perfect coordination. Targets exploded left and right, one after another, as Kai’s movements became fluid and natural.
Robert watched with wide eyes, unable to hide his astonishment. “Impressive,” he muttered under his breath, his mouth slightly agape.
Soon, all the targets were destroyed, and Robert clapped, satisfied. “Well done, Kai. You certainly did a lot better than I did on my first try.”
“Thank you,” Kai replied, taking off his helmet and feeling a sudden lightness.
“Well, I was just going to let you have some fun and help you relax a little. I know you’ve got a lot of pressure on your shoulders,” Robert said, leaning back slightly. “But if you’re interested, I can train you more on the weapon systems. We can always use another gunner.” He extended his hand.
Kai smiled and shook it firmly. “Thank you. I’d love to learn from you, Robert.”
He realized how often he found himself smiling since coming aboard the Black Swan. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he was part of a family again. Even though he still didn’t know the crew very well, he could sense their care and trust for him.
Kai no longer felt dread about meeting the True Kin. He knew that whatever happened, the Black Swan and its crew would have his back.
"Everyone," Ivan’s voice broadcasted throughout the ship, “we are going to jump again in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1.”
Kai remained still and braced himself, barely blinking as the jump engaged. He no longer needed the pills, and the discomfort had become nothing more than a minor annoyance.
“Hey, look at you now,” Robert said with a grin, giving Kai’s shoulder a light punch. “Not bad, kid.”
“I guess I’m officially part of the crew now?” Kai asked with a faint smile.
“Oh yeah,” Robert replied, leaning back. “You were already part of the crew the moment you stepped aboard this ship. What you should say is—”
Robert’s words were cut off by another broadcast from Ivan, this time sharp and urgent. “Uh, all hands on deck, we have a situation.”