Kai reached the town by midday, the sun beating down on the dusty streets. At the checkpoint, he ran into trouble. The guards at the gate immediately noticed his changed appearance—his white hair had drew suspicious looks.
“What happened to you, Kai?” one of the guards asked, narrowing his eyes.
Kai hesitated, struggling to come up with an explanation. “Uh... an accident in the mine,” he said, trying to sound casual. “Chemicals, maybe.”
The guard’s frown deepened, clearly unconvinced. Just as Kai was beginning to worry, someone from the crowd stepped forward—a miner he recognized from the tunnels.
“It’s fine,” the miner said, addressing the guards. “He’s one of ours. You know Kai—he’s always been a little reckless. Let him through.”
The guards exchanged glances, then reluctantly waved him on. “Be careful,” one muttered as Kai passed. Kai gave a nod of thanks to the miner.
Once inside, Kai felt a growing sense of unease. The long walk from the mine to the town should have left him exhausted, but instead, he felt... fine. His body wasn’t tired, not even sore. Yet he felt an intense thirst and hunger that gnawed at him like a fire burning inside. It was a strange contradiction—he felt strong, even invigorated, yet the need for sustenance was sharper than ever.
Kai pushed open the creaking door of the bar he frequented, the dim interior a welcome contrast to the glaring sun outside. It was nearly empty this early in the day, save for the faint sound of glasses being wiped clean behind the counter.
Behind the bar stood Lily, the familiar bartender who had become something of a confidant over his time here. She was a beautiful young woman, with striking emerald eyes that seemed to shift between green and gold in the light. Her long auburn hair was tied back in a loose braid, leaving a few stray strands to frame her delicate face. She wore a simple yet fitted blouse rolled up at the sleeves, revealing her slender arms.
When she looked up and saw Kai, her expression shifted. First came recognition, then confusion, her brow furrowing as she took in his changed appearance.
“Kai?” she asked, setting the glass she had been drying onto the counter. “What the hell happened to you?”
"I don't know, Lily," Kai muttered, sinking into a seat at the bar. She could see the exhaustion etched in his eyes, even though they looked... different. Despite the change in him, Lily was just glad he’d come to her.
“The usual?” she asked casually, as if nothing about him had changed.
“The usual,” he confirmed, grateful for her ability to read him without pressing. That was why he kept coming back to her—she never pushed when it wasn’t necessary. She just understood.
Seeing his state, Lily took out some cold sandwich she made for herself that morning, she poured some whiskey over ice and placed the glass gently in front of him. It was a local brew, more of a cheap imitation of real whiskey, but it got the job done. Kai didn’t mind—it had grown on him over the past few months.
“Thanks,” he said, and dug in, he washed the full mouth of food with the whole cup of whiskey in one gulp, letting the liquor burn his throat.
“Slowly,” Lily warned, taking the empty glass before he could gesture for a refill. She poured another drink, but this time, she didn’t hand it to him. Instead, she leaned forward, her emerald eyes searching his. “Tell me what’s wrong,” she said firmly.
Kai hesitated, not because of the murders, Lily had a way of keeping secrets, but because of how absurd the whole thing sounded. Even himself was struggling to process it all.
“I don’t know if I should say it,” he said quietly, avoiding her gaze.
“You don’t have to,” she replied, her tone gentle but her actions betraying her curiosity. She walked around the bar and sat down beside him, her presence warm and inviting.
Kai sighed, defeated. “Alright, I’ll tell you.” He smiled faintly, shaking his head. “You’re dangerous, Lily.”
She smirked. “You know I had to hear what happened in the mine.”
He began recounting the events. At first, he kept it brief, but Lily’s piercing gaze pressed him to continue. Slowly, he told her everything—about the two miners he’d killed in self-defense, the strange tattoo one of them had. Lily listened intently, her smile unwavering. When he confessed to the murders, her reaction wasn’t shock but quiet approval.
“It is what it is,” she said simply, placing a comforting hand on his arm.
Kai paused before mentioning the ancient ship. He took a sip of the imitation whiskey, letting it linger in his mouth. “God, this tastes awful,” he muttered, chuckling softly.
“You get what you pay for,” Lily replied with a shrug and smiled. Her tone turned teasing. “But... if you tell me the rest of the story, maybe I’ll give you a taste of the real stuff. On the house.”
Kai laughed. “Alright, you win.” He continued, describing the ship, the diary, and finally the vial of strange liquid. His hand trembled slightly as he recounted how the substance had escaped the vial and invaded his body. He could still feel it—the alien sensation of something alive rewriting him from the inside out.
Lily placed her hand on his, steadying him. “You’re okay now,” she said softly. Her calm demeanor reassured him.
Kai had expected disbelief, maybe even ridicule, but Lily only smiled. She didn’t call him crazy. She didn’t recoil. She just listened, the same way she always did, with an unshakable steadiness that felt like an anchor in the chaos of his life.
As he finished his second glass, she stood and took it from him. Without a word, she walked back behind the bar, letting the silence settle over them. Kai watched as she reached for a bottle on the top shelf. The label was unmistakable—Regal Bourbon from Tyvaris 5. Kai knew it was a planet renowned across the galaxy for its whiskey.
She poured a generous amount of the amber liquid over ice and slid the glass across the bar to him.
“On the house,” she said with a knowing smile.
Kai caught the glass and nodded his thanks to Lily, appreciating her quiet support. Without hesitation, he took a sip. The whiskey was leagues beyond the imitation he was used to. Smooth and rich, it carried a deep, smoky flavor with hints of caramel and oak, leaving a warm, satisfying burn as it went down. It wasn’t just a drink—it was an experience, a moment of solace.
Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
After finishing the glass, Kai stood up, feeling the comfortable buzz settling over him. He pulled out a few bills and placed them on the counter, along with a generous tip. It was his way of repaying Lily’s kindness and understanding.
“Take care of yourself,” Lily said softly, her emerald eyes watching him as he adjusted his jacket.
Kai gave her a faint smile and nodded. The dizziness was pleasant, not enough to hinder him, but enough to remind him that, for a brief moment, he’d found some peace.
Kai was just about to step outside when Lily’s voice stopped him.
“Kai,” she called, her tone serious yet cautious. “I just thought of something that might interest you.”
He turned back toward her, raising an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
“There are some big players in town,” she said, lowering her voice as if to avoid somehow being overheard in an empty bar. “Someone from the Federation homeworld landed in the city recently. I’m not sure what they’re looking for, but a couple of friends told me things aren’t looking good. Word is, there might be a war brewing between the Federation and the Empire, and they’re trying to force people to pick sides.”
Kai nodded, her words sinking in. He was already planning to head to the city to sell the location of the ship, but now there was the chance to see the Federation players up close. The thought filled him with a strange mix of excitement and dread.
“Thanks for the information, Lily,” he said, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “And thanks for the drinks.”
Lily smiled warmly, waving him off. “Be careful, Kai. And come back anytime.” As he turned to leave, she added, “Oh, and… I think the white hair suits you.”
Kai glanced over his shoulder and caught a faint blush rising on her cheeks. He chuckled softly to himself as he stepped out into the sunlight. The visit to Lily had lightened his spirit. Whatever had happened to his body, whatever changes the liquid had made, it didn’t matter so much now. Life had to go on.
He’d visit the city, sell the ship’s location, and come back to the mine. Everything would stay the same—at least, that’s what he told himself. Deep down, though, he had a feeling life was about to take a very different turn.
Kai walked through the bustling main street of the town, where the morning rush hour was in full swing. Vendors lined the streets, their makeshift stalls overflowing with goods. Some shouted over each other to advertise their wares—fresh produce, handmade trinkets, secondhand tools, and everything in between. The air smelled of spiced food cooking on open grills, mingling with the faint tang of machine oil from the mechanics’ shops nearby.
Children darted through the crowd, playing games that seemed to have no clear rules, their laughter rising above the din. A boy chased after a makeshift toy spaceship on wheels, while a group of girls gathered near a stall, bartering for colorful ribbons. Carts rumbled over the uneven road, pulled by old hover engines barely functional enough to float. Kai pushed his way though the crowd.
Kai made his way to the far side of the town, where the noise of the market began to fade. He reached the landing pad, a worn concrete platform on the edge of town. There, an old, decommissioned spaceship rested—a relic from a time long past. The ship was a patchwork of old parts scavenged from other vessels, its hull a mismatched mosaic of colors where repairs had been made over the years. Its once-proud name, barely legible under layers of grime and paint, hinted at a military origin. Now, it served as a humble shuttle, connecting the town to the distant city.
The engines hummed faintly, their whine uneven, as mechanics fussed over one of the stabilizers. A ramp extended from the ship’s side, creaking under the weight of passengers loading cargo and luggage. Its interior was dimly lit, with exposed wiring snaking along the walls.
Kai picked up his pace as he approached the front of the ship, where a short man in a worn pilot uniform stood leaning against the hull. Ray, the ship’s owner and operator, looked up and gave Kai a quick once-over.
“Kai? What the hell happened to you?” Ray asked, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
Kai frowned. “Please, Ray, this is the third time someone’s asked me that.”
“Alright, alright,” Ray said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “As long as you’re paying the fare, I don’t care what you look like. You could switch genders for all I care. Speaking of which, I know a guy who can get you a discount on the procedure, if you’re interested,” he added with a mischievous grin.
Kai shook his head, exasperated. “Just a ride will do, thanks.”
Ray glanced toward the crowded loading ramp. “Tell you what,” he said, jerking his thumb toward the cockpit, “there are too many people back there. How about you ride up front with me today, big guy? I heard you’ve been dreaming of your own ship.”
Kai chuckled. “Sure, just not something like this dust bucket of yours.”
“One more bad word about her,” Ray shot back, grinning, “and you’re riding with the rest of them in that cramped space.” He laughed as Kai handed over the fare, then pocketed the money and gestured for Kai to follow him.
Ray led him into the cockpit and gestured toward the co-pilot’s seat. The ship was an old Federation dropship, repurposed for its new civilian role. The pilot’s seat was positioned in front of the co-pilot’s, following the classic military design. In its original form, the co-pilot would have had access to remote turret controls, but on this decommissioned model, all the weapons had been stripped out long ago.
“Just don’t touch anything, alright?” Ray said, settling into his seat and flipping a few switches.
“Yes, Ray, I won’t touch a thing,” Kai replied, keeping his arms folded to make a point.
The cockpit filled with a sharp whining noise as the ship’s four VTOL thrusters powered on. Outside, a few late passengers hurried up the loading ramp as dust kicked into the air, momentarily obscuring Kai’s view. The ship gave a shudder as the thrusters strained to lift the heavy, patched-together vessel off the ground. For a brief moment, Kai worried the old thing might not make it.
Then Ray grinned, pushed the throttle forward with confidence, and the ship rattled violently as it broke free of the ground. The thrusters roared, and the vessel began its slow climb, the scenery of the town growing smaller below them.
“She’s got some life in her yet, doesn’t she?” Ray said, clearly proud of his workhorse.
Kai smirked, his initial doubts fading as they ascended. For all its flaws, the old ship had character—and for now, it would get him where he needed to go.
Jokes aside, Kai loved the feeling of being in the air. Up here, he felt a sense of freedom he rarely experienced on the ground. The view below mesmerized him—the patchwork of landscapes growing smaller as the ship climbed higher. The horizon curved gently, a reminder of the planet’s vastness. Above him, the infinite expanse of space stretched out, dotted with countless stars.
For a fleeting moment, his gaze locked on one of those stars, and he watched as it seemed to vanish. A wave of fear gripped him as the memory of his vision flooded back—the star-eating entity, vast and incomprehensible, consuming the light of entire systems. His chest tightened, and he felt his heartbeat quicken. Then, just as suddenly, the star reappeared, no longer obscured by dust on the cockpit window. Relief washed over him, though the lingering fear remained. The vision felt so far-fetched, yet it had been disturbingly vivid.
The dropship climbed steadily, its four massive VTOL engines straining to carry it to the edge of Drakmoor’s atmosphere. Despite their power, the ship was never designed for full orbital travel, and it hovered near the boundary where the sky gave way to space. The thrusters rotated, shifting their output to propel the ship forward toward the city.
Kai couldn’t help but admire Ray’s skill as a pilot. Flying this old dropship wasn’t as simple as taking off and landing. Every movement had to be carefully calculated to ensure maximum efficiency, especially with a patched-together ship like this. Kai found himself wondering about Ray’s past—what kind of life he’d led before becoming a shuttle pilot.
The question lingered on the edge of his tongue, but he decided to save it for another time. His body reminded him of how long it had been since he’d rested. Nearly 24 hours without sleep was catching up to him.
Leaning back in the rigid military-style seat, Kai closed his eyes. The hard surface was far from comfortable, but exhaustion overtook him quickly. Within minutes, he was drifting off, the hum of the ship’s engines lulling him into sleep.
Kai felt the weight shift beneath him and snapped awake. The serenity of the flight was gone, replaced by chaos as Ray wrestled with the controls.
“What’s wrong?” Kai asked, gripping the sides of his seat.
"We just lost control," Ray said.