The Hunters

[thisDerius]

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Year 820 A.S. System New Berlin (approx. 3 weeks after arrival to New Berlin)

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Joker activated the ship-wide comms, his voice carrying a sharp edge of command. "Derius and Z, you’re heading to New Berlin. Sniff around, see if you can dig up anything useful. And while you're at it, grab a drink—I hear the beer down there is worth the trip."

In the corridors of the Alexandria, Derius and Z crossed paths on their way to the docking bay.

"Hey, Z. What’s the word?" Derius said, not breaking stride as he walked beside him.

Z flicked open a small metal box, retrieving a cigarette and placing it between his lips. "Not much. Just heading down for a beer. Might even find something interesting while we’re at it."

Derius scoffed, shaking his head. "You keep saying that, and I might actually believe it one day."

Without another word, the two split off toward their respective ships. Derius climbed into his Sabre, running a quick pre-flight check as the Alexandria’s docking bay doors groaned open. Z took his seat in the cockpit of his Talon, stretching his fingers over the controls before guiding the ship out into the void. The dark expanse of space soon gave way to the shimmering blue hues of New Berlin’s atmosphere as they descended toward the planet’s surface.

---

Back on the Alexandria, Joker leaned back in his command chair and exhaled. "Well, after six months, they finally left the ship. Status report, everyone."

Ella’s voice crackled through the comms first. "Hey Boss, Ella here. One of the engines is acting up. Nothing major, but I’ll need a bit more time to get it sorted."

She was already halfway under the engine casing, wrench in hand, before she even finished speaking.

David chimed in next. "The Wild specimens are intact. We’re still analyzing them, seeing what we can extract."

Joker nodded to himself. "Alright. That’s all for now. Keep me posted."

---

Meanwhile, on New Berlin, Derius and Z set their ships down in the docking bay before making their way to the nearest bar. As they stepped inside, the scent of cheap alcohol, sweat, and years of smoke-drenched wood filled their nostrils. Z tapped Derius on the shoulder.

"Find us a seat. I need to hit the head."

Derius grunted in acknowledgment and strode into the dimly lit establishment. The low murmur of conversation barely registered in his mind until he heard a voice cut through the noise.

"Looking for a seat, Mister Guerra?"

His sharp gaze flicked toward two men sitting in the shadows, an eerie artifact resting between them. The object pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat encased in stone.

"Come sit with us. We know why you're here."

Derius hesitated for only a second before lowering himself into the chair across from them. His posture remained relaxed, but his eyes were razor-sharp. "And how exactly do you know that?"

The man who spoke leaned forward with a smirk. "My brother and I... we’re gifted. And with this little thing, we can see what others cannot."

Before Derius could respond, Z slid into the seat beside him, rubbing his hands together. "Oh, magic tricks? Let me have a go."

The silent brother pushed the artifact toward him. "Concentrate, and you will see."

Z placed his hands around it, expecting something grand. Instead, a blinding flash filled his vision, and then—nothing. He blinked a few times, frowning. "Well, that was underwhelming."

The first brother chuckled. "Not everyone can see."

Z. responded "Neat trick, indeed. I think our boss would love to see your work."

Before Derius could add to the conversation, a shift in the bar's atmosphere caught his attention. Conversations died. Chairs scraped against the floor. Half the patrons stood, their stances predatory. They had been listening. And they didn't like what they heard.

Z sighed, shaking his head. "So, what’s it going to be, gentlemen? Fists? Or guns?"

The answer was obvious. Several men reached for their weapons—but before they could aim, shots rang out. Iridium slugs tore through the air, severing arms clean off. The stench of burning flesh filled the room as screams erupted.

Z spun his pistol back into its holster. "Iridium slugs. Real nasty. Quick draw, too. Just wondering why I didn’t take your heads off instead."

As chaos erupted, Derius had already vanished into the shadows. A second later, his voice rang out from above. "Up here, fellas. Right where I can see you all."

Perched on the upper walkway, he flicked his wrist, sending knives raining down into the crowd. The blades weren’t lethal—but they hit their marks, pinning arms to tables and slicing through tendons.

"Don’t kill them..." Derius said as he dropped down next to Z. "...they’re stupid, not a threat."

Z kicked one of the wounded men aside. "Yeah? Well, the ones missing arms might not live long."

He turned back to the two brothers. "Shall we?"

The brothers stood, unfazed by the carnage around them. "Let us be on our way."

Minutes later, they lifted off the planet and made their way back to the Alexandria.

---

In the docking bays, Yousei wiped sweat from his brow as he finished recalibrating Joker’s Sabre. He glanced over at Ella, who was still deep in the engine, grumbling.

"Two months, and he’s already busted this thing up."

Ella smirked. "Well, it’s Joker. He picks fights that you wouldn’t want to handle alone."

Suddenly, the AI’s voice echoed through the bay. "ATTENTION! DOCKING BAY 6 AND 8 ARE OPENING. ALL PERSONNEL, STAND ASIDE."

Yousei stretched, watching the doors hiss open. "Well, that was fast. Careful, Ella. Z might fall for you all over again."

She groaned from inside the engine. "Shut up. If he doesn’t know I’m here, it’s fine. And stop joking like that unless you want me to knock you out."

Over the comms, Joker’s voice rang through the ship. "Everyone to the meeting room. We have guests."

As the meeting began, the two brothers stood before the gathered crew. Joker wasted no time. "I want to know where you got that artifact and what exactly it can do."

The first brother smiled. "This is one of the artifacts found before the first Nomad War. It allows us to see beyond—to glimpse what may come, and what is happening in this very moment."

Derius leaned back, rubbing his jaw. "So, if we ask it what happens to this carrier in the near future... what would it say?"

The silent brother closed his eyes, placing his hand on the artifact. A violet glow engulfed him, pulsing through the room. When the light faded, his brother spoke.

"This ship will be destroyed. Nothing will remain. But you and your crew will survive... and you will rise again."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Ella broke it first. "What if we evacuate? Can we change the outcome?"

"That answer cannot be found."

Joker’s expression darkened, but he nodded. "Then we research everything we can. Prepare for the worst. Dismissed."

As the crew dispersed, he turned to the brothers. "I have an old ship. Take it to the planet. Consider it a thank-you."

The brothers bowed. "The pleasure is all ours, Ray Jericho."

Joker smirked, watching them leave before turning to Derius. "What’s the status on your research?"

"We have what we need. We can move on."

Joker nodded once. "Prepare for hyperspace. We're done here."

A moment later, the Alexandria jumped out of the system, leaving New Berlin behind.