The Veltrax Expanse had no government, no trade taxes, and no communication satellites. It was a void where exiles fled, smugglers thrived, and failed empires rotted.
To Kairos, it was a goldmine.
He leaned back in the command chair of the Jade Vulture as the vessel slipped through the last navigation gate before entering the Expanse. The moment the ship crossed the threshold, the stars dimmed. Not just figuratively—sensor readings showed actual light distortion, likely caused by quantum flux storms. Navigation was going to be a nightmare.
"Confirming entry into Veltrax," Nira said beside him. "No external signals. System interference high. We are alone."
"No," Kairos said, watching the dark stretch before him. "We're never alone out here. Not in a place like this."
Two Hours Later – Pirate Ambush
They didn't even bother to disguise it. Three jagged ships burst from a cloaked asteroid field, weapons charged. Their hulls bore the blood-red markings of the Razor Pact, a local pirate clan infamous for capturing merchant vessels and auctioning off their crew.
"Incoming hail," Nira warned. "Open channel?"
"Sure. Let's see if they speak credits."
A snarling face appeared onscreen—alien, tusked, with a mechanical eye implant. "Surrender your cargo and ship. We'll let your synth live."
Kairos cracked his neck. "I have one counteroffer. I'm a registered independent with trading rights issued by the Galactic Exchange itself. You take this ship, the system pings your signature across every black ledger in the quadrant. No one will touch your junk for trade again."
A pause. Then: "You're bluffing."
Kairos smiled. "I just sold ten tea capsules for three grand each. Go ahead—test my credit lines."
Another pause. Then the screen went dead.
"They're withdrawing," Nira said, blinking in surprise. "That was… effective."
"Fear," Kairos said softly, "is always the best currency."
Later – Inside the Expanse
Following the trade trail was like reading a broken language. The Market Ghost passive flickered and glitched as it tried to make sense of rogue beacons, hacked transaction logs, and burned-out transponders.
But then the signal sharpened—centered around a derelict battlecruiser known as the "Chained Dagger". It hovered near a black-misted moon, looking like it hadn't moved in years. Yet energy signatures hummed beneath its surface.
"Prepping boarding shuttle," Nira announced. "I've also detected a system fluctuation. Someone inside is system-tagged."
Kairos raised an eyebrow. "Another trader?"
"Possibly. Or something worse."
Onboard the Chained Dagger
They entered through a shattered cargo bay. The air was stale, but breathable. Light flickered intermittently. Signs of battle were everywhere—scorch marks, melted panels, even crystallized blood.
Then a voice echoed.
"You're late."
A figure stepped from the shadows. Tall, cloaked, and armed. His right eye glowed green—system-linked.
Kairos tensed. "Name?"
"Velo Krass. Former trader. Exiled Sovereign. Last owner of the Thorn."
Bingo.
Kairos remained calm. "You have it?"
"I did. I traded it long ago… but the price followed me."
He pulled back his hood. His face was partially mechanical, and his aura radiated pressure—a Rank 4 Trader.
[System Alert: Trader Rank Detected – Tier 4 – Sovereign Candidate][Warning: Hostile potential. Passive skill interference detected.]
"I know why you're here," Velo said. "You're building your own empire, aren't you? Starting small—just like I did. You think trade will protect you. That your system is a blessing."
He stepped closer.
"It's not. It's a leash. And one day… the Exchange will ask for a toll you can't pay."
Kairos didn't flinch. "Then I'll build a market so big they'll beg me to stay."
Silence.
Then Velo smirked. "You've got teeth. I like that. But if you want the Thorn's last known coordinates, you'll have to trade me something worth its weight in history."
Kairos didn't hesitate. "What do you want?"
Velo's smile faded. "Earth."
The room froze.
"I want whatever you know about Earth. Rumors. Coordinates. Even fragments."
Kairos's mind raced. The system fragment. The visions. The encrypted flashes.
He nodded slowly. "Deal."
And just like that, Velo slid over a datapad—the Thorn's last location embedded in a broken map stitched from forbidden archives and battle-salvage records.
[Quest Updated: Seek the Thorn – Coordinates Acquired.][System Sync Complete – Kairos's reputation increases across rogue networks.]
Status Summary:
Cosmic Units (C.U.): 7,100
Star Credits: 15,800
System Fragments: 1
Trader Rank: Tier 2+
New Intel: Thorn of Azaek Location Acquired
Reputation: +9 (Recognized in rogue sectors)
Danger Level: Rising – Identified by Rank 4 Sovereign