Chapter 12: Welcome to Narius Port

“And to the crew of the Silent Sail, we bid you a warm welcome to Narius Port, your gateway of choice to the United Cristom Frontier Worlds. We trust that our numerous offerings will ensure that every guest is beyond satisfied with their stay.

Should you have any feedback, please direct it to our Port Experience Officer. Wait time is currently: Three weeks.

Visitors are reminded to keep a close eye on their personal belongings. Narius Port and our security contractors are not responsible for the loss, destruction or disappearance of any such items.

Thank you for your time.”

The automated message droned away in the background, ignored by most.

Yan was standing on the bridge in her freshly laundered white bodysuit, resting against the railing directly behind the glass viewport. Unlike the last time she had been here, the bridge sported a patchwork of repairs. Control panels had been rebuilt from scrap. Steel plates had been riveted over damaged surfaces. Even parts of the viewport had been plastered over with some kind of sealant.

The Silent Sail shuddered to a stop beside one of the many berths that protruded from the Port. There was some chatter on the communication systems. From what Yan could tell, they were waiting for the station to deploy the tethers that would secure the ship.

There was a familiar chime in her mind. “Hi ImYan! Finally! It’s so hard for you to get a moment of me-time these days!

Right, and now you’ve ruined it…

Sierra did not seem to register her quip. “Let me run the necessary procedures, then! Initiating post-scene sequence. Displaying acquisitions.”

The screens she had previously seen flashed by:

image [https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/135007208/bd91cf4fc2e3477c8730aa3e82db2986/e30%3D/1.png?token-hash=OPpUnKhMHhJCFcSvpABfzk89dP3KI_6k4jX_N3etvN8%3D&token-time=1754784000]

The last item in the Loot list caught her eye. It sounded like a way to claim a bounty. Yan made a mental note to ask Luke about it.

The Acquisitions screen disappeared, replaced by the next table:

image [https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/135007208/941be4a2a3ee45c7b95222b166785664/e30%3D/1.png?token-hash=7Gu28fct6xnAz1_uxNR1tW8b1FNl5YE16a2VBlQMPAY%3D&token-time=1754784000]

“Congratulations! You have reached Level 4! As analysis suggests that you already possess the skills of a Blade Initiate, that ability has been automatically unlocked.”

Another screen appeared in her vision:

image [https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/135007208/ae15ffe6a46644b09207a0eee0d19d79/e30%3D/1.png?token-hash=bx5RTK9Mticmy0m8ypiYbdlULMFrEGeevFNtBlIDkYc%3D&token-time=1754784000]

“With that done, please select your new ability!”

The previous screen disappeared, replaced by the usual ability selection screen. In the background, the tethers were finally trailing out from the berth, heading towards the Silent Sail.

image [https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/135007208/cb45ac4a42cd4bd29af79e4eaa7a67d0/e30%3D/1.png?token-hash=o6jGwYstRlORIES3vO21uCNtm4HZX6r1CWDWrpqwGWU%3D&token-time=1754784000]

One option in particular caught her attention: Non-Neural Exosuit Proficiency.

Sierra, would Non-Neural Exosuit Proficiency allow me to use that Arc - Arka -

“Sorry to interrupt, ImYan, would you be referring to the Arkanses Technology AP-42 power armour?”

Yes, that one.

“Unfortunately, the Arkanses Technology AP-42 power armour is a neural exosuit and would thus require Neural Exosuit Proficiency. However, taking the Non-Neural Exosuit Proficiency might unlock that option for future level-ups. Alternatively, you may obtain said proficiency via extensive training or the purchase of the associated Modules! For the sake of your sanity, the last is recommended.”

You would recommend that, won’t you?

“Certainly! I’m programmed to recommend the very best!”

Pushing the annoying sales pitch from her mind, Yan mulled over the options. Any lingering scepticism she might have had about this levelling-up business had all but vanished. It had, after all, taught her a new language and magic almost instantaneously.

Now that Yan was thinking about it, it was strange that she had an instinctive connection with bladework but none with magic. However, dwelling on it without any memories was pointless, so she turned her attention back to the ability selection screen.

She knew that it was a waste to put a point into Blade Novice since her skills were already well beyond that. All she had to do was keep proving her swordsmanship. So that left two options. Non-Neural Exosuit Proficiency sounded interesting but it was not immediately useful.

Magic Novice, it is.

Her eye clicked and launched into the standard disclaimer, “Prior to commencement, I’m legally obligated -”

I accept!

“Initiating level-up procedures.”

The brief zap was in the back of her mind this time.

Three textboxes appeared in front of her vision in rapid succession:

“Spell unlocked: Tier 1 - [Detect Magic]”

“Spell unlocked: Tier 1 - [Message]”

“Spell unlocked: Tier 1 - [Lesser Physical Enhancement]”

The applications of the first spell she knew, even without the benefit of her new Magic Novice knowledge. Either way, it seemed practically useless in this world where everybody relied on technology instead of magic.

The second spell, [Message], worked like a two-way radio but only between two people, over a shorter distance and with thought alone. The good thing was that it used next to no mana.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Of the three, it was [Lesser Physical Enhancement] that was particularly interesting. A single casting would only allow her to enhance one physical attribute for an hour but it still sounded useful.

All in all, she felt good. Maybe she could regain her lost abilities after all.

The ship rocked lightly as the tethers connected. Yan shook her head, blinking. Dealing with Sierra had a way of taking her out of the real world.

“Ah! Yan, was it?” She turned to see Captain Harvey plodding up to her slowly.

One of his arms was in a sling. She had heard that he had broken a number of bones in the fight. While he had probably been fixed up with a Quick-Heal syringe, the areas were probably still tender.

She knew. Her own ribs still ached.

“Captain Harvey.” Yan inclined her head politely.

“Argh, don’t stand on ceremony! I am proud to call you a friend. And friends don’t use titles! Call me Harvey!” Despite his injuries, the man’s voice had not softened in the least.

Yan’s eyes narrowed as she emphasised, “Captain.”

“Woah, tough customer. Sure. I just wanted to formally thank you for all the help you’ve rendered us.”

“I was just doing what anybody else would have done.”

“Be that as it may, it meant something to me. No matter where you go, you have a friend in ol’ Harvey. Call, and I’ll be there. So long as it's freight-related. And would be good if you could offer decent compensation. Credit is king, after all!”

Harvey laughed, his booming laughter echoing throughout the bridge.

Yan did not quite know which of his words to take seriously, so she shrugged.

“Speaking of which, here. My crew and I, we’ve scrounged together a little sum for you.” He opened the palm of his uninjured hand, revealing a credit chip.

Yan reached out a hand. Sierra’s upgrades were probably not going to be cheap.

But her hand dropped back down to the side. She could not take it.

“Keep it. Support the families of the dead. Tend to the living. Maybe get an escape pod with stealth capabilities.”

“Yan, you must not be from around here. Out in this part of the Rim, nothing speaks louder than credits.” The Captain looked astounded as he thrust the chip forward.

Yan pushed his hand aside. “Save it, Captain. I don’t need it.”

“Everybody needs money, my dear Yan! But if you’re really turning it down, I’ll keep it. Maybe even do those things you said.”

“You’d better,” she growled.

Harvey gave a short bark of laughter.

Yan took it as acknowledgement of her threat and turned back to admire the view.

In the distance, she could see a stream of small spacecraft - drones - flying towards them from the port. Some were blocky vessels for cargo. Others came equipped with a quartet of arms for maintenance and ship upgrades.

“I could watch them forever,” Harvey sighed. The Captain might have given up on shoving money into her hand but he was still here.

“It’s beautiful. Like watching an endless trail of ants sailing through the depths of space,” Yan replied.

“Aye, feeling poetic now, are we?” He stood there a moment longer, watching the drones with her. Then, he added, “But, the ferry to and from the port only comes once a day. Anything else costs extra, so… unless you would like to sign on as a sailor for our next journey, you should probably get a move on!”

With one last parting bark of laughter, the Captain turned to leave.

Yan noticed that the bridge was already almost empty, the surviving sailors more than eager to go on shore leave.

As Harvey strode away, he declared, “But watch your back out there! Narius Port’s a lawless hive, rotten from the inside out!”

Yan pushed herself away from the railings. The Captain was right.

It was time to get a move on.

***

Abandoned shopfronts loomed to either side. Old signs protruded out over a walkway thick with refuse. Overhead, the ceiling curved upwards to form a steel dome. The dim lights mounted above flickered.

Yan hurried onwards.

Behind her, she could hear footsteps. Three pairs. And they were gaining on her.

“Awareness +1”

Her hand crept slowly down towards her waist but she stopped herself. She no longer had a belt. Or a knife.

She had left most of the things that she had retrieved from the Silent Sail in a holding cell back at the port. All she had been allowed were the rings, the Quick-Heal patch and the proof of kill chip. Those, she had stuffed down the single hidden pocket she had finally found in her bodysuit.

Leaving her weapons behind was not her first choice, of course. The station authorities had confiscated them as part of their standard protocol to curb local crime. She would only be able to collect them when she left port.

Yan pressed on, picking up her pace. From the outside, Narius Port had been awe-inspiring in its size. From the inside, Captain Harvey was right.

This place was rotten.

She skirted a steaming pile of unidentifiable mess. It stank to the high heavens.

Yes. This place was definitely rotten.

She had no idea how she even ended up on this street. Well, maybe it was because she had chosen a random direction to walk in the moment she disembarked to avoid Neon and Luke. It was not necessary to say goodbye, she had reasoned. They had only been journeying together by chance.

However, there was something else here that she did not want to face - an underlying discomfort that plagued her whenever she thought of bidding farewell. It was not that she would miss the pair, no, nothing like that but she could not quite name the emotion.

Was this normal? Was it something from her past? Something from Regina?

She did not know. Regardless, she was now here, being followed.

Lost in thought, Yan barely managed to stop herself from walking headfirst into a boarded-up shop window.

Suddenly, she realised that she was at a dead end. There was no way out but back.

“Well, well, well… look what’s fallen into our net today, boys.” A figure stepped out of the shadows as Yan turned around.

It was a woman. Her blonde hair was tied into a long braid and her face was hard. Two men emerged beside her, one tall and muscular, the other thin as a reed.

All three wore the same outfit: A black suit jacket over a white shirt and matching black pants.

Only Muscles held a weapon. Though calling it a weapon was generous. It was more of a metal beam that rested on his shoulder.

Yan stood her ground.

Although these ruffians did not look much tougher than the pirates she had fought, she really did not want any trouble. Who knew what these people had up their sleeves?

“Are you deaf, girl? Can’t hear the boss?” Reed growled, taking a step forward.

“I have no business with you,” Yan shot back. She immediately realised her mistake.

“Oh, but we have business with you,” Braid replied, all smiles. “You see, we are toll collectors.”

“Toll collectors.” Yan’s reply was humourless.

“Somebody has to maintain these streets! You look like a woman of means. So, how about we cut you a deal? Five thousand credits and you walk free.”

“Five thousand credits? That’s a bit steep, don’t you think?” She had no idea whether that was actually steep. She was just trying to keep them talking as she looked for a way out.

“It’s five thousand or you come with us. We can always have your family pay for your… accommodation instead.”

Yan clenched her teeth.

From within her vest, Braid slowly pulled out a handgun.

“Last warning. 3…”

Seizing that opportunity, Yan reached into her mana pool. The mana level was higher now, just as Magic Novice had promised her.

By her estimates, she had enough mana for eight Tier 1 spells now.

That said, if she wanted to get out of this without leaving a significant impression, she had to avoid anything too flashy. It was just as well that she did not have a blade right now.

“2…”

Drawing a long strand of her mana, she spun it directly into her body.

[Lesser Physical Enhancement - Reflexes]

“1…”

Yan darted to the left. The handgun went off, the bullet chipping into the boarded-up window behind her.

Braid cursed and swapped her handgun for a shiv. “Get her alive!” She shouted.

Muscles brandished his club and charged forward.

Ducking a blow that would have caved her ribs in, Yan threw a quick jab with her fist.

It connected with his abdomen and, immediately, pain shot through Yan’s entire arm. She felt like she had just punched a wall of solid steel.

Muscles looked down at her, unfazed.

Then, a fist rocketed towards her. With her enhanced reflexes, she twisted out of the way just in time.

Stumbling back, Yan looked for an exit. The three had spread out into a circle around her. Muscles on the left with his metal club, Braid in the middle with her shiv and Reed on the right with some kind of disc in his hands.

Figuring that Braid and Reed were the weakest of the trio, Yan dashed towards them.

Braid yelled, “Now!”

Reed flung the disc down in front of Yan. As soon as it hit the ground, it unfolded, gears whirling.

Instinctively, Yan dived out of the way - only to slam into a wall that was not there before. Electricity ran through her body and she jerked back with a hiss.

Scrambling to her feet, she looked around.

A translucent barrier surrounded her, electricity dancing through it. She had underestimated the technology these people had. Unlike the shield belt that she had used, Reed’s device was capable of projecting a fully solid barrier - an electrified containment field, her mind told her.

Braid strode up and leaned forward, her smirking face inches away from the barrier. “As I said at the very start: Well, well, well… look what’s fallen into our net today, boys.”

Laughter echoed down the street. Yan gritted her teeth. Unlike what these brigands thought, this fight was far from over.