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"Never die too soon"

Within five hours after departing from the colony, one of the attendants approached Capisa and said, "We will be arriving at Ahdir Ban in ten minutes."

"Yes, about time...will you tell me why aren't we using the Relay Gates?"

"I hope it isn't directed to the complaint in our service."

"Oh, not at all. I just wondered why my employers didn't get me an express ship."

Ten minutes later, after re-entry into Ahdir Ban's atmosphere, Capisa could finally see the desert planet. As he had been informed, it was a very barren desert with almost no vegetation, only rocks and sands miles away. There were clouds, but Capisa suspected that was the only moisture he could get from in that world. He was right following Kandarr's suggestion; there wouldn't be any place for him to cool down if he only use the nanotech aquatic generator he had used in his old adventures.

The ship landed without any problems, and landing pad procedure was without any problems. But, as Capisa went out of the pad, he was given the bleak scenery of one of the biggest colonies in the planet.

"W-what? They never tell me this place is a dump," commented Capisa, stunned by the scenery.

"Ahdir Ban is one of the worst failed colony in sector G56. It's a shanty town now so watch your back around here," said the pilot after getting off his ship. "Do whatever you do here, but you're on your own."

"I suspected as much. You better leave this place before anything happens to you."

"Okay, but be careful. No one wants to do an official inquiry of a dead Aquros in a failed colony."

Capisa bid the captain farewell. He then turned around and said, "Now, let's do this."

The world around him was in such a chaotic state that he never thought would happen. Based on his intel, Colony One was the main mining colony for Ahdir Ban for the richness of Abrot metal, something that's very crucial in Scyllan starship. When the old regime was in rule, the place was over-exploited that it caused the rareness of the metal itself in the planet. Because of the regime being deposed, Ahdir Ban had no way to reclaim everything and should have been abandoned. Now, it is a colony town full of criminals of all kinds. Dealers, Junkies, rapist, pedos, and all sorts of criminals made Colony One their home. Unlike the more agriculture Colony Two, it's a big spot on the sandy planet.

Capisa would be fine himself if it wasn't concerning Aqura, but his race had been in many cases of intersystem crime that also caused problems with the Federation. It's up to Black As'karans like him to quietly close the case without official involvement, as the black market is easy to get off the radar if they are exposed. One particular problem was the distribution of Jets, which was apparent in that town. It's originally a hallucinogen for calming frantic Aqura, but it was distilled to even be used by other alien races illegally. The Black As'karans are trying to stop the operations, which they succeeded all due to a high level of Intel they got throughout the year. Yet, they cannot take move in places like Colony One without exposing their own identities.

As he kept thinking along the way on how to find the shady Aquros, he came across an alleyway leading to a dead end, but it wasn't empty. There were three figures, one's a very young Scylla hatchling while two of them were big brutes of the same race. Both were surrounding the young Scylla, and he wasn't suspecting anything, even when both Scyllas had their pants down. He was busy on something unseen behind him.

The gray shark alien sighed. "Who actually keep kids in this colony, anyway," he thought. He pulled a knife from under his hand armor and was ready to say "Hey" when a hooded figure walked beside him and said, "Hey, get your hand off that hatchling."

They were apparently drawn to the threat. Seeing that the hooded figure was smaller than them, they just laughed him off and said, "How about putting on someone your own size, midget. You know the rules around here. We earn him, we keep him."

"I won't say it again. Get your filthy hands off that kid or I'll fuck you up."

"Fuck us up? What are you, a hero?"

"No, but your cocks are so small. I bet you can fuck little kid's ass because you can't fuck hunkers like yourself."

This was successful in provoking them. Capisa knew, from experience, that toying with a Scylla was a bad idea. One of them gave up a roar and extended his claws. The Aquros tried to find the best moment to do a swift killing attack, but when he tried that, the hooded figure was able to block the pedophile's attack and subsequently broke the arm of the big Scylla. This came as a surprise to all of them, and the Scylla's scream replaced his roar.

"Not so Scylla now, huh?" The figure then kicked the big Scylla. "I have known a Scylla that's far nobler than you, you fucking shit. I've no fucking remorse in kicking your balls to oblivion!"

It was like a brawl. The smaller figure was moving on top of the downed Scylla and relentlessly punched him across the face. He then pulled out his claws and clawed him until the Scylla's face was barely recognizable. The other Scylla wasn't able to stay put and tried to escape, but he was stopped by the figure. Unfortunately, the other one was ready for any attack and threw the figure away and come charging right at Capisa.

"Out of the way, shark boy!" exclaimed the shark. Capisa didn't budge. He pulled out a knife and with a swift attack, cut through the Scylla's leg tendon, effectively drawing blood from it. He was struggling to even run, but the Aquros came to him and said, "There's an artery on your neck that's not covered in thick scales. I normally give a painless death, but this suits your fate. You disgust me to the core."

Leaving the agonizing Scylla alone, Capisa turned towards the other one. The figure had just finished mashing the Scylla's head, making it barely recognizable. The muscled Scylla was dead, leaving the hatchling to be terrified.

Capisa moved towards the young Scylla, trying to make him calm. He couldn't, though, and he ran away, ignoring the fact that there was a bleeding Scylla near where he walked. The Aquros didn't care about the affair of the planet, but he was still appalled by the figure's action.

"Tough street rules, huh?" said Capisa to the figure. "Overkilling is not my style. You want to kill, just give them a clean cut through an artery, and it's over."

"That, being said...from an armored...Aquros..."

The figure subsequently fainted, and Capisa tried to help him up. Crowds had started to gather from the commotion, and they were genuinely terrified on how the agony the other Scylla was experiencing. Capisa had just wondered that he was going too far in making a torturous death. Even though the town was a criminal-ridden town, his method was too clean for the rest of them.

Though he was concerned that his method was going to be exposed, he was more concerned to the vigilante that fainted suddenly. He unknowingly pulled away the hood covering the figure, and was surprised by what he found.

The figure wasn't a total stranger to him at all. Despite of his now thinner figure and less hair, no one could deny the antler horns and the black scales he had been known off for more than 15 years. Capisa would never forget his face, because he was the hero of the Arrowhead Operation 15 years ago.

"Dairyu? But this is...oh, fuck me...activate limb booster."

His suit had internal pressure system that could help him lift heavy objects. He lifted Dairyu to his back and walked away from the scene, trying to find a place to eat. The Black Orient subsequently woke up, which wasn't surprising for Capisa since he only fainted because of exhaustion.

"Whoever you are...will you help me find something to eat? I don't have...credits left...."

"Just stay with me, Ryu, you're not going to get away again! I will take you back to the living world!"

"That's...very kind of you...maybe I've known you for a while now...."

After taking the starving draconian to a nearby food shop, he tried to persuade the Black Orient to eat. Capisa was clearly surprised on how the black draconian was eating like an animal, as if he hadn't eaten for many days. After he ate his third ration fill did he satisfied and said, "Oh, thank the ancestors you came at me! Never thought I'd see a lavishly decorated environmental suit Aquros that looked like my friend would actually come and save me from death!"

"Ryu...I_am_ Capisa!"

Somehow Dairyu was processing it a little bit longer than Capisa would've imagined, maybe because he barely regained his strength. Capisa knew Dairyu clicked in place when his expression changed and he hugged Capisa.

"My ancestors...I'm such a douchebag," said Dairyu after breaking the hug. "Never thought you actually want to go to this dump. I lived here thinking I would be away from the spotlight."

"Ryu, you don't deserve living in a dump like some sort of a starving beggar. Just look at you! If I don't recognize your antler and your black scales I would've thought you're just a random draconian beating the crap out of a Scylla! Why in the Abyss you thinned out?"

"I want to get my mind off things, you know, and also to lay low."

"Lay low from whom?! Ryu, the people of your planet regarded you as a hero and pardoned you. They wondered where you have been, including everyone. No one's going to...what? Chasing you to this sector just because we blew up the mothership? Come on, Ryu, at least find a decent job. You're resourceful. Return to bounty hunting if you think that's..."

"I cannot go back," said Dairyu while ordering a bottle of drink. "I simply cannot. I have too much deaths by my hands. I am not going to let that happen again."

"What's wrong? Ryu, just tell me..."

"I'm not a hero you thought about me. The Warriors were."

Capisa was stunned by this. It was true that Dairyu was the last to get out after planting the bomb, but a group of the Warrior remnants was also lost during the fight, presumably from the fight. But Dairyu's quick confession had caused the Aquros to be stunned.

"My comrades were not perished during the fight. They pushed through and helped me arming the bomb."

"But...Let said..."

"There's no way a crudely made bomb like that would explode. I spent my time talking to the Controller, but I ran while my comrades stayed and fight, helping me out of this. I cannot bear taking all the honors while my friends are the ones that's supposed to get the honor! Goddamn it, why are they so fucking stubborn!"

"Alright, alright, I get it. Look, I'm sorry for asking, but you're representing them as a generation before, and you are not supposed to be in this dump. Just, go with me back into normal civilization and we'll work it out from there."

Dairyu took a final gulp from the bottle, exhaled, and said, "Okay...I'll take that suggestion. But first, tell me why you're here."

"Why is that matter?"

"Because you're somehow the right kind of guy. Do you see an Aquros at the table in front of you?"

Capisa could see the Aquros. Just like him, he was wearing intricate expensive suit that wasn't following the code around them. An Aquros beside him was wearing an older, crudely welded suit, and was talking to him.

"That's Ardelk. Word in the street said that he's an explosive expert. He boasted he once took down a saucer out of orbit under a drink, but no one's paying attention."

"He is wanted for conspiracy of blowing up that saucer, Ryu. Really?"

"What do you mean, really?"

"I thought you're more well-informed than me."

"Apparently I don't care about it. You're an As'karan, now, right? I would say congrats to you but you really should arrest that son of a bitch before he blows another shit again."

"Why? What's he planning to do?"

"He's a drunkard and he always talk about his plans. No one's paying attention, though, but he said he is planning to blow up another ship. He's still sober now, but I guess you gotta nick him before it's too late."

"I can't just waltz in there and say 'you're under arrest'. I'll be the one with bullets holes."

Dairyu made a sigh. "Wait here," He said. The black draconian took the hood cloak on again and approached the Aquros. Capisa was trying not to shout 'what in the Abyss are you doing?' thinking that despite of 15 years of exile, Dairyu could still be a planner like he was. His trust wasn't misplaced, though, yet it didn't end smoothly.

When Dairyu came to the Aquros, he talked about any nonsense things, which confused the rest of the sharks, though not Ardelk. He kept hearing the draconian telling him stories that was intentionally contradicting. The rest of the Aqura stayed away from what they were talking about. But then when the Aquros had started getting bored, he took notice of a lone gray shark alien drinking and staring at him. Which caused him to say, "I like your stories, old geezer, but I think it's time for me to go."

Capisa realized it as soon as he heard that. Dairyu was right that his distraction would make the rest of the Aqura guarding Ardelk to leave, but despite of that, Capisa failed to move it as quick as he could. Dairyu was still recovering so he was still very weak. Ardelk realized that Capisa was really following him, which caused him to run.

"Nice distraction, Ryu, but he's getting away!" exclaimed Capisa while pursuing the Aquros. Dairyu, despite of still too weak, regained most of his magical capabilities, and was still able to run.

In Capisa's side, he chased Ardelk through the crowded corridor of the building, occasionally needed to jump over objects lying on the floor. Ardelk, in particular, tried to confuse Capisa, and he tried to find a way to escape. But, to both Aquros's surprise, Dairyu came running from one of the corridor side and tackled Ardelk down. Capisa came after.

"Ardelk Ef'hran, you're coming with me," said Capisa.

"Oh, I am not giving up that easily, kid."

Before they knew it, some Aqura surrounded them while brandishing their guns. Knowing that they were surrounded, Capisa whispered, "I hope you have something that we can use."

"You won't gonna like it."

With his magical energy restored, Dairyu could create a small tornado boost to distract the Aqura while Capisa grabbed Ardelk. Dairyu put his arm on Capisa's suit and urged them to run faster. Capisa wanted to slow down to take a corridor turn, but when he realized what Dairyu was doing, he shouted, "Oh, shit, Ryu, don't you...!"

His warning was too late as Dairyu shielded both of them when he jumped through the window. The corridor was at the fifth floor of a building and they were falling to the next building. If the Black Orient didn't make a small air burst they would've been seriously injured (in the Aqura's case, a ruptured suit). The air burst slowed the descent somewhat so they could fall on the roof without altercations, yet it still hurts.

They went through the roof and into the floor below, where they were interrupting something between two Aldoons. They were clearly surprised. One of them even saying, "Someone is falling from the sky!"

"No, you're just high," said Dairyu while cleaning the dust. He returned to Capisa and said, "Where's your transport?"

"They'll be here after I activate a transport beacon. C'mon, we gotta go to the landing pad."

Their walk towards the landing pad was, in particular, harsh. Avoiding some Aqura trying to find Ardelk was one, but the criminal on the streets were ready to jump on them any time. They finally reached the landing pad, where the transport, and Kandarr was waiting.

"Well that's a record, S'hor," said Kandarr. "You're barely one hour into this dump and you got your target."

"He's planning to blow up something important! A meeting, I think."

"Then we have no time to lose. Hop aboard."

"Wait," said Dairyu, stepping towards Kandarr. "Drop us at the ship scuttling plant landing pad. Capisa and I need a long talk."

The older Aquros was eyeing the hooded figure, before turning his attention to Capisa and said, "Is that your contact?"

"Local info broker. It's fine, he's someone I can trust."

"Well, never die too soon, kid. This is also for you, 'info broker'. Give the coordinate to the pilot and we'll off."

Some minutes later, they reached the place indicated by the coordinate. It was not an operating scuttling yard, but instead, it's a ship graveyard for old and abandoned ship. There was illegal scuttling operation around there, and it wasn't surprising if they had started to take notice to a brand-new ship landing there.

Dairyu and Capisa walked out of the ship, with Kandarr waving to them by saying, "You've got some friend there, kid." The ship then flew away to the atmosphere, leaving them there.

As they disappeared from sight, Capisa turned towards Dairyu and said, "Do you have a reason to get to a scuttling plant like this?"

"Let's talk inside my place."

"Why is your house being far from the Colony, anyway?"

Dairyu then made a smile. He then walked towards a nearby hangar, which was big enough for a small ship to go in. He silently pushed some buttons and a keypad.

"You'll love the nostalgia, Capisa," said Dairyu. "Welcome home."

In front of them both, the door opened to a ship Capisa had known in his final journey with it. It was a very brief use of the ship, and the group thought it had been scrapped. Yet again, now he could lay rest where it had disappeared.

"You mean...you've been keeping the once brand-new destroyer cruiser ship all by yourself, all these years?! We all thought it's gone for good!"

"Oh, about that damage, one of the mechanics back in the space station reinstalled it again. It can still enter FTL, but only for two more trips, then I need a replacement engine core. Which comes to your choice, Capisa. Where do we want to take Azure a new spin?"

Capisa was silent for a moment, but he quickly laughed and said, "By Leviathan, you never cease to amaze me. I have a very great place to take the ship, with one agreement. I don't believe you can use a new ship's control system, so I'll be your pilot again. Deal?"

"Suit yourself. It's your helm, after all."

Aside from being nostalgic, the destroyer cruiser had been regarded as the legendary ship that ended the invasion. Though Dairyu claimed otherwise, he couldn't deny the fact that the ship would be very popular, once its rust and outdated systems are repaired. Capisa knew one place where they could restore an old ship like the destroyer cruiser back into perfect shape.

It was his original destination after the mission was over.

The interior of the ship didn't change so much, but rust and sand had started getting into the ship. Dairyu explained to him everything that's still operational and those that needed to be repaired.

"Okay, so the fusion cells inside the ship is still as it is 15 years ago, and they aren't leaking. The VTOL jets are busted, though, so, you might need a new one. Some dust and sand might've settled inside the engine so it might give a kick before disintegrating them," said Dairyu after putting all his things inside the ship.

Capisa then turned on the computer system, but the usual computerized controls weren't turned on until some minutes later, in which the voice of the computer was distorted and lagging, which could prove problematic with the auto-pilot.

"Hello, Capisa S'hor," said the computer. "Enter...your command."

"Give me coordinate database."

"Error...database corrupted. Input...new command."

Capisa glanced at Dairyu, in which the Black Orient just shrugged and said, "15 years, Capisa. Remember?"

"I really need to format the whole thing and rebooting it with a new software," said Capisa with a sigh. "Okay, computer, enter new coordinate."

He then proceeded to enter the stellar coordinate of a planet he originally wanted to go. Fortunately, the computer could still understand it and it started take-off procedure.

In about 15 minutes, they were in space, and were ready to go into FTL. Capisa sure hoped the hull could still take the strain of getting into the 'Light Tunnel' and take them to Arkanos, the home solar system of the Scyllas. He pushed the launch sequence button, and they were whisked off from the sector into FTL.